This & that....

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook EAST-WEST RAIL’s sky-high support — Seeking millions for W.Mass BROADBAND — Hate crime SPIKE

11/14/2017 07:11 AM EDT

By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Mostly cloudy with a high of 42 in Boston today.

AN EAST-WEST RAIL POPULARITY CONTEST - There's strong statewide support for a high-speed East-West rail link between Boston and Springfield, according to a new poll out this week from Western New England University. So strong, that with a statewide average support of 74 percent, East-West rail is actually more popular than any of the state's current crop of elected officials - even the nation's most popular governor (and state's most popular elected) Charlie Baker.

State Sen. Eric Lesser, East-West rail's key Beacon Hill proponent since his election in 2015, yesterday called the poll "a wakeup call to those who question this project and have held it back." Last month Lesser bused constituents to Boston to bolster his push for the state to study the route's feasibility - a measure already OK'ed by the legislature but vetoed by Gov. Baker last summer. Peter Picknelly, the Springfield-based business leader whose Peter Pan bus company is currently the main source of travel between Boston and Springfield, emerged as a major opponent who helped scuttle the $100,000 study.

Support for the rail link predictably was highest in western Massachusetts, at 87 percent, followed by in central Mass at 80 percent, and dipping moving east to Boston and its suburbs with 73 percent. Its lowest support was at 68 percent within the North Shore and South Shore. The majority of respondents say they'd use the rail line to attend a concert, play, or sporting event, commute to a job, or visit family and friends.

- READ THE TOPLINES.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.

TODAY - Gov. Charlie Baker rolls out a new package of initiatives to fight the opioid epidemic including legislation and executive orders in a press conference at the State House this afternoon - The House returns to formal session for day two of criminal justice reform deliberations. The Senate also meets in formal session - The Massachusetts Campaign for Single-Payer Health Care holds a lobby day, with former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Don Berwick listed as a special guest.

DATELINE BEACON HILL -

- "Opioid-related deaths decline by 10 percent in Mass.," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: "The number of people dying from opioid overdoses in Massachusetts dropped by 10 percent during the first nine months of this year, compared with the same period in 2016, according to new data that bolsters evidence the opioid crisis may be turning a corner. But the state public health commissioner, Dr. Monica Bharel, said it's still too soon to call the change a trend."

- "Retiring Col. Richard McKeon may collect $188G pension," by Matt Stout and Laurel J. Sweet, Boston Herald: "Retiring state police Col. Richard McKeon could collect a $188,000-a-year pension after he calls it quits Friday, all while facing scathing criticism for ordering state troopers to delete embarrassing details from the arrest report of a judge's daughter."

- "House to vote on bill that could eliminate many mandatory minimum sentences," by Jim O'Sullivan, Boston Globe: "The House began tackling criminal justice legislation Monday - the latest step in Beacon Hill's efforts to make significant changes to the state policies like mandatory-minimum sentences and the ability to seal criminal records for some offenses."

- "Mass. lawmakers to seek $45 million influx for broadband work," by Larry Parnass, Berkshire Eagle: "The Legislature is poised to steer $45 million to a problem earlier funding couldn't quite solve: bringing broadband internet to all rural towns. Despite progress over the last 18 months in closing the digital divide, eight towns in Western and Central Massachusetts still lack a plan to obtain service."

- "Baker Calls Attleboro Mayor-elect Paul Heroux's Decision 'Incredibly Insulting,'" by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: "Attleboro Mayor-elect Paul Heroux has come under fire from Gov. Charlie Baker, who says his desire to keep his job as a state representative is 'incredibly insulting.' 'I think it's incredibly insulting, to the voters and to the mayors and to the legislators who take their job as a full-time job seriously, that he would even consider this,' Baker said Sunday on WCVB's 'On the Record.'"

- "FBI Report: Mass. Had Highest Rate Of Reported Hate Crimes In 2016," by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: "Massachusetts had the highest rate of reported hate crimes in the country last year, according to a new FBI report released Monday. There were 5.9 hate crime incidents for every 100,000 people in the state in 2016, according to data from agencies who voluntarily reported offenses to the FBI. Reporting agencies included 70 communities, a dozen colleges and the MBTA."

** A message from PhRMA: Are middlemen really holding down the cost of medicines? Biopharmaceutical companies set the list prices for their medicines, but it's your insurer that decides how much you pay out of pocket. More than one-third of the list price is rebated back to middlemen, but these savings aren't always shared with patients. http://onphr.ma/2AB3jW4 **

TRUMPACHUSETTS -

- "Liz Warren, Donald Trump could bite Charlie Baker in 2018," by Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald: "In Massachusetts, Baker-endorsed candidates lost almost all their races, including Matt St. Hilaire, Baker's state personnel director, who got bounced off the Beverly City Council. ... Baker has done a good job keeping far away from President Trump, but that doesn't mean he's immune from Trump backlash."

- "Tax plan: What's the impact in the Berkshires?" by Kristin Palpini, Berkshire Eagle: "Berkshire County residents are in line to be among those who would personally feel the impact of the proposed GOP/Trump tax plan - 'The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act' - and if approved, it's likely going to hurt in ways that may surprise. The new tax plan, which lowers the corporate tax rate, eliminates tax deductions and modestly lowers income tax rates, is being billed by Republicans as a stimulus for the national economy, while detractors are calling it another version of 'trickle-down' economics."

MOULTON MATTERS -

- "Moulton To Ryan: Hold Hearing On Bump Stock Ban Bill," by CBS Boston: "Congressman Seth Moulton is calling on House Speaker Paul Ryan to at least hold a hearing on a bill that would ban bump stocks. Massachusetts just banned the devices, which were used in the Las Vegas shooting last month."

THE TSONGAS ARENA -

INBOX - "Rufus Gifford Announces Campaign for Massachusetts Third Congressional District," from Gifford's campaign: After serving America overseas as Obama's ambassador to Denmark, Gifford returns to run in district with strong family history ... Rufus's family has called the Third Congressional District home for generations. His ancestors settled in Andover, Chelmsford and Concord. Rufus, 43, grew up in Manchester by the Sea, just outside of the district. He recently moved into a home in Concord with his husband Stephen, just down the street from his sister, aunts, uncles and cousins."

WOOD WAR - Herald: "2020 VISION" - Globe: "Mass. Pike overhaul in Allston takes shape," "Berklee fired 11 faculty for sexual misconduct," "DESPERATION AND DESTRUCTION," "IN BROOKLINE, AN UN-SITELY MESS," "War hero who also battled for equal rights dies," "GE to take knife to dividend, divisions," "For team dentist, many bonding moments."

THE LOCAL ANGLE -

- "Claim: Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe $425M in debt, services cut," by Tanner Stening, Cape Cod Times: "A call for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe members to attend a meeting Sunday afternoon to address longstanding concerns about the tribe's mounting debt claimed it has grown to $425 million and that services have been cut. A robocall circulated Saturday and Sunday urging tribe members to attend the gathering at 2 p.m. at its government headquarters in Mashpee, and saying that tribal social services, including in the youth and elder departments, have been cut."

- "Cape fishermen reap benefits of monitoring program," by Doug Fraser, Cape Cod Times: "With fleets on the West Coast and in Alaska, members of the East Coast swordfishing and herring fleets and 20 New England groundfishermen all using cameras to record their fishing, the technology is gaining ground as a fisheries management tool, including off Cape Cod. This year, Cape fishermen - pioneers of the movement in New England - working with the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance, along with members of the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, are set to reap some unexpected benefits for their willingness to play guinea pig: greater access to Atlantic bluefin tuna, one of the most valuable fish in the sea."

- "Lowell veterans leader urges NFL boycott in Fox appearance," by Kori Tuitt, Lowell Sun: "For months, John MacDonald shared his sentiments about the National Football League protests with veterans and their families. But on Sunday morning, he had the chance to offer his perspective to a nationwide audience on Fox & Friends. MacDonald, a veteran of the Air Force who serves on the board of directors for Veterans Assisting Veterans, a Lowell-based nonprofit organization, also joined Sunday with other veterans groups at the VFW Mottola Post in Revere for an event to boycott the NFL."

- "Lawrence firefighters in Puerto Rico helping hurricane victims," by Jill Harmacinski, Lawrence Eagle Tribune: "Pagan and Gonzalez, both veteran Lawrence firefighters, arrived in Puerto Rico last Thursday to help with relief and rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Maria's devastation more than 50 days ago. ... Both firefighters have relatives living in Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island and American territory which is home to 3.5 million people."

- "Worcester voter turnout study backs easier registration process," by Nick Kotsopoulos, Worcester Telegram: "For several years, voter turnout has been an issue in this city. That was underscored by the Nov. 7 municipal election when only 15.24 percent (16,301) of the city's 106,939 registered voters ended up casting ballots. It was the second smallest turnout for a municipal election since 2000, with the smallest being 14.5 percent in 2013. As bad as those numbers are, a Worcester State University study suggests that things are even worse when you take into account the large number of people who are qualified to vote in Worcester but are ineligible to do so because they are not registered."

- "Medical pot plans get green light in Peabody," by Mary Markos, Salem News: "Three medical marijuana companies looking to open in the city have gotten the go-ahead from Peabody officials to seek state approval. The City Council voted unanimously Thursday to issue letters of non-opposition to each of the three applicants: Wellness Connection of MA Inc. of 30 Railroad Ave., Revere; Phytotherapy Inc. of 25 Newbury St.; and Sanctuary Medicinals Inc. of 29 Newbury St."

DATELINE HIGHER ED - Simmons College plan to name the newly formed College of Media, Arts, and Humanities in honor of the late journalist and alumna Gwen Ifill, the school announced this morning. Ifill graduated from Simmons in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in communications.

MAZEL! - To Attorney Jim Morris, founder of the law firm Quinn & Morriss, who has been elected as chairman of the Inspector General Counsel. He succeeds State Auditor Suzanne Bump as chairman.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Lowell Sun scribe Todd Feathers.

THE HOME TEAMS DID NOT PLAY.

NEW: POLITICO is accepting applications for its fifth session of the POLITICO Journalism Institute (PJI), an educational initiative focused on newsroom diversity . The intensive program, which is designed for college students, will be held May 29 to June 9, 2018. It features hands-on training for up to 12 recent grads and university students interested in covering government and politics. Students also will have an opportunity to have their work published by POLITICO. All expenses are paid for the program, reflecting POLITICO's ongoing support of journalism education, newsroom diversity and recruitment of top-notch talent. Admissions are made on a rolling basis, so APPLY TODAY but no later than Jan. 15, 2018. https://www.politico.com/pji

ICYMI: AN ELECTION RECAP EDITION OF THE HORSE RACE - Election Day has come and gone and we're here to parse who landed in the winner's circle across the state. Also, a surprise appearance by Sam Hammar, chair of the Melrose Democratic City Committee, to discuss why a partisan city committee got involved in a non-partisan municipal election. Subscribe and listen now on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

- And more details are coming VERY soon about the live Horse Race event at Ned Devine's in Boston on Nov. 28. No actual horses, just a lot of jockeying for #mapoli insights. Plus, there will be swag!

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.

FOR MORE political and policy news from Massachusetts, check out: http://politi.co/1qNSlWx

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** A message from PhRMA: Are middlemen really holding down the cost of medicines? Ever wonder who decides what you pay for your medicines? It's not who you might think. Biopharmaceutical companies set the list prices for their medicines, but it's your insurer that ultimately determines how much you pay out of pocket. More than one-third of the list price of a medicine is rebated back to middlemen, like insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). These rebates and discounts create savings of more than $100 billion, but these savings aren't always shared directly with patients. Patients share the costs. They should share the savings. http://onphr.ma/2AB3jW4 **

To view online:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/massachusetts-playbook/2017/11/14/east-west-rails-sky-high-support-seeking-millions-for-wmass-broadband-mas-hate-crime-spike-223331

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MASSterList: Jarring times | GE's 'reset' | JOB BOARD MONDAY

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This email may be cut off by your email provider. To see today's full MASSterList, click "View entire message" at the bottom, or view the online version here. By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan 11/13/2017 Jarring times | GE's 'reset' | JOB BOARD MONDAY

Happening Today

Public defenders rally, House criminal–justice debate and more … -- Hundreds of public defenders will rally this morning outside district courthouses across Massachusetts and walk in together before court begins to demand collective bargaining rights, District courthouses. -- U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III speaks at the New England Council about issues before Congress and his own legislative agenda, Seaport Hotel, Lighthouse Room, One Seaport Lane, Boston, 8:30 a.m. -- Gov. Charlie Baker, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton, Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Leo Roy and local officials participate in a tree planting ceremony to commemorate the 10,000th tree planted as part of the Greening the Gateway Cities Program, Lynn Commons Bandstand, 120 Commons Street, Lynn, 9 a.m. -- The Committee on Labor and Workforce Development will hear a number of bills dealing with independent contractors and other matters, Room B-2, 10 a.m. -- The House will start its debate on criminal-justice reform legislation, State House, 11 a.m. -- The Mashpee Wampanoag will host a Thanksgiving Unity Reception to promote peace and unity for all Americans, Great Hall, State House, 11 a.m. -- Gov. Charlie Baker attends the Semper Fi Society of Boston’s United States Marine Corps 242nd Birthday Luncheon with First Lady Lauren Baker, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St, Boston, 12 p.m. -- The Transportation Committee will review legislation dealing with safety matters, including jaywalking and wrong-way driving, Room A-1, 3 p.m. -- Emerge Massachusetts honors Auditor Suzanne Bump during the organization's 10th anniversary ‘Women of the Decade" celebration and annual fundraiser; Treasurer Deborah Goldberg is expected to attend, Foley & Lardner LLP, 111 Huntington Ave Suite 2600, Boston, 5:30 p.m. -- The Cannabis Advisory Board's Market Participation Subcommittee holds a public listening session on economic development issues related to the new pot industry, UMass Center, 1500 Main St., Springfield, 6:30 p.m. --Attorney General Maura Healey speaks at a University of Massachusetts Amherst at event hosted by the UMass Democrats, Monday, 41 Campus Center Way, Amherst, 6:30 p.m.

Today's News

Despite State Police chief’s resignation, second trooper files lawsuit over arrest report Col. Richard McKeon, Gov. Charlie Baker’s head of State Police, may have announced late last week his plans to retire, effectively taking the fall over accusations he improperly ordered a trooper to delete embarrassing details from an arrest report for the daughter of a state Trial Court judge, as reported by SHNS’s Mat Murphy at Wicked Local. But that move didn’t deter a second state trooper from filing a federal lawsuit against McKeon and other troopers over the redaction, reports Scott Croteau at MassLive. Trooper Ali Rei filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Friday, just days after trooper Ryan Sceviour filed a similar federal lawsuit, writes Croteau. Leonard Kesten, attorney for the two troopers, is telling the Herald he intends on “going right up the chain” in deposing people in the case, from lower-level supervisors to Baker’s Secretary of Public Safety Daniel Bennett. In a column, the Herald’s Howie Carr, while vainly pushing for elected judges, finds an interesting pattern in the case: All the major players in the controversy – McKeon, Bennett, District Court Judge Timothy Bibaud and his daughter – used to work for the Worcester County DA’s office. Separately, Howie is also praising Sceviour and Rei for standing up to their commanders.

‘Jarring early warning shots for Gov. Charlie Baker’ What do last week’s anti-Trump election results and the current controversy engulfing the Massachusetts State Police have in common? “They are jarring early warning shots for Gov. Charlie Baker,” writes the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld. We’re not sure about the latter – yet. But the former definitely spells trouble for the Republican governor’s re-election bid next year. Boston Herald

GE’s big ‘reset’ day This is a big day for the beleaguered Boston-based General Electric, as CEO John Flannery prepares to unveil plans to transform the giant company, as Bruce Gellerman reports at WBUR. At our deadline time, Bloomberg News was reporting that GE is indeed "shrinking the company" and "planning to focus on aviation, power, renewable-energy and health-care equipment."  Earlier, the BBJ's Greg Ryan was reviewing speculation that GE may sell or spin out some of its units, possibly some units in Massachusetts. The Globe’s Jon Chesto said Flannery, who took command of the company this past August, has already signaled future cost-cutting measures, “including layoffs, asset sales, and wiser deployment of the company’s money.” Fyi: In a separate story, the BBJ confirms that GE is indeed conducting layoffs in Boston, though it sounds like they’re “limited” in nature. WBUR

National Grid enlists N.H. lawmakers to pressure DeLeo on clean energy This is ‘novel’ indeed. From Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth magazine: “National Grid, which has been raising concerns about the Massachusetts procurement process for clean energy, found a novel way to make its case: enlist the help of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Forty-four of the 200 members of the New Hampshire House recently sent a letter to House Speaker Robert DeLeo and other political leaders in Massachusetts urging the adoption of a number of policies favored by National Grid.”   Mohl explains why Granite State lawmakers are getting involved in a seemingly Massachusetts issue. Hint: It has to do with hydroelectricity from Quebec, of course.  CommonWealth

Meanwhile, transmission developer dangles $20 million in front of western Massachusetts What, no free toasters? From Mary Serreze at MassLive: “A company that wants to lay a high-voltage transmission cable under Lake Champlain in Vermont has pledged $20 million for low-income energy retrofits in Western Massachusetts if its New England Clean Power Link wins a major utility contract in the Bay State.” And, yes, this one also involves hydroelectricity from Canada, via a TDI New England project. “The race is on and the stakes are high for the multi-billion-dollar energy contracts,” writes Serreze. No kidding. MassLive

Court orders halt to Rockwell sale, backs up Healey claim This was a surprise development late Friday. From Malcom Gay at the Globe: “A last ditch effort by the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to block the Berkshire Museum’s planned sale of many of its most valuable artworks was successful late Friday after a state Appeals Court granted a temporary injunction halting the sale, which was set to begin this Monday at Sotheby’s in New York. ... Healey’s challenge came after a judge in Berkshire County sided with the museum earlier this week.” Boston Globe

As Mitt calls for Moore to step aside, Herald pundit points out Romney’s ‘brazen double standard’ In a tweet on Friday, former Massachusetts Gov. and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney declared Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore of Alabama “unfit for office” and he “should step aside” amid allegations Moore sexually abused teen girls years ago. CNN has more on Mitt’s tweet – and the Herald’s Hillary Chabot has more on a long-ago incident in which Mitt defended a former state rep and Wareham police sergeant against charges he did nothing to stop a police stripsearch of teen girl in Massachusetts.

State Houses across the country are grappling with sexual harassment charges Speaking of sexual abuse/harassment issues, Beacon Hill has been hit with its own sexual harassment charges of late – and may yet get hit by more accusations later today (see note below). But the allegations, so far, are nothing like those flying in other State Houses across the nation, where accusers are naming names and lawmakers are losing coveted posts, as the NYT reports this morning. Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado are among the states where high-profile lawmakers have been publicly fingered and, in some cases, are paying the consequences.  Fyi: WBUR’s ‘Radio Boston’ talks today with an anonymous woman who “still works at the State House about sexual harassment she has faced on Beacon Hill,” according to a WBUR producer, as SHNS reports. The show is at 3 p.m. on WBUR-FM 90.9 NYT

Prosecutor to meet with teen allegedly groped by actor Kevin Spacey We’re starting to feel like we’re morphing into Hush-Hush magazine with all the recent posts on sex, bad behavior, pols and Hollywood celebrities, etc. Anyway, from Brian MacQuarrie at the Globe: “The Cape and Islands district attorney said Friday he has scheduled a meeting with the teenage son of Heather Unruh, a former Boston television news anchor, who has accused actor Kevin Spacey of sexually assaulting him at a downtown bar here in July 2016. District Attorney Michael O’Keefe said the meeting will occur soon and said he is interested in ‘everything that’s relevant and material’ to the alleged assault.” Boston Globe

‘Lying under oath about sexual activity in government offices' OK, one more Hush-Hush post. From Shawn Musgrave at the Globe: “An investigation into a former top official with the US Marshals office in Boston found a range of misconduct, including lying under oath about sexual activity in government offices, then lying about his actions and urging some of the women to withhold details from investigators. Federal investigators characterized his false statements as criminal violations, although prosecutors declined to file charges.” Boston Globe

Warren brings resistance message to Greenfield U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren brought her message to rural Massachusetts over the weekend, telling a Town Hall meeting in Greenfield that even as the GOP is busy “hacking away at the foundation of our democracy,” a grassroots resistance movement is gathering steam and power, Marcy Serreze of MassLive reports.  Miranda Davis of the Daily Hampshire Gazette reports a crowd of close to 1,000 people jammed in to hear Warren cover topics from gun control to health care.  MassLive

Getting the hint: Ayyadurai to run as Independent, says Republicans ignored him Shiva Ayyadurai, the self-described inventor of email and a speaker at this summer’s controversial right-wing “Free Speech” rally in Boston, is switching his party affiliation, saying he’s now running for U.S. Senate as an independent, not as a Republican, according to a report at WBUR. Spencer Buell writes at Boston Magazine that Ayyadurai, in an interview, accuses the Mass. GOP of being “irrelevant” and in “collusion” with Democrats -- and he says Republicans didn’t lift a finger to help him. After he launched his bid, he says, “No one even called me.” We can’t imagine why. WBUR

The ghost of King Arthur’s strip club still lingers in Chelsea For decades, it seemed every other sensational crime and political scandal in Massachusetts had a King Arthur’s strip club angle of some sort. A Middletown firm is now trying to resurrect the abandoned King Arthurs in Chelsea, promising a “new era of adult entertainment” – and some city officials aren’t happy. The Globe’s Laura Crimaldi has more. Boston Globe

Vanu Bose, 52, RIP Another sad passing in Massachusetts. From David Harris at the BBJ: “Vanu Bose, the son of Bose Corp. founder Amar Bose and a technology pioneer in his own right, died on Saturday at the age of 52 after suffering a pulmonary embolism. Bose was the founder and CEO of Vanu Inc., a Lexington firm that provides wireless infrastructure and was the first company to receive certification for software-defined radio from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, according to MIT.” BBJ

After nearly a year of all-electronic tollways, motorists rack up $16.6 million in unpaid tolls First, the bad news: Drivers without E-Z passes racked up $16.6 million in unpaid tolls during the first eleven months of all-electronic tolling along state roadways. Now the good news, for those of you who pay tolls and resent freeloaders: The same motorists racked up $14.3 million in late fees. Coleman Herman at CommonWealth magazine has the details. CommonWealth

Anti-abortion activists out to make lawmakers squirm The issue is ostensibly about public funding of abortions in Massachusetts. But as the Globe’s Stephanie Ebbert notes, the drive to change the state Constitution to restrict Medicaid funding for abortions will also “return a thorny political debate long silenced by the judiciary to the legislative arena, where activists could then try to pressure their representatives to cut off public funding.” Boston Globe

Airbnb’s ‘smoke and mirrors’ tax ploy Paul Sacco, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Lodging Association, isn’t buying Airbnb’s “smoke and mirrors” call for lawmakers to tax the budding apartment-rental business, saying Airbnb just wants to “appear sympathetic to taxation” in order to avoid full regulation and taxation that other lodging establishments have to comply with in Massachusetts. CommonWealth

Dairy farmers seek tax credit help amid souring sales From Christian Wade at the Eagle-Tribune: “Beleaguered dairy farmers could be getting more money from the state to offset losses from souring milk sales. A bipartisan proposal gaining traction on Beacon Hill would double the state’s dairy farm tax credit to $8 million, which supporters say would prevent more farms from going bust. The measure, which was cleared two weeks ago by the Legislature's Revenue Committee, has support from dozens of lawmakers.” Eagle Tribune

If history is any guide, Dan Koh faces uphill battle to win Tsongas seat Attention Dan Koh, Nadeem A. Mazen, Abhijit “Beej” Das and possibly Rufus Gifford: Merrimack Valley voters haven’t been exactly kind to candidates who move into the district to run for Congress. Just ask John Kerry. The Globe’s Frank Phillips has more on the history of voters there rejecting blow-in candidates. Boston Globe

As property values rise, Worcester tax bills will soon follow Worcester property owners are about to be reminded that a rising tide lifts all boats—including the one carrying the tax bill. As values finally recover from a long post-recession lull, the city may face pressure to use the city’s budget surplus and its dual tax rates to cushion the blow for residential property owners as it sets tax policy for the coming year, Nick Kotsopolous of the Telegram reports.   Telegram

Forgotten Revolutionary War veteran, a slave, honored for his service With the holiday weekend over, here’s one last Veterans Day story, and it’s a good one, on a writing tutor and self-described history buff who this year made sure a Revolutionary War hero and slave, Charles Paine, was honored in Franklin. Scott Calzolaio has the details at Wicked Local. Wicked Local

Lynnway auto auction facing lawsuit Just days after being hit with $267,000 in fines from OSHA for safety lapses, the Lynnway Auction in Billerica has been served with a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of one of the five victims killed in a 2014 crash at the facility, Rick Sobey of the Lowell Sun reports. Lowell Sun

Amid low turnout in elections, activists push for automatic voter registration Competitive races are a far better way to get voters revved up and headed to voting stations, but that’s not always going to happen, unfortunately. From the AP’s Steve LeBlanc at Boston.com: “The lackluster turnout in some municipal elections this week has energized advocates hoping to make it easier for people to register to vote. The activists want state lawmakers to adopt something known as automatic voter registration — a system that automatically updates voters’ information whenever they alert one of several state agencies of a change of address or other pertinent change in their status.” Boston.com

Today's Headlines Metro Democracy cafe comes to Boston - WGBH How much is a liquor license? In Cambridge, it depends - Boston Globe Massachusetts After 11 months, unpaid tolls hit $32 million - CommonWealth Magazine North Adams mayor to propose tax plan that would ease commercial burden - Berkshire Eagle AG steps in to address Braintree apartment living conditions - Patriot Ledger Special election win gives Vargas head start on 2018 campaign - Eagle-Tribune Billerica auto auction faces wrongful-death suit - Lowell Sun Nation Crucial moment in gun debate, 5 years after Sandy Hook - New York Times Tough decisions loom as congressional GOP moves closer to tax-cut plan - Washington Post

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