News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: New PAC takes aim at HAWLEY — ‘RIDICULOUS’ LINES at Springfield VACCINE site

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: New PAC takes aim at HAWLEY — ‘RIDICULOUS’ LINES at Springfield VACCINE site — WALSH wants developer fee HIKE

Feb 10, 2021

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

NEW: ANTI-HAWLEY PAC LAUNCHES IN MASS. — A new Massachusetts-based PAC has its eye on an ambitious U.S. Senator from Missouri.

The U Against Hawley PAC, launched by alumni of Washington University in St. Louis, is aiming to raise $1 million from a national network of donors to support opponents running against GOP Sen. Josh Hawley by the time the primary heats up in a few years.

It's an example of how Boston-area donors are already looking ahead to 2024, and raising cash to influence politics on the national level.

Hawley, up for reelection in 2024, is a key player in the GOP's Trump wing and is widely expected to run for president in 2024. He was a leader among the lawmakers who objected to the Electoral College results, and in a widely-shared photo can be seen raising his fist in support of the crowd gathered on the day of the deadly attack at the U.S. Capitol.

In the wake of the Jan. 6 riot, Hawley was cut off by key donors and denounced by his mentor. The 41-year-old Republican has also spurred a flurry of PACs aiming to defeat him next cycle, while plenty of other PACs are supporting him.

The Massachusetts-based PAC is a bipartisan effort founded by Dan Gaynor, a former Obama administration appointee who lives in Newton and graduated from Washington University. Unlike super PACs that have to spend money independent of candidates, the U Against Hawley PAC can donate directly to Hawley's opponents. The group plans to spend money in the 2024 presidential race or Missouri Senate race, depending on what Hawley decides to do.

"Senator Hawley has proven himself to be not only a hypocrite," Gaynor told me over the phone. "But somebody who is dangerous in terms of invalidating norms that could have really deleterious democratic consequences down the line."

"We're going to be raising money that we can donate directly to viable Democratic challengers. And if the right type of Republican challenger pops up we'd certainly consider supporting them as well," Gaynor said. The PAC will file its first fundraising report with the FEC in April.

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

TODAY — Former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial continues. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh briefs reporters on Covid-19 at City Hall.

JOIN TODAY – A PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW ON TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: After weeks of tension following the January insurrection at the Capitol, all eyes are on the Senate as the second impeachment trial against former President Trump begins. Join Playbook co-author Rachael Bade for a discussion on the ins and outs of the historic proceedings with former Ambassador Norman Eisen, a senior fellow in Governance Studies at The Brookings Institution, and a former special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee. What arguments will Trump's lawyers and House impeachment managers use? Where will this leave things on Capitol Hill? REGISTER HERE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports 1,319 new COVID cases, 68 deaths on Tuesday as percent positive dips to less than 3%" by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "State health officials confirmed 1,319 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the active number of cases statewide to 55,659. Officials also announced another 68 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll to 14,821 ."

THE FIFTY

– "Trump broke them. Now the pandemic is bringing them together." by Stephanie Murray, POLITICO: "With Trump out of office following one of the most bitterly contested U.S. elections in history, the national bipartisan groups that represent governors, mayors and state lawmakers are at last finding common ground again. Even as Republicans and Democrats continue to feud over issues big and small, the coronavirus pandemic and the chaos at the U.S. Capitol — now the subject of Trump's second impeachment trial — are providing rare opportunities for unity."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "William Galvin, lawmakers propose making expanded vote-by-mail permanent in Massachusetts," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin and several Beacon Hill lawmakers want to make the sweeping vote-by-mail system adopted during the pandemic a permanent fixture in Massachusetts — but not everyone appears on board ."

– "Mass. lawmakers urged to reject changes to climate bill," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Environmental groups are urging lawmakers to reject many of Gov. Charlie Baker's proposed changes to a sweeping climate change bill. Over the weekend, Baker returned the bill to the Legislature with proposed amendments he said are needed to make it more workable and less costly for consumers and businesses."

– "New law may help commercial properties convert to housing, Gov. Baker says," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says a new housing law will have a greater impact than he imagined when he first filed the proposal to make it easier for cities and towns to zone new housing developments."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "With capacity increasing, signs of progress in Mass. vaccination push," by Robert Weisman, Boston Globe: "After weeks of missteps that left frustrated residents struggling to sign up for COVID-19 shots, there are increasing signs the Massachusetts vaccination campaign is picking up speed. The number of doses injected have jumped by nearly 40 percent since the start of the month, to more than 910,000 so far, state figures released Tuesday show, marking the strongest period yet in a rollout that began in mid-December."

– "Ayanna Pressley, Maura Healey and more call on Charlie Baker to add asthma to coronavirus vaccine eligibility," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley is urging Gov. Charlie Baker to ensure those with asthma can receive coronavirus vaccines in Phase 2 after the Herald reported the respiratory condition was excluded from the list of eligible medical conditions."

– "What a waste: 1,000-plus coronavirus vaccine doses tossed in Massachusetts," by Rick Sobey and Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "More than 1,000 precious coronavirus vaccine doses have been wasted so far during Massachusetts' sluggish COVID-19 vax rollout, according to state data that does not include thousands of tossed doses under the feds' oversight. A total of 1,096 doses of the Moderna vaccine and 176 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were reported as wasted — for a total of 1,272 doses as of Friday, the state Department of Public Health said on Tuesday."

– "With vaccine leftovers, hospitals are finding any available arm," by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Business Journal: "As part of efforts to ensure every coronavirus vaccine dose is used, hospitals are drafting end-of-day wait lists, offering the vaccine to patients sitting in their hospitals, and providing leftover doses to qualifying family members of staff.

– "Clinicians Concerned About Vaccine Hesitancy Among People Experiencing Homelessness In Boston," by Lynn Jolicoeur, WBUR: "When Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program started vaccinating adults staying in homeless shelters three weeks ago, they found excitement at each stop. Doctors, nurses and shelter staff members applauded dozens of shelter guests who got the shots."

– "Following 'ridiculous' lines in freezing temps at COVID super vaccination site in Springfield, changes are being made," by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: "'The situation at the mall was ridiculous,' said Carolyn Webber who came with her 95-year-old mother to get vaccinated on Monday. 'We arrived with an appointment for 11 a.m. We were outside for over an hour and then inside for another hour. Mom received her vaccination at 1 p.m.'"

FROM THE HUB

– "Walsh calls for 42% hike in developer fees to fund housing, job training," by Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal: "In what's expected to be the final days of his tenure, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh on Tuesday called for a 42% increase in city fees real-estate developers pay on commercial projects larger than 100,000 square feet."

– "New Videos Show Massachusetts Cops Brutalizing George Floyd Protesters," by Eoin Higgins, The Appeal: "New footage shared with The Appeal from Boston from the evening of May 29 and Worcester from the night of June 1, along with the accounts of people present, point to a pattern of police attacking and arresting demonstrators without apparent cause and using excessive force to restrain people."

– "Sorry, homebuyers — Mayor Walsh is heading to D.C. but he's not selling his Dorchester house," by Mark Gartsbeyn, Boston.com: "Marty Walsh is going to Washington, but he's not letting go of his Dorchester roots. Boston's mayor, who is expected to soon become President Joe Biden's secretary of labor, said that he's not selling his Lower Mills home despite the apparent pleas of solicitors."

– "Northeastern's message to students: come back to class," by Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: "Nearly a year after COVID-19 gripped the country and transformed higher education, forcing many colleges to transition to mostly remote classes, Northeastern University is trying to remind its students about that long-ago time when they learned in-person, and is urging them to come back to the class this spring."

– "Restaurants still reeling, even with aid and eased restrictions," by Isabel Contreras, Boston Business Journal: "As state officials roll back coronavirus-driven rules and offer relief through small-business relief grants, Greater Boston restaurants continue to struggle to make ends meet."

– "Restaurant groups file suit after business insurance rejections during coronavirus pandemic," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Two Boston restaurant groups that include various well-known downtown bars including Carrie Nation, The Black Rose and Coogan's have filed lawsuits against their insurance companies, saying the underwriters owe the struggling eateries large sums of money after denying claims related to the coronavirus impact on business."

– "Boston's in a lab-building boom. What will that mean for the city and its neighborhoods?" by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "Developers — and sometimes owners of existing buildings — are turning away from traditional office towers toward life-sciences space, hoping to capture an industry that's growing fast even as stalwart insurance companies and law firms retreat from big offices."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "It's about to become easier to find a new CharlieCard," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "The plastic CharlieCard has for years made riding the MBTA more convenient, allowing passengers to store and reload fares on a durable piece of plastic and easily access the transit system with a simple tap on a fare reader."

– "T starting to get serious about fare evasion," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "A new cashless fare collection system under development will allow passengers to board at any door and tap on at card readers. The approach is expected to speed up boarding and cut trip times by 10 percent, but it raises the question about what to do about people who hop on board and don't pay."

ON THE STUMP

– "Harvard's Danielle Allen On The 'Re-Knitting' Of America: 'We Don't Have An Alternative But To Put In The Work,'" by Aidan Connelly, GBH News: "Harvard government professor Danielle Allen, who is weighing running for Massachusetts governor next year, joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday, where she spoke about her vision for what she called the "re-knitting" of a deeply divided America."

DAY IN COURT

– "Little noticed law sets off court fight over state's responsibility to release inmates to reduce COVID risks," by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe: "Language quietly added to the state budget in November has given hope to Massachusetts prison inmates that they will be able to get out early to lessen their risk of getting COVID. So far, the state Department of Correction has refused early release for any of the 6,500 prisoners to reduce the risk of COVID-19, which has sickened hundreds and killed more than 20 inmates."

