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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
SHOULD SETH RUN? — Rep. Seth Moulton is running — ads on Instagram, that is. The Salem Democrat is asking social media users whether they "want to see Seth run for higher office" in digital advertisements paid for by Seth Moulton for Congress. The ad, which was spotted on Instagram and posted to Twitter , shows a photo of Moulton and boxes that say "yes" and "no." (His office confirmed it's real.) The caption on the photo touts Moulton's military service, his legislative record and his focus on "creating a new economic agenda that will make a difference for American families."
Moulton has made recent trips to Iowa and Nevada, and will make a decision on his 2020 prospects by the end of the month. He does not plan to travel again until he makes a decision, his office says.
And while Moulton weighs his options, another North Shore official has an eye on his House seat. Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said taking her local government experience to Washington "may not be a bad thing" if Moulton seeks the White House, during an appearance on WCVB's "On the Record" on Sunday.
"If he decides to do something different, I think I'd have to have a discussion," Driscoll said. "After 14 years in office, I think it's only natural you think about what might come next for me, what are some of the options that exist out there?"
After Moulton's push to oust Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker backfired late last year, Driscoll's name was floated among Democratic activists in the district, who were hoping support a primary challenger against Moulton. At that time, Driscoll said she had "no intention" of running against Moulton. But if he's gone, who knows?
STEYER AND MORSE MEET FOR LUNCH — Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and Tom Steyer dined at Nadim's Downtown Mediterranean Grill in Springfield while the billionaire was in town for his Need to Impeach campaign last month. The pair talked about the impeachment effort and how local governments can combat climate change, according to Morse and a Steyer spokesman.
Steyer spent a quarter of a million dollars on television and digital ads, staff and billboards to push House Ways and Means Chair Rep. Richard Neal to request President Donald Trump's tax returns and get the ball rolling on impeachment.
Neal delivered on his promise to seek Trump's taxes last week, which he says took careful planning because it will likely turn into a lengthy legal fight. The Trump administration already skipped the first congressional deadline for turning over the returns. And in the time since Neal requested Trump's tax returns, Steyer spokesman Doug Rubin said they've changed the billboards to thank the congressman and launched a national ad campaign demanding a full release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report.
According to Rubin, Steyer's not focused on finding a primary challenger to run against Neal, and Steyer himself told me the same thing on several occasions. Morse and Rubin told me running against Neal was not discussed over lunch at Nadim's. So why did Steyer go out to eat with an up-and-coming progressive in Neal's district? Morse says Steyer was interested in meeting with local organizers in the area.
But asked about running against Neal that 1st District seat in 2020, or in a few years, Morse didn't totally rule it out. The mayor has been in office since 2011, when he was elected at age 22. And Morse has been a rising star in Western Mass politics. He was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2018.
"I love my job and I'm very happy working for the people of Holyoke," Morse told me over text last night. "While many constituents have reached out to ask about my future plans, I'm focused on my current job and haven't made any decisions beyond that."
Steyer will be back in New England on April 16, when he talks about his impeachment push at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm's College in Manchester, N.H.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker speaks to the New England Council.The Joint Committee on Revenue and Joint Committee on Health Care Financing hold hearings. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attends the Department of the Navy Forum for Small Business INnovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer at UMass Lowell. Baker and Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack attend a MassDOT Work Zone safety event.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh attends the Age Strong Senior Spring Fling, a ribbon cutting at the Don Orione Adult Day Health Center in East Boston and the Alpha Omega Council Boston Marathon wreath laying at the State House. The Senate meets in formal session.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "House Budget Chops Baker's Taxes, Boosts Local Aid," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "House leadership is rolling out a $42.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2020 on Wednesday, a spending plan that largely mirrors Gov. Charlie Baker's proposal but eschews his revenue-raising ideas like new tax on vaping and opioid manufacturers. The proposal, which the House is expected to debate in formal sessions the week of April 22, would boost total state spending by 3 percent over the current year's budget and came in with a bottom line almost identical — but slightly below — what Baker proposed. The budget includes no increases to broad-based taxes."
- "Budget notes: Beacon Hill assuming Encore will open on time," by Bruce Mohl and Andy Metzger, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING Commission is currently meeting in private, trying to decide whether Wynn Resorts should be allowed to retain its casino license and open on time in June. But budget officials on Beacon Hill are acting as if the decision has already been made. A fiscal 2020 budget proposal put out by the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday counts on $98 million in state tax revenue from the Encore Boston Harbor facility in Everett."
- "TAX VAPING PRODUCTS AND BAN FLAVORS, HEALEY SAYS," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Attorney General Maura Healey joined the growing number of elected officials to call for taxing e-cigarettes and banning flavored vaping products on Wednesday, the same day House leaders said they needed more time to consider whether to tax electronic smoking products or take additional steps to curb vaping by teenagers. Healey, in a speech to business leaders at Bank of America in Boston, said her efforts to go after vaping companies for marketing and selling nicotine products to minors can only accomplish so much to curb youth smoking."
- "Robert DeLeo targets Cultural Council's lavish spending," by Joe Dwinell and Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "The free-spending Mass Cultural Council was hit hard on Beacon Hill today, where House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo wants to clip the group's wings and make it defend its lavish travel spending. The new House Ways and Means budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2020 includes strict language forcing the agency to have oversight and provide more accountability for both in-state and out-of-state travel. The clampdown on spending comes after a series of Herald stories exposing the council's junkets, free cars, dinners out, free parking and more."
- "Suicide prevention advocates bring message to Mass. Statehouse," by Lauren Frias, Telegram & Gazette: "Although Massachusetts ranks 48th out of the 50 states for suicide death rates, it is still the 12th leading cause of death in the state and second leading cause of death for those ages 15-34. Advocates gathered at the Statehouse Wednesday to meet with legislators to request more funding and raise awareness for the 4th annual Suicide Prevention Advocacy Day. The event was hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins says she will 'battle' with Mass. U.S. Attorney over safe injection sites on JVN podcast," by Jacqueline Tempera, MassLive.com: "Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins said she is prepared to battle with the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts over safe injection sites. Rollins spoke about her differences in ideology with U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, a Trump-appointee, on the podcast "Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness" which was recorded March 12 and released on Wednesday. Van Ness is one of the stars of Netflix's 'Queer Eye' but also hosts a podcast on social issues."
- "Vacancies spur city council candidates," by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: "A trio of departing incumbents has ratcheted up interest in this year's Boston City Council races and spurred at least 13 candidates to vie for the soon-to-be vacated seats. District 5 incumbent Timothy McCarthy, District 8 incumbent Josh Zakim and District 9 incumbent Mark Ciommo are bowing out of their respective Hyde Park, Back Bay and Allston-Brighton-based districts. The departure of the incumbents and the emergence of a crop of candidates dominated by women and people of color could mean that for the first time in the council's history white men will be in the minority."
- "Walsh proposes $3.4 billion spending plan, an increase of 5 percent from last year," Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "Mayor Martin J. Walsh submitted a $3.48 billion budget plan to the City Council Wednesday, a spending increase of five percent over the last year, including additional funding to address the city's housing crisis and education. The spending proposal, for the fiscal year that begins July 1, includes $1.139 billion for city schools, the most ever, including $15 million to set up universal pre-kindergarten services for Boston's 4-year-olds, which the mayor has said will happen in five years."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Children's Hospital sues Saudi prince over $3.5m bill for child's care," by Liz Kowalczyk, Boston Globe: "Boston Children's Hospital filed a lawsuit against a Saudi Arabian prince, alleging that he owes the hospital $3.5 million for the care of a Saudi Arabian child whose care he agreed to fund. The lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Boston this week, said the 2-year-old child has been treated at Children's Hospital since November 2017 and is still a patient there. The child, who is not named in the lawsuit, has type 1 spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disease affecting muscle strength and movement that requires lifelong treatment. The costly drug used to treat the condition, Spinraza, is not available in Saudi Arabia, according to the lawsuit."
- "Former member of Suffolk DA's transition team is arrested on domestic violence charges," by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: " A former member of Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins's transition team was arrested by MBTA Transit Police on domestic violence charges, and Rollins said Wednesday the prosecution of Jeremy Thompson will be handled by another office to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Thompson was arrested at the Massachusetts Avenue Station on the MBTA's Orange Line on Monday after he allegedly threatened a T contractor with whom he has a child that he was going to "put you in a box with your mother." Thompson was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on Tuesday on charges of criminal harassment and assault on a family member, and the arraignment was handled by Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Andrew Boulanger, Rollins's office said in a statement."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Warren raises $6 million in first quarter," by Natasha Korecki, POLITICO: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren raised $6 million in the first three months of the year, landing her in the middle of the pack of 2020 candidates and highlighting the difficulty ahead competing for money against more prolific fundraisers like Bernie Sanders and Beto O'Rourke. The Massachusetts Democrat also burned through more than 85 percent of what she raised in the first quarter. While Warren has a comfortable cushion in the bank of funds leftover from her Senate campaign fund, with nearly $11.2 million cash on hand, the early fundraising reveals that Warren is spending like a front-runner but isn't yet raising money like one."
