News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The BAKER-MASSGOP schism — MILLIONAIRES TAX up for VOTE — Boston School Committee chair RESIGNS over TEXTS

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The BAKER-MASSGOP schism — MILLIONAIRES TAX up for VOTE — Boston School Committee chair RESIGNS over TEXTS

Jun 09, 2021

IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS — State lawmakers are set to vote today on whether to send a so-called millionaires tax to the 2022 ballot, and early debate over the proposed constitutional amendment could foreshadow a larger election-season battle years in the making.

Advocates for the "Fair Share Amendment" — which would impose a 4 percent surtax on personal income over $1 million — say the estimated extra $2 billion a year in new revenue would help make key investments in public education and transportation and be a boon for longer-term economic recovery from the pandemic.

But opponents question why a state government that's flush with cash and federal aid needs even more money. A new study from the conservative Beacon Hill Institute contends that the millionaire's tax would bring in less revenue than predicted — closer to $1.2 billion. The study also says the proposal could cost upwards of 9,000 jobs and send wealthy Bay Staters fleeing across state lines to cheaper pastures.

"We don't have a tax revenue crisis. We don't have an education and transportation crisis," Beacon Hill Institute President David Tuerck said on a press call Tuesday. "This is the wrong tax increase at the wrong time."

But state Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), who's cosponsoring the constitutional amendment on Beacon Hill with state Rep. Jim O'Day (D-Worcester), told me the tax would "strengthen our economy, and, most importantly, it'll make our economy more equitable — and if the pandemic has shown us anything, it's just how great the inequities are."

A Supreme Judicial Court ruling kept the tax off the ballot in 2018. But it's passed the Legislature before and Lewis believes it will do so again today.

Lewis said he's prepared to keep fighting alongside advocates — including the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition of labor, faith and community groups — to convince voters that the state's wealthiest residents "can afford to pay a bit more."

Polls have shown strong support for the millionaires tax in the past. But Paul Diego Craney, spokesman for the conservative-leaning Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Foundation, told reporters Tuesday he's "optimistic" voters won't go for it.

MEETING OF THE MASSGOP MINDS — Tensions roiling the Massachusetts Republican Party are poised to come to a head at tonight's GOP state committee meeting.

Here's the latest: A bylaw that could have removed Gov. Charlie Baker and other elected Republican leaders from the executive committee that decides primary endorsements — and carried with it potential implications for 2022 — didn't have the votes and is no longer being floated. Its backers, including Chairman Jim Lyons, are now pushing a proposal to move that endorsement power to the full state committee instead. A convention resolution to lower the delegate-vote threshold needed to make the 2022 ballot at next year's convention is also expected to be withdrawn.

What's less clear is how the committee will handle the controversy surrounding committeewoman Deborah Martell, who recently wrote in an email she was "sickened" that GOP congressional candidate Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette and his husband had adopted children. Lyons so far has rejected calls to make Martell resign or step down himself.

A resolution being circulated by committeeman and state Rep. Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk) calls for "swift condemnation" of any member espousing "hateful ideology" and says they should not be allowed to serve as an elected member of the Republican Party or run for office as a GOP nominee.

A couple dozen GOP grassroots activists are also planning a rally "in support of a better MassGOP" at 6 p.m. outside the Apex in Marlborough, about half an hour before the capacity-limited state committee meeting kicks off inside.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. With fewer than 100 days to go until Boston's preliminary mayoral election, state Rep. Jon Santiago plans to launch a bilingual television ad campaign Thursday. He appears to be the first campaign to go up on the airwaves, though an independent political action committee was set to run digital ads in support of Andrea Campbell.

Santiago's six-figure ad buy is for two 30-second spots that will air on the city's cable systems and Spanish-language broadcast: The English-language "Try," and the Spanish-language "Pulso," both of which focus on Santiago's backstory, his work at the State House and his job as an ER physician during Covid-19, per his campaign. "You want a mayor who's got a pulse on Boston and its problems, literally?" one ad says. "Try Jon Santiago, the ER-doctor-state-representative-army-captain."

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

TODAY — State Attorney General Maura Healey addresses the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m. The state House and Senate hold a Constitutional Convention session at 1 p.m. and are poised to vote on the so-called millionaires tax constitutional amendment. Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins a D.C. rally calling on her colleagues to pass the "For the People Act" at 11 a.m. and chairs a subcommittee hearing on digital currency at 2:30 p.m. Rep. Richard Neal and Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle take questions during a virtual town hall at 6 p.m.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "There are now fewer than 4K active COVID cases in Massachusetts as state reports 100 new infections, 2 deaths," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "The number of active COVID-19 infections in Massachusetts continued to decrease on Tuesday, now down to 3,805 from the 4,195 reported the day before. The new low marks about a 79% decrease in active cases from one month ago on May 7, when the number stood at 19,784 and a 96% decrease from the height of the pandemic on Jan. 18."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Mass. Senate moves to extend to-go cocktails, expanded outdoor dining, and other pandemic rules into 2022," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Senate is moving legislation that would extend a series of pandemic-era rules into next year and beyond, including allowing expanded mail-in voting until December, letting restaurants sell to-go cocktails until March 2022, and keeping certain eviction protections until January 2023."

– "Opposition to millionaires' tax heats up with lawmakers poised for ballot vote," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Adding the millionaires' tax on next year's statewide ballot is up for a vote today as opponents argue the hike is unnecessary because it would stifle the state's economy at a time when tax revenues are climbing."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Charlie Baker boosts funding by $3.2 million for vaccination efforts in hard-hit Massachusetts communities," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker's administration is boosting funding by $3.2 million to community- and faith-based organizations in the areas hardest hit by COVID-19, which state data show are still suffering from lagging vaccination rates."

FROM THE HUB

– "The Inside Story: How Kim Janey Became Boston's Acting Mayor," by Adam Reilly, GBH News: "On January 6, 2020, the Boston City Council held its first meeting of the new year. Early in the proceedings, after an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, at-large councilor Michelle Wu stood to nominate the council's next leader. 'I am honored to make a motion, at the the start of this new decade and new term, for justice, equity, and opportunity for all,' Wu said. 'I rise to proudly nominate our good colleague from Roxbury, Councilor Kim Janey, as city-council president.'"

– "Boston School Committee chair Alexandra Oliver-Dávila resigns over racially charged texts," by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "Facing growing calls for her resignation from elected officials, Alexandra Oliver-Dávila stepped down from the Boston School Committee, city officials announced on Tuesday. Oliver-Dávila submitted her resignation on Monday, the same day text messages she exchanged with another School Committee member disparaging West Roxbury families became public. … She is the second person to resign as chair in less than a year amid a public uproar."

– "'It's a really terrible situation': Boston teachers are recording scorching temperatures inside classrooms," