POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: PEOPLE’S PLEDGE saga continues — ROLLINS grilled on BC suicide case — CHILD CARE aid falls short

PEOPLE’S PLEDGE saga continues — ROLLINS grilled on BC suicide case — CHILD CARE aid falls short

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. I hope you had a great holiday! KENNEDY, LISS-RIORDAN TO SIGN PEOPLE'S PLEDGE — Senate candidates Rep. Joe Kennedy III and attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan plan to sign a so-called People's Pledge this afternoon to limit outside spending in the race for Sen. Ed Markey's seat. But there will be one person missing at the ceremony today: the incumbent. Kennedy and Liss-Riordan say they are moving forward with the pledge after waiting for Markey to come on board. The two challengers had planned a pledge-signing ceremony in November but canceled it to accommodate Markey, who said he needed to be in Washington, D.C. for votes on the day it was scheduled. "After multiple attempts to include the Markey campaign in a signing ceremony, including a last minute cancellation of an event early last month, the two campaigns decided to move forward and put the onus on the Markey campaign to sign the pledge in the coming days," the joint release from Liss-Riordan and Kennedy said. But Markey's got another idea. The Malden Democrat plans to propose a pledge of his own this morning, his campaign told me. Markey could not attend the signing ceremony today because he needs to be in Washington, his campaign said. Markey's new "People's Pledge 2020" proposal would "say no" to all outside negative advertising in the primary, but would permit "positive voices" like climate and reproductive health advocates to spend money in the race. The nonprofit Environment Massachusetts has said it plans to put together a $5 million campaign to support Markey's reelection. "We do not want to stifle or silence the positive voices that have a right to discuss the issues that matter most to residents of Massachusetts - the reproductive health community, labor unions, environmental and climate advocates, the LGBTQI+ community, among many others," Markey's proposed pledge says. "And these positive voices must disclose their donors so that they are transparent. We need these positive, engaged, and active voices in our political debate in 2020." The People's Pledge dust-up is one of several challenges the Senate candidates have posed to one another — typically these challenges are designed to highlight one's own strengths or point out a rival's flaws. Markey invited his opponents to a climate debate, which Liss-Riordan accepted and Kennedy skipped. Kennedy called on his competitors to agree to a People's Pledge, and Liss-Riordan is calling for a $6 million spending cap for candidates in the race. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: AUCHINCLOSS' NEW PLAN — Congressional candidate Jake Auchincloss is releasing a two-part transportation plan today that calls for passing the Green New Deal and putting more federal, state and local resources into trains and buses to ease traffic congestion and pollution. "Climate change is our planet's biggest problem. Transportation is the biggest problem for Massachusetts, and the 4th District in particular. And because the transportation sector is the state's largest emitter of carbon pollution—driving roughly 40% of total emissions—the two are inextricably linked," the plan says. Auchincloss is running to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy III. Six Democratic candidates have jumped in the 4th District House race since Kennedy launched a campaign against Sen. Ed Markey, and a seventh Democrat is considering a bid. The plan proposes building a zero-emissions, statewide rail service that is available 24 hours a day. Auchincloss also suggests putting resources behind the South Coast rail project to connect Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford to Boston by train. His plan calls for chartering a federal infrastructure bank and designing a high-frequency regional bus network, among other ideas. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: DONATO GETS A CHALLENGER — State Rep. Paul Donato will face a challenger from his own party next year. Nichole Mossalam, a progressive from Malden, will announce today that she's running against Donato, who is a member of House Speaker Robert DeLeo's leadership team. "Our state legislature has failed to adequately address the challenges that so many people in our communities are facing," Mossalam said in a statement. "On a wide array of issues, we have seen too many legislators follow the Speaker's agenda. We need independent leaders who will put the concerns of our families first." Mossalam's campaign is part of a larger trend in Massachusetts. A number of progressive Democrats have waged primary challenges against incumbents at the local, state and federal level, in recent years, and several are doing so now. Mossalam is chair of Malden's Disability Commission and is former co-chair of Our Revolution Massachusetts, the Bay State offshoot of Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. 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, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo hold a leadership meeting. Baker, Lynn Mayor Thomas McGee, state Sen. Brendan Crighton and state Rep. Lori Ehrlich make a MassWorks announcement in Lynn. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as part of a sister-city agreement between Boston and Belfast. Rep. Bill Keating speaks at a New England Council breakfast. Lauren Kennedy moderates a talk on childcare at the Kennedy Institute featuring Samantha Aigner-Treworgy, JD Chesloff, Amy O'Leary, and Tania del Rio. DATELINE BEACON HILL - "RMV employees complained of quality, public safety, but 'War on Wait Times' took precedent," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Multiple employees told auditors that the state government's so-called "War on Wait Times" improved customer service but hampered the quality of record-keeping at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and ultimately risked public safety, despite their complaints. Employees at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, interviewed in the wake of the New Hampshire crash that killed seven motorcyclists, told the auditing firm, Grant Thornton, that their concerns about computer glitches piling up, lack of training on regulations, out-of-state records processing and dwindling resources went unaddressed, according to a 294-page transcript released this week." - "MA lawmakers want rules for electric scooters," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Electric scooters are gliding around cities and towns as a cheap, environmentally friendly means of transportation, but the devices are technically illegal under state law. Massachusetts requires that all motorized scooters — whether they be sitting or standing, electric or gas powered — be equipped with brake lights and turning signals like mopeds. Some communities, like Salem, have allowed high-tech companies such as Zagster, Lime and Bird to rent out scooters as part of pilot projects, but there are no statewide rules or guidelines. Lawmakers are considering several proposals to legalize e-scooters by setting rules for how and where they can be used in cities and towns that want them." - "Gov. Baker Signs Bill To Overhaul Campaign Finance Rules," The Associated Press: "Republican Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has signed into law a bill aimed at overhauling the state's campaign finance rules. The new law requires state lawmakers and some mayoral candidates to adhere to a system that already covers statewide and county officials. Under the new law signed Tuesday by Baker, state lawmakers must report campaign contributions and expenditures in monthly statements filed by their banks." - "Driving is surging in Massachusetts. Gas tax revenue? Not so much," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "For public officials around the nation looking to fix beat-up roads and bridges or buy new buses and subway cars, it's one of the most reliable turns in the playbook: Raise the gas tax and watch the money flow in. But as the Massachusetts Legislature prepares to debate a massive fix to the state's beleaguered transportation system — one that could include a stiff increase in the gas tax — they might take note that it may not be such a reliable source of revenue for much longer. Gas tax collections by the state have barely increased over the past five years — just 2.5 percent since fiscal year 2015, the first full year after lawmakers last increased the tax, by 3 cents, to 24 cents a gallon, according to Massachusetts tax collection data." FROM THE HUB - "Draconian state child care assistance leaves too many working poor with debt, advocates say," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "Chanice was so buried in bills in 2017, she took on part-time work at a taxi company in addition to her full-time job answering phones at a Boston community health center in hopes of digging herself out. Still, she staggered under the weight of the copayments she was expected to contribute for state-subsidized child care. With more than $2,100 in overdue child care bills, the young Roxbury mother lost her day care spot for her son. Then she lost her job." - "Q&A: Business coalition backs pro-immigrant legislation," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "THREE YEARS into the presidency of Donald Trump, the main ways immigrants can remain in the country legally - through a protected status or with one of over 160 types of visas - have changed significantly. From new or higher fees, to adjustments in what paperwork must be submitted, to the complete rescinding of some immigration statuses (like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which impacts young adult immigrants brought to the country illegally as children), the legal landscape of who can stay and who must go has changed. These changes have had a strong impact on the businesses that employ immigrants. The changes have affected who can retain work authorization to stay on their job, altered what employers must do to keep immigrant employees, and created uncertainty about employees being deported because of a sudden change in federal policy." - "The state's largest employer is changing its name," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "PARTNERS HEALTHCARE, the state's dominant health care provider and the largest employer in Massachusetts, is changing its name to Mass General Brigham. The new name shifts the focus of the health care system away from an all-encompassing, corporate title that was created 25 years ago and zeroes in on the company's two world-renowned hospitals - Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's. In a letter to the company's 75,000 employees, Anne Klibanski, the president and CEO, unveiled a new patient-centered strategy for the health care system." MOULTON MATTERS - "Why supervised drug injection sites make sense," by Rep. Seth Moulton, CommonWealth Magazine: "SINCE 2000, 17,496 citizens of Massachusetts have died from an opioid overdose. Half of those deaths came in the last five years. That's like one of at least 245 communities in the Commonwealth disappearing in 19 years. Enough people in Massachusetts have died from an opioid overdose to fill all but 69 of the seats at the TD Garden for a Bruins game. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control estimates 700,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose death in the years spanning 1993-2017. That's more people than live in the entire city of Boston." DAY IN COURT - "Suffolk district attorney defends prosecution in BC suicide in TV interview," by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins defended her prosecution of a Boston College student accused of manipulting her boyfriend into suicide and addressed high-profile disagreements with other officials that have marked her first year in office as she spoke in a televised interview Sunday. WCVB's Ed Harding introduced Rollins, who was the first African-American woman elected to be a Massachusetts district attorney, as "Boston's trailblazing prosecutor," on Sunday's "On the Record." But Harding and co-host Janet Wu didn't pull any punches as they questioned Rollins about the Inyoung You case and her public friction with federal, state, and local