News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: BIDEN'S BIG PRAISE for BAKER — JUDGE tosses GOPers election suit — MARKEY takes HEAT — JANEY considers MOVING UP Boston reopening

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: BIDEN'S BIG PRAISE for BAKER — JUDGE tosses GOPers election suit — MARKEY takes HEAT — JANEY considers MOVING UP Boston reopening

May 12, 2021

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. We're halfway through the week.

CASE DISMISSED — A superior court judge has tossed a lawsuit against the state from five failed Republican office-seekers who sought to decertify the 2020 general election results — bringing to a close one of the nation's lesser-known election challenges to the November contest.

Former GOP congressional candidates John Paul Moran and Caroline Colarusso and a trio of former state legislative hopefuls sued the state, Secretary of State William Galvin and Gov. Charlie Baker in December, challenging the constitutionality of last year's pandemic-induced, no-excuse mail-balloting system and seeking a "re-vote."

But Worcester Superior Court Judge Janet Kenton-Walker wasn't having it. "The plaintiffs lost in the November 2020 general election months ago. Any challenges they have to now-expired provisions" of the pandemic voting reforms "are moot," she wrote in her dismissal this week.

Moran slammed the court for "throwing our case out" because they "want to shut us up" and the Republican plaintiffs vowed to appeal.

But the state Republican Party is focused elsewhere — on fighting the current Democratic-led efforts on Beacon Hill to make broad-based mail-in voting permanent.

Galvin, the state's top elections official, told me he's "not going to tolerate" attempts to get rid of the voting system that aided record turnout last year.

The voting-reform challenges are all part of the ongoing fallout from the 2020 election, the latest of which includes audits in Maricopa County, Arizona, and Windham, New Hampshire.

"Keeping this stuff going nationally, it feeds the 'big lie,'" Galvin, a Democrat, said, adding that it "obscures the urgency of protecting voters' rights" in states like Georgia and Texas.

BIDEN'S BIG PRAISE FOR BAKER — A few months ago, Massachusetts ranked in the bottom half of states when it came to getting shots in arms. Now more than 3 million residents are fully vaccinated and Massachusetts is one of just a handful of states where upwards of 70% of adults are at least partially vaccinated. The state on Tuesday reported zero Covid-19 deaths for the first time in nearly a year.

President Joe Biden praised Baker for a "hell of a job" during a virtual meeting with six governors on Tuesday, quipping, "I hope that doesn't ruin your reputation coming from a Democrat."

The plaudits earned the governor some glowing headlines . "'Hell of a job,'" graced homepages from the Boston Herald to the Berkshire Eagle. Boston Globe columnist Scott Lehigh declared it "Charlie Baker's big bounce back."

But the Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition was quick to point out that racial disparities in vaccination rates "remain a major concern." And Baker acknowledged "we still have some work to do there" from the virtual national stage.

MARKEY TAKES HEAT — Sen. Ed Markey fired up his vociferous online base on Tuesday — but not in a good way.

Markey weighed in on the escalating Israeli-Palestinian clash, tweeting that both "deserve peace and safety." He added that "plans to force Palestinians from their homes" have "contributed to a spiral of violence that must be de-escalated," and said "Israel has the right to defend itself from indiscriminate rocket attacks and no one should fear being forcefully evicted from their homes."

The criticism from some of Markey's most vocal online supporters was swift. Some progressives supporting the Palestinians took issue with Markey's "'both sides' statement," which they called "a disgrace" and "an embarrassment for the progressive movement."

Some of the same people criticized Rep. Jake Auchincloss just days earlier, when he affirmed "Israel's right to defend itself and its citizens" after meeting with the Israel counsel general in Boston.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley have called the pending evictions of Palestinians from an East Jerusalem neighborhood "unacceptable." Rep. Jim McGovern tweeted, "All efforts to displace Palestinian families must stop. Rocket attacks on Jerusalem by Palestinian militants in Gaza must stop." Markey, Warren, Pressley, McGovern and Auchincloss have all expressed support at various points for a two-state solution.

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

TODAY — Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey participates in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Pearl Grill in Dorchester at 12:15 p.m. and then visits three small businesses in Fields Corner. Rep. Jim McGovern is a guest on WBUR's "Radio Boston" at 3 p.m . Senate President Karen Spilka, Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer and state Reps. Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Jack Patrick Lewis and Maria Robinson participate in a Framingham delegation forum on economic recovery at 5 p.m. Rep. Lori Trahan discusses the federal child tax credit on Facebook Live at 5:30 p.m.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports zero new coronavirus deaths as more than 3M fully vaccinated," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "For the first time in nearly a year, state health officials reported zero new coronavirus deaths If that wasn't enough good news, as of Tuesday more than 3 million people are now fully vaccinated."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Massachusetts Senate's $47.6B budget boosts aid to needy families, slashes reliance on rainy day account," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "The bottom line of a $47.6 billion budget unveiled by state Senate leaders is nearly identical to one produced by House lawmakers last month, but "dug deeper" into federal reimbursements to reduce the Bay State's reliance on rainy day funds while boosting support to poor families and without raising new taxes."

