News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: McGOVERN calls for HUNGER CZAR — HOUSE pans BAKER’s abortion proposal — Boston CITY COUNCIL could see a SHAKE UP

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: McGOVERN calls for HUNGER CZAR — HOUSE pans BAKER’s abortion proposal — Boston CITY COUNCIL could see a SHAKE UP — SNOW INCOMING

Dec 16, 2020

Presented by PhRMA

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Did you stock up on bread and milk yet? The forecast is calling for some serious SNOW!

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: MCGOVERN CALLS FOR 'HUNGER CZAR' — Rep. Jim McGovern is calling on President-elect Joe Biden to appoint a "hunger czar" to address food insecurity in the United States, a problem that's become more widespread during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"With an unprecedented fifteen percent of Americans – 50 million people in total – struggling with food insecurity, there has never been a more pressing time to strengthen our country's social safety net," McGovern recently wrote to Biden.

McGovern is suggesting Biden convene a conference on food, nutrition and hunger, something that's been done once before by President Richard Nixon in 1969. Additionally, McGovern suggests Biden should halt "harmful rules" implemented by President Donald Trump to curtail eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, and increase the maximum benefit for the program by 15%.

The number of hungry people in Massachusetts has skyrocketed this year, according to a study from Feeding America released in October. The nonprofit estimates 1 million people are food insecure in Massachusetts, a 59% rise over the state's rate in 2018, and the highest percentage increase in the United States. Among children, the percentage is even higher. The letter.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: HALBERT TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL — David Halbert is jumping into the race for Boston City Council for the second election cycle in a row.

Halbert will announce today that he's running for an at-large seat on the council in 2021. Halbert made it through the preliminary election for at-large seat on the council in 2019, which Councilor Julia Mejia won in the general election. That year, Halbert was among a slate of candidates endorsed by the Boston Globe.

"I'm running for City Council to work every day to provide the leadership, representation, and voice needed to ensure that Boston is a city that works for all," Halbert said in a statement. Halbert lives in Dorchester and has previously served in Gov. Deval Patrick's administration.

The Boston City Council could be in for some serious change next year, after Boston elected its most diverse council ever in 2019. Councilors Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell are running for mayor, opening up Wu's at-large seat and Campbell's role representing District 4. And District 6 Councilor Matt O'Malley recently announced he would not seek another term. A number of candidates have already jumped into the race.

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

TODAY — Rep. Katherine Clark speaks at a Boston Globe "Op-Talks" event with columnist Kimberly Atkins. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts a Facebook Live discussion with Dr. Ashish Jha.

A message from PhRMA:

Governor Charlie Baker has a proposal that may affect which medicines patients can access. Learn more.

TODAY - TALKING TRANSITION WITH SENATOR CASEY: From Janet Yellen to Antony Blinken to Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden is building his Cabinet. What can we infer from Biden's nominations so far? Which of his nominees will face the toughest confirmation obstacles in the Senate? Are progressives satisfied with his choices? Join POLITICO for our first Transition Playbook: Live edition featuring Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who will break it all down. REGISTER HERE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports 3,720 new COVID cases, 55 deaths on Tuesday as hospitalizations continue rising," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "State health officials confirmed another 3,720 coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the number of active statewide cases to 72,587. That's based on 61,236 new molecular tests reported on Tuesday, according to the Department of Public Health. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts stands at 286,866."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Massachusetts House speaker knocks Baker's abortion proposal, says reps will 'overturn' it," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "The leader of the Massachusetts House said Tuesday that the chamber will reject changes that Governor Charlie Baker proposed for a measure expanding abortion access, describing them as an attempt to 'erode' the provision lawmakers had passed ."

– "State economy expected to improve in FY22," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The economy is expected to improve in the fiscal year beginning in July, raising the amount of tax revenues the state can expect to receive, economists said. But the fiscal outlook remains uncertain, with lingering questions about the timing of COVID-19 vaccine distribution and whether more federal stimulus money will be forthcoming."

