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Presented by JUUL Labs
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF!
WEST COAST WELD — Former Gov. Bill Weld might be an East Coast guy, but he's banking on West Coast voters to give him a boost in the presidential primary against President Donald Trump.
"I would predict that I would win the California primary over Mr. Trump," Weld said during an appearance on NECN's "DC Dialogue" show, which airs Sunday.
Performing well in the Golden State would help Weld make a racket at the Republican National Convention — the California Republican Party will divvy up its delegates based on proportion of the primary vote this cycle. That's unlike many states, including Weld's home turf of Massachusetts, which will use a winner-take-all format to award delegates.
But Weld faces the same problem in California that he faces nationally. Republicans are pretty happy with Trump. Around 80 percent of California Republicans approve of Trump's job performance, according to a recent poll.
While Weld continues to hammer the president on television and during trips to New Hampshire, his message isn't sticking with Republican voters. Eighty-four percent of Republican and Republican-leaning voters say they will vote for Trump in the primary, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released April 30. Only 3 percent say they will vote for Weld. The former governor will hold a meet-and-greet in Exeter, N.H. tomorrow.
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 attends the 401 Park ribbon cutting. Attorney General Maura Healey speaks at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts annual meeting. Sen. Ed Markey attends a legislative luncheon in Westport and tours the Manet Community Health Center in Taunton. Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley holds office hours during his morning commute via bicycle.
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A message from JUUL Labs:
Youth vaping is a problem. We're taking action. No youth or non-nicotine user should ever try JUUL products. We've taken a series of actions to greatly reduce youth use of tobacco products, including our own. Learn more about our youth prevention efforts: JUUL.com/youth-prevention
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Frustrated With Beacon Hill, School Funding Supporters Fill Boston Common In Protest," by Mike Deehan, WGBH News:"Hundreds of public school teachers, students and supporters joined organized labor leaders on the Boston Common Thursday to demand that lawmakers on Beacon Hill provide more funding for local schools. Standing on stage, with the State House dome in the background, Boston NAACP president Tanisha Sullivan said school funding is a racial justice issue because the current formula gives wealthy white communities more from the state than communities of color. "Working class families are the backbone of our economy. They are the engine that keeps this commonwealth running ... and the children growing up in those families deserve the same access and support as children from more wealthy families," Sullivan said."
- "Beacon Hill lawmakers drag their feet on sports betting," by Andy Rosen, Boston Globe: "The state Legislature is unlikely to decide whether to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts before the fall, two key lawmakers said Thursday. That means another football season will begin without any legal wagers here, and the state will likely leave millions in revenue on the table. The debate over gambling expansion on Beacon Hill has slowed to a crawl in the year since a US Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for states to legalize wagers on athletic contests, despite an initial burst of enthusiasm that Massachusetts would be among the first to act. In the meantime, a dozen states, including Rhode Island, have moved to join Nevada in authorizing sports bets. Industry players, including sports leagues, casinos, and online gaming companies, have backed some form of legalization here. And Governor Charlie Baker has put his weight behind the push, proposing legislation in January that he said would generate some $35 million in taxes and licensing fees in the coming fiscal year."
- "Massachusetts AG Maura Healey: Investigation into state police overtime scandal isn't over," Scott J. Croteau, Springfield Republican: ""It's not over." That was the statement made by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey when she was asked about the investigation into the Massachusetts State Police overtime scandal. As charges began to be filed against troopers last year, both in state and federal court, Healey told reporters she expected more indictments in the future. Healey said that in September 2018. As of Thursday, three troopers were charged by her office in state court. Another six troopers were charged in federal court as well, with all of them pleading guilty to embezzlement charges."
- "GALVIN WANTS EARLY VOTING AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Ten months before the 2020 Massachusetts presidential primary, Secretary of State William Galvin is trying to force lawmakers to decide whether to expand early voting and give voters five extra days beginning in February cast their ballots. Galvin, who has previously backed an expansion of early voting to include the presidential primary election, drafted a proposal that Sen. Michael Brady, of Brockton, has filed as an amendment to the state budget. If adopted when the Senate debates its version of the fiscal 2020 spending bill next week, the question of early voting in the 2020 primary will move into conference committee negotiations between the House and Senate."
- "Two Days Into Weymouth Gas Compressor Hearings, Safety Of Emissions Disputed," by Craig LeMoult, WGBH News: "Two days into testimony over an appeal of the state Department of Environmental Protection's approval of a natural gas compressor station in Weymouth, some witnesses have raised concern about the safety of the station's expected emissions, while others testified that any toxins released would be within safety limits. The DEP issued an air quality permit for the project in January, allowing the project to move forward. Opponents of the compressor station filed an appeal, which is what's being considered in this week's hearings. Compressor stations increase the pressure of natural gas in pipelines, speeding the movement of the gas so it can travel further."
- "Is The Mass. GOP Charlie Baker's Party — Or Donald Trump's?" WGBH News. Link.
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "15 Years After Massachusetts Legalized Same-Sex Marriage, The Fight For Equality Continues," by Gabrielle Emanuel, WGBH News: "Same-sex marriage seemed impossible — until the first couples wed in Massachusetts 15 years ago. Both proponents and opponents were energized as wedding bells rang across the state. Catapulted into the limelight, the issue of marriage equality dominated much of the political and social discourse for the next decade. Now, same-sex marriage is legal nationwide, and public support has grown significantly. But, as people involved on both sides of the landmark lawsuit that made gay and lesbian marriages a reality look back, they say, the fight is not over."
- "Campbell seeks details on funds for violence prevention," by Jennifer Smith, Dorchester Reporter: "As Boston Police districts in Dorchester and South Boston begin training with new body cameras, efforts to address spikes in violence and the resulting long-term trauma are ongoing at the city and local level. City Council President Andrea Campbell is calling for a hearing on how violence prevention and intervention funds are being used in the city. Campbell, whose District 4 covers Dorchester and Mattapan and pieces of Jamaica Plain and Roslindale, filed a hearing order at last week's general council meeting."
- "National Grid's 7-month lockout cost utility $362 million," by Jonathan Ng, Boston Herald: "National Grid said the work done by contractors during the seven-month lockout in Massachusetts cost the company $362 million, according to its annual financial report. "During the protracted labour dispute, we brought in contractors and additional supervision to ensure that we completed our work safely, particularly during the peak winter months when there are increased volumes and costs of jobs," said National Grid CEO John Pettigrew in a statement Thursday. "As a result of this we incurred an exceptional charge of £283 million to deliver a reliable and safe service." Nearly 1,250 union workers were locked out by the London-based utility in late June after a previous collective bargaining agreement expired and negotiations broke down. In January, the two unions representing the workers voted to ratify a new contract agreement that will last for another five and a half years."
- "An Alternative to Boston Calling Is Brewing in Dorchester: 'Boston Answering,'" by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: "Last year, when Boston hip hop artists Cousin Stizz and STL GLD were on the lineup, Dorchester's Cliff Notez was thrilled to show up and support his friends at Boston Calling. It felt good, he says, to see two stars of the city's hip hop scene on stage at the three-day event, which draws tens of thousands to the Harvard Athletic Complex each year and is now considered one of the top music festivals in the country. But when the list of acts booked for the 2019 edition of the festival was announced in January, it felt like a let-down, he says. There were no Boston hip hop acts to be found."
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| THE OPINION PAGES |
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Federal judge allows ACLU's class action suit on behalf of undocumented spouses to extend to all of New England," by Jacqueline Tempera, MassLive.com: "A federal judge ruled Thursday that an ACLU lawsuit challenging a Trump administration practice of arresting undocumented immigrants visiting federal offices hoping to secure their legal status can be extended to all of New England, potentially adding "hundreds or thousands" of similarly situated couples to the lawsuit. Judge Mark Wolf allowed the suit to extend to all of New England - the area covered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Boston field office during a hearing in a Boston federal court on Thursday."
- "Alexander Hamilton letter stolen from the Massachusetts Archives decades ago by former employee is found; government now wants it back," Scott J. Croteau, MassLive.com: "A letter written by Alexander Hamilton in 1780 and stolen from the Massachusetts Archives decades ago by a former employee has been found, according to a recent filing in federal court. The government now wants it back. A prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts filed a forfeiture complaint in federal court in Boston Wednesday asking a judge to order the letter be given back to the government. According to the complaint, Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States, wrote a letter dated July 21, 1780 to Marquis De Lafayette, a Frenchman who fought in the American Revolutionary War."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Drain the swamp? Warren says it's time to stem Pentagon-to-lobbying revolving door," by Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY:"Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren said Thursday she wants to implement new ethics rules that would require former senior military officers and top Pentagon civilians wait at least four years before they can be employed by private defense contractors who do business with the U.S. Defense Department. Watchdog groups for years have decried the revolving door of retired generals, admirals and civilian brass who jump from their Pentagon posts to lucrative positions at major defense contractors who do billions of dollars of business annually with the U.S. government."
- "Elizabeth Warren's war on Fox News puts her party in a tough spot," Aaron Blake, The Washington Post: "For the better part of the past few months, HBO host Bill Maher has been pleading with Democrats to go on Fox News. It's not that he agrees with Fox's programming or journalism; he just thinks Democrats need it to win. Even if there aren't many gettable votes, he says, "You got to get in the bubble." Elizabeth Warren is going in an entirely different direction, though. And the pressure is on her opponents and party to decide what to do about it."
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| KENNEDY COMPOUND |
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- "The U.S. Is About to Decide if LGBTQ People Truly Count as Citizens," by Rep. Joe Kennedy III, Vice: "Discrimination against LGBTQ people is still legal in 30 states. But this week, the House of Representatives will debate and vote on legislation that would end such legal discrimination. Because of the activists and advocates of the civil rights movement, discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, sex, and national origin was deemed illegal in the U.S. in the 1960s. By amending the Civil Rights Act to extend its protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity, the Equality Act promises freedom from discrimination to LGBTQ people in the contexts of housing, credit, public accommodations, education, federal financial assistance, and jury duty."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "Mass. Regulators Endorse Policy That Could Lead To Pilot Program For Cannabis Cafes," by Steve Brown, WBUR: "It will probably be more than a year before the first "cannabis cafe" can open its doors. But, on Thursday, the Cannabis Control Commission narrowly approved a policy that may lead to a pilot program to allow limited locations where people could consume marijuana products in public. There are indications the commission may still decide to wait until the fall — or even later — to approve regulations, but the group will decide on that in two weeks. Commissioner Shaleen Title supports social consumption sites, and said there's a need for that type of business.
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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- "A Long Talk With Seth Moulton," by Gabriel Debenedetti, New York Magazine: "Seth Moulton, the Massachusetts congressman who's best known for trying to topple Nancy Pelosi after the 2018 midterms, is insisting that voters are over that, and that the pair of Bostonians who just greeted him are atypical. We're sitting in a loud sandwich shop near the statehouse, and a woman has just stopped by our table to wish him luck in his long-shot presidential run, while the man at her side looks more skeptical, because, he tells Moulton, "I like Nancy Pelosi!" Moulton, of course, is not running a presidential campaign about the Speaker of the House. He's trying to put national security front and center, after successfully working with a wide range of fellow veteran candidates in the 2018 midterms. "If someone asks about health care, I talk about how I'm the only candidate in this race who has single-payer health care, and what that means," he tells me, referring to the Veterans Affairs system. For Moulton, like almost everyone else in the race, the hard part will be breaking through in the 20-something person field. But his task is also to establish a national profile apart from his Pelosi experience."
- OUCH: "Lawrence mayor says Moulton, others should drop out," by Keith Eddings, The Salem News: "Between retweeting mundane comments by the city's public works and police departments Thursday about replacing water pipes and closing streets, Mayor Daniel Rivera had a tweet for the two dozen or so Democrats running for president. Enough already. "Looking more like a circus then (sic) a primary!" Rivera tweeted, responding to news that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio entered the race of Democratic presidential wannabes earlier Thursday...Where are the party leaders on this matter? Where's the person who says to Seth Moulton, 'What are you doing?' Then goes to the press and says, ' We love the congressman, but he shouldn't be running for president.'"
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "NEXT UP: CUP!" — Globe: "Lawmakers drag feet on sports betting," "$30m awarded for child's injuries," "CLOSING IN ON THE CUP." |
| EYE ON 2020 |
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- "LIVELY PASSES ON RUN FOR CONGRESS, BLAMES "BAKER MACHINE,'" by Matt Murphy, State House News Service:"Conservative pastor and former GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Lively said Thursday he would not run for Congress in 2020 after challenging Gov. Charlie Baker last year, blaming the "Baker Machine" and its hold over the state Republican Party. Lively, who earned 36 percent of the Republican primary vote for governor in 2018, said earlier this year that he was exploring a run for Congress, potentially in any of the state's nine Congressional districts. The controversial Springfield pastor, however, pulled the plug on those ambitions Thursday, describing Baker's control over the MassGOP as an insurmountable obstacle."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Southbridge teacher allegedly plants live round of ammo in school," by Brian Lee, Telegram & Gazette: "A high school science teacher was arrested Thursday morning on charges he allegedly planted a live 9 mm round of ammunition at his school as a means to bring metal detectors to the facility on Torrey Road. The teacher, Alfred J. Purcell III, allegedly placed the live round in a rear stairwell, returned, and created a commotion when he reported to school staff via a radio system that he had found it, police said. The teacher, according to authorities, admitted he was trying to bring attention to concerns about school safety. The teacher told authorities it needs more security, specifically metal detectors in the facility, which is a combined building for middle and high school students."
SPOTTED: 2016 presidential candidate Martin O'Malley introducing Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley at his reelection kickoff at the Squealing Pig. Matt O'Malley was Martin O'Malley's surrogate at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention. Tweet.
TRANSITIONS - Jennifer Braceras and Ann Sullivan join Mass Fiscal's board of directors.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Ralph Neas, who is 73.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Bruins beat the Hurricanes 4-0.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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A message from JUUL Labs:
We're combating the problem of underage vaping by: Advocating for raising the legal age to purchase our products to 21+ nationwide. Stopping the sale of non-tobacco and non-menthol based flavored JUULpods to traditional retail stores. Enhancing our online age verification process. Strengthening our retail compliance program with over 2,000 secret shopper visits per month. Shutting down our Facebook and Instagram accounts and working to remove inappropriate social media content generated by others on those platforms. And investing in new technologies to further prevent youth use. JUUL.com/youth-prevention |
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