- "Elizabeth Warren releases 2018 tax returns as Democrats push to get Trump's," by Jess Bidgood, Boston Globe: "Senator Elizabeth Warren released her 2018 tax return on Wednesday morning, joining a growing group of Democratic presidential contenders who have made the information public as they seek to use the issue of financial transparency as a cudgel against President Trump. Warren and her husband, Bruce Mann, reported a combined adjusted gross income of $846,394, and had $230,965 in total taxes, according to the return, a drop of about $67,000 from her adjusted gross income in 2017."
- "Elizabeth Warren has opened her presidential campaign headquarters in Charlestown," by Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe: "Elizabeth Warren has moved her presidential campaign operation to Charlestown, settling into a largely residential neighborhood steeped in Revolutionary War history and more recently made famous by Ben Affleck. Warren's team declined to provide an exact address for their new digs, but there's not a lot of office space in the neighborhood. About 60 people moved into the new headquarters earlier this month, the spokeswoman said."
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| DATELINE D.C. |
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- "House Democrats' net neutrality win likely DOA in Senate but poised to become 2020 issue," by John Hendel, POLITICO: The House voted 232-190 Wednesday to revive Obama-era net neutrality regulations in what likely amounts to a short-lived legislative victory — but one that may give Democrats fresh momentum on an issue they hope will feature prominently in the 2020 presidential election. During the House vote, just one Republican joined Democrats to vote for the Save the Internet Act, which would revive Obama-era rules banning broadband providers from blocking and throttling Americans' internet traffic."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "HERE WE GO!" "NEW SCRUTINY FOR ARTS COUNCIL," — Globe: "Children's Hospital sues prince for $3.5m," "One less mystery in our vast universe," "Warren raises $6m in quarter." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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- "Former Mass. Governor and 1988 presidential candidate Michael Dukakis talks 2020 and a lifetime in public service," by Jackson Cote, Daily Collegian: "Former Massachusetts Governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis is 85 years old, but he doesn't appear to be throwing in the towel anytime soon on his career in public service. Dukakis can occasionally be seen picking up litter in Boston, teaching students political science at Northeastern University and riding across the state in a dinged-up 1949 Hudson to advocate for a better public transit system — a cause he has been fighting for since before his three-term tenure as governor."
- "Friendly's skirted layoff laws when it closed 23 restaurants, Sen. Chuck Schumer says," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, criticized Friendly's Wednesday, saying the chain based in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, didn't give employees federally required 60-day layoff notices before closing 22 restaurants in five states over the weekend. Friendly's closed its Waltham, Massachusetts, location a week earlier, making the total 23 over a short period of time."
- "Berkshire delegation says Baker's cuts to LIHEAP 'a shock,'" by Scott Stafford, The Berkshire Eagle: "With the Trump administration trying to eliminate federal funding to aid low-income families with the cost of heat, Gov. Charlie Baker has undercut the Legislature's attempt to make up for cuts to the program by reducing the amount of state funding by $19 million. The Berkshire County delegation is not pleased. "Although the state shouldn't have to provide this funding — it should come from the federal government —this kind of funny business with state money isn't OK," said state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Mayor Mitchell: Legislation a 'game-changer' for school funding," Standard-Times: "Mayor Jon Mitchell is calling State Rep. Antonio Cabral's charter school legislation a "game-changer" for the city and state. "Not only does the current state funding mechanism perpetuate gross inequities at a time when educational opportunities for our children are becoming more and more uneven in Massachusetts," Mitchell testified Tuesday before the Joint Committee on Education in Boston."
- "Housing Authority whistleblower angered by search group nod," by Dustin Luca, The Salem News: "A Salem Housing Authority tenant who spoke out about the board's retirement party spending has been named to the committee that will choose the authority's next director. But Billie McGregor's appointment didn't come without reservations during the Housing Authority Board meeting Wednesday night. McGregor said she was offered a seat on the search committee before the deadline had passed for tenants to apply to serve."
TRANSITIONS - State Rep. Chynah Tyler was elected chair of the Boston Delegation. Tweet.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, Christian Science Monitor Texas reporter Henry Gass, political analyst Todd Domke, Matt Tannenbaum, former Commonwealth Dispensary Association executive director Kevin Gilnack, Ethel Kennedy turns 91, former executive director of the College Republican National Committee Ted Dooley and #1 Playbook fan Darlene Murray.
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