– "Baker implores residents to celebrate holidays with household members only; details timeline for vaccine rollout," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "Governor Charlie Baker and his health and human services chief on Tuesday beseeched state residents to celebrate the coming holidays in-person with their households only and also detailed the timeline for the continued rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine."

– "Healey: Civil rights of ICE detainees violated," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "Attorney General Maura Healey issued a report and a series of recommendations on Tuesday concluding that the Bristol County Sheriff's Office violated the civil rights of immigrant detainees on May 1 when it engaged in an 'unnecessary use of force' that left three of the detainees hospitalized and several others in solitary confinement when they should have received medical treatment."

– RELATED: "Healey pushes to block immigrant detention at jail," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "Attorney General Maura Healey, in the wake of a report by her office on a May 1 confrontation at the Bristol County Jail, is seeking to prohibit Sheriff Thomas Hodgson from using his facility to detain immigrants for the federal government."

– "Massachusetts police certification: What does an officer need to get credentials? What can lead to decertification?" by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "The crux of the massive police reform bill in Massachusetts is a system to certify police officers and a process to strip problem cops of those credentials. The proposal, negotiated after George Floyd's killing at the hands of Minneapolis police, stirred debates about the use of no-knock warrants, tear gas, K-9 units and other tactics in encounters with civilians."

– "Massachusetts teachers' unions vote no confidence in Education Commissioner Jeff Riley," by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: "More than 100 Massachusetts teachers' unions have taken a vote of no confidence in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and its Commissioner Jeffrey Riley for poor performance during the pandemic."

– "COVID vaccine in Massachusetts: Health officials to report on how many residents, workers are vaccinated," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "The Department of Public Health will begin sharing data next week on how many Massachusetts workers and residents receive a coronavirus vaccine as part of its ongoing daily reporting on the virus, officials said Tuesday."

FROM THE HUB

– "Boston City Council to vote on a trio of police reforms on Wednesday," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Amid calls to address racism in policing, the Boston City Council is poised to vote on a trio of reform measures on Wednesday, including a plan to establish a first-of-its-kind, independent police watchdog agency in the city."

– "2 Mass. Prisoners Die Of COVID-19," by Deborah Becker, WBUR: "Two Massachusetts prisoners, held in two separate facilities, died from COVID-19 this week, according to the state Department of Correction. One man, in his 40s, had been held at MCI-Shirley, and was hospitalized for more than two weeks before he died Sunday. The other prisoner was in his 70s and had been in custody at MCI-Concord. He died at a local hospital Monday."

– "Eventually, getting the COVID-19 vaccine could be required for most," by Liz Goodwin, Boston Globe: "The first shots against the coronavirus made their way into the arms of eager front line health care workers nationwide this week, providing a glimmer of hope for a post-pandemic world. But once those volunteers are all vaccinated, some workers who are less excited about the vaccine could face mandates to receive it anyway, public health and legal experts say."

– "In a winter of remote learning, most kids will be losing the magic of snow days," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "The snow day, for many children, is a quintessential part of growing up in New England. You put a spoon under your pillow, turn your pajamas inside out, and cross your fingers for that magic phone call that school is canceled. But this year, ahead of the pandemic's first full winter, many school districts across the region are ditching traditional snow days and turning to remote learning programs instead."

– "Will a shift in learning models help lower the rising rates of depression, suicide among children in Massachusetts?" by Michelle Williams, MassLive.com: "As Massachusetts health officials face the latest surge of coronavirus cases, pediatricians are warning of a growing health crisis in children. A panel of doctors and child advocates spoke before the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Tuesday about the worsening mental health of school-aged children."