authorities." - "SJC faces tricky constitutional challenge in indigent defense case," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT is wrestling with a case centered on how to guarantee a fundamental constitutional right of the judicial system — the right of criminal defendants, even those too poor to hire a lawyer, to be represented by an attorney. But both sides in the case, as well as the SJC justices who must rule on it, seem to agree that the ultimate solution to the problem doesn't actually rest with the court but instead with the budget-writing powers of the Legislature. That's raising a second constitutional issue — the separation of powers limiting the reach of different branches of government — and presenting a challenge for the court to craft a ruling that upholds one fundamental constitutional principle without overstepping another." WARREN REPORT - "How a fight over health care entangled Elizabeth Warren — and reshaped the Democratic presidential race," by Annie Linskey, Jeff Stein and Dan Balz, Washington Post: "In mid-November, a few dozen of the country's most influential advocates of Medicare-for-all were reviewing details of Sen. Elizabeth Warren's plan to finance the proposed government-run program when they learned that she had unexpectedly changed her position. Warren (D-Mass.), who had excited liberals when she initially embraced a Medicare-for-all idea first proposed by rival presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), was suggesting a more centrist idea: to delay enactment of the single-payer system and, in the interim, give consumers the choice to opt in. The change might have seemed insignificant to most Americans, but to many in the suburban Washington conference room, Warren's new stance marked an abrupt retreat, according to several people in attendance. That moment highlighted the political turbulence that Warren has experienced in recent weeks as she has attempted to extricate herself from a policy dilemma that has blunted her steady rise to the top ranks of the Democratic nominating contest." - "Elizabeth Warren responds to new Pete Buttigieg ad airing in Iowa that criticizes free college tuition for all," by Kim Norvell, Des Moines Register: "In response to a new television ad airing in Iowa, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she wants to provide tuition-free college to every American as "an investment in an entire generation of young people." The senator from Massachusetts was responding to a reporter's question about an ad by South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg that says he will not provide free college tuition to the children of millionaires." IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN - "John Kerry: We are way behind on climate change," by Matthew Choi, POLITICO: "Former Secretary of State John Kerry said no country is taking the necessary steps to combat climate change and that the issue should be treated "like a war." "There are great efforts out there, many environmental groups, young people, particularly, but no country is getting the job done," Kerry told NBC's Chuck Todd on Sunday. Kerry's comments on "Meet the Press" came just after the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee launched a bipartisan coalition with lawmakers, world leaders and celebrities to raise awareness of climate issues." - "John Kerry Launches Star-Studded Climate Coalition," by Lisa Friedman, The New York Times: "John Kerry, the former senator and secretary of state, has formed a new bipartisan coalition of world leaders, military brass and Hollywood celebrities to push for public action to combat climate change. The name, World War Zero, is supposed to evoke both the national security threat posed by the earth's warming and the type of wartime mobilization that Mr. Kerry argued would be needed to stop the rise in carbon emissions before 2050. The star-studded group is supposed to win over those skeptical of the policies that would be needed to accomplish that." - "'Forever chemicals' are found in MWRA fertilizer, drawing alarm," by David Abel, Boston Globe: "The sludge arrives by the ton, pumped through miles of underwater pipes from Deer Island to a waste-water treatment plant on the banks of the Weymouth Fore River, where it's spun through centrifuges into a kind of wet cake, dried by large furnaces, and made into fertilizer pellets. Converting much of the region's sewage into a valuable byproduct was a major achievement of the Boston Harbor cleanup. Over the past three decades, the fertilizer has been sold or given away in massive amounts: tens of thousands of tons a year sent to farms and golf courses, parks and gardens across the region." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "SKY FALL," "SLUSH HOUR," — Globe : "Poor workers struggling with child-care debt trap," "Trump's lawyers reject role in hearing." THE LOCAL ANGLE - "Care worker digs: A nursing home owner on the Cape offers housing to his employees," by Robert Weisman, Boston Globe: "Struggling to find workers for his nursing home and assisted living center in this seaside tourist town, Bill Bogdanovich tried a new strategy: Buying properties on the southeastern elbow of Cape Cod to rent to employees. He offered below-market rents to workers, many recruited from off the Cape and as far away as Puerto Rico, who were having trouble finding places to live. He also allowed them to spread the cost of higher winter heating bills over 12 months. A year later, his gambit appears to have paid off: Bogdanovich has been able to hire and retain more workers — the better for his senior housing residents, and for business." - "Where did the money go? Buyers of lucrative state tax credits remain secret," by Paul Leighton, The Salem News: "When Windover Development was converting a former box factory into veterans housing, the state and federal government awarded the company more than $2 million in tax credits through a program designed to encourage historic rehabilitation. More than six years after the Pleasant Street Apartments opened, those tax credits are still generating controversy, including a recent resolution by a Beverly city councilor alleging "manipulation" of the program. For all of the attention