POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: What will WELD do? – Making BEACON HILL more inclusive – PRESSLEY'S letter to Congress

What will WELD do? – Making BEACON HILL more inclusive – PRESSLEY'S letter to Congress

Feb 01, 2019 View in browser   BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF and go Patriots! WELD 2020? — What's Bill Weld going to do? The former Massachusetts governor made waves yesterday after WCVB reported he's considering a presidential run on the Republican ticket. Weld has "nothing to say" about it until he headlines a Politics & Eggs breakfast on Feb. 15 in New Hampshire and said he hadn't taken a leave from ML Strategies or made any decisions. But that hasn't tamped speculation into whether Weld would stick to the Libertarian ticket or wage a challenge against President Donald Trump in the Republican primary if he does decide to run. Weld was the Libertarian Party's vice-presidential nominee in the 2016 election, and he ran alongside candidate for president Gary Johnson. Johnson's 2016 campaign manager Ron Nielson said he's been in touch with Weld, but is not committed to any 2020 campaign. "If Bill Weld did decide to run for president, he would certainly be an excellent candidate, and I could see him as an excellent president," Nielson told me. "But I don't know what will transpire." Running as a Republican could be seen as a betrayal to the Libertarian Party, but being the first candidate to jump into the primary against Trump would guarantee Weld plenty of attention — and probably a few tweets from Trump. At this point, Nielson said Weld's thinking is "up in the air." 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 visits the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attends the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Awards. Rep. Joe Kennedy III visits Pine Street Inn to discuss the government shutdown's impact on housing for homeless individuals. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross hold a public safety conference ahead of the Super Bowl. Walsh kicks off a Black History Month celebration at City Hall. The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the Transgender Club of New England host a transgender job fair. DATELINE BEACON HILL — "House, Senate Take Different Paths On Non-Disclosure Agreements," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service "The House and Senate will charge into the new session with two different policies covering the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of sexual harassment, with the Senate voting unanimously Thursday to ban their use altogether. The vote in the Senate took place a day after the House engaged in a spirited debate on the merits of a similar policy for that chamber and voted overwhelmingly to keep its current policy and reject a blanket ban on non-disclosure agreements." — "Shifting from 'chairmen' to 'chairs,' Beacon Hill changes gendered language," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "There will be no more chairmen of Massachusetts House and Senate committees. Instead, they will be called 'chairs.' When the state House and Senate adopted their rules this week, both bodies updated language to make it more gender neutral. Rep. William Galvin, D-Canton, who led the committee that revised the House rules, said the goal was to make language more 'gender neutral and gender inclusive .'" — "BAKER FILES FOR $165M IN NEW SPENDING, HOST OF POLICY CHANGES," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service:"Gov. Charlie Baker filed a $165.3 million spending bill on Thursday that also proposes policy changes to a host of new laws, including the recently signed short-term rental regulations, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act and a law banning the unlicensed possession of a stun gun. The bill would supplement spending for the current fiscal year 2019 with $54 million for collective bargaining costs, $32.9 million to help cover 'unanticipated' medical costs at the Department of Correction and $11 million to offset federal reductions in low-income home heating assistance." — "State Rep. tweets about being mistaken for [aide]," by Jessica Valeriani, Andover Townsman: "Just about one month into her job as state Representative of the 14th Essex District, Democrat newcomer Tram Nguyen sparked conversation on social media about the need for more diverse representation after sharing an incident during which she was assumed to be a legislative aide by a lobbyist." FROM THE HUB — "Car-free development taking root," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "The proposal for a five-story, 56-unit residential apartment building on Dorchester Avenue includes a lot of the amenities that are now standard features in new development projects: A ground-floor gym and 'media room,' a storage room with a rack for several dozen bicycles, and a community room on the top floor adjacent to a roof deck. What the plans don't include is any off-street parking spaces for tenants in the building, which would be adjacent to Ashmont Station at the end of the MBTA's Red Line." — "Boston's Colleges Are Going Broke—and We May All Have to Pay," by Michael Damiano, Boston Magazine: "After decades of unfettered growth, higher education, especially in New England, is tipping into a sharp decline. Enrollment is falling, skepticism about the value of a college education is soaring, and tuitions, which have been rising steadily for decades, seem to have reached the limits of what the public can pay. Taken together, these trends have left this once-booming industry looking a lot like a bubble. Experts predict that closures like Mount Ida's will soon become commonplace—and the facts they marshal to support this prediction are chillingly convincing." — "State will offer dorm rooms for homeless college students," by Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: "State higher education officials hope that by providing vulnerable community college and university students a secure place to live, guaranteed meals at the campus dining halls, and more support, such as mental health counseling, they will boost academic success and, ultimately, ensure that these students graduate. Massachusetts initially plans to spend $120,000 to pilot the student housing program at Bridgewater State, Framingham State, and Worcester State universities and at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, with more funding expected in the next budget." — "These dumpsters of old nuclear waste are costing taxpayers a fortune," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: "The nuclear plant deep in the woods of this Western Massachusetts town stopped producing power 27 years ago when George H.W. Bush was still president. It was dismantled, piece by piece. Buried piping was excavated. Tainted soil was removed. But nestled amid steep hills and farmhouses set on winding roads, something important was left behind." — "Massachusetts State Police refuses to disclose union rep pay records, adding to list of hidden public records," by Dan Glaun, MassLive.com: "The Massachusetts State Police has made a habit of declaring records secret, from 911 calls to gun sale invoices to arrest reports on troopers accused of drunk driving. Now, the department has pulled another trove of public information into the dark: the payroll records of every State Police union representative." — "Althea Garrison gets standing ovation for first initiative," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "It was a simple proposal to explore expanding the curriculum for civics classes for Boston public school students. It was also the first by new City Councilor Althea Garrison, just three weeks after her unexpected ascension to her seat. And with it, she received a standing ovation." THE OPINION PAGES — "Forget fare hikes — make the T free," by Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu, Boston Globe: "We can't afford another round of MBTA fare increases. Raising the cost of public transit would burden residents who can least afford transportation alternatives and punish commuters who are doing the most to ease traffic and improve air quality. But the heaviest cost is that focusing on whether to raise or maintain fares distracts from what should be our larger goal: free public transportation." DAY IN COURT — "Lawsuit Details The Sacklers, Family Behind Oxycontin, Made More Than $4 Billion," by Christine Willmsen and Martha Bebinger, WBUR: "The first nine months of 2013 started off as a banner year for the Sackler family, owners of the pharmaceutical company that produces OxyContin, the highly addictive pain medication. Purdue Pharma paid the family $400 million from its profits during that time, claims a Massachusetts lawsuit. However, when profits dropped in the fourth quarter, the family allegedly supported the company's intense push to increase sales representatives' visits to doctors and prescribers." — "SJC Chief Knocks Gov. Baker For Calling For Judge To Be Sidelined," by Antonio Caban, WGBH: "Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants says Gov. Charlie Baker 'stretched beyond his reach' last month when he called for a district court judge to be barred from presiding over criminal cases amid a federal investigation into her courtroom conduct. 'That was not the happiest moment with regard to the governor to be candid,' Gants, who sits atop the state's highest court, said in a Thursday interview on Greater Boston. WARREN REPORT — "Elizabeth Warren promises 'big announcement' Feb. 9," by Jess Bidgood, Boston Globe: "Senator Elizabeth Warren on Thursday said she plans to make a 'big announcement' on Feb. 9, where she is widely expected to say that she is officially running for president. She did not say where the announcement would take place. The Massachusetts Democrat launched a presidential exploratory committee with a video she posted online on Dec. 31, and she has since crisscrossed the country with her proto-campaign, making stops in Iowa, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, and New Hampshire." — "Elizabeth Warren carves out 'billionaire-slayer' role for 2020," by Liz Goodwin and Jess Bidgood, Boston Globe: "As Senator Elizabeth Warren laid out her case for taxing the assets of the richest Americans the other day, she turned to the obvious villain, a man so wealthy and powerful he could hinder any policy that didn't suit him. 'People like him can even buy themselves the presidency of the United States,' Warren's exploratory committee wrote in a fund-raising e-mail. The target of her ire was not President Trump, but another member of the 1 percent: Howard Schultz, the former chief executive of Starbucks whose musings on an at least partly self-funded presidential run seem almost tailor-made to fuel her broadsidesagainst the billionaire class." FROM THE DELEGATION — "Progressive Dems: 'Not Another Dollar' More in DHS Funding," by Gideon Resnick and Sam Brodey, Daily Beast: "Four freshman progressive House members are throwing a wrench into government funding negotiations, urging their colleagues to reduce spending on the Department of Homeland Security as a bipartisan committee negotiates a way forward for the agency. 'Cut, do not increase funding,' a bolded section of the 'Dear Colleague' letter obtained by The Daily Beast reads. Authored by Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), the letter is expected to be formally read on the House floor next week." — "House Ways and Means subcommittee to hear bill requiring presidents to release tax returns," by Shannon Young, Springfield Republican: "A bill that would require U.S. presidents and vice presidents to publicly disclose their tax returns will go before a U.S. House Ways and Means subcommittee early next month, officials announced Thursday. The tax-writing panel's Oversight Subcommittee will consider the so-called 'Presidential Tax Transparency Act,' as it meets on Feb. 7. The House Ways and Means Committee announced the hearing as Chairman U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, told The Republican's editorial board that he's looking into using existing power to formally request the release of President Donald Trump's tax returns ." IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — "Ocasio-Cortez, Markey to unveil Green New Deal bill," by Amy Harder, Axios: "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) are set to unveil legislation laying out a 'Green New Deal' as soon as next week, Axios has learned. A spokeswoman for Markey confirmed the offices are working on legislation, but said there is no final text and timing isn't final yet for next week. A request to Ocasio-Cortez's office wasn't immediately returned. Varshini Prakash, co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, also said legislation is due as soon as Wednesday or Thursday of next week. The youth-led group has been at the forefront of the Green New Deal movement." TRUMPACHUSETTS — "Wellesley resident's 'Impeach Trump' sign gets OK to stay," by Emily Sweeney and Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Another day, another Trump standoff. Except this one, in Wellesley, appears to have been resolved. A man had been at loggerheads with the town after he refused to take down an 'Impeach Trump' banner that he put up on his house. Town officials had said the sign is too big and too high up, and if it doesn't come down, he would be fined $300 a day. However, the town Thursday afternoon rescinded the violation notice it had sent regarding the banner, effectively saying Dan Chiasson could keep the sign." 2020 WATCH — "Bill Weld: an insurgent Republican or card-carrying Libertarian?" by Michael Levenson, Boston Globe: "Can a former Republican governor of Massachusetts who ran for the Senate, tried to become ambassador to Mexico, ran for governor of New York, endorsed Barack Obama in 2008, and was the Libertarian Party nominee for vice president in 2016 be taken seriously as a presidential candidate in 2020? William F. Weld is about to find out." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "NUMBERS GAME," — Globe: "As she baits billionaires, Warren tries to make mark," "Homeless students get dorm space," "BIG WASTE: REACTORS LEAVE EXPENSIVE PROBLEM BEHIND." FROM THE 413 — "Tensions on campus as Hampshire College board votes on incoming class," by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette:"Students at Hampshire College staged protests and sit-ins Thursday, and employees and alumni lobbied college leadership as the board of trustees met to begin making the first in a series of big decisions about the school's future. Fear and frustration have boiled up both on and off campus since Hampshire College announced Jan. 15 that the school is seeking a merger — preferably, though not necessarily, with another educational institution — and may decide not to admit an incoming class this fall." — "General Dynamics lands $13M Navy contract extension for Pittsfield work," by Larry Parnass, Berkshire Eagle: "General Dynamics will continue to produce fire-control systems that go to sea aboard U.S. Navy submarines, securing jobs for a large Pittsfield workforce. The company's division in Pittsfield received a $13 million extension this week to a Defense Department contract, the office of U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, announced. On Thursday, Neal went to the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, which is poised to get $42.6 million from the Defense Department to build a massive new maintenance hangar." THE LOCAL ANGLE — "In Fall River, A Five-Way Fracas For Mayor," by Adam Reilly, WGBH News: "Right now, Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia may be under more pressure than any other politician in Massachusetts. In October, Correia was indicted for allegedly defrauding investors in an app he created back in 2012. As he fights the charges in that case, Correia is also facing a March recall election that could cut his once-promising political career short. If the 27-year-old Correia is rattled by the pressure, though, he's hiding it pretty well." MAZEL! to Nora Mann, who retires from her role as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's director of determination of need program. TRANSITIONS — Cassie Moreno is now communications director for Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu. Moreno was previously finance and digital assistant for Rep. Seth Moulton. (h/t Madeline Rocklin) — Kimberly Atkins begins Monday as the Washington-based senior news correspondent for WBUR. Tweet. — Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster appointed Danielle R. Starr vice president of the Greater Boston Family Law Inn of Court. — Dr. Lorna Rivera was appointed to the Boston School Committee by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. — The Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus added Susan Coakley, Dawne Shand and Mary Usovicz to its board of directors; and Nancy Koenigsberg and Dannielle Pinson to its political action committee. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to photographer/videographer and former Gov. Deval Patrick photog Eric Haynes, Boston City Councilor Tim McCarthy, strategist Kerry Akashian and Alexa Kissinger. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Elizabeth Warren alum Cassidy Ballard, who celebrates Saturday. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Flyers beat the Bruins 3-2. 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

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Where CLEAN ENERGY is lagging — MBTA fares may go UP — State leaders wary of NEXT SHUTDOWN

Where CLEAN ENERGY is lagging — MBTA fares may go UP — State leaders wary of NEXT SHUTDOWN

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: WHERE CLEAN ENERGY IS LAGGING —Municipal light plants aren't keeping pace with the state's clean energy goals, according to a report from the Massachusetts Climate Action Network that will be released later this morning. Massachusetts has 41 municipal light plants, which serve 52 cities and towns and provide 14 percent of the energy used in the state. While investor-owned utilities like Eversource and National Grid only distribute electricity generation, municipal light plants can own the power generation they supply. That gives them more control over how and where they get energy. But no municipal light plant in Massachusetts had enough renewable energy in 2017 to meet the state's renewable portfolio standard, according to the report. Instead, light plants "overstate their green content" and their portfolios included less renewable energy than investor-owned utilities like National Grid in 2017. Lawmakers on Beacon Hill and in Congress have been vocal in their push for clean energy and other efforts to mitigate climate change, from a Green New Deal in Washington to "bold" climate initiatives in the State House. Just yesterday, state lawmakers rolled out a bill that calls for the state to run on 100 percent renewable energy by 2035, according to the State House News Service. But at the smaller utilities where municipalities have the most control, energy providers are falling short of existing goals The renewable energy portfolio standard requires a portion of a utility's energy portfolio come from renewable sources, and it increases annually. More than a dozen municipal light plants misrepresented the clean energy they provide to customers, and gave different information when reporting carbon pollution to the state. Further, the report found most low-polluting energy the light plants reported was from old nuclear generation, which the Massachusetts Clean Energy Standard doesn't accept. Of the nearly four-dozen utilities studied, the top-scoring municipal plants are in Belmont, Concord, Braintree, Holyoke and West Boylston for their efforts to meet clean energy goals. Two bills filed this session — Sen. Marc Pacheco's "Act to secure a clean energy future" and Sen. Jamie Eldridge's "Act transitioning Massachusetts to 100 per cent renewable energy" — include municipal light plant updates, according to the Climate Action Network. A provision in Pacheco's bill would expand renewable energy storage, while the Eldridge legislation includes language that would set a "bold but achievable" renewable energy target for light plants. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY - Rep. Ayanna Pressley speaks at a press conference in Washington urging back pay for federal contractors affected by the government shutdown. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito visits Uxbridge High School and Framingham State University. Boston Mayor Marty Walshattends events in Roxbury and is a guest on WBZ NewsRadio. The Boston Green Ribbon Commission releases its Carbon Free Boston report. Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer is the keynote speaker at the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus annual meeting. Rep. Seth Moulton addresses the New England Council at a breakfast in Washington, D.C. Sen. Ed Markey holds a press conference in Washington to discuss limiting President Donald Trump's ability to launch nuclear weapons. Columbia Gas announces its "Equipment Repair Plan" to cover appliances installed or repaired after the Merrimack Valley gas explosions at a press conference in Methuen. The Massachusetts Senior Action Council speaks in support of a Medicare provision in Gov. Charlie Baker's budget proposal. Former New York City MayorMichael Bloomberg holds a day of events in New Hampshire. DATELINE BEACON HILL - "Senate President Karen Spilka lays out priorities: Education, mental health care, climate change," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "Education reform. Climate change. Transportation. Housing. Mental health care. In her first full term as Senate President, Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, has an ambitious set of topics she wants to tackle, and they include some of the state's thorniest problems. But the exact details of what will be considered remain up in the air, as Spilka pledges a 'collaborative' process with other senators to develop final legislation." - "Baker's Budget Is About A Lot More Than Numbers," by Mike Deehan, WGBH News: "Lawmakers and advocates have had the better part of a week to pour over Gov. Charlie Baker's budget proposal for the coming fiscal year. Baker's plan is a doozy, packet with policy initiatives large and small and calling for increases to some taxes to help cover efforts to better finance schools and prepare for climate change." - "BAN ON NDAs AMONG PROPOSED RULE CHANGES IN THE SENATE," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Public records access and sexual harassment prevention are among the topics state senators could wade into this week as they debate their rules for the new legislative session. The Senate on Thursday is scheduled to take up its proposed internal rules and joint House-Senate rules for the 2019-2020 session, and by a Monday afternoon deadline, senators had offered up dozens of amendments making further tweaks beyond the changes a temporary Rules Committee had already proposed." DAY LATE CHARLIE BAKER WAKES UP WHEN THE MEDIA REPORTS PROBLEMS....THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP! - "Baker wants to pursue out-of-state drivers' unpaid tolls," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker says he wants to go after the more than $5 million in overdue tolls that Connecticut drivers owe Massachusetts, after a Herald report showed the Nutmeg State tops the list of scofflaws who have racked up nearly $21 million in long-overdue bills. Massachusetts has reciprocity agreements with Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island to prevent people living in those states from renewing their license and registration if they haven't paid the toll after 90 days. But the state doesn't have the same deal with Connecticut, which is the biggest offender." - "Massachusetts political leaders still preparing for another potential federal shutdown," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "The government shutdown may be over for now, but Massachusetts leaders say they are still preparing contingency plans in case a shutdown is renewed. 'I don't think we can leave here today saying this is an issue that's gone, it's finished, we don't have to worry about it,' said House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop. 'I was hoping that might be the answer, but I can't say it is.'" FROM THE HUB - "Abrupt closure of Boston Language Institute spurs review by state Attorney General's office," by Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office is reviewing the abrupt closure earlier this month of the Boston Language Institute, a Kenmore Square school that for nearly 38 years helped students learn Spanish, Vietnamese, and dozens of other languages, along with teaching English-language learners. The school lost its bankruptcy protection in mid-January, allowing creditors, including the bank to seize its accounts." WHERE IS CHARLIE BAKER? THESE ARE HIS POLITICAL HACKS! - "MassHousing books show lobster dinners, parties and pricey hotels," by Joe Dwinell and Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald: "The state agency charged with creating affordable housing has racked up tens of thousands of dollars in spending for parties, junkets and pricey meals, records show, including a $4,808 'welcoming party' for executive director Chrystal Kornegay — who was just appointed to oversee the beleaguered MBTA's budget." - "CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2050 REQUIRES BOSTON TO GO ELECTRIC, REPORT FINDS," by Kaitlyn Budion, State House News Service: "Boston must improve energy efficiency and convert completely to cleanly produced electricity in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, according to the new Carbon Free Boston Report. The study, set to be released Tuesday, focuses on three main strategies: energy efficiency, buying 100 percent clean energy and eliminating the use fossil fuels. Buildings, transportation systems, waste processing and energy consumption would all have to be upgraded, according the report." - "Walsh says Mass. 'not ready' for safe injection sites," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts is 'not ready' to open a facility where people can inject illicit drugs under supervision, Mayor Martin J. Walsh of Boston told a commission considering the idea Monday, even though he was impressed when he visited such centers in Montreal and Toronto. The state lacks the infrastructure to accomplish what those much larger Canadian cities have done, and faces many open questions about who would fund and operate such sites, Walsh said." - "Nevada regulators to fine Wynn Resorts over sex allegations," by Michelle L. Price, Associated Press: "Nevada gambling regulators announced a settlement Monday with casino mogul Steve Wynn's former company over allegations that former executives failed on multiple occasions to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against him. The Nevada Gaming Control Board detailed at least seven allegations of misconduct by Wynn dating to 2005 in which former executives and managers of Wynn Resorts became aware of the claims but failed to act." - "Boston Collegiate Charter School formally opens new Dorchester campus," by Ysabelle Kempe, Boston Globe: "Boston Collegiate Charter School officially opened its renovated and expanded campus in Dorchester on Monday, a milestone school leaders called 'game-changing.' The new space for Boston Collegiate's Upper School is home to 13 new classrooms and 11 small-group meeting rooms, along with labs, art spaces, improved technology infrastructure, and a multi-purpose cafeteria called 'The Commons.'" DAY IN COURT - "Prosecutors Portray Drug Company Founder As Greedy In Day 1 Of Opioid Kickback Trial," by Jerome Campbell, WBUR: "A federal prosecutor said a pharmaceutical company founder 'put profits over people' by bribing doctors around the country to prescribe a highly addictive fentanyl spray. In the first day of a closely-watched trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lazarus told jurors Monday in Boston's federal court that John Kapoor, founder of Arizona-based Insys Therapeutics Inc., created a 'criminal conspiracy' that paid eight doctors and other prescribers more than $1.1 million to prescribe its drug, Subsys." WARREN REPORT - "Sen. Elizabeth Warren: I'm 'not confident at all' that another shutdown won't happen in 3 weeks," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "As federal workers return to the office after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, said Monday that she is 'not confident at all' that there will not be another shutdown in three weeks. Warren, who is considering a 2020 presidential run, said she is open to talking about a range of ways to ensure that does not happen, from passing an automatic continuing resolution, a temporary budget to keep government agencies funded, to not paying members of Congress during a shutdown." FROM THE DELEGATION - "People Want Democrats To Get Trump's Tax Returns, Please," by Arthur Delaney, Huffington Post: "Most people want Democrats to get copies of President Donald Trump's tax returns and make them public, something Democrats said they would do but haven't done yet. Sixty percent of Americans say Democrats in charge of the House of Representatives should use their power to obtain and release Trump's tax returns, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll. Now that Democrats control the House, they control its committees, and can make the request whenever they want. Some experts have criticized House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) for not doing so immediately." - "'We are a healthy blended family,' Ayanna Pressley says of being a stepmom," by Dialynn Dwyer, Boston.com: "Rep. Ayanna Pressley has a message for those who think she should stop referring to her husband's child as her 'stepdaughter' — thanks, but no thanks. The Massachusetts congresswoman said someone approached her at an event on Sunday with the argument that she shouldn't use the term 'stepdaughter.' KENNEDY COMPOUND - "Joe Kennedy III gains friends as