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Presented by JUUL Labs
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
TEEING UP THE 'MILLIONAIRES TAX' — The clock is ticking for lawmakers to hammer out a budget deal for the fiscal year that starts July 1. A conference committee led by Sen. Michael Rodrigues and Rep. Aaron Michlewitz met for the first time last week and swiftly voted to move talks behind closed doors.
And while lawmakers work on the details of the spending bill they'll send to Gov. Charlie Baker, we know that it won't contain many new revenue streams. The Democrat-led legislature has been cool on adding new revenues and sweeping policy proposals into the budget this year. Instead, action on broad issues like education funding reform, transportation and looking at the state's tax code will happen separate from the budget negotiations.
But new taxes could be coming down the pike in a few years. A key vote on the so-called Millionaires Tax is planned this week. House and Senate lawmakers will meet in a Constitutional Convention on Wednesday to vote on the constitutional amendment that would add a 4 percent surtax on household income greater than $1 million. If it gets the nod on Wednesday, the proposed "Fair Share Amendment" would have to make it through the next legislative session before it could land on the 2022 ballot for a vote.
And Massachusetts will consider this tax as taxing the wealthy gets a boost on the national stage. Sen. Elizabeth Warren bases much of the funding for her slew of 2020 campaign policy proposals on her Ultra-Millionaire Tax, which would take it a step further and put a 2 percent tax on household net worth over $50 million. Sixty one percent of voters said they favor Warren's tax idea, according to a poll released in February after she released the proposal.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker speaks at the U.S. Offshore Wind Conference. Baker and Rep. Joe Kennedy III speak at the Massachusetts High Technology Council annual meeting. Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito hold a leadership meeting with state House Speaker Robert DeLeo and state Senate President Karen Spilka. Rep. Richard Neal and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno hold a press conference on Amtrak's return to Union Station.
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts celebrates 2019 Elected for Choice honorees state Rep. Jay Livingstone and Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Attorney General Maura Healey and DeLeo attend the MGH Center for Gun Violence Prevention kickoff. Walsh hosts the Mayor's Scholarship Award Ceremony. Rep. Seth Moulton holds a town hall in Manchester, N.H.
- NEW: "Red Sox legend Ortiz stable after shooting in DR," ESPN: " Former Boston Red Sox slugger and Dominican star David Ortiz is out of surgery and doing "fine," according to his family, after he was shot at a club in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic." Link.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "The state's top politicos are vetting 2020 candidates on their way to New Hampshire," by James Pindell, Boston Globe:"They're regular stops on any presidential candidate's New Hampshire itinerary: A diner visit in Concord. A town hall in Nashua. A house party with activists in Portsmouth. Now add a Massachusetts location to that circuit: A stately living room in Louisburg Square. At least that's the pitch from some of Massachusetts' political elite who are sponsoring invitation-only, off-the-record sessions with White House hopefuls. The events, informally called Conversations 2020, have mostly taken place at Chris Gabrieli's home on Beacon Hill, and the guest list includes roughly 120 of the biggest political contributors and activists in the state."
- "Beacon Hill seeks more funds while almost $3B lies uncollected," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "Almost $3 billion in state revenue hasn't been collected over the years, according to a Herald analysis of state data, while legislators prepare to vote on the "millionaires tax" in an attempt to fatten the state's wallet. The lapse in collections remains as lawmakers are set to meet in a June 12 Constitutional Convention, where they will debate the Fair Share Amendment, which would add a 4% surtax on household incomes that earn over $1 million."
- "Report: Catholic church lobbying against sex abuse laws," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "The Roman Catholic Church has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years lobbying in Massachusetts, and a new report suggests the effort was aimed at derailing proposals to extend the statute of limitations for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The report, commissioned by several law firms that represent victims of clergy abuse, found the church has spent more than $10.6 million collectively on lobbying in several northeast states since 2011, much of it aimed at defeating proposed legislation to help victims of rape or sexual assault pursue criminal or civil charges against priests. Pennsylvania had the most lobbying expenditures,about $5.3 million, followed by New York, where the church spent $2.9 million, the report noted."
- "Air conditioning in school is a hot button topic," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "AS WARM TEMPERATURES ARRIVE, school officials are reaching for the switch to turn on air conditioners. Fans may do the trick for a little while, but eventually, as studies show, the humidity and heat will begin to impact their productivity. State Rep. Joan Meschino, a Hull Democrat, and Sen. Patrick O'Connor, a Weymouth Republican, are cosponsoring legislation to create a commission to study minimum and maximum allowable air temperatures in public school classrooms and facilities. State regulations say that classroom temperatures must be between 68 and 80 degrees."
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Attend the #WellbeingCity Forum in Montréal: Cities are currently home to more than half the global population, a figure that will soar to 70% within the next thirty years. The NewCities' Wellbeing Cities Forum, held in Montreal on June 19-20, brings together senior leaders and urban experts to explore and collaborate on city-led action to improve urban wellbeing. Guest speakers include Professor Saskia Sassen, Daniel Libeskind, and mayors from around the world. Tickets are available via NewCities here.
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Roulette wheels? Check. Dice? Check. Encore casino poised to clear final inspection," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: "Wynn Resorts won a fierce battle for the Boston-area casino license, survived a near-catastrophic scandal involving its founder, and weathered immense public scrutiny over whether it would sell its $2.6 billion Everett casino resort. Now Encore Boston Harbor is poised to clear a final, smaller hurdle to opening its doors on June 23. Call it the Kris Kaczowski test. Kaczowski and other agents from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission are in the final stages of physically and digitally inspecting the casino's 143 table games and its 3,158 slot machines to make sure they comply with regulations and have not been tampered with."
- "The Cost of That Toll? Depends on Your E-ZPass," by Elaine S. Povich, Pew: "Zipping along the Massachusetts Turnpike, unsuspecting tourists from other states encounter an electronic toll plaza. No problem: The transponder they bought in their home state registers the toll and deducts the amount from the account. But what most travelers don't know is that the charge is almost $2 more than if they had purchased the device in Massachusetts. Some 50 million Americans are expected to hit the roads this year, mostly during the summer tourism season. The number of toll roads is increasing, and in many states, drivers who bought their transponders elsewhere get charged what's called the cash rate, a higher amount they'd pay if they had to queue up and hand over bills and coins. Most of the time, drivers don't even know it — raising questions about government transparency."
- "At Wellesley, Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton encourage protest, political action," by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: "Their early days at Wellesley College were marked by uncertainty and feeling out of place, but Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton overcame their trepidation and went on to illustrious careers including serving as the country's top foreign diplomat under different presidents. On Saturday, the former secretaries of state addressed a campus gathering mostly made up of alumnae and urged the audience to speak up and take action to protect democracy from the threat of fascism under President Trump. "The idea that, 'Oh it can't happen here,' is just old fashioned, my friends," said Clinton."
- "'Whitey' Bulger prison letters: Love for Trump, disdain for Mueller," by Rich Schapiro, Kenzi Abou-Sabe and Robert Windrem, NBC News: "In the final months of his life, James "Whitey" Bulger wrote letters from prison offering his thoughts on a range of subjects. His faltering health. His longtime girlfriend. His wish for a peaceful death. But there was another topic that the notorious Boston crime boss returned to again and again: President Donald Trump. In several handwritten letters shared with NBC News, Bulger expressed gushing praise for Trump, offering rave reviews of the president's foreign policy and combative relationship with the media."
- "Marty Walsh one step closer to rebuilding Long Island Bridge," by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: "The city of Boston got a key state permit needed to rebuild the Long Island Bridge, the site of a former shelter and treatment center, following intense resistance from Quincy officials who fear an increase in traffic should the bridge reopen. Walsh announced the city received Superseding Orders of Conditions from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which determined that Boston's proposal meets the performance standards under the Wetlands Protection Act and minimizes impacts to coastal wetland resources in both Boston and Quincy."
- "As some districts zero in on test scores, Boston celebrates revitalized arts education," by Kellen Browning, Boston Globe:"More than a decade ago, Boston Public Schools was grappling with a series of budget cuts that hit schools hard — especially with regards to art. Local philanthropists clamoring for art to play a larger role in education saw their chance when Carol Johnson became BPS superintendent in 2007. Marinell Rousmaniere, CEO of the Boston education nonprofit EdVestors, recalled that Johnson talked at her first public event about the importance of children receiving an arts education. Art boosters pitched a citywide initiative, and Johnson, who retired in 2013, readily agreed."
- "Riders pay price of poor T maintenance, expert says," by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: "Boston's second D-line derailment in just four months injured at least 10 people Saturday, including the operator, and added another investigation to the MBTA's hefty list as one watchdog says riders can expect more problems. Saturday's incident happened between Fenway and Kenmore stations around 11 a.m. according to MBTA general manager Steve Poftak. He said the derailment forced 150 people to evacuate the affected car and another 500 people to evacuate following cars. Ten people were taken to local hospitals with injuries that ranged in severity. There were no life-threatening injuries, according to Boston EMS."
- "The Secret Truth About Boston Doctors," by Michael Damiano, Boston Magazine: "It's the norm for Massachusetts doctors to continue treating patients despite repeated accidents or blunders. When physicians with histories of bad outcomes do face consequences, the sanctions tend to be temporary or easily circumvented. Doctors quietly leave one hospital, only to pop up at another. In severe cases, a doctor with a history of problems might leave Massachusetts altogether and reboot his or her career in another state. Meanwhile, studies have found that as few as 10 percent of medical errors are reported nationwide, and here in Massachusetts, the state medical board acts only in a small fraction of the cases that come before it. Last year, for instance, the board received 211 complaints alleging medical mistakes but disciplined only 17 doctors for providing substandard care."
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| ON THE STUMP |
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- "Hélène Vincent Endorsed by Prominent Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Rights Organization," from the Vincent campaign:"Hélène Vincent, a candidate for Boston City Council in District 8, was endorsed by the Bay State Stonewall Democrats on Friday. "The Bay State Stonewall Democrats are eager to endorse Hélène for District 8 City Council," said Claire Naughton, co-chair of the Bay State Stonewall Democrats. "We strongly support her campaign to make Boston more inclusive and equitable for all, and we know she will be an important LGBTQ+ voice on the council once elected." The Stonewall Democrats is a diverse coalition of activists dedicated to promoting equal rights and equal participation in our government among the LGBTQ+ community."
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| THE OPINION PAGES |
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- "Our young people should grow up free from the fear of gun violence," by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross: "This weekend, we will take part in a nationwide effort to raise awareness about gun violence. Together with survivors, grassroots organizations, and other community leaders, we will remember those we've lost. We'll call on our national lawmakers to take real action to end this epidemic. And we'll recommit ourselves to continuing the progress we've made here in Boston. This annual weekend of action is called Wear Orange for Gun Safety. It was founded in honor of Hadiya Pendleton. In 2013, 15-year-old Hadiya had just finished her exams, and was relaxing with friends in her Chicago neighborhood when her life was cut short by a bullet."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Warren, Booker stand out on chaotic Iowa stage," by Natasha Korecki, POLITICO: "In the early state where field organization has traditionally mattered the most, Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Elizabeth Warren have quietly and patiently concentrated their resources toward building grassroots machines designed to power them on caucus night. It showed here on Sunday as 19 Democratic presidential candidates converged for the first time in one venue to make their five-minute pitch to the party faithful. The gathering, designed to honor Iowa Democrats in a Hall of Fame dinner, offered the first glimpse of a sprawling Democratic primary field — and the organizational strength and enthusiasm each campaign could muster."
- "Big ideas from Democratic candidates face an even bigger challenge — Washington gridlock," by Liz Goodwin, Boston Globe: "Wednesday night, she had wowed the friendly crowd with a bold and tantalizing list of campaign promises — from providing affordable child care and college to everyone, to creating more than 1 million manufacturing jobs by investing in clean energy. Then, some of the voters in the audience provided a reality check. "The thing is, we get everybody promising manufacturing is coming back," Frank Staples, a 2016 Bernie Sanders supporter, told her. "We get [people] promising all this stuff, and it never happens." Another voter, referencing Warren's proposed multimillionaires tax to fund much of her agenda, declared bluntly: "I just don't see it happening." Warren tried to defuse the skepticism by vowing to create a "grass-roots movement," but moderator Chris Hayes pushed back."
- "Warren challenges Sanders for progressives' 2020 support," by Sarah Burnett and Elana Schor, Associated Press: "As a Michigan field organizer for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, Mike McDermott trained volunteers to knock on doors and call voters, helping the Vermont senator upset Hillary Clinton in a crucial Midwestern state. But as the 2020 campaign heats up , McDermott is all-in for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, creating a Michigan for Warren PAC to raise early money for her efforts and promoting her campaign through a website and Facebook page. While he's still a Sanders fan, McDermott sees Warren as a fresher face who's more electable and doesn't have the baggage of a 2016 loss."