the tax credits have received, however, there's still one question that hasn't been answered: Who ultimately cashed in on them?" - "On 50th National Day Of Mourning, Indigenous People In Plymouth Say They're Still Fighting," by Quincy Walters, WBUR: "Hundreds of people gathered in the rain and wind in Plymouth on Thursday to observe the 50th National Day of Mourning. The annual tradition began in order to give Native Americans an opportunity to speak on a holiday they say often negates their experiences. This year, the message was one of continuation: Native Americans are still being lied to, they say, and their lands are still being violated. People from tribes in New York, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico spoke out against pipelines, dams and hydropower stations." TRANSITIONS - Matt Corridoni joins Pete Buttigieg's campaign as deputy rapid response communications director. Corridoni previously worked on Rep. Seth Moulton's campaign and his Serve America PAC. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Larry Summers and James Sonne , who both celebrated on Saturday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Morgan Hughes. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Texans beat the Patriots 28-22. 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.   Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

FOCUS: As Sanders and Warren Rise Billionaires Grow Increasingly Agitated

10 November 19 Serious Fund-Raising, Here and Now Reader Supported News is surviving and maintaining services in the most challenging fundraising environment our organization has ever seen. But just barely. Today we ask for the support of all RSN readers who can afford to give. This will be a good fund-raiser. Thanks to all in advance. Marc Ash Founder, Reader Supported News Sure, I'll make a donation! Update My Monthly Donation If you would prefer to send a check: Reader Supported News PO Box 2043 Citrus Hts, CA 95611

10 November 19 It's Live on the HomePage Now: Reader Supported News “REASONABLE” DOESN’T GET US A DAMN THING - Reasonable fundraising approaches, the kind that have worked for decades no longer stimulate any meaningful donations at all. People are fully prepared to fly through here and completely ignore funding, without the slightest concern for how all this gets paid for. This never used to happen. It is forcing us to adopt far more stringent fundraising measures. Completely wrong, completely unnecessary. This works on reader donations. It always has. Stop. Donate. Please. / Marc Ash, Founder Reader Supported News Sure, I'll make a donation! FOCUS: As Sanders and Warren Rise Billionaires Grow Increasingly Agitated Jeff Stein, The Washington Post Stein writes: "The political and economic power wielded by the approximately 750 wealthiest people in America has become a sudden flash point in the 2020 presidential election, as the nation's billionaires push back with increasing ferocity against calls by liberal politicians to vastly reduce their fortunes and clout." On Thursday, Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire and former mayor of New York City, took steps to enter the presidential race, a move that would make him one of four billionaires who either plan to seek or have expressed interest in seeking the nation’s highest office in 2020. His decision came one week after Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) proposed vastly expanding her “wealth tax” on the nation’s biggest wealth holders and one month after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said America should not have any billionaires at all. The populist onslaught has ensnared Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, led to billionaire hand-wringing on cable news, and sparked a panicked discussion among wealthy Americans and their financial advisers about how to prepare for a White House controlled by populist Democrats. Past presidential elections have involved allegations of class warfare, but rarely have those debates centered on such a small subset of people. “For the first time ever, we are having a national political conversation about billionaires in American life. And that is because many people are noticing the vast differences in wealth and opportunity,” said Timothy Naftali, a historian at New York University. The growing hostilities between the ascendant populist wing of the Democratic Party and the nation’s tech and financial elite have spilled repeatedly into public view over the past several months, but they reached a crescendo last week with news that Bloomberg may enter the Democratic primary. With the stock market at an all-time high, the debate about wealth accumulation and inequality has become a top issue in the 2020 campaign. The leaders of the anti-billionaire populist surge, Warren and Sanders, have cast their plans to vastly increase taxes on the wealthy as necessary to fix several decades of widening inequality and make necessary investments in health care, child care spending and other government programs they say will help working-class Americans. Financial disparities between the rich and everyone else have widened over the past several decades in America, with inequality returning to levels not seen since the 1920s, as the richest 400 Americans now control more wealth than the bottom 60 percent of the wealth distribution, according to research by Gabriel Zucman, a left-leaning economist at the University of California at Berkeley. The poorest 60 percent of America has seen its share of the national wealth fall from 5.7 percent in 1987 to 2.1 percent in 2014, Zucman found. But the efforts at redistribution pushed by Warren and Sanders have elicited a fierce and sometimes personal backlash from the billionaire class who stand to lose the most. At least 16 billionaires have in recent months spoken out against what they regard as the danger posed by the populist Democrats, particularly over their proposals to enact a “wealth tax” on vast fortunes, with many expressing concern they will blow the election to Trump by veering too far left. Bloomberg’s potential presidential bid follows that of fellow billionaires Tom Steyer, a major Democratic donor, and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who