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Presented by the American Heart Association
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF!
IT'S COMPLICATED — An early focus in the Democratic Senate primary has been on how their campaigns are funded. The candidates — Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Joe Kennedy III and attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan — have taken a no corporate PAC money pledge, a no fossil fuel money pledge, and now Kennedy is calling for a People's Pledge to keep outside spending at bay.
But even as the candidates declare what money they will and won't take, the situation isn't so black and white. There are gray areas when it comes to these pledges, including what counts as a corporate PAC and who counts as a fossil fuel donor.
Last quarter, Markey took $1,000 from Sean Darcy of lobbying firm Akin Gump, which lists the utility FirstEnergy as a client. He also took $2,000 from Shannon Finley of Capitol Counsel, a firm which lobbies for American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Edison Electric. The senator took $1,000 from Kai Anderson of Cassidy & Associates, which lobbies for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and $800 from Thomas Daschle of the Daschle Group, which lobbies for 3M, which is under investigation for a chemical contamination.
Markey campaign director John Walsh told me he's confident the move did not violate the pledge because the donors are not directly affiliated with fossil fuel companies, although their firms list those entities as clients on Capitol Hill.
"Our standard is if the firm is principally a fossil fuel lobbyist, we will not take it from them. If the firm is not principally a fossil fuel lobbyist, then we vet the donor," Walsh said. "I'm comfortable that all four of these people are from bigger firms that are not principally fossil fuel firms, and then in addition, the four individuals are not fossil fuel lobbyists."
Kennedy has also taken the no fossil fuel money pledge, though the congressman has faced some criticism over the $1.75 million he holds in fossil fuel stocks, according to a Sludge report.
Corporate PAC money has been a source of tension between Markey and Kennedy. Early on, Markey released a video criticizing Kennedy's record before he swore off corporate PAC money. Later, Markey's campaign would say the senator had quietly sworn off corporate contributions, too. He just didn't tell anyone.
Before he took the pledge, which his campaign says happened at the end of August, Markey accepted a few corporate PAC contributions last quarter. The senator took $2,500 from EMD Serono, Inc., $1,000 from RELX, Inc., $1,500 from the Lockheed Martin Corporation Employees PAC, and $5,000 from Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. Walsh said the senator would not consider returning those donations.
Making things a little more complicated, the no corporate PAC pledge does not cover trade association groups, typically made up of private businesses, which some view this as a loophole in the pledge. Kennedy does not accept money from these groups, while Markey is doing so on a case-by-case basis. Rep. Lori Trahan was among lawmakers who swore off corporate PAC money and faced scrutiny over trade association donations.
After he took the pledge, Markey accepted $2,500 from the National Association of Broadcasters PAC this quarter. He took $1,500 from the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, and $5,000 from the American Wind Energy Association WindPAC. All three are trade association groups.
"We do not have a blanket prohibition," Walsh said, in reference to the association PACs. "I'm comfortable saying these ones are one we're happy to accept."
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 and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito speak at the Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery, and later introduce a health care bill proposal at the State House. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speaks at the inauguration for incoming Wentworth Institute of Technology President Mark Thompson. Walsh speaks as honorary chair of the Boston Irish Honors Award Ceremony.
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A message from the American Heart Association:
Sugary drinks are a major contributor to the increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease. And with our country already spending $190 billion per year treating these preventable diseases, we need to address the problem. Healthy drinks should be priced at an equal or lower cost than less healthy options. Learn more here. |
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INTRODUCING POLITICO's ENERGY PODCAST sponsored by Chevron: Your daily, five-minute update on the latest in energy and environmental politics and policy from POLITICO's expert ten-person team. Ways to listen: Via your email - click the link in the POLITICO Morning Energy newsletter, or subscribe for free - click here and follow the link for your podcast player.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Teflon Charlie: Baker sky-high popularity holds amid RMV scandal, T troubles," by James Pindell, Boston Globe: "Catastrophic delays on the MBTA. A drip-drip of revelations about the Registry of Motor Vehicles leaving thousands of alerts about law-breaking Massachusetts drivers unprocessed. Ongoing scandal at the Massachusetts State Police. It was a rough July, August, and September for Governor Charlie Baker. But through it all, the Republican kept his sky-high job approval ratings and his long-held perch as the nation's most popular governor, according to a survey released Thursday."