– "Change coming for Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys have until the end of the month to hand in their resignations, according to multiple reports, which means Massachusetts will likely soon have a new top federal prosecutor ."

MARKEYCHUSETTS

– "Markey: In Secret Vote, Senate Would Likely Convict Trump," by Adam Reilly, GBH News: "As the impeachment trial of President Trump begins, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) says the proceedings will send a powerful message even if — as expected — Senate Democrats can't muster the seventeen Republican votes required for conviction."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Stephen Lynch, Lori Trahan clear of coronavirus quarantines," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald. Link.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– "Group of state reps call for firing of Mass. Climate Change Undersecretary David Ismay after he was caught saying state needs to 'break' the will of consumers," by Jackson Cote, MassLive.com: "A group of Massachusetts lawmakers are calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to fire his undersecretary for climate change over a video that surfaced last week in which he says the state needs to "break" the will of consumers 'so they stop emitting.'"

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "WHAT A WASTE," "DON'T RIP THE HOODIE," — Globe: "Vaccine effort may be turning the corner," "Despite likely outcome, drama."

FROM THE 413

– "Clergy abuse survivor claims former Springfield bishop, others engaged in cover-up," by Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle: "The former altar boy who accused a legendary bishop of rape — an account deemed 'unequivocally credible' by a retired judge last summer — wants to be compensated for his suffering, citing inaction and connivance by church officials that, he says, exacerbated his pain."

– "'It's a moving target:' Plan for new Holyoke Soldiers' Home facility still uncertain, trustee tells legislators," by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: "Hours before a Holyoke Soldiers' Home trustees meeting, a board member said he remains completely unaware of what the state's response will be to trustees' demands to plan for a bigger facility."

– "'Tired of being nickeled and dimed': Springfield City Council joins chorus of communities opposed to Comcast's proposed data cap," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "The City Council on Monday joined a growing number of communities voicing opposition to a proposed fee charged by Comcast for subscribers exceeding a data cap on internet usage."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Seniors report problems with new state hotline," by Cynthia McCormick, Cape Cod Times: "Cape seniors who tried to use a new state hotline Tuesday to sign up for two regional COVID-19 vaccination clinics being held this week found themselves outgunned by vaccine seekers who used their computers to book appointments."

– "Framingham officials call on Baker to prioritize vaccinations for high school seniors," by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "The Framingham School Committee is urging Governor Charlie Baker to prioritize vaccinations for high school seniors across the state who are graduating this spring, as officials work to bring local students back into buildings for in-person classes."

– "South Shore superintendents call for immediate vaccine priority for teachers," by Johanna Seltz, Boston Globe: School superintendents from 10 districts south of Boston are asking that teachers get immediate priority for COVID-19 vaccination. In a letter to Governor Charlie Baker, the South Shore League Superintendents said vaccinating early childhood and K-12 teachers, and school support personnel 'would be a major step toward getting our kids back to school full-time safely, which is a goal we all share.'"

– "With new housing law signed, table set for in-law apartment debate," by Dustin Luca, The Salem News: "The debate over in-law apartments in the city is coming back. The Baker-Polito Administration on Tuesday held a ceremonial bill signing to usher in a $626 million economic development bill. The new law includes Baker's years-attempted 'housing choice' measure that makes it easier to pass housing policy in the state."

– "DCU Center field hospital population begins to steady," by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: "The DCU Field Hospital has begun to keep steady range in population size as the state deliberates what its capacity might look like in March. There are currently 31 patients at the facility, Peter Lancette, director of the field hospital's operations and the facility's assistant chief nursing officer, said."

– "Airbnb boats and water goats: Fairhaven committee discusses new ideas at meeting," by Anastasia E. Lennon, Standard-Times: "The Fairhaven Marine Resources Committee on Thursday night discussed the possibility of bringing Airbnb for boats and water goats to town. The first term is self-explanatory, but the second term may wrongly conjure up images of goats wading in the New Bedford Harbor. 'Water goat' is actually the name for a floating barrier that traps trash released from nearby sewer outfalls."

MEDIA MATTERS

– "Punchbowl News, the Tipsheets Founded by Three Politico Alums, Is Sued for Trademark Infringement," by Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian: "A Massachusetts company named Punchbowl, Inc., has filed a trademark lawsuit against A.J. Press, Inc., the parent company of the political news startup Punchbowl News from former Politico reporters Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, and John Bresnahan, which debuted earlier this year."

TRANSITIONS – State Sen. Adam Gomez hired Danielle Allard as chief of staff and general counsel, Lauren Matteodo as legislative director, Anthony Moore as district director and Ali Reza-Reyes as district aide. Link.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to the Boston Globe's Jeff Jacoby, Nolan O'Brien, regional director for Sen. Ed Markey; Christopher Hartman, Peter Douvris, Jess Arena and Jonathan Pappas.

NEW EPISODE: LUCK OF THE DRAW – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray discuss the vaccine rollout, redistricting and new polling on remote, hybrid and in-person learning. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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