| | | | | |  | | By Stephanie Murray | Presented by Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! EYES EMOJI: OPPO RESEARCH UNDERWAY IN GUV'S RACE — No Republicans have said they're running for governor in 2022, but a national GOP group is already gathering intel on a Democratic candidate. The America Rising PAC filed a records request to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for information on Democrat Ben Downing, a former state lawmaker who just launched a campaign for Beacon Hill's top job. Downing was an adjunct professor at the school from 2014 to 2015. The request, filed by Allan Blutstein , sought Downing's employment application, contracts, salary history and performance evaluations. Details about the America Rising request came from a subsequent public records request filed by POLITICO. Blutstein did not comment. Gathering intel on candidates this way is pretty routine, but the request shows that the next year's race for governor is already underway, even if it might not look that way on the surface. America Rising was founded for the "sole purpose of exposing the truth about Democrats through video tracking, research, and strategic communications," according to its website. The Massachusetts Republican State Committee paid America Rising $71,000 in 2017 and 2018, according to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Of that total, $38,000 was opposition research "in support of Charlie Baker," according to a campaign finance report. No payments or donations involving America Rising show up on the MassGOP's most recent OCPF reports. A Gov. Charlie Baker aide said the governor is not working with America Rising, and possible Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl said he's not either. Downing's campaign said he's busy on the campaign trail. "He'll leave the partisan warfare to others," said Downing spokesperson Gina Christo. KOH GOES TO WASHINGTON — Dan Koh will join outgoing Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as his chief of staff at the Department of Labor, according to a source. Koh starts his new job on Tuesday, though Walsh isn't quite ready to take the reins at Labor. Walsh is awaiting a confirmation vote before the full Senate, after clearing a vote before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The job won't be an entirely new role for Koh, who served as Walsh's chief of staff at City Hall before launching a 2018 congressional bid. Koh narrowly lost in the Democratic primary to Rep. Lori Trahan, and later joined the Andover Select Board. Walsh's staff picks are particularly interesting because cabinet appointees are limited in the number of aides they can bring with them to Washington. Also going to the Department of Labor is Fernando Ortiz, who served as Walsh's City Council liaison. City Council President Kim Janey, the soon-to-be acting mayor, announced the news at a meeting last week. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — The bill filing deadline for state lawmakers is today. Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley speak at a virtual New England Business Immigration Summit. Rep. Jake Auchincloss speaks at a 'Capitol Hill Report' virtual event hosted by The New England Council, and tours Cold Chain Technologies Tour with state Rep. Jeff Roy. Auchincloss, Boston City Councilor Kenzie Bok and state Rep Bill Driscoll, Jr. are guests on Bloomberg radio. Rep. Lori Trahan speaks at a virtual panel hosted by the Aspen Institute's Sports and Society Program. | | | | A message from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM): We're a community of 3,300+ employers from small neighborhood shops and startups, to Fortune 500 companies. Our member companies employ almost three quarters of a million Massachusetts residents, who depend on the success of those businesses to earn a living, and build fulfilling lives for themselves and their loved ones. Our goal is to create economic opportunity for all of Massachusetts. Join us as we strive to create a better state of business. https://aimnet.org/introductory-membership/ | | | | | | | GET TRANSITION PLAYBOOK TO 100K: In three months, our scoop-filled Transition Playbook newsletter has grown from zero to more than 90,000 subscribers. Find out what's really happening inside the West Wing, who really has the ear of the president, and what's about to happen, before it occurs. Transition Playbook chronicles the people, policies, and emerging power centers of the Biden administration. Don't miss out, subscribe today. And once you do, we'd be grateful if you could spread the word to your friends and colleagues, or, even better, post about Transition Playbook on Facebook or Twitter using this link: politico.com/newsletters/transition-playbook | | | | |
|  | THE LATEST NUMBERS | | – "COVID cases in Mass. have dropped 71% since peak; state reports 1,803 new cases, 61 deaths on Thursday," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "State health officials confirmed another 1,803 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, which is based on 100,002 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 61 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 15,373." | | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | – "Baker — 'Pissed Off' At Vaccine Site Crash — Considers Centralized Pre-Registration," by Zoe Mathews, GBH News: "Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said he is "pissed off" about the state's vaccine scheduling website, which crashed Thursday morning as people 65 and over, and people with two comorbidities became eligible to schedule their coronavirus vaccines. Here's what Baker told Boston Public Radio Thursday." – "Early retirement offer to Massachusetts teachers wins legislative sponsors," by Elizabeth Román, Springfield Republican: "A bill that would allow teachers who are eligible to retire to purchase up to five years of service, age or a combination of the two in order to make room for new teachers has been backed by state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, and state Rep. Carol Doherty, D-Taunton." – "Oversight panel asks Baker, Sudders to testify next week on COVID-19 vaccine rollout," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "A new legislative oversight panel has asked Governor Charlie Baker and Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders to come before the group and answer questions about the state's shaky COVID-19 vaccine rollout." – "Food stamp use surges in pandemic," by Christian M. Wade, Newburyport Daily News: "The ongoing economic toll of the pandemic has seen a surge in requests for food stamps and other programs in the past year. Hundreds of thousands of workers remain unemployed in Massachusetts amid a sluggish economy and government restrictions intended to slow the spread of COVID-19, and that has record numbers of families struggling to pay bills and put food on the table." | | VAX-ACHUSETTS | | – "Rage Quit: Mass. Residents Furious Over State's Faulty Vaccine Websites," by Angus Chen, WBUR: "Two critical state websites — one listing clinics, pharmacies and vaccine sites and their availability, and one where residents can find signup pages or register for appointments at mass vaccination sites — splintered under the heavy traffic." – "Manufacturing delay, weather, delaying vaccine shipment," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Covid-19 vaccine doses scheduled to be shipped to Massachusetts from the federal government this week have been delayed, and state officials left open the possibility that vaccine appointments may be cancelled." – "Some hospitals offered high-risk groups early access to Covid vaccine," by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Business Journal: "Some hospitals in Massachusetts received special state approval to vaccinate certain high-risk groups, such as organ transplant recipients and patients undergoing cancer treatments, ahead of the state's phased approach, while others did not." – "Why can't the Massachusetts vaccine website work better?" by Hiawatha Bray, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts is a global leader in heavy-duty technology fields such as robotics and artificial intelligence, yet the state government is having a nightmarish time getting a simple website that residents can use to book COVID-19 vaccines appointments to work properly." – "Massachusetts surpasses 1.2 million COVID vaccine doses administered, 225K over the last week," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts has administered a little over 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since the statewide rollout began in December, according to the latest weekly vaccine data." – "Baker may send National Guard down south to pick up COVID-19 vaccine supply," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "Governor Charlie Baker said Thursday that the state may send the National Guard down south to pick up shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine earmarked for Massachusetts, with weather issues threatening to disrupt the normal supply chain." – "Rep. Jake Auchincloss 'Frustrated' By Vaccine Website Crashing, Calls For Pre-Registration System," by Hannah Uebele, GBH News: "The Massachusetts vaccination scheduling website crashed Thursday morning as appointments for those aged 65 and up opened for the first time. Earlier this week, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., co-signed a letter to Gov. Charlie Baker urging him to develop a centralized vaccine pre-registration system." | | FROM THE HUB | | – "Walsh Unveils New Public Contracting Order Following Civil Rights Complaint," by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: "A day after a coalition of minority-owned business advocates filed a federal civil rights complaint against Boston's public contracting system, Mayor Marty Walsh announced a new executive order with the goal of increasing the number of city contracts to minority- and woman-owned businesses." – "Cornel West threatens to leave Harvard again," by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: "Harvard University professor Cornel West, the well known philosopher, progressive political activist, and outspoken social critic, is threatening to leave Harvard University after he said the administration disrespected him by denying his request to be considered for tenure." – "'Seismic shift' in hospitality industry spurs developer to swap hotel for housing in Boston tower," by Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal: "A developer plans to swap its approved hotel near South Station for a residential tower. Why? 'The seismic shifts in the hospitality industry and the impact on capital markets caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.'" – "Holding back students because of COVID? Some Boston officials want the option on the table." by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "In a school year filled with unprecedented challenges and burdened by the limitations of remote learning, Boston city and school officials are considering avenues to ensure struggling students get the help they need — including, possibly, by holding them back a grade." – "Your Primer for all the Boston Figures Connected to the GameStop Saga," by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: "While all roads in the GameStop story lead to Wall Street, the fiery heart of American greed, the case and many of its key figures—a vulgar YouTube celebrity, a hedge fund titan, an author scrambling to lay claim to the story in real time—have roots in Boston, ensuring this saga will be very much a local one as it continues to unfold." | | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL | | – "Mayoral Candidate Andrea Campbell Promises 'Timelines And Accountability,'" by Aidan Connelly, GBH News: "Speaking on Boston Public Radio Thursday, Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Andrea Campbell lamented "a lack of intentionality and action" from the outgoing administration of Mayor Marty Walsh and presented herself as a candidate who can offer more tangible progress for the city." | | | | A message from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM):   | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | – "Registry warns motorists about expired stickers," by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: "Nearly 600,000 motorists failed to get their vehicles reinspected amid the pandemic, according to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles, which is urging drivers to get new stickers and telling cops to give them a break on tickets." – "Vaccination site for MBTA employees will be set up at former Lowe's building in Quincy," by Mia McCarthy, Patriot Ledger: "The MBTA could begin vaccinating its employees at a new Quincy vaccination site within the next few weeks. 