- "Baker: People Didn't Hire Me to Talk Presidential Politics," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "His home-state U.S. senator is among the leading candidates for the nation's highest office, trying to bring the presidency's power and prestige to Massachusetts and running on a platform that would steer the country in a totally new direction. His mentor, former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, is hanging in there with his longshot bid to upset the powerful and controversial Oval Office occupant. And President Donald Trump, who leads the party that Gov. Charlie Baker also represents, is battling to win a second term, facing a tide of subpoenas and investigations, furious opposition in blue states like Massachusetts and headwinds in blue states like Massachusetts and swing states where voters gave Trump the edge he needed over Hillary Clinton in 2016."
- "Mass. lawmakers push for legislation to create new state IDs for homeless individuals through RMV," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "State lawmakers are pushing for reforms to the process by which homeless individuals obtain state identification required to, among many other things, enter government buildings, get jobs and acquire housing. The bill would waive any fees associated with obtaining a state ID card sought by homeless youth and adults in Massachusetts, and let them use alternative documentation to prove residency despite not having a permanent address."
- "Quincy lawmaker faces backlash over ethnic identification bill," by Anastasia E. Lennon, Patriot Ledger: "State Rep. Tackey Chan is again facing backlash over a bill that would require state agencies to collect more specific information about people's ethnicity rather than lumping them into broad racial categories. At a packed hearing on the bill Tuesday, critics of the legislation blasted it as a form of racial profiling and accused its backers of playing into the hands of white supremacists."
- "Ethics Probe of Brady Nearing Its Conclusion," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Nearly four months after opening an investigation into Brockton Sen. Michael Brady's drunk driving case, the Senate Ethics Committee is close to issuing its report that could recommend additional discipline for the Democrat after he entered a plea deal in June to resolve charges. One member of the committee said Thursday that the "finishing touches" were being put on the final report that will be filed with the Senate clerk and become a public record before being put before the full Senate for consideration."
- "Calls for congestion pricing in Boston are growing. Charlie Baker hasn't changed his mind." by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Earlier this week, Massachusetts state lawmakers and transportation advocates gathered on Beacon Hill to explore the possibility of congestion pricing in Boston. With the region facing costly and worsening traffic issues, the concept — charging higher tolls to get drivers off the road in congested areas during peak travel times — has gained traction among local leaders."
- "Paul Reville On MTA Pressure: 'I See This As A Step Backward,'" by Aidan Connelly, WGBH News: "Former Massachusetts Education Secretary Paul Reville joined Boston Public Radio Thursday to discuss an education funding bill currently before the Massachusetts Legislature. An amendment added to the bill this week would effectively allow school districts to ignore budget oversight from state regulators. The state education commissioner would be able to recommend how districts allocate their budgets, but would not be able to review budgets and withhold funding. "I see this as a step backward," Reville said."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "FORMER BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR TITO JACKSON TO ANNOUNCE ENDORSEMENT OF JULIA MEJIA FOR CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE," from the Mejia campaign: "We've approached a time in our city when real systemic change is needed in City Hall, where the mode of incrementalism must give way to a bolder and urgent spirit of transformational change in how we do business in city government," said Jackson. "That's why I believe Julia is precisely the type of leader that the city council needs now."
- "At-large frontrunner Wu says the people are ready to be involved," by Katie Trojano, Dorchester Reporter: "City Councillor at-large Michelle Wu, in a replay of 2017, dominated the voting in September's preliminary election, topping the ticket with 19 percent of votes cast for a strong field of 15 candidates and finishing well ahead of fellow incumbents Annissa Essaibi-George and Michael Flaherty, who each earned just under 14 percent. Since her election to the council in 2013, Wu has emerged as a force."
- "At-large candidate Julia Mejia says candidates of color need unity," by Daniel Sheehan, Dorchester Reporter: "At a round-table discussion hosted at her campaign office in Jamaica Plain last week, at-large city council candidate Julia Mejia sat surrounded by other candidates and community activists of color from Greater Boston. While topics ranged from campaign finance reform to displacement, time and again the conversation returned to a central question: "How do we engage black and brown and low-income communities to activate their political power?" Mejia, a Dorchester resident who has branded herself as "the last community organizer/activist still standing" in the at-large city council race, bases much of her campaign work around that mission."
- "Boston grant pilot program will help support childcare entrepreneurs," by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "Mayor Marty Walsh announced Thursday that the city will launch a pilot program aimed at bolstering the entrepreneurial skills of home-based family childcare business owners as many of those facilities have shuttered in the past decade. The Childcare Entrepreneur Fund will support early education professionals with coaching, technical assistance, and grant funding with city grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, according to Walsh's office."
- "What Medicare For All Might Mean For 4 Mass. Households," by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: "Maybe you've been hearing the Democratic presidential candidates argue about whether the country should drop private health insurance and move to Medicare for All. U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have endorsed that plan. But there's little information about what moving to a single-payer health care system might mean for you. Would it cost you more or less? Would you have to wait longer to see a doctor or nurse? Would the medications and treatments you want be covered?"
- "Henry showed interest in Wynn property," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "WYNN RESORTS has held some preliminary discussions with John Henry, the owner of the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Globe, about working jointly on the development of property the casino operator owns across the street from Encore Boston Harbor, according to two people familiar with the discussions. The discussions were held some time ago and didn't immediately gain traction because Encore Boston Harbor was just opening and Wynn officials still believe it's too early to move ahead with development of the surplus property."
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| PRIMARY SOURCES |
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- "I'm enthusiastically endorsing Joe Kennedy III," by Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley, Jamaica Plain Gazette: "As a proud Massachusetts progressive and a passionate environmentalist, I'm enthusiastically endorsing Joe Kennedy III in the 2020 Senate primary—he shares the values, urgency, and commitment to social and economic justice that define my generation. Joe is the progressive leader we need because he will fight for the systemic changes necessary to save our planet and achieve our values."
- "Senator Markey Endorses Estele Borges for Mayor of Taunton," from the Markey campaign: "Ahead of the November 5, 2019 election, Senator Ed Markey has announced his endorsement of City Councilor Estele Borges for mayor of Taunton. 'It is my great privilege to endorse Estele Borges for mayor of Taunton," said Senator Markey. "As the only mayoral candidate with municipal experience, Estele will be ready to lead on day one.'"
- "Stanley McChrystal endorsing Alan Khazei, candidate for Kennedy congressional seat," by Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe: ""Retired Army General Stanley McChrystal is endorsing Alan Khazei, providing a boost to the Brookline resident and cofounder of the City Year national service program who is one of five Democrats running to for the congressional seat held by Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III. The former commander in Afghanistan called Khazei "a model of servant leadership who leads with his values" in a statement put out by Khazei's campaign, which also noted Khazei is only the fourth candidate McChrystal has ever backed."
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| THE OPINION PAGES |
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- "Our Kurdish allies are being slaughtered. The worst may be yet to come," by former Secretary of State John Kerry, Boston Globe: "In the 11 days since President Trump's tweets announced a sudden exit of US special forces from Northern Syria, greenlighting an armed incursion by Turkish forces emboldened by our precipitous abandonment of the ally who had fought the Islamic State on our collective behalf, we've witnessed the wholesale dysfunction of American politics to the detriment of our interests, values, and credibility. It's gotten worse by the day. The events on Wednesday represented the low water mark at an already low point in American diplomacy."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Two retired state troopers face charges for allegedly illegal arrangements with gun dealers," by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: "Two retired Massachusetts State Police troopers are facing criminal charges for allegedly getting free guns from a state-contracted firearms dealer and for accepting personalized assault rifles from a gunmaker seeking business with the state. Paul M. Wosny, a former lieutenant, and Michael G. Wilmot, a former trooper, are scheduled to be arraigned in East Brookfield District Court later this year. The men each face a single count of violating public employee standards of conduct, a felony, records show."
