News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: TOTAL CHAOS in WASHINGTON — State pols call for TRUMP’S REMOVAL

Thursday, January 7, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: TOTAL CHAOS in WASHINGTON — State pols call for TRUMP’S REMOVAL — BEACON HILL hikes RIDESHARE fees

Jan 07, 2021

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAWMAKERS 'OUTRAGED' BY INSURRECTION IN WASHINGTON — Capitol Hill descended into chaos on Wednesday when an angry mob incited by Donald Trump stormed the Capitol and forced Congress into lockdown. Now, nearly the entire Massachusetts congressional delegation is calling for the president to be removed from office before his term ends on Jan. 20.

In phone calls from their congressional offices — or in two cases, from an undisclosed location — Sen. Ed Markey and Reps. Seth Moulton, Bill Keating, Jake Auchincloss and Lori Trahan described to POLITICO how it felt when a mob breached the Capitol while lawmakers worked to certify the electoral college results. All of the lawmakers representing Massachusetts except for Rep. Stephen Lynch voiced support for removing Trump last night.

"I was in my office actually preparing my remarks to speak on the Senate floor to defend the electoral college vote count when the intercom went off in my office, announcing that the Capitol had been shut down," Markey told me. "We actually drew the shades on the windows and the announcement just said that we should stay here until there was a further subsequent announcement that it was safe to leave."

"It reminded me a lot of 9/11 when the Capitol was attacked by foreign individuals. What angers me so much is that these were Americans attacking the Capitol at the behest of a president of the United States," Markey continued. "I'm outraged that Donald Trump has fomented and promoted today's insurrection. There's a direct line drawn between his campaign to this moment."

Rep. Seth Moulton said he's long been concerned about the transition of power on Inauguration Day, and described what happened yesterday as a coup attempt by domestic terrorists. Trump agreed to an orderly transition of power for the first time early this morning.

"When they entered the building, most of us were in our offices. Due to Covid protocols, we were asked to stay in our offices until called to vote. The Capitol Police rushed around to the House floor, into our offices and rapped on our doors, escorted us to a holding room, a secure area in the Capitol, where hours later we're still all sheltered together," Moulton said. "These are domestic terrorists. These are supporters of the president who are attempting a coup to overthrow our government."

For Trahan, the events Wednesday were a sharp contrast to the previous day, when her family was at the Capitol.

"My daughters were here just yesterday. I actually took a picture of them on the very steps that the insurgents rushed up today. And that's all I could think about," Trahan said from her office building, where she'd been sheltering with staff for six hours. The Westford Democrat is calling for "whatever it takes" to get Trump out of office.

"I would like to see that, frankly," Keating said when I asked about invoking the 25th Amendment, which would enable Vice President Mike Pence to become acting president if he and a majority of the Cabinet declare the president is unable to execute his duties. "The vice president of the United States, the speaker of the House, the people second and third in the line of succession, were effectively trapped in the Capitol at the instigation of the president of the United States."

Auchincloss, the newest member of the delegation, said the scene in Washington turned to chaos within a matter of minutes.

"Things really kind of spiraled very quickly. As late as early, mid-morning I was able to go outside and get lunch, for example. And then around noon, 12:30, the tenor and tone of the protest really changed and it became clear that it was becoming menacing," Auchincloss said.

The Newton Democrat agreed Trump's Cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment, but does not have much faith it will actually happen.

"The administration and congressional Republicans have repeatedly failed to step up and put country and constitution first," Auchincloss said. "But it doesn't mean that we shouldn't still call for it, because it's the right thing to do."

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

TODAY — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh holds a Covid-19 press briefing.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "COVID deaths continue to rise as Massachusetts reports 6,419 new cases, 99 deaths on Wednesday," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts health officials confirmed another 6,419 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the active statewide count to 79,967. That's based on 102,573 new molecular tests reported on Wednesday, according to the Department of Public Health. Health officials also announced another 99 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic to 12,563."

DATELINE D.C.

– "Hill erupts into chaos after rioters storm Capitol," by Sarah Ferris, Olivia Beavers, Melanie Zanona, Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine, POLITICO: "Pro-Donald Trump rioters overwhelmed the Capitol Police and stormed Congress on Wednesday afternoon, interrupting the certification of Joe Biden's Electoral College win and throwing the Hill into panic."

– "Rising number of Democrats call for Trump impeachment," by Holly Otterbein and Laura Barrón-López, POLITICO: "A growing number of Democrats — more than three dozen, at last count — are calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, pointing to his role in inciting rioters to storm the Capitol on Wednesday and the damage he could cause in the final two weeks of his term."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "US Rep. Richard Neal on Capitol siege: 'I thought they were coming through the door of my office,'" by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican. Link.

– "Rep. James McGovern: 'This is not a protest. It is a terrorist attack on our democracy,'" by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette. Link.

– "Congressman Seth Moulton calls for President Trump to be removed from office immediately amid chaos at the Capitol," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com. Link.

– "Rep. Stephen Lynch: Capitol Police 'rolled over,' 'basically stood down' for pro-Trump mob," by Cody Shepard, The Enterprise. Link.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Charlie Baker calls violence in Washington 'predictable,' calls on Trump to condemn it," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Calling the chaos that unfolded in Washington D.C. on Wednesday 'sad but predictable,' Gov. Charlie Baker demanded President Trump condemn rioters who stormed the nation's Capitol and stop repeating false claims of election fraud."

– "Mass. lawmakers launch new legislative session," by Steve LeBlanc, The Associated Press: "Massachusetts lawmakers launched a new legislative session Wednesday just hours after wrapping up the prior session, working into the early-morning hours to pass a series of bills including a $16.5 billion transportation bond bill. In one of their first official acts of the new session, House members elected Democratic Rep. Ron Mariano as the new House speaker."

– "Want To Know If Raw Sewage Gets Dumped In Your Local River? There's A Bill On Baker's Desk About It," by Miriam Wasser, WBUR: "Among the many bills sitting on Gov. Baker's desk is one requiring cities and towns to notify residents any time raw sewage ends up in a local river or water body. As gross — and alarming — as it sounds, sewage dumps actually happen hundreds of times every year in Massachusetts during heavy rain, because of antiquated sewer systems ."

– "Legislature hikes Uber, Lyft fees in last-minute deal," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "Uber and Lyft trips in Massachusetts will get more expensive, after lawmakers reached a last-minute deal to boost fees on ride-hailing services and fund transportation initiatives in the waning hours of the Legislative session that stretched into early Wednesday morning. Under the agreement, ride-hail fees will increase from 20 cents on each ride to as much as $2.40, though with some significant variations depending on the types of trips."

– "Employers face hefty rate hikes for jobless benefits," by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: "Employers could be hit with hefty increases in mandatory payments to the state's unemployment insurance system this year after lawmakers failed to approve Gov. Charlie Baker's proposed freeze on higher rates. Baker sought to ease the blow of planned increases over the next two years. Lawmakers considered his proposal in the final hours of the two-year legislative session on Wednesday but the measure didn't come up for a vote."

– "Due to COVID restrictions, Massachusetts legislators are sworn into office in distanced ceremony or virtually — a first for Beacon Hill," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Adam Gomez's family waived a Puerto Rican flag as the Springfield Democrat took his oath of office as an incoming state senator. His group was small — he brought his wife, children and father — but it was a rare sight outside the Massachusetts State House where lawmakers showed up without the busloads of supporters and friends who normally showed up to their swearing in ceremonies."

– Massachusetts sports betting legalization delayed, but may come soon," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Legalizing sports betting in Massachusetts was left out of the economic development bill this week, but an industry expert predicts the Bay State will get off the sports betting sidelines 'soon enough.'"

– "In first 6 months of Massachusetts rape kit tracking system, state saw reduction in time to deliver kit to crime lab," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: "In the first six months of using a tracking system to monitor the movement of sexual assault evidence kits from hospitals to crime labs, Massachusetts officials report a reduction in turnaround time for pickups of kits from medical providers and deliveries to the crime lab for testing."

– "Massachusetts lawmakers pass bill that takes steps to change state seal and motto, following decades of protests from indigenous activists," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "After years of protests and testimony from Native American residents, Massachusetts lawmakers passed a bill in the final minutes of the legislative session that takes a step toward changing the state seal and motto."

– "UMass, State Police need 'wake-up call' as payroll soars amid pandemic, critics say," by Erin Tiernan and Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: "UMass and State Police budgets are in for a 'wake-up call,' critics warn, as bloated salaries and an abundance of overtime payouts remain the norm even as the coronavirus pandemic has spurred layoffs and sent state revenues crashing."

– "Mass. tax revenues continue resilient run," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Massachusetts tax revenues continued to be remarkably resilient in December, as collections were up 8.8 percent over the same pre-COVID month a year ago and up 2.7 percent in the first six months of the fiscal year."

FROM THE HUB

– "Former Boston City Hall aide in prison for bribery released early due to COVID-19 outbreak," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "The former Boston City Hall aide who was sentenced to 40 months behind bars after accepting a $50,000 bribe from a developer is being released early because of the COVID-19 risk at a local federal prison, according to a judge's order. In a Jan. 5 order, Judge Patti B. Saris allowed John M. Lynch to be released and instead serve two years of home confinement with an electronic bracelet."

– "Poll: Boston voters overwhelmingly support elected school committee," by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: "In the 1990s, the elected Boston School Committee suffered a one-two punch. First, then-Mayor Raymond Flynn and the City Council passed a home rule petition to transition to an appointed school committee. Then, in 1996, 70% of voters backed the change, putting in place the structure that has persisted for the last 24 years. But were the city's voters to face the same question they voted on in 1996, would they make the same choice today?"

– "'Put business aside today': Mass. business leaders react to U.S. Capitol violence," by Catherine Carlock, Lucia Maffei, Greg Ryan and Hilary Burns – Boston Business Journal: Ted Tye spent much of Wednesday afternoon on work calls with the television on mute. With one eye on closed captioning, he tried to concentrate while watching a mob storm the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The managing partner of National Development, Tye said businesspeople tend to maintain a fairly neutral public profile when it comes to politics ."

– "Somerville providing more relief to small businesses," by John Laidler, Boston Globe: "Somerville is offering additional help to small businesses affected by COVID-19. The city recently made available $5 million in grants of up to $25,000 apiece for eligible restaurants, fitness and recreation facilities, theaters, nightclubs, and other small businesses that have suffered impacts from government-mandated closures due to the pandemic."

– "Man shot, killed by Newton police had attacked them with knife: Middlesex DA says," by Milton J. Valencia and John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan said Wednesday that police fatally shot a Newton man a day earlier after he had attacked officers with a knife and a fire extinguisher, and shortly after he had threatened the owner of a candy store."

– Two Mass. sheriffs condemn Capitol violence," by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "Peter Koutoujian, the Middlesex County sheriff and president of the Major County Sheriffs of America, forcefully condemned the acts of a mob of President Trump's supporters who stormed the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday."

TRUMPACHUSETTS

– "Trump supporters from Mass. say violence at Capitol marred protest," by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "Two friends from Massachusetts who call themselves 'Trump Groupies' and drove to Washington, D.C., to protest the election of Joe Biden said the violent mob that stormed the Capitol building Wednesday overshadowed protesters' belief that the November election was stolen from the president."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "CHAOS," — Globe: "TRUMP-INCITED MOB ATTACKS THE CAPITOL"

FROM THE 413

– "Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, City Council head to court in battle over citizen Police Commission," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the City Council are preparing for a Hampden Superior Court hearing in January to determine if Sarno is legally required to appoint a five-member Police Commission to oversee the Police Department as directed by a council-approved ordinance."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Patrick McDermott sworn in as Norfolk County Sheriff," by Joe Difazio, The Patriot Ledger: "Norfolk County has a new sheriff. Quincy Democrat Patrick McDermott was sworn in as sheriff Wednesday after beating out incumbent Republican Jerry McDermott in the November election."

– "Waltham police: search for suspect who attacked men at random in November still 'a number one priority,'" by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "Waltham police officials said Tuesday that they remain laser-focused on apprehending the suspect who randomly attacked at least 10 men on city streets between Nov. 10 and Nov. 27."

– "Melrose Teachers Call For Continued Remote Learning Until Testing," by Mike Carraggi, Patch: "The teachers' union representing some 450 Melrose Public Schools educators is advocating for the district to continue remote learning until regular testing is implemented in the city. The Melrose Education Association said COVID-19 metrics are higher than the levels agreed upon for in-person learning in a memorandum of agreement between the teachers and district signed before students returned to class in October."

– "Tyngsboro cop and Chinese national charged in federal gun conspiracy," by Robert Mills, The Lowell Sun: "Tyngsboro Police Officer Daniel Whitman, who has been on a controversial paid leave from the department since August 2019, was charged in federal court Wednesday, along with a 49-year-old Westford man, on a single count of conspiracy to violate federal firearms laws."

– "Relief funding comes to select Cape cultural groups," by Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll, Cape Cod Times: "Harbor Stage Company in Wellfleet received $54,000 in COVID-19 relief funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council, but other cultural organizations on the Cape were left empty-handed despite also applying for funds."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Jeff Gulko.

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