'COVID continues to be an active concern at the MBTA,' general manager Steve Poftak said during a Fiscal and Management Control Board meeting earlier this month." | | THE OPINION PAGES | | – "Mr. Walsh Goes to Washington. He Leaves The Job Of Economic Equality Unfinished." by Priscilla Flint Banks, Brother Lo Banks, Mukiya Baker Gomez and Mary Malaszek, GBH News: "The recent report that details how little the City of Boston spends with businesses owned by people of color revealed that over the last six years, Black businesses have received just 0.4% of Boston's procurement/contract spending — or $9.4 million of the $2.1 billion total." | | ON THE STUMP | | – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: AG Healey backs Capobianco, Praises Bold Vision and Track Record of Results," from the Capobianco campaign: "Today, Valentino Capobianco, candidate for State Representative in the 19th Suffolk District, received Attorney General Maura Healey's endorsement. Attorney General Healey was first elected to her post in 2014 and won re-election in 2018." | | MARKEYCHUSETTS | | – "'It's time for us just to say no': US Sen. Ed Markey visits planned East Springfield biomass plant," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey, already on record opposing construction of a biomass power plant in East Springfield, met Thursday with local officials and neighborhood activists at the Palmer Renewable Energy site on Page Boulevard." – "Show of solidarity: US Sen. Ed Markey joins St. Vincent nurses on protest line in Worcester," by Isabel Sami, Telegram & Gazette: "U.S. Sen. Ed Markey joined nurses on a protest march at St. Vincent Hospital on Thursday afternoon. The nurses have been protesting for better conditions at the hospital since last month, and voted Feb. 10 to authorize a strike." | | THE PRESSLEY PARTY | | – "Pressley Calls for a Federal Job Guarantee for All Americans," by Jarrell Dillard, Bloomberg: "Democratic Representative Ayanna Pressley is proposing that the federal government guarantee every American a job as millions are still grappling with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic." | | DATELINE D.C. | | – "Marty Walsh's Story Gives Him an Edge in Biden Labor Messaging," by Ian Kullgren, Bloomberg: "Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's working-class background and Everyman ethic may be his secret weapon if confirmed as U.S. labor secretary, giving him a way to relate to the average American in promoting President Joe Biden's labor and jobs agenda." | | KENNEDY COMPOUND | | – "Democratic donor Laurene Powell Jobs is expanding her political operation with Joe Kennedy," by Theodore Schleifer, Recode: "Democratic megadonor and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs is beefing up her political operation, bringing in heavyweights like former Massachusetts Congress member Joe Kennedy, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, to help broker relationships in Washington, DC." | | ABOVE THE FOLD | | — Herald: "SHODDY!" — Globe: "Thousands desperate for shots foiled by website's glitches," "A leader of renowned LA philharmonic to head BSO." | | FROM THE 413 | | – "Mayor Linda Tyer: Springside officials ghosted city on nursing home's COVID-19 outbreak, by Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle: "A data point moved in the right direction Thursday in Pittsfield's COVID-19 battle. The number of deaths attributed to the coronavirus fell by more than a dozen. The story behind that is an unhappy one, though, for the city's leader ." – "St. Joan of Arc School in Chicopee successfully navigated in-person learning and took on new students," by Elizabeth Román, Springfield Republican: "Thirteen-year-old Eliza Burger can sum up remote learning in just one word. 'Hard,' said the eighth grader at St. Joan of Arc School, which went remote when the COVID-19 pandemic first shut down the state in March of 2020, but returned to in-person learning in September." – "'It's honestly a mess in here,'" by Cassie McGrath, Will Katcher, Leigh Appelstein, and Sofi Shlepakov, Massachusetts Daily Collegian: "Interviews with more than a dozen students paint a picture of an unenforced quarantine in which students can continue their normal, social college lifestyle within the isolation space if they choose. But these interviews also reveal the shortcomings of a school trying to manage several hundred active cases of coronavirus at once." | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | – "Brockton native Keith Gill among those sued for $5M for role in GameStop stock frenzy," by Mina Corpuz, The Enterprise: "Brockton native Keith Gill, who spent half a year making videos and sharing information about investing, was sued Wednesday in federal district court in Massachusetts for his alleged role in manipulating the stock prices of GameStop." – "'Nobody is being targeted' Harwich restaurants face penalties for COVID-19 violations," by Doug Fraser, Cape Cod Times: "The Board of Selectmen postponed a decision Tuesday night on whether to sanction two popular Harwich Port restaurants for multiple alleged violations of state COVID-19 restrictions on masking, social distancing and alcohol service over Memorial Day weekend and in mid-July of last year." TRANSITIONS – Elizabeth Koh of the The Wall Street Journal is joining the investigations desk at the Boston Globe next month. Tweet. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND – to WBZ's Tiffany Chan, who celebrates Saturday; and Jay S. Schaefer, who celebrates Sunday. NEW EPISODE: POWER OF ATTORNEY – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray talk about outgoing U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling with Sean Cotter of the Boston Herald. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. 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 the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM): We're a community of 3,300+ employers from small neighborhood shops and startups, to technology innovators and Fortune 500 companies. Our member companies employ almost three quarters of a million Massachusetts residents, who depend on the success of those businesses to earn a living and build fulfilling lives for themselves and their loved ones.
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Our goal is to create economic opportunity for all of Massachusetts. Join us as we strive to create a better state of business. https://aimnet.org/introductory-membership/ | | | | | | | NEW – "THE RECAST" NEWSLETTER: Power dynamics are changing. "Influence" is changing. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is our new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy, and power in America. And POLITICO is recasting how we report on this crucial intersection, bringing you fresh insights, scoops, dispatches from across the country, and new voices that challenge "business as usual." Don't miss out on this important new newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | 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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