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "State lifts suspension on marijuana company Nova Farms," by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Business Journal: "After a month-long suspension, state regulators have given the green light for cannabis cultivator and dispensary Nova Farms to reopen. The cannabis business, which has a pending medical marijuana dispensary in Attleboro and five other recreational licenses in Sheffield and Attleboro pending before the state, was ordered to shut down and quarantine its crop on Sept. 6 following an investigation of criminal charges against one of its investors, Mark Rioux."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "REMEMBERING ANNA," — Globe: "HOW A CITY LEARNED TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY," "Mulvaney undercuts Trump on Ukraine." |
| EYE ON 2020 |
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- "Biden Appears To Have The Most New Max Donors From Mass." by Callum Borchers, WBUR: "Joe Biden may have been caught by Elizabeth Warren in presidential primary polling, but the former vice president made local gains in another important category during the latest fundraising quarter. Biden received at least 74 maximum-level contributions from Massachusetts donors who had not already given to his campaign this year, according to a WBUR analysis of federal campaign finance data. His total appears to be far higher than that of any of his top four Democratic rivals or President Trump, who collected at least 20."
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| NO PLACE LIKE THE CITY OF HOMES |
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- "A Firetruck and a Mayor Walk into a Bar (for a Fundraiser)" by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: "Before his online commenting past became public, Chris Pohner, a retired firefighter, was Domenic Sarno's candidate for City Council at-large. On the afternoon of September 14, Sarno was rallying the troops at Pohner's pig roast fundraiser at the Marconi Club on Parallel Street. The mayor was in shorts and a T-shirt, weekend wear before Saturday mass. The wardrobe of others may signal trouble ahead, though."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "About 107,000 In Mass. Still Without Power Thursday Evening," by Brendan Deady, Kaitlyn Locke and Marilyn Schairer, WGBH News: "As of Thursday evening, there were about 107,000 households in Massachusetts still without power following Wednesday night's powerful storm, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. That number is down from a high of around 230,000 this morning, the agency said in a statement. MEMA spokesman Christopher Besse said the continuing high winds have slowed efforts to fix downed wires across the state, and it's not yet clear when all power will be restored."
- "Army Corps considers turning bridges over to state," by Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has talked about handing over control of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges to the state after replacing them. "That's definitely something that's been in discussion," Craig Martin, the Corps' project manager in the New England District, said Thursday. The Corps released a draft report earlier this month recommending the bridges be replaced, and it is currently seeking public input on the potential project. Since the Corps has not definitely decided on replacement, no official memorandum of understanding between the Corps and the state has been made, he said."
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| MEDIA MATTERS |
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TRANSITIONS - Philip Olsen joins Davis Malm as a shareholder.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Luis Fieldman.
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND - to Elizabeth May, legislative director to state Sen. Eric Lesser, Isaac Simon, Michael Goodman and the founder of the Democratic Dispatch Kate Donaghue, who all celebrate on Saturday; and to Team Lesser alum Michael Clark , progressive outreach director for New England at AIPAC, who turns 3-0 on Sunday.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Lightning beat the Bruins 4-3.
FOR YOUR COMMUTE: WU TRAIN PLAN - On this week's Horse Race podcast, Steve Koczela and I break down the latest Democratic presidential debate. We speak with Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu about her proposal to scrap the BPDA, and Steve talks about Gov. Charlie Baker's ban on vaping sales with Allyson Perron of the American Heart Association. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
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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A message from the American Heart Association:
Consuming sugary drinks, such as fruit drinks with added sugar, sports drinks, and soda, poses a real health risk to kids. Sugary drinks are a major contributor to the increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease. And with our country already spending $190 billion per year treating these preventable diseases, we need to address the problem. Every child deserves to grow up at a healthy weight, which means promoting healthy beverage options - like water and milk. Healthy drinks should be priced at an equal or lower cost than less healthy options. Learn more here. |
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SPECIAL EDITION POLITICO PULSE: We will bring a special edition of the POLITICO Pulse newsletter to the Milken Institute Future of Health Summit—the most influential gathering of industry leaders and innovators of the year. Dan Diamond will take you inside the summit and keep you apprised of the key takeaways and the most important conversations each day. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of the Summit in Washington, D.C. from October 28 - 30.
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