Dems ready for 2020, by Hillary Chabot, Boston Herald: "Establishment loyalist U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III is keeping his 2020 support under wraps amidst a young, progressive upheaval on Capitol Hill — even advising liberal superstar Beto O'Rourke while Bay State colleague Sen. Elizabeth Warren launches her race ." ALL ABOARD - "MBTA says it needs to raise fares by 6.3 percent this summer," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "Subway rides would cost an additional 15 cents, bus rides would go up by a dime, and the popular monthly pass would rise $5.50 to $90 under a proposal revealed Monday by the MBTA to increase fares by a systemwide average of 6.3 percent. If approved by officials later this winter, the new fares would go into effect in July and mark the fourth increase for the transit system since 2012." - "T analysis: Time for long goodbye to Mattapan trolleys," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: AN MBTA ANALYSIS concludes the trolley line running between Mattapan and Ashmont Station on the Red Line requires a significant infrastructure investment over the next decade and suggests the historic-but-broken-down trolleys that currently carry passengers should be replaced - most likely with redeployed Green Line vehicles. Most of the concern about the Mattapan line has focused on the trolleys, which date to the 1940s." EYE ON 2020 - "Wall Street freaks out about 2020," by Ben White, POLITICO:"Bankers' biggest fear: The nomination goes to an anti-Wall Street crusader like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) or Sanders. 'It can't be Warren and it can't be Sanders,' said the CEO of another giant bank. 'It has to be someone centrist and someone who can win.'" ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "Lobster, Vegas and more at MassHousing's... HOUSE PARTY," Globe: "Man with gun ends wild road-rage ride," "T seeks fare raises to improve services," "Vt.: A carbon culprit." IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN - "In Vermont, a progressive haven, emissions spike forces officials to consider drastic action," by David Abel, Boston Globe: "It's a state that prides itself on purity: its pristine land, progressive politics, even its ice cream. So it was no surprise when Vermont sought to lead the way in cutting carbon pollution, vowing to reduce greenhouse gases from the state's power plants, cars, and other sources by 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2012 and 50 percent by 2028. But 14 years later, the zeal in the Green Mountain State has yielded not so much cleaner air, but embarrassment." FROM THE 413 - "Immigrant rights activist Eduardo Samaniego to be deported," by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "After 100 days of incarceration, local immigrant rights activist Eduardo Samaniego has accepted so-called 'voluntary departure' and will be deported to Mexico, a country he left a decade ago. In October, Samaniego was arrested in Georgia after forgetting his wallet and failing to pay $27.75 in cab fare — a misdemeanor charge his supporters say has since been dropped after the fare was paid. But because of his immigration status, Samaniego was transferred from jail to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and on Friday Samaniego decided to accept deportation before an immigration judge." - "Longmeadow Furtively Moves to Revive School Committee," by Matt Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: "Five days after simultaneous resignations essentially paralyzed the School Committee, the administrative clean up of the fallout has begun. The Select Board met in a special session Monday night with the Committee's remnants. Together, they charted a course to resuscitate the school panel and, eventually, restore it to full strength." THE LOCAL ANGLE - "Abuse Claims Persist For Canton-Based Special Needs School," by Jenifer McKim, WGBH News: "The Rotenberg center has been frequently cited by state agencies for abusing and neglecting some of its 270 adult and juvenile wards diagnosed with major mental illnesses, autism and other developmental disabilities, state records show. During 2016 alone, the school was cited 27 times by two state agencies that monitor the care of adults and children at special education schools for violations mostly related to abuse and neglect. That was more than any other school of its kind that year, according to records obtained by the New England Center for Investigative Reporting." HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Massachusetts Democratic State Committee member Diego Sanchez, who turned 62 on Jan. 21. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, who turns 3-0; state Rep. Claire Cronin, state Rep. William Crocker, the Boston Globe's Marcela García, and queen of Massachusetts connections CNN's Lauren Dezenski. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Celtics beat the Nets 112-104. 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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