– "'There is zero evidence': Planet Fitness slams Boston's coronavirus reopening rollback," by Kevin Slane, Boston.com: "Planet Fitness isn't taking Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's decision to roll back the city's coronavirus reopening to Phase 2, Step 2 laying down. On Tuesday, the worldwide fitness company headquartered in Hampton, N.H., issued a press release saying that there is 'zero evidence' of significant spread of the coronavirus at any of its 75 Massachusetts locations."

HEALTH CHECK

– "FDA scientists endorse Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, as documents provide new hints on efficacy," by Matthew Herper and Damian Garde, STAT News: "Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration endorsed the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Moderna as safe and efficacious on Tuesday, one day after the first doses of a competing vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech were delivered across the United States."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "MBTA pushes for more federal funding after cutting service," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "Just a day after agreeing to scale back service early next year, the MBTA on Tuesday renewed its call for Congress to send more aid to public transit agencies whose fare revenue has plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic."

– "MBTA violated open meeting law with police order, AG's office says," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "The MBTA's oversight board violated the Massachusetts open meeting law when, at the height of the George Floyd protests, its members directed agency officials to stop transporting local police forces to protests in T buses, the attorney general's office has determined."

DAY IN COURT

– "State officials say election suit is effort to disenfranchise millions," by Julie Manganis, The Salem News: "State officials suggested in a court filing Tuesday that five losing candidates, including a challenger to Congressman Seth Moulton, seek to disenfranchise millions of voters 'just because they do not like the results of the election,' something they called 'gravely disquieting.'"

– "After Fall River arrests, anti-panhandling law ruled unconstitutional by Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a decision Tuesday deeming a state statute banning panhandling unconstitutional, ruling that homeless people can ask for donations on public roads just like anyone else."

– "Priest who gave Sen. Ted Kennedy's funeral homily charged in sex assault case," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "A Catholic priest who delivered the funeral homily for Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy in 2009 has been indicted on charges alleging rape and indecent assault of a minor. A Barnstable Superior Court grand jury on Friday indicted the Rev. Mark R. Hession, 62, on two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and battery of a person under 14, and one count of witness intimidation, court records show."

– "Courts grapple with backlog of murder trials," by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: "With COVID-19 leading to a backlog in court cases across the state, local judges and lawyers are grappling with a variety of issues as they consider whether they can try and conduct murder trials this spring. Concerns about safety, jurors skipping service and the possibility of participants having to wear masks were among potential pitfalls raised Monday as one local judge probed the topic."

THE PRESSLEY PARTY

– "Dozens of members of Congress call on Biden administration to end the federal death penalty, CNN: "More than three dozen members of Congress are calling on the Biden administration to prioritize abolishing the death penalty, in all jurisdictions, according to a letter sent Tuesday to the transition team for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris."

KENNEDY COMPOUND

– "What's next for Joe Kennedy III? Maybe a Biden administration post, definitely more family time," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: Joseph Kennedy III is looking forward to 'taking a breather' after his time in Congress comes to an end — but President-elect Joe Biden's team might have a different idea. The outgoing U.S. representative for the 4th Congressional District told the Herald on Monday that he's having 'conversations' with people in Biden's orbit as he mulls his next steps."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "USDA Cuts Back On Hunger Relief Shipments To Massachusetts," by Chris Burrell, GBH News: "A change in vendors used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to supply badly needed food to local hunger relief organizations has severely cut back on its deliveries to the state, members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation said Tuesday."

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– "Mass., other states near historic agreement to curb transportation emissions," by David Abel, Boston Globe: "After years of negotiations, Massachusetts and other states on the East Coast are poised to sign a landmark agreement that would constitute one of the nation's most ambitious efforts to fight climate change. By the end of the month, a group of 12 states and Washington, D.C., are expected to announce details of the controversial cap-and-invest pact, which would require substantial cuts to transportation emissions, the nation's largest source of greenhouse gases."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

– "Two new commissioners tapped for Massachusetts marijuana agency," by Dan Adams, Boston Globe: "State officials said they have appointed two new members of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, adding fresh faces to the agency's leadership for the first time since its creation in 2017. Nurys Camargo, a regional AT&T executive who previously directed the youth violence prevention programs under the administration of former Governor Deval Patrick and founded a nonprofit to mentor Latinas, will assume the commission's social justice seat for a five-year term beginning January 1."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "FRONT OF THE LINE," "STATE FLUNKIES," — Globe : "A ray of hope, but still, a hard reality," "Eventually, shot could be required," "Taking a closer look at Moderna vaccine," "Mass. set to join Eastern pact to cut emissions."

FROM THE 413

– "Municipalities receive less than promised for state's land, auditor finds," by Danny Jin, The Berkshire Eagle: "In smaller towns where the state owns large amounts of land, local budgets rely heavily on reimbursements through Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). While meant to make up for revenue lost from property tax exemptions, that program has not been fully funded in the past 20 years, according to a report from the office of State Auditor Suzanne Bump."

– "A family affair: Newly elected state Rep. Jake Oliveira ready to roll in 7th Hampden District," by Chris Goudreau, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Newly elected 34-year-old state Rep. Jake Oliveira lives on East Street in Ludlow right next door to his 95-year-old grandmother Lena Oliveira. Her parents came to America a century ago penniless from a small village in Portugal. But now, the path that she and the rest of her family paved follows with her grandson who will be the first person of Portuguese ancestry in town to represent more than 42,000 people in the 7th Hampden District."

– "Massachusetts casino revenue down in November; MGM Springfield has worst full month ever," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "Gaming revenue fell last month at all three Massachusetts casinos as they dealt with tightening pandemic restrictions, hitting a new low for a full month of operations at MGM Springfield. Gross gaming revenue at the nearly $1 billion MGM Springfield was $10.5 million in November, down from $17.5 million in October."

– "Agawam Mayor William Sapelli proposes $45K mayoral pay hike, longer term," by Michael Ballway, Springfield Republican: "Mayor William Sapelli says a proposed $45,000 pay hike isn't for him, it's for the office. 'I may not run in 2022. I may run and lose. There's no guarantee,' Sapelli said this week. 'If you don't offer a term and salary that's commensurate with the responsibilities, … you're not going to get somebody who's going to take a chance of leaving a business that they're running.'"

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Councilor: Not having special election to replace Rivera unfair to Lawrence voters," by Allison Corneau, Eagle-Tribune: "Five weeks after one election, the city must decide whether to hold another election — this time to choose an interim mayor to finish the term of Daniel Rivera. Rivera is preparing to leave the mayor's post to become president and CEO of the state agency MassDevelopment."

– "Amazon plans second 'last mile' delivery center in Worcester," by Mark Conti, Telegram & Gazette: "Amazon plans to operate a distribution center at a second location in Worcester. In addition to a proposal at the Greendale Mall, Amazon Logistics has signed a lease to open a 177,000-square-foot 'last mile' delivery station at 125 Goddard Memorial Drive, a building formerly occupied by TE Connectivity."

– "Lowell city manager asked to meet with health leaders," by Alana Melanson, The Lowell Sun: "As the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic hits the city, the City Council on Tuesday approved a motion requesting City Manager Eileen Donoghue meet with local, state and federal public health officials, infectious disease experts and medical partners to provide updates and strategy around the rising COVID-19 cases."

– "High schools, like Lincoln-Sudbury, welcomed back winter sports amid ongoing coronavirus pandemic," by Jared Keene, MetroWest Daily News: "Linda Martindale wants nothing more than to have a winter season. So when the first-year Lincoln-Sudbury boys basketball coach entered the main gym Monday afternoon for the first day of tryouts, she settled in before walking out toward center court. Since she can't use an actual whistle, Martindale used a little yellow handheld whistle to gather her players."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to the Boston Globe's Liz Goodwin, Ryan McCollum, Beth Fairservis and Charlotte DuHamel.

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