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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- "Seth Moulton says he won't make it on the first DNC debate stage," by Christina Prignano, Boston Globe: "US Representative Seth Moulton acknowledged on Thursday that he would not meet the criteria for appearing on stage for the Democratic National Committee's first set of debates. Moulton told Hugh Hewitt on Thursday that he knew he would not make the stage after declaring his candidacy for president later than most of his Democratic rivals. Moulton entered the race in late April as the 19th Democrat to do so, leaving him with less than two months to meet a deadline to raise money from more than 65,000 unique donors or crack 1 percent of support in three DNC-approved polls."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "GAME 7!" — Globe: "Ortiz reportedly shot in back," "Raytheon, UTC plan a 'merger of equals,'" Bruins pulverize Blues' party plan." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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- "Hampshire 'In Danger,' But Keeps Accreditation," by Sean Teehan, NEPR: "An accreditor for higher education institutions will not withdraw the accreditation of financially troubled Hampshire College, or place the liberal arts college on probation. For now, at least. At a May 30 meeting, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) voted to publicly disclose that Hampshire "is in danger of being found not to meet the standards" for accreditation, a joint statement from NECHE and Hampshire said. But the accreditation board deferred making a decision on whether it will take action against the school - including possibly placing it on probation or withdrawing its accreditation - until a meeting scheduled for November."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Student Spurs Brookline, Mass., To Offer Free Tampons And Pads In Public Buildings," by Ally Jarmanning, NPR: "When you walk into a public bathroom, you expect it to be stocked with toilet paper, hand soap and paper towels or a hand dryer. But tampons and pads? Brookline, Mass., wants to make menstrual products as routine as those other bathroom staples, and in May voted to become what it says is the first municipality in the United States to offer free tampons and pads in all of its town-owned restrooms, in places like the town hall, libraries and the recreation center. The schools are expected to follow suit."
- "Feds want sewage plant operators to clean up their acts," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Regulators are pressing the operators of three sewage treatment systems along the Merrimack River to reduce the bacteria flowing into the river and to issue more timely alerts when raw sewage discharges through aging outfall pipes. The three systems — tied to the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District in North Andover, Haverhill's treatment plant and another plant in Lowell — operate under consent orders with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Permits for all three expired several years ago. The EPA posted draft copies of renewed agreements late Friday afternoon."
- "Wheelabrator Millbury is cited as a top polluter, example of 'environmental apartheid,'" by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette: "A new report criticizing the economics and health effects of municipal waste incinerators ranks Wheelabrator Millbury as one of the dirtiest such facilities in the country for two pollutants that contribute to respiratory problems. "The incinerator industry is in trouble," concludes the report, "U.S. Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators: An Industry in Decline," from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives and the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School. But while Wheelabrator Millbury may be dirtier than many of its brethren regarding these two chemicals, according to the report, it is generally meeting emissions limits established by the Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."
EXCERPT:
Most of the 87-page report examines the economics of the municipal solid waste incinerator industry. It says that burning trash is one of the most expensive forms of energy generation in the United States, costing $8.33 per megawatt hour compared to $4.25/ MWh for pulverized coal and $2.04/MWh for nuclear, the second and third most expensive forms of energy generation.
- "After Allegations Of Racism, Some Say Brookline Is Turning A Corner," by Simón Rios, WBUR: "Raul Fernandez grew up in New York City, but now he's looking to shake up the government of Brookline. Last month, the Boston University professor was elected as the Brookline Select Board's first Latino member. The issue of how town government deals with allegations of racism isn't the only reason Fernandez ran. But his campaign was marked by his commitment to bring the issues he works on at BU — he's an associate dean of diversity and inclusion — to the fore of town government."
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| MEDIA MATTERS |
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- Tiziana Dearing is the new host of WBUR's "Radio Boston" beginning mid-June.
WEEKEND WEDDING - Jenna Marie Gilligan and Michael Broderick Spencer were married at the Lyman Estate in Waltham on Saturday. Gilligan is director at Version 2.0 Communications in Boston, and Spencer is an English teacher at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School in Waltham. NYT.
WEEKEND WEDDING -- Adham Sahloul, an Atlantic Council alum who is wrapping up a master's at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, on Saturday married Diana Rayes, a Fulbright Germany alum who works for The Lancet-AUB Commission on Syria. Pool report: "Their relationship blossomed while working together in the humanitarian field in southern Turkey." Pic.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Michelle Goldberg, director of legislative budget analysis for the Boston City Council, who celebrated Saturday.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and no! The Bruins beat the Blues 5-2. The Rays beat the Red Sox 6-1.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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