in September suspended his independent presidential bid. Steyer has proposed his own wealth tax, but Schultz ripped the idea as “ridiculous,” while Bloomberg suggested it was not constitutional and raised the prospect of America turning into Venezuela. Piling on against the wealth tax have been corporate celebrities from Silicon Valley and Wall Street. Zuckerberg suggested Sanders’s call to abolish billionaires could hurt philanthropies and scientific research by giving the government too much decision-making power. Microsoft co-founder Gates criticized Warren’s wealth tax and mused about its impact on “the incentive system” for making money. David Rubenstein, the billionaire co-founder of the Carlyle Group, told CNBC that a wealth tax would not “solve all of our society’s problems” and raised questions about its practicality. Also appearing on CNBC, billionaire investor Leon Cooperman choked up while discussing the impact a wealth tax could have on his family. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, a multi-billionaire and the world’s richest man, asked Bloomberg months ago to consider running for president in 2020, Recode reported Saturday. A Bloomberg spokesman did not immediately return a request to confirm the call. (Bezos is the owner of The Washington Post.) An Amazon spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment. “I don’t need Elizabeth Warren, or the government, giving away my money,” Cooperman said. “[Warren] and Bernie Sanders are presenting a lot of ideas to the public that are morally, and socially, bankrupt.” Then there is perhaps the most prominent wealthy person of all likely to stand in the way of populist Democrats’ proposals: President Trump. Asked about the wealth tax, a White House spokesman declined to comment directly on the proposal but said in an email, “President Trump has been very clear: America will never be a socialist country.” But there are signs the pushback is having little impact on nixing the idea in Democrats’ minds. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), who has endorsed Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, told The Washington Post he is crafting a new wealth tax proposal to introduce in the House of Representatives. Boyle’s involvement suggests the idea has broader political support among Democrats than previously thought. Warren’s campaign has created a tax calculator that shows how much money multimillionaires would pay under her plan. The initial wealth tax raised by Warren would raise close to $3 trillion over 10 years — enough money to fund universal child care, make public colleges and universities tuition-free, and forgive a majority of the student debt held in America, according to some nonpartisan estimates. America has long had rich people, but economists say the current scale of inequality may be without precedent. The number of billionaires in America swelled to 749 in 2018, a nearly 5 percent jump, and they now hold close to $4 trillion collectively. “The hyper concentration of wealth within the top 0.1 percent is a mortal threat to the American economy and way of life,” Boyle said in an interview. “If you work hard and play by the rules, then you should be able to get ahead. But the recent and unprecedented shift of resources to billionaires threatens this. A wealth tax on billionaires is fair and, indeed, necessary.” But conservatives and even many Democrats have raised a number of objections to the wealth tax, arguing it could be easily skirted and may have limited political appeal. Microsoft’s Gates, famous for his philanthropic efforts, joked to the New York Times that it could erase his entire fortune. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) this week proposed a surtax on couples earning more than $2 million a year to address what they framed as unfairness in the tax code exacerbated by the Republican tax cuts, while stopping short of the starker wealth tax. In an email, Bloomberg adviser Howard Wolfson denied that the prospect of paying the wealth tax factors into the former mayor’s interest in running for president: “Mike’s not worried about what would happen if Elizabeth Warren won. He’s worried about what would happen if Donald Trump won.” Still, the ultrarich have still taken notice of the threat, according to interviews with half a dozen financial planners and wealth managers. Kathryn Wylde, president of the Partnership for New York City, whose membership includes many of the country’s biggest financial firms, said members of the business community are “agonizing” over the prospect of having to choose between Warren and Trump in the general election. “A lot of people in the Wall Street crowd still think the world is top-down,” Wylde said. “They think the people at the top of the pecking order are still making the decisions or driving the debate, as opposed to the new reality of grass-roots mobilization. They don’t realize the way pushback to their criticism goes viral.” Lance Drucker, president and CEO of Drucker Wealth Management, said he has recently heard alarm from many of his millionaire clients over plans like Warren’s to implement a wealth tax on fortunes worth more than $50 million. “Honestly, it’s only been the last month when people started getting worried,” said Drucker in an October interview. “These tax proposals are scaring the bejeezus out of people who have accumulated a lot of wealth.” Some financial planners are urging wealthy clients to transfer millions to their offspring now, before Democrats again raise estate taxes. Attorneys have begun looking at whether a divorce could help the super-rich avoid the wealth tax. And some wealthy people are asking whether they should consider renouncing their U.S. citizenship and moving to Europe or elsewhere abroad ahead of Democrats’ potential tax hikes. “You’re hearing it already,” said Jonathan Lachowitz, a financial planner at White Lighthouse Investment Management, who said he has heard discussions about leaving the country and renouncing citizenship or other legal tax planning moves due to Democrats’ tax plans from several multimillionaires. “As the frustration mounts and tax burdens rise, people will consider it, just the way you have New Yorkers moving to Florida.”

READ MORE

---

Contribute to RSN

Update My Monthly Donation

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: VOTING DAY: Races to watch — SANDERS and WARREN lead young voters — ETHICS panel eyes TRAHAN complaint

VOTING DAY: Races to watch — SANDERS and WARREN lead young voters — ETHICS panel eyes TRAHAN complaint

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY Presented by NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It's Election Day! Across the state, voters will head to the polls today for municipal elections. Here are a few of the races I'm keeping an eye on today: BOSTON CITY COUNCIL RACE: Boston could elect its most diverse city council ever today. Two at-large candidates, Alejandra St. Guillen and Julia Mejia, could become the first Latinas elected to the city council. There are also interesting dynamics playing out in the contested races for seats representing Districts 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9. Plus, this election is a way to gauge Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu's strength across the city ahead of 2021, when some speculate she may run for mayor. Wu was the top vote-getter in the city's preliminary election earlier this fall. FALL RIVER MAYOR'S RACE: It's likely that Fall River will finally part with troubled Mayor Jasiel Correia today. Correia recently stepped away from his role as the city's leader after a tumultuous year. Correia was arrested twice, and he was recalled and reelected on the same ballot several months ago. Fall River school committee member Paul Coogan is the only other name on the ballot with Correia, and City Administrator Cathy Ann Viveiros is waging a write-in campaign. WESTFIELD MAYOR'S RACE: Republican state Sen. Don Humason and Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe are vying for the mayor's office in Westfield. If Humason wins, his state Senate seat would become up for grabs. State Rep. John Velis, a Democrat, has already said he'll run for Humason's seat if it opens up. A Democratic victory for Humason's seat would chip away at the already anemic Republican presence in the state Senate. MELROSE MAYOR'S RACE: State Rep. Paul Brodeur is on the ballot today. He's running for mayor of Melrose against City Councilor Monica Medeiros. A preliminary election earlier this fall left Brodeur ahead by several hundred votes — he led with 2,576, while Medeiros got 2,397. If Brodeur wins the mayoral race today, it will spur a race for his state legislative seat. NEWTON CITY COUNCIL RACE: The race for Newton City Council is crowded and contentious. A number of seats on the council are hotly contested in the politically active city. The race is also a way to size up the viability of at least one the six candidates running to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy III in Congress. Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss, who is running for the open House seat, is on the ballot today and faces a challenge. TAUNTON MAYOR'S RACE: Republican state Rep. Shaunna O'Connell and Taunton City Councilor Estele Borges are squaring off in a mayoral race that's been closely watched in Taunton and on Beacon Hill. Before announcing outgoing Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. would take a job in Gov. Charlie Baker's administration, the governor's office gave O'Connell a courtesy heads-up. The catch: The appointment was announced just before nominating papers were due in the mayor's race, which meant others who wanted to run for the open seat were caught flat-footed. Baker's administration and O'Connell say the mayoral race was not discussed ahead of time, but some saw the move as Baker's administration tipping the scales in favor of the Republican O'Connell. NEW: YOUNG VOTERS PREFER SANDERS, WARREN — Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are the leading Democratic presidential candidates among young Americans, according to a new poll from the Harvard Institute of Politics. The national youth poll surveyed voters ages 18 to 29 between Oct. 15 and Oct. 28. The poll shows Sanders topping the field with 28 percent, and Warren six percentage points behind him at 22 percent. Former Vice President Joe Biden is in third place among young voters, with 16 percent. No other candidates polled in the double digits. When the poll was last conducted in the spring, Warren polled at 4 percent among young voters. The Bay State Democrat has seen an 18-percentage-point rise over the last eight months or so. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speaks at a ribbon cutting for the new Henry L. Higginson K-2 School playground. Rep. Seth Moulton is a guest on WGBH's "Greater Boston." Rep. Ayanna Pressley speaks at a student forum organized by the Boston University College Democrats. Rep. Joe Kennedy III discusses transgender equality at Boston College Law School, then moderates a panel on the documentary "College Behind Bars," at the Boston Public Library.   A message from NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts: Massachusetts, we have to do better. Healthcare decisions should be made between a patient and her doctor. Support the ROE Act today, because anything medical should never be political. Learn More   DATELINE BEACON HILL - "Spilka won't commit to take up tax bill," by Andy Metzger, CommonWealth Magazine: "WHILE HOUSE SPEAKER ROBERT DELEO plans to advance a transportation revenue bill within the next few weeks, Senate President Karen Spilka is taking a more cautious approach, and might not follow suit if the House does act on a tax bill. After meeting with DeLeo and Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday, Spilka would not commit to actually voting on a bill to raise more money for transportation improvements this session, though she did say she thinks more revenue is needed." - "Baker opposes 'big increase' in gas tax," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "With House Speaker Robert DeLeo eyeing a vote in the coming weeks on new transportation revenue, Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday said a "big increase" in the gas tax would be a non-starter for his administration. Baker said he has already proposed policies that would bring more money into the state's transportation system without raising taxes, including a regional effort to drive down carbon emissions from vehicles with a multi-state cap-and-invest program that could lead to higher gas prices." - "Poll Finds Mass. Workers Don't Compare Medical Costs Before Buying," by Mike Deehan, WGBH News: "A poll released Monday has found that 70 percent of Massachusetts workers with employer health care want to know how much medical procedures will cost them before having a procedure done, but don't know how to find that price information. The survey, commissioned by the Pioneer Institute and conducted by pollster David Paleologos, comes as Beacon Hill leaders are considering a massive proposal from Gov. Charlie Baker that would reshape much of the health care industry by focusing health spending by providers on primary care and behavioral health." - "Some Massachusetts convenience stores closing Wednesday to protest proposed menthol cigarette ban," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "Convenience stores across the state are planning to close for a day on Wednesday to protest a proposed ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes. Rakesh Patel, who owns eight Springfield area convenience stores, is among those planning to close his doors in protest. Patel said he does not think his stores could survive if they could no longer sell menthol or flavored tobacco products. "That's a good chunk of my revenue I wouldn't be able to sell anymore," Patel said." FROM THE HUB - "Boston Mayor Marty Walsh On Free Community College, Police Body Cameras And ICE," WBUR. Link. - "Some Boston neighborhoods face severe shortage of child care — and it's unaffordable almost everywhere," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "The chasm between supply and potential demand for child care is so wide across much of Boston that in some neighborhoods, there aren't enough seats for roughly half the children, according to a new report from the Boston Opportunity Agenda. Only about one in four children under the age of 5 has access to high-quality programs, as defined under state and national standards, the report found. That shortage is most pronounced in Roslindale, West Roxbury, and Hyde Park, which lack high-quality slots for nine out of every 10 children, the report found." - "Phone booths, political memorabilia and kitchen equipment from Doyle's up for auction," by Gintautas Dumcius, Boston Business Journal: "Beer enthusiasts, political nerds and restaurant entrepreneurs, take note: A public auction of pizza ovens, neon beer signs, and memorabilia from past elections and politicians is set for Wednesday. With the closure of Doyle's in Boston's Jamaica Plain, equipment and fixtures of the former neighborhood bar are up for grabs at the 11 a.m. auction. The equipment and fixtures will be open to inspection at the pub starting at 9 a.m." - "Massachusetts casinos keep missing their revenue targets. What's wrong?" by Andy Rosen, Boston Globe: "During the years of debate over whether to allow casinos in Massachusetts, proponents invariably returned to this point: The state was losing out on a revenue jackpot enjoyed by Connecticut and other states where gambling was legal. But with the Massachusetts gaming industry up and running at three sites, the bonanza casino operators promised when they applied for licenses here has yet to materialize. And the amped-up expectations are giving way to a more prosaic reality." - "Workers say Museum of Science demoted them for not upselling visitors," by Katie Johnston, Boston Globe: "A shake-up at the Museum of Science has the visitor services staff up in arms, with a recent department-wide reorganization prompting employees to voice concerns that they are being pressured into "taking as much money as possible from visitors." A number of workers at one of Boston's top tourist destinations say they are no longer allowed to work in the box office because they didn't sell enough memberships, a change that to them felt like a demotion." PRIMARY SOURCES - UWUA Local 369 announces early endorsement of Joe Kennedy III for U.S. Senate," from UWUA Local 369: "The Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 (UWUA Local 369) today announced its endorsement of Rep. Joe Kennedy III in his run for U.S. Senate. "We are at a unique crossroads in our country right now," said UWUA Local 369 President Craig A. Pinkham." ALL ABOARD - "T board approves commuter rail vision," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWEalth Magazine: "THE MBTA'S OVERSIGHT BOARD unanimously approved five resolutions on Monday designed to start transforming the state's commuter rail network into more of a subway-like system with electrified trains arriving every 15 to 20 minutes on the "most dense corridors." The initial phase of what could be a decades-long process, according to the resolutions, would be the Providence, Fairmount, and at least a portion of the Rockport/Newburyport line that serves Lynn, Chelsea, Revere, and Everett. The resolution calls for rapid-transit-like service on the Fairmount and Lynn corridors at subway prices." - "MBTA Is Planning A 'Supersized' Orange Line Diversion For This Weekend," The Associated Press: "For the sixth weekend in a row, train service will be offline for most of the Orange Line to allow MBTA crews to accelerate maintenance and modernization work, but this version will be expanded, officials said Monday. Shuttle buses will replace trains between Sullivan Square and Ruggles on Saturday and Sunday, two stops more than the previous five weekends of closures that affected Sullivan Square to Tufts Medical Center." DAY IN COURT - "Federal grand jury investigating municipal marijuana contracts," by Dan Adams, Felicia Gans and Naomi Martin, Boston Globe: "A grand jury convened by US Attorney Andrew Lelling is investigating contracts and payments between Massachusetts municipalities and the marijuana companies they host, a major escalation of an effort by federal prosecutors to crack down on local corruption related to the burgeoning cannabis industry. At least five communities — Eastham, Leicester, Newton, Northampton, and Uxbridge — confirmed Monday that they have received subpoenas from Lelling's office seeking information about so-called host community agreements." - "SJC to hear Baker vaping ban case," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT has agreed to hear arguments related to Gov. Charlie Baker's emergency ban on vaping products, elevating to the state's highest court a legal argument brought by the Vapor Technology Association against the administration's ban. The SJC will hear arguments in the case during its December sitting, the court announced in an order issued Monday." WARREN REPORT - "5 ways opponents are going after Warren's 'Medicare for All' plan," by Alice Miranda Ollstein, POLITICO: "Elizabeth Warren's highly detailed plan to raise the roughly $20 trillion needed to pay for "Medicare for All" opened her up to attack from all sides. While the plan won praise from progressives for going hard on the rich, drug companies and Wall Street, it generated questions about taxation, fairness and practicality that Warren is certain to face in the next Democratic debate. Here are some of the ways Warren's Democratic rivals, conservative critics and progressive wonks are going after her plan and whether those attacks are likely to hit home." - "Elizabeth Warren is a friend to capitalists, at least those who see revolution coming," by Sally Kohn, USA Today: "Mark Zuckerberg isn't the only one. According to The Wall Street Journal, many corporate executives are "feeling a bit uneasy about" the prospect of Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the White House. They shouldn't be. In fact, they should be cheering on her possible presidency. Because Elizabeth Warren may be capitalism's last hope. That capitalism is even in jeopardy should come as no surprise to any American working hard to make ends meet." - "'I care' — billionaire investor tears up talking about America, Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump," by Thomas Franck, CNBC: "Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman teared up on Monday as he discussed the political divide in the U.S. and his concerns about the American dream. "I care," the hedge-fund manager answered on CNBC's "Halftime Report," tearing up after CNBC's Scott Wapner asked why he has been so vocal about the 2020 election. Cooperman's response came in the midst of a political battle between the longtime investor and presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Cooperman has been a vocal critic of Warren's proposed wealth tax and her general distrust of America's richest individuals."       TRUMPACHUSETTS - "Rep. Jim McGovern: In Private, Republican Colleagues Say They Are 'Appalled' By Trump's Behavior," WGBH News: "Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern said Monday that the public phase of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump would afford the president more rights than his predecessors who faced an impeachment inquiry, and that Republicans in Congress often admit to him — in private only — that they are concerned about the president's behavior." DATELINE D.C. - "Ethics Committee reviews campaign funding allegation against Rep. Lori Trahan, by John Bresnahan, POLITICO: "The House Ethics Committee is reviewing whether to open a full-scale investigation into allegations that Democratic freshmen Rep. Lori Trahan (Mass.) failed to properly disclose the source of $300,000 in personal funds she loaned to her congressional campaign in 2018. Trahan is the second Democratic freshmen caught up in ethics issues in recent weeks, although this case is far less serious than the allegations that brought down former Rep. Katie Hill (Calif.), who resigned last week." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "NEW BIG DIG," — Globe: "Museum's workers decry sales tactics," "Grand jury investigates cannabis payments," "Diplomat testified to being a target." FROM THE 413 - "Northampton resident offers free taxi rides to polls," by Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "For the second time in as many elections, Florence resident John Martine is offering free, round-trip rides to all polling locations in Northampton on Election Day. Martine's Poll Taxi runs during Tuesday's polling hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is geared toward people who need transportation for this year's municipal election." THE LOCAL ANGLE - "Political Notes: Fernandes decides against Senate run," by Geoff Spillane, Cape Cod Times: "State Rep. Dylan Fernandes, D-Woods Hole, has ruled out a special election run for the Plymouth & Barnstable District state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Viriato "Vinny" deMacedo, R-Plymouth. Fernandes, 29, is serving his second term in the House, representing the Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket District. "I would have to give up two-thirds of my district to run, and I love my hometown and waking up every day to represent the folks in Falmouth and on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket," he told the Times on Monday." - "Opioid deaths rise in Worcester, even as city spends more on antidote," by Hannah Schoenbaum, Telegram & Gazette: "Worcester has spent nearly $200,000 on overdose revival medications like naloxone since 2015, but even as the medication has become widely available, the city's opioid-related death count has risen. That has led some in the community to question whether revival medications are a worthy investment. Worcester is one of 10 municipalities in the state where the rate of fatal overdoses continues to climb, defying a broader statewide trend toward fewer deaths. According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, opioid-related overdose deaths in Worcester increased 55.8% from 2014 to 2018 ." HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Jeremy Ravinsky, Steven Bachner and Richard Parker. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Bruins beat the Penguins 6-4. FOR YOUR COMMUTE: The Headless Horse Race - On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Stephanie Murray and Steve Koczela get in the Halloween spirit and talk all things #mapoli. Congressional candidate Jake Auchincloss discusses his bid to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy III, and CommonWealth Magazine's Andy Metzger talks about House Speaker Robert DeLeo's plans to run for speaker again next year. 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.   A message from NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts: The ROE Act is transformative legislation that will break down unjust barriers to safe, legal abortion and build healthier, more equitable communities. It takes politicians out of the doctor's office, and allows patients and their health care providers to make informed medical decisions without political interference. Support the ROE Act today, because anything medical should never be political. Learn More     Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA