Statement on Proposed Gas Tax Increase

October 30, 2019 Statement on Proposed Gas Tax Increase  Statement by Marie-Frances Rivera, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center President, in response to discussions on increasing the gas tax:  With congested highways, antiquated public transit, and limited transit options outside of Greater Boston, the Legislature and business community are debating the merits of increasing the gas tax to modernize our state's transportation system. It is critically important to understand that not only would this increase hit low and middle income communities the hardest but it would draw on a source of transportation revenue that will likely decline over the long term. Our report, 14 Options for Raising Progressive Revenue, outlines a variety of fair and sustainable ways we can raise revenue, including raising corporate taxes. These options ask those who are benefiting most from economic growth to contribute a little more to help bring our transportation system into the 21st century. If policymakers decide to raise the gas tax, increasing and expanding worker tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, can create a financial buffer for some who would be hardest hit by a gas tax increase. Interested in learning more about the pros and cons of higher gas taxes? Read our latest report here. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 1 STATE STREET, SUITE 1250 BOSTON, MA 02109

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 1 State Street, Suite 1250, Boston, MA 02109

Dukakis: Baker Has No 'Serious Plan For Dealing With Congestion'

900 × 600

Boston Magazine

Dukakis: Baker Has No 

'Serious Plan For Dealing 

With Congestion'

By Arjun Singh

Former Gov. Michael Dukakis thinks that when it comes to managing transportation in the state, Gov. Charlie Baker has been doing “not so hot.” To Dukakis, who was famous for being spotted on the MBTA, the governor has no vision when it comes to the potential of public transportation throughout Massachusetts.

“You’ve got to have a plan,” Dukakis said during an interview with Boston Public Radio on Friday. “What’s the vision? What’re you trying to do here?”

Dukakis has long advocated for the North-South Rail Link, a proposal to add a rail line that connects North and South station. Advocates of the system say it will open up public land for sale or development, make commute times shorter, and most importantly reduce the congestion that has been plaguing Boston.

Baker has been firm in his opposition to the project. In September, the Baker administration released an assessment of the potential costs of the North-South Rail Link that said it could cost anywhere from $12 billion to $21.5 billion. Advocates, however, criticized the report for not taking into account potential costs savings. In a 2015 op-ed, Dukakis and former Gov. Bill Weld claimed that the connection could save $2 billion that will be needed to create layover facilities in Allston and South Boston to grapple with the increasing congestion both stations are experiencing.

Dukakis also criticized Baker’s narrow focus on fixing the MBTA’s core system and called for an investment in the creation of a regional rail network that can connect Boston to other gateway cities and other existing transit lines in other states.

“This is not complicated stuff,” Dukakis said. “You know, the rail network exists out there. It’s just a question of fixing it up and putting management and good equipment on it.”

Dukakis also said that Baker has not proposed a “serious plan for dealing with congestion yet.” For Dukakis, the key to solving Boston’s transportation crisis is expanding the MBTA’s rail network to other cities. Once that is done, Dukakis believes, it will reduce the high demand for housing in Boston and improve economic productivity throughout the state.

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: NEAL backs IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY — BAKER bans VAPE SALES for now — WU tops CITY COUNCIL ticket

NEAL backs IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY — BAKER bans VAPE SALES for now — WU tops CITY COUNCIL ticket

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY Presented by Tobacco Free Kids GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. NEAL TO HOLD KEY ROLE IN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY — Rep. Richard Neal went from being quiet on whether to impeach President Donald Trump to a key player in the coming impeachment inquiry yesterday. The House Ways and Means chief is among the six committee chairs in charge of handling what comes next, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced yesterday. Neal had been one of the final members of the Massachusetts delegation to weigh in on the impeachment conversation. That changed last night. "I believe we have now reached a tipping point. The extraordinary reports this week that President Trump encouraged the Ukrainian president to investigate the son of Vice President Joe Biden, and withheld nearly $400 million in military aid in the process, has taken us to a new stage," Neal said in a statement. "It is time that President Trump be held accountable for his actions." Neal had faced criticism from his primary opponent Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse for his go-slow impeachment stance. Additionally, presidential candidate Tom Steyer used his Need to Impeach campaign earlier this year to spend more than a quarter of a million dollars in Neal's district to push the Springfield lawmaker toward suing for Trump's tax returns and supporting impeachment. Also on board now is Rep. Stephen Lynch, who had been on the fence about impeachment until after the inquiry was announced yesterday evening. "President Trump's actions, currently undisputed, are an attack on our Democracy, national security and rule of law, and warrant the commencement of formal impeachment proceedings," Lynch wrote in a tweet. He explained his thinking during an interview on WCVB last night. KENNEDY TEAMS UP WITH ARIZONA SENATOR — Rep. Joe Kennedy III and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema are teaming up to launch a joint fundraising committee, as Kennedy begins his primary battle for Sen. Ed Markey's seat in the Senate. The Kennedy Sinema Victory Fund was filed with the FEC and went online Monday. Sinema was an early Kennedy supporter, and endorsed him a few weeks ago before he formally announced his campaign. "Joe Kennedy is an outstanding champion for his state," Sinema told POLITICO earlier this month. "He's a fresh thinker who can bring people together to get things done. He will make a terrific U.S. senator, and I couldn't be more proud to support my friend." KHAZEI ENTERS RACE TO FILL KENNEDY'S SEAT — Alan Khazei, the founder of education nonprofit City Year, became the third candidate running to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy III yesterday. Khazei joins former Wall Street regulator Ihssane Leckey and Newton City Councilor Becky Walker Grossman as candidates officially in the race. "We have to get beyond Trump and find our common purpose again, and understand that we have more that unites us than divides us. And the best way to do that is by standing shoulder to shoulder from all different backgrounds and the common cause of service," Khazei, who lives in Brookline, told me yesterday. "And this is what my whole life's work has been about." A number of other likely candidates are waiting in the wings, including Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, who has filed with the FEC and recently poll-tested the race, and Jesse Mermell, who recently resigned her post at the Alliance for Business Leadership with plans to launch a campaign. Count out would-be candidates state Sen. Paul Feeney and state Rep. Tommy Vitolo, who said they will not run yesterday. Khazei said he is undeterred by what could be a crowded field of Democrats in the 4th District race. Khazei has run for Senate twice in the last decade — first in a 2010 special election and again in 2012, when Sen. Elizabeth Warren won the seat. "No matter who gets in or who gets out, I believe that I bring a unique skill set and a life experience of more than 30 years of building coalitions and bringing people together and actually accomplishing big things, like City Year," Khazei said. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito speaks at a MetroWest STEM Education Network meeting at Framingham State University. Polito chairs a meeting of the Governor's Council, and attends a ribbon cutting for 75 Commercial Street in Brockton. Rep. Katherine Clark is a guest on "Morning Joe" to discuss why the House initiated impeachment. Karl Rove speaks at Tufts University. The House meets in formal session. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speaks at a Senior Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.   A message from Tobacco Free Kids: E-cigarettes are hooking a new generation, thanks to massive doses of nicotine and thousands of kid-friendly flavors. This public health emergency threatens decades of progress in lowering youth tobacco use. We must take flavored e-cigarettes off the market, stand up to companies like JUUL, and protect our kids. Learn More.     NEW—POLITICO's UNITED NATIONS PLAYBOOK: The 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will jam some of the world's most influential leaders into four blocks in Gotham. POLITICO's man-about-town Ryan Heath will take you inside UNGA—revealing juicy details from the lighter-side of the gathering and insights into the most pressing global issues facing decision-makers today. Sign up for U.N. Playbook.     DATELINE BEACON HILL - "Baker bans flavored vaping products, e-cigarettes," by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: "Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday declared a public health emergency on vaping and ordered a four-month ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and marijuana-infused vape products. The executive order, which was approved by the state Public Health Council, goes into effect immediately and requires all vaping products and devices to be pulled from store shelves. Baker said the temporary ban is needed to allow medical experts to investigate a national outbreak of a vaping-related lung disease that has killed nine people and sickened hundreds." - "Industry sets stage for film tax credit fight," by Andy Metzger, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE STATE'S CONTROVERSIAL film tax credit is due to expire on December 31, 2022, and that would mean curtains for several job-creating local businesses that have sprung up around the celluloid gravy train. The film tax credit debate should be interesting. It's a maxim on Beacon Hill that it's easier to block legislation from passing than it is to win passage of a new law. Defenders of the tax credit have so far been successful in warding off attempts by the Senate and Gov. Charlie Baker to rein in its cost, but eliminating the sunset means having to go on the offensive and get new legislation passed. The campaign to eliminate the sunset provision has some backers who are big figures in the Bay State film business but whose names and faces never grace a marquee or movie poster." - "HOUSE TO TAKE UP OCPF APPOINTMENT, CAMPAIGN REPORTING BILL," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "When the state's top campaign finance regulator Michael Sullivan was reappointed last November, then-Republican Party Chairwoman Kirsten Hughes put his name in nomination. Democratic Party Chairman Gus Bickford seconded Hughes's motion, and the vote, including Secretary of State William Galvin, was unanimous, as is required. However, Sullivan's confirmation to another six-year term as director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance could be the last time the heads of the state's two major political parties have a say in who enforces state campaign finance law." - "Coincidence? Two big donors chosen in low-number license plate lottery," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "In this year's low-number license plate lottery, 13,652 applicants sought just 231 eligible plates. James Coghlin of Shrewsbury walked away with plate 4969, according to results posted by the state. Nancy Coghlin, who in campaign finance records shares the same Shrewsbury address as James, was also a winner. She's getting plate 56D from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. State campaign finance records show both James Coghlin and Nancy Coghlin are regular and heavy contributors, donating year after year to Gov. Charlie Baker, Shrewsbury residents Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Rep. Hannah Kane, and a long list of other central Massachusetts elected officials." FROM THE HUB - "Wu Tops Boston City Council Ticket As Women Make Historic Gains," by Mike Deehan, WGBH News: "The ballot for Boston's City Council general election will feature more female candidates than ever before, with at least 13 women and 8 men vying for 13 seats on a panel that had only one female member as recently as 2013. Crowded races for open district and At-Large seats did not lead to crowds at Boston's polls Tuesday, with voter turnout failing to match the enthusiasm of over three dozen candidates. At-Large Councilor Michelle Wu captured the most votes, with each of her fellow council incumbents making the ballot for the Nov. 5 general election. Wu received 19.4 percent of the at-large vote, putting considerable distance between her and second place finisher Annissa Essaibi George's 13.85 percent and third place Michael Flaherty's 13.68 percent." - "In a pioneering campaign, Boston's new Age Strong Commission takes on ageism," by Robert Weisman, Boston Globe: "In increasingly woke Boston, some call it the last socially acceptable bias. But now city officials are challenging ageism in a multimedia campaign that seeks to promote positive views on aging and to excise offensive adjectives — cranky, senile, frumpy, fragile — about older people. "We want to make sure we're confronting stereotypes about aging," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh." - "Poll: Most biotech workers angry about commutes," by Andy Metzger, CommonWealth Magazine: "The state's biotech workers are stressed out and strapped for time because of bad traffic and unreliable transit, and that is spurring some to consider changing how they get to work or even moving somewhere else. A survey conducted in July by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council of 2,133 professionals in the industry found that 79 percent had been late for work because of public transit delays, and 58 percent of public transit commuters who also have access to a car have considered switching to driving in the past month." - "Who's Laughing With the Harvard Lampoon?" by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: "Before Jenny Baker even laid eyes on the latest issue of Harvard's storied student humor magazine, she doubted it would make her laugh. On a Saturday night in mid-May, with finals season under way and her spring semester winding to a close, a friend had tipped her off that the Harvard Lampoon featured a racy Photoshopped image depicting—of all things—Holocaust diarist Anne Frank. She sat, floored for a moment. This can't actually be a thing, she thought. Making fun of the Holocaust? But over lunch the next day in the ornate dining hall at Kirkland House, her friend cracked open a copy of the magazine so Baker could see for herself." PRIMARY SOURCES - "Joe Kennedy's 'people's pledge' proposal isn't going over well with his primary opponents," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "It's back. Just days after officially announcing his primary campaign against Sen. Ed Markey over the weekend, Rep. Joe Kennedy is calling for a so-called "people's pledge" to limit third-party spending in the four-way race. Kennedy's campaign said it reached out to his three opponents Tuesday morning, suggesting the candidates would have to make a donation to charity if an outside group pays for advertising or direct mailers on their behalf." - "Kennedy doubles down on Trump impeachment, meets with Sun editors," by Luke O'Roark, The Lowell Sun: "Congressman Joe Kennedy III joined Sun editors Tom Shattuck and Chris Scott during a 23-minute podcast Tuesday evening, doubling down on his call for the impeachment of President Donald Trump and attempting to differ from incumbent Sen. Ed Markey. Kennedy, who announced his campaign for Markey's senate seat during the weekend and visited Dracut and Fitchburg Saturday for his campaign kickoff, told the Sun editors he has confidence in U.S. senators to impeach Trump after the president allegedly tried to get Ukraine officials to investigate 2020 U.S. Presidential candidate Joe Biden." - "GOLDBERG GAUGING VOTER SUPPORT FOR CONGRESS RUN," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "When Treasurer Deborah Goldberg filed a statement of candidacy last week to run for Congressman Joseph Kennedy's seat, there was more behind the move than just signaling her interest before an open race had been assured. As people waited for Kennedy's decision on a U.S. Senate run, Goldberg's campaign immediately commissioned a poll of the 4th District to gauge her support against others known to be considering runs for Kennedy's seat should it open up." - "Alex Morse calls for impeachment of President Donald Trump, calls Rep. Richard Neal 'obstacle' in holding White House accountable," by Michelle Williams, MassLive.com: "Alex Morse joined other Democrats Tuesday in calling for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. "It's long past time for Congress to do its constitutional duty and begin immediate impeachment proceedings against this president," Morse said. "Not preliminary hearings, and not a new, months-long investigation - but impeachment, full stop." Recent reports that Trump pressured the president of Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden after freezing U.S. aid to the nation has led to a growing number of lawmakers to support impeachment proceedings, including moderate Democrats." - "Foxboro Democrat Feeney opts against run for Congress," by Jim Hand, Sun Chronicle: "The race to succeed Rep. Joseph Kennedy III in Congress got its first official candidate Tuesday, but a local figure decided to take a pass on a run for the office. State Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxboro, said he believes Congress has become dysfunctional and could use a working class influence like himself, but will not be running. He said he thought seriously about it, but decided he could do his best work in Boston, not Washington, at this time." DAY IN COURT ANOTHER CHARLIE BAKER POLITICAL HACK WHO CAN'T DO HIS JOB! - "Mass. Commission on Judicial Conduct investigates Judge Richard Sinnott, who refused to drop charges against Straight Pride counterprotesters," by Colin A. Young | State House News Service: "The state's Commission on Judicial Conduct has opened a formal investigation of Boston Municipal Court Judge Richard Sinnott, a Gov. Charlie Baker appointee who refused requests from the district attorney's office to drop charges against some counter-protesters who clashed with police at an event in Boston late last month." - "Fall River City Councilors File Injunction To Keep Mayor Jasiel Correia Out Of Office," by Tori Bedford, WGBH News: "Fall River City Council members filed a preliminary injunction Tuesday against Mayor Jasiel Correia, the latest development in an ongoing dispute over Correia's fitness to serve in office while facing multiple federal charges. In a statement, the council said they "filed this action to safeguard the City, its finances, residents, visitors, and businesses.." WARREN REPORT - "Warren announces $10 million-plus ad buy in early states," by Alex Thompson, POLITICO: "Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign on Tuesday announced an early-state ad campaign of at least $10 million, suggesting that the Massachusetts senator is continuing to raise big money from grass-roots donors after an anemic start. The campaign told POLITICO that a digital ad campaign would begin immediately and that they are currently reserving television time, with the entire buy ramping up over the next few months. The campaign declined to say when its spending on digital and TV ads would reach eight figures." - "Warren surges ahead of Biden in New Hampshire poll," by Steven Shepard, POLITICO: "New polling conducted since the last Democratic presidential primary debate shows Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden separating from the pack — and notably, from Bernie Sanders — in three key early-voting states. A Monmouth University poll conducted in New Hampshire and released Tuesday gives Warren a 2-point lead over Biden, 27 percent to 25 percent, well within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. Sanders, who trounced Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire in 2016 with 61 percent of the vote, is a distant third, at just 12 percent. He's followed closely by Pete Buttigieg with 10 percent. Kamala Harris of California is fifth, with only 3 percent." MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS - "Cannabis commission approves marijuana deliveries," by Dan Adams, Boston Globe: "First, there were marijuana stores. Next up in the state's burgeoning recreational market? Weed on wheels. Legal marijuana deliveries are set to begin next year in Massachusetts, after the Cannabis Control Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to grant final approval to a tightly regulated system of store-to-door pot commerce that initially gives priority to smaller, local businesses. Commissioner Jen Flanagan cast the lone "nay," citing public health and safety concerns."       ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "CLOUD CONTROL," "RISKY MOVE," — Globe: "A step toward impeachment." FROM THE 413 - "Westfield mayoral candidates Donald Humason, Michael McCabe advance to general election," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "City Police Capt. Michael A. McCabe and state Sen. Donald F. Humason will face each other in the general election Nov. 5 for mayor of Westfield. According to unofficial results, Humason had 1,793 votes and McCabe had 1,689. McCabe and Humason bested Andrew Mullen and Kristen L. Mello in a four-person preliminary. The top two finishers won the right to advance to the November general election. Humason is a Republican and caucuses as such in the state Senate. But municipal elections are nonpartisan. If Humason wins, he said he'll give up his state Senate seat." THE LOCAL ANGLE WHERE IS CHARLIE BAKER? CHARLIE BAKER DIDN'T ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND HAS REMAINED SILENT...IS THIS LEADERSHIP? OR MORE OF CHARLIE BAKER FAILING TO SPEAK ILL OF A BIG CORPORATION?  - "Federal safety officials call for stronger regulations following Merrimack Valley gas explosions," by The Associated Press: "Federal officials are recommending stronger nationwide requirements for natural gas systems following last September's natural gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts. The National Transportation Safety Board says Tuesday that gas utilities should be required to install gas additional safeguards to pipeline systems similar to the one involved in the Sept. 13, 2018, disaster. It also recommended states require all natural gas infrastructure projects be reviewed by a licensed professional engineer." - "Businesses and users react after Gov. Baker declares 4-month ban on vaping products." by Henry Schwan, MetroWest Daily News: "Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday announced a four-month ban on the sale of all vaping products in Massachusetts. Baker made the announcement at a press conference where he said he was declaring a public health emergency in connection with vaping-related lung illnesses. Hundreds of cases of the illness have been reported nationwide and Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel has already ordered all cases to be reported to the Department of Public Health for the next year." - "Locals react to Trump impeachment inquiry," by Ethan Forman, The Salem News: ""House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's announcement Tuesday of the start a formal impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump is "a sad time in American history," said Democrat Arthur Powell of Beverly. "It's important for the American people to know what's going on," said Powell, a member of the Democratic State Committee for the 2nd Essex District. Powell said the investigation will be both lengthy and divisive. The furor revolves around a call Trump made to the Ukrainian president in July." MEDIA MATTERS - "Headcount at GateHouse's New England dailies has shrunk 20% this year," by Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal: "Even as top executives at GateHouse Media's parent company have been negotiating the terms of a merger with Gannett Co. Inc. over the course of this year, they have also been conducting more layoffs. New Media Investment Group Inc. (NYSE: NEWM) never announced the layoffs and has not specified how many employees have been affected by the cuts. But interviews in recent weeks with more than a dozen current and former employees at the 10 daily newspapers that make up the company's largest single geographic region — Gatehouse New England — have revealed that overall headcount at the region's newsrooms has fallen from 212 to 170 this year alone." REMEMBERING STATE REP. MARIE PARENTE ... from the Telegram & Gazette: " Former state Rep. Marie Parente has died at age 91. The lifelong Milford resident died Friday of natural causes after a brief illness, family members said. A dedicated public servant, Parente was the town's first female member of the Board of Selectmen when elected in 1972. After nine years on the board, she became a state representative, a position she held for a quarter century." Link. FOR YOUR COMMUTE: Welcome to the Jungle Primary. On this week's Horse Race podcast, Steve Koczela and I run through the top moments from the Massachusetts Democratic state convention in Springfield last weekend. State House News Service reporter Chris Lisinski breaks down a proposed ballot question that aimed to change the way primaries are conducted here, and has the backing of Secretary of State Bill Galvin. And Rich Parr from the MassINC Polling Group gives us the lowdown on how transportation advocates in Western Mass are joining forces. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Nicco Mele of the Harvard Kennedy School (h/t Jon Haber); Emma Sands, NH deputy press secretary to Beto O'Rourke and a Mass Treasury alum; and Jonathan Cohn. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Red Sox beat the Rangers 12-10. 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 Tobacco Free Kids: There's a public health crisis spreading across the country - and it's small enough to fit in your kid's pocket. E-cigarettes are hooking a new generation, thanks to Big Tobacco tricks like slick marketing, massive doses of nicotine, and thousands of kid-friendly flavors. Now, 5 million kids - including 1 in 4 high schoolers - use e-cigarettes. This growing public health emergency threatens decades of progress in lowering youth tobacco use. And it's getting worse. We're building a nationwide movement to confront this crisis with the bold action our kids deserve. We must take flavored e-cigarettes off the market, stand up to companies like JUUL, and stop this escalating epidemic before it's too late. Learn More.     We want to hear from you! Nominations for the 2019 class of Women Rule "Women of Impact" are now open until Oct. 4. We want to hear about the women you know and admire who are on the front lines, moving the needle and changing the game in their respective fields. We are looking for women bringing their bold visions to life—whether they're running for office, leading a business, or championing a cause. We'll honor them at the Women Rule summit in December in Washington, D.C. NOMINATE A WOMAN OF IMPACT HERE.       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

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CAMPBELL backs HARRIS for 2020 — Dems tell KENNEDY to WAIT — HEALEY refuses to SETTLE

CAMPBELL backs HARRIS for 2020 — Dems tell KENNEDY to WAIT — HEALEY refuses to SETTLE

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. CAMPBELL BACKS HARRIS FOR 2020 — Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell delivered a boost to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign yesterday, when she endorsed the California senator as "uniquely qualified to be president of the United States." Campbell and Harris first met at Campbell's graduation from UCLA Law School, where Harris was the commencement speaker. And the two politicians are also linked by Katie Prisco-Buxbaum, an operative who serves as Harris' southwest finance director and who ran Campbell's first city council campaign. "It created a friendship and a common political history between Kamala and Andrea because Katie has worked for both of them," said Boston-based Democratic fundraiser Sean Curran, who has hosted an event for Harris here. "And Katie is one the best operatives in the country — one of Massachusetts' best exports for politics in probably 20 years." Campbell introduced Harris at a fundraiser last weekend, which was held at King's in the Back Bay. When Campbell spoke, Prisco-Buxbaum was the first person to get a shout-out, Curran told me. Harris has visited Boston several times over the course of her presidential campaign, usually on the way to or from nearby New Hampshire. During those trips, Harris has met with Bay State leaders like Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and former Gov. Deval Patrick. 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 at a Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Devens. Baker attends a discussion on how to address EEE in Lakeville. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh hosts a signing ceremony for "An Act to Further Leverage Commercial Development to Build Housing, Create Jobs and Preserve Inclusionary Development," at City Hall. Walsh announces the winners of youth arts program grants. WGBH's Callie Crossley interviews six Boston City Council candidates for District 5 on "Under the Radar." Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and state Rep. David Linsky hold a roundtable on the RESPECTfully campaign in Natick. Polito and state Reps. David Vieira and Dylan Fernandes visit the site of the Coonamessett River Restoration Project. Polito tours Mashpee Middle-High School's computer and robotics lab, and attends a STEM Regional Network event at Cape Cod Community College with state Rep. William Crocker. DATELINE BEACON HILL - "Feds plan to take flavored vape products off market," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Federal officials on Wednesday announced plans to remove flavored e-cigarette products from the market, while the Massachusetts Department of Public Health moved to gather more information about possible cases of vaping-related lung illnesses." - "State auditor: Health officials failed to quickly investigate nursing home complaints," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "The state auditor is urging stricter oversight of nursing homes after a review found that Massachusetts health officials, who are responsible for monitoring the facilities, often failed to investigate high-priority allegations of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment in a timely manner. Auditor Suzanne M. Bump concluded that the Department of Public Health regularly took about two months to launch an onsite investigation of serious concerns, even though regulations require it to respond within two weeks. Auditors calculated that as many as 80 percent of the DPH's most urgent cases were not prioritized or investigated within the required timeframes, putting residents at increased risk of harm." - "Massachusetts Considers Bills To Protect Homeowners From Punitive Tax Liens," by Chris Burrell, WGBH News: "Housing advocates told State House lawmakers Tuesday that the state's punitive tax lien laws are a pipeline to homelessness and need retooling. Several bills under consideration in the Massachusetts Legislature are aimed at giving more protections to homeowners who fall behind in property taxes if those tax debts are purchased by private investors. More than 30 cities and towns in Massachusetts routinely sell tax lien debts to private investors who can then charge high interest rates or even foreclose on homeowners unable to pay the back taxes and fees." - "Single drivers are taking over Mass. carpool lanes," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "The high-occupancy vehicle lanes, or carpool lanes, north and south of Boston are not really what they're cracked up to be. The HOV lanes, which are intended to give vehicles with at least two occupants a more efficient travel lane, are overwhelmingly used by cars with only a driver, Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said Tuesday. "I was shocked to find out that there is a closed Twitter group for people who use your carpool lane where they tweet at each other and say, 'there's no cops, it's OK for single cars to use it,'" Pollack told municipal officials at a Local Government Advisory Commission meeting." - "HPC: Hospitals are inflating severity of diagnoses," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE STATE'S HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION released data on Wednesday that suggested Massachusetts hospitals are inflating the severity of patient diagnoses to boost their revenues by hundreds of millions of dollars. The practice, called coding, is not illegal or even improper. Hospital officials mine the health background of patients to build up the seriousness of their diagnosis. The more serious the diagnosis, the more the hospital is paid for the treatment it provides." FROM THE HUB - "On Long Island, Walsh touts drug recovery plan," by Michael Levenson, Boston Globe: "Inundated by complaints about the open drug use and aggressive behavior in a troubled section of the South End, Mayor Martin J. Walsh on Wednesday touted his plan to build a regional drug recovery campus miles away, on a tranquil island in Boston Harbor. After taking a 15-minute Boston Police boat ride to Long Island, he and his top administration officials walked amid the hulking brick buildings there, describing how they could be renovated into a regional treatment campus with 500 beds. "In fairness to the people in the South End, they've had enough," Walsh told a bevy of reporters who accompanied him on the tour." - "Boston micromobility a major solution to region's traffic congestion, study says," by Tom Acitelli, Curbed: "Micromobility could go a long way toward reducing vehicular traffic in the Boston area, according to a new report. INRIX, a mobility analytics and car connectivity firm well known for its traffic analyses, found that 49 percent of all automobile trips in the Boston area are less than 3 miles and 21 percent are under 1 mile. That's slightly more than than the 48 percent and 20 percent, respectively, in other major U.S. metros combined—and enough short-distance trips that if micromobility vehicles such as bikes and electric scooters replaced just a fraction, it could seriously reduce traffic congestion. It would also cut down on emissions and boost the economy that much more as fewer drivers sit unproductively in the Boston region's notoriously bad traffic." - "School bus late in Boston? Some parents call Uber," by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "The problem with chronically late school buses in Boston has gotten so severe this year that some parents are now turning to ride-hailing services to ferry their children. Such a scene unfolded last Friday night at the Eliot Innovation K-8 School in the North End, where 52 children waited more than three hours after their 3:05 p.m. dismissal for a bus that never showed up. Frantic administrators — after learning belatedly the driver had called in sick — contacted parents. Many parents swung by, others called for Ubers." - "Council clashes over resolution supporting Hub cops following Straight Pride Parade," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The Boston City Council continues to grapple with the fallout from the Straight Pride Parade as the body on Wednesday clashed over a resolution praising police, but agreed to hold a hearing on whether to ban antifa-style masks at protests. After opposition from Councilors Lydia Edwards and then Michelle Wu, the council didn't take a vote on a resolution from Councilor Althea Garrison offering 'unwavering support for the Boston Police Department and the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association in their work of keeping Boston safe, and to unequivocally condemn any and all violence and disrespect towards Boston Police Officers.'" - "Former AG Coakley blasted for her Juul job as vaping illnesses rise," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Former Attorney General Martha Coakley is coming under fire over her position at the multi-billion-dollar e-cigarette company Juul, as public health officials sounded the alarm on vaping-related illnesses. "It's really sad to see Martha hanging in there," said Richard Daynard, president of the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University. "She shouldn't have joined in the first place." The Herald on Wednesday reached out to Juul to interview Coakley, but the company declined to make her available." - "State and city officials mark completion of Boston's Frances Appleton Pedestrian Bridge," by Alyssa Lukpat, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts Department of Transportation workers put the final touches of landscaping around the Frances Appleton Pedestrian Bridge in Boston, which state and city officials dedicated Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said in a statement. The bridge is adjacent to the Longfellow Bridge on the Boston side of the Charles River. It was named after Frances Appleton, who was married to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a legendary poet who died in 1882." PRIMARY SOURCES - "'I would tell Joe to wait': Democrats warn Kennedy against challenging Markey," by Burgess Everett and Heather Caygle, POLITICO: "Joe Kennedy doesn't have to just beat incumbent Ed Markey to win a Senate seat. He'll also have to trounce Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Senate Democrats' campaign arm — and maybe Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The 38-year-old congressman and grandson of Robert F. Kennedy will confront a buzz saw of Washington Democrats if he takes the leap to challenge the Massachusetts senator, a move that would create a massive distraction for the party in a safe Democratic state amid a battle for both the White House and the Senate majority." FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "Shannon Liss-Riordan Receives More Support from Labor." from the Liss-Riordan campaign: "Shannon Liss-Riordan, Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, announced more labor endorsements of her campaign today. The new endorsements came from members of United Steelworkers Local 12026S, IBEW Local 1228, and the Alliance of MBTA Unions, an umbrella organization representing three IBEW Locals as well as Machinists Local 264. "We're proud to endorse Shannon's campaign for United States Senate because she will place working men and women front and center in Washington," said Fletcher Fischer, Business Manager for IBEW Local 1228, which represents broadcasting workers across Massachusetts." TRUMPACHUSETTS - "Some Salvadoran Immigrants Say Their Work Permits Are Being Rejected On The Job And At The RMV," by Phillip Martin, WGBH News: "Some of the thousands of immigrants who are in Massachusetts under "temporary protected status" (TPS) say they have been told in the past few days that they can no longer work, and others have been denied drivers licenses, even though their immigration status has not changed. The problem appears to be that even though courts have blocked — at least temporarily — a Trump administration plan to send many of these immigrants back to their home countries, their work permits show that their protected status has expired." ALL ABOARD - "KEOLIS: WEEKEND PASSES CONTRIBUTING TO REVENUE GROWTH," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: "The commuter rail's $10 unlimited weekend pass has quickly become a popular option for travelers with more than half a million sold since it was introduced in May 2018, though it remains unclear how much the ticket type has affected overall ridership, officials said. Keolis, which is under contract to operate the MBTA commuter rail network for the next three years, announced Tuesday that customers purchased 584,000 weekend tickets over the past 16 months." DAY IN COURT - "HEALEY REFUSING TO JOIN OTHER STATES IN PURDUE PHARMA SETTLEMENT," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "Under fire for its role in the opioid epidemic, the company that makes and sells OxyContin has reportedly agreed to a settlement with 22 state attorneys general and thousands of municipalities, but not Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who is pledging to continue her fight against Purdue Pharma. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Purdue Pharma is in agreement 'with 22 state attorneys general and more than 2,000 cities and counties that sued the company and accused it of fueling the opioid crisis.'" WARREN REPORT - "2019 MassDems State Convention: Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts headline event at Springfield's MassMutual Center," by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: "The MassMutual Center will host the 2019 Democratic State Convention with longtime allies, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts confirmed to give keynote speeches this Saturday along with Sen. Ed Markey. Watts, a mother of five, was a stay-at-home mom and former communications executive before she founded Moms Demand Action. Affected by the Sandy Hook mass shootings, she started to worry about her children and guns and what could be done to reduce gun violence in the U.S." - MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: "The rise, and rise, and rise of Elizabeth Warren in New Hampshire," by James Pindell, Boston Globe: "The battle for the hearts of New Hampshire progressives is on. And now, for the first time, Senator Elizabeth Warren is winning it. For months, Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders have been campaigning for the same swath of Democratic voters, which Sanders won overwhelmingly in his 2016 primary race against Hillary Clinton. But five months before 2020's first presidential primary, Warren is rising. She won a two-minute standing ovation from thousands of party activists Saturday, came out on top in a poll released Sunday, and is seen as the one to beat, according to interviews with approximately two dozen New Hampshire Democrats this week." DATELINE D.C. - "House Hearing On Medical Deferred Action Offers Little Clarity On Why Process Ended," by Shannon Dooling, WBUR: "A hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday produced more questions than answers around why the Trump administration moved to quietly end a humanitarian immigration policy known as "medical deferred action." Though little clarity was provided by federal immigration officials, the distinct partisan divide on immigration policy was laid bare, with Republican lawmakers suggesting the hearing itself was a scare tactic and the Democrats calling this an inhumane move by the Trump administration." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "BERN SCORCHES BIDEN," — Globe: "Tentative deal reached on opioid suits," "More turmoil for Patriots as they stick with Brown," "NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN." EYE ON 2020 - "A New WBUR Poll Looks At What Voters In Mass. Actually Care About." Link. NO PLACE LIKE THE CITY OF HOMES - "'Heartbroken': Springfield voter turnout disappoints again," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "City officials were once again disappointed by the low voter turnout in Tuesday's preliminary election, which was 7.6% citywide and below 4% in many precincts. There are 97,484 registered voters in Springfield; 7,431 cast ballots Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Election Office. The numbers continued a trend of recent years for Springfield preliminary elections and were particularly low in some of the poorer areas of the city." FOR YOUR COMMUTE: Is Fare Fair? On this week's Horse Race podcast, Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith talk about new polling in the potential primary match-up between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III. MassINC Research Director Ben Forman talks about a new fare equity study in Massachusetts, and state Sen. Becca Rausch explains her "Community Immunity Act." Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Politico's own Ben Schreckinger; former Senator and now U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown, who is 60; Waterville Consulting Principal Sean Curran, who is 49; and MassGIS' Paul Nutting. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 8-0. 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.   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

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