– "Senate budget calls for child care tax refund," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Salem News: "More than 85,000 low- to moderate-income families would be eligible for a refundable child care tax credit under a Senate plan unveiled Tuesday. A proposal tucked into a $47.6 billion budget rolled out by the Senate would convert income tax deductions for children under 12, dependent adults and business-related dependent care expenses into a refundable tax credit."

– "Senate proposal pares back film tax credit," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Senate budget committee is proposing major changes to the film tax credit, setting the stage for a major clash with the House over the lucrative incentives the state offers to film and television production companies to shoot in Massachusetts."

– "Massachusetts quietly eases restaurant rules for menus, condiments, disinfecting," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Allowing amusement parks and road races to resume operations weren't the only COVID-19 rule changes that took effect Monday in Massachusetts. In addition to headliner reopening steps, Gov. Charlie Baker's administration also quietly issued new guidelines for restaurants that eliminate some of the rules that had appeared to focus on preventing the transmission of COVID-19 through surfaces, which disease experts say is infinitesimally rare."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "For Baker, vaccine rollout has gone from political nightmare to point of pride," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "...high praise from the nation's highest office was the latest indication that the Massachusetts vaccine rollout, once a source of political pain for Baker, has become a point of pride. As the state maintains its spot near the top of national rankings for percentage of population vaccinated, critics who were at Baker's throat earlier this year have changed their tune or quieted altogether."

– "Activist Michael Curry On Setting A 'Higher Bar' For Vaccine Equity," by Aidan Connelly, WBUR: "Speaking Tuesday on Boston Public Radio, Michael Curry, CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, acknowledged progress while still stressing the need for better COVID-19 vaccine equity."

– "With Pfizer's vaccine approved for younger teens, will shots be required to go back to school?" by Felicia Gans and Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: "With federal approval of a coronavirus vaccine for 12-to-15-year-olds all but certain, school officials around Massachusetts on Tuesday were weighing whether to require students to get vaccinated before returning to the classrooms this fall. Some districts said they would require vaccination, others said they would prefer not to require them, and still others were looking to the state for guidance. The state, meanwhile, has not formalized its plans."

FROM THE HUB

– "Kim Janey floats idea of ferries to Long Island recovery campus," by Sean Philip Cotter and Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "As the situation along the city's Methadone Mile continues to worsen, Acting Mayor Kim Janey floated an openness to running ferries to get a 'self-sustaining' Long Island recovery campus up and running as the battle over a new bridge continues to languish."

– "Kim Janey to 'take a look' at moving up Boston's coronavirus reopening," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Acting Mayor Kim Janey says she'll make a decision "in the coming days" about whether to move up Boston's reopening timeline as positive coronavirus data continues to flow in."

– "Elizabeth Warren's new book details angry meeting with Boston police's Patrick Rose, now accused of child molestation," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "One Sunday in September 2015, Senator Elizabeth Warren arrived at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston to give a speech about racial justice. Drawing ties between the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and current protests over police officers who had killed Black men, she declared: 'Black lives matter. Black citizens matter. Black families matter.' … But it was not as well-received by the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, or its leader at the time, Patrick Rose."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Boston fields historically diverse crop of mayoral candidates; all top candidates identify as people of color," by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: "As Tuesday's deadline to take out papers for city office came and went, the field of candidates for the next mayor of Boston emerged as a historic one: For the first time, all of the major candidates identify as people of color."

TRUMPACHUSETTS

– "Wind farm off coast of Martha's Vineyard hailed by Biden camp, mocked by Trump," by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: "The nation's first offshore wind farm to be built 15 miles south of Martha's Vineyard was hailed by the Biden administration — but slammed by former President Donald Trump. 'Congratulations to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts for the privilege they will have in looking at massive windmills that have been approved by the Biden Administration and are being built, in China of course.'"

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Boston to NYC high-speed rail? One project seeks to link the two cities via a 200 mile-per-hour train," by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "Boston to Manhattan by train in 100 minutes? It's possible, so say the organizers of the North Atlantic Rail Initiative, who are now seeking to drum up support from the Biden Administration, as it works to sell its $2 trillion infrastructure package to the country."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Elizabeth Warren and Ayanna Pressley bring back the Andrew Kearse Act, four years after his death in police custody," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Before the words 'I can't breathe' became a rallying cry in the wake of George Floyd's death, there was Andrew Kearse. Kearse, a Black resident of New York City, died exactly four years ago — May 11, 2017 — from a heart attack in the back of a police cruiser, despite repeatedly pleading to officers for help. … Now, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley are pushing a bill to change that in case a similar scenario ever occurs again."

– "Mass. delegation not jumping on SALT bandwagon," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Massachusetts was one of the states most affected when the Republican-controlled Congress in 2017 capped a tax break that allowed people to deduct their state income and local property tax payments on their federal taxes. … Now, as President Biden pushes for a $2 trillion infrastructure plan, some members of the now Democratic-controlled Congress have formed a SALT caucus and are threatening to vote against the plan unless the cap is repealed. ... But here in Massachusetts the congressional delegation appears to be staying out of the fray."

FROM THE 413

– "'People, not politics' for Holyoke Mayoral Candidate Gloria Caballero-Roca," by Dennis Hohenberger, Springfield Republican: "Gloria Caballero-Roca became the sixth and first Latina mayoral candidate for the Sept. 21 mayoral primary. The political newcomer's campaign will focus 'on people – not politics.'"

– "MGM sells Springfield property to its real estate spinoff, no expected impact on casino," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "MGM Resorts International is selling the land and buildings at MGM Springfield to its affiliate, MGM Growth Properties, a real estate investment trust for $400 million in a move that is not expected to impact day-to-day operations at the casino."

– "Amherst health officials stick with downtown mask-wearing mandate into June," by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "A mandate for wearing face coverings in Amherst center, in effect since Aug. 3, 2020, will continue into June. The Board of Health, at a recent special meeting, unanimously reaffirmed that masks must be worn by all people downtown, even though Gov. Charlie Baker recently lifted the outdoor mask mandate, except in situations where individuals can't keep six feet apart."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "'Worcester has a history with me': Pedro Martinez's journey to becoming a Red Sox legend began not far from Polar Park," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: "Before Pedro Martinez sparked raucous reactions to his dazzling array of pitches at Fenway Park, prior to the 1999 All Star Game in Boston and the 2004 World Series in St. Louis, even a decade before he walked into the Baseball Hall of Fame Cooperstown, the pitcher began his stay in the northeast in Worcester."

– "6-year-old collects first home run at Polar Park, hit over Worcester Wall by Marcus Wilson," by Joe McDonald, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Sean Majoy and his son, Hayden, were enjoying the first-ever WooSox game at Polar Park Tuesday afternoon when they made history themselves. Sitting in the second row of the Worcester Wall seats in right field, 6-year-old Hayden collected the first home run hit here by WooSox' Marcus Wilson."

– "Plans for Peabody power plant on hold," by Erin Nolan, Salem News: "Plans to build a 55-megawatt natural gas-powered plant in the city are officially on hold. … The project, referred to as Project 2015A in official documents, has been in the works since 2015 and was previously approved to be built at Peabody Municipal Light Plant's Waters River substation, behind the Pulaski Street industrial park. But it's come under criticism from residents, local and state officials, and community groups, who say they weren't aware of the plan until just recently."

THE NATIONAL TAKE

– "A Nonprofit Promised to Preserve Wildlife. Then It Made Millions Claiming It Could Cut Down Trees," by Lisa Song, and James Temple, MIT Technology Review/ProPublica: "The Massachusetts Audubon Society has long managed its land in western Massachusetts as crucial wildlife habitat. Nature lovers flock to these forests to enjoy bird-watching and quiet hikes, with the occasional bobcat or moose sighting. But in 2015, the conservation nonprofit presented California's top climate regulator with a startling scenario: It could heavily log 9,700 acres of its preserved forests over the next few years. The group raised the possibility of chopping down hundreds of thousands of trees as part of its application to take part in California's forest offset program."

TRANSITIONS – Kathy Gasperine is joining Amalgamated Bank as vice president of social impact banking. Maurice Cunningham is retiring from UMass Boston at the end of the month. Tweet.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Kathryn Alexander, communications director for Rep. Katherine Clark, Tommy Gardner and Andrew Thorne.

NEW EPISODE: THANKS FOR THE MEM-MURRAYS – On this week's Horse Race podcast, co-host and soon-to-be POLITICO Morning Score author Stephanie Murray says goodbye to the pod and reflects on her time on the #mapoli beat with fellow hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela. With the future of workplaces post-pandemic still uncertain, Miles Howard discusses his Boston Globe article making the case for turning vacant offices into affordable housing. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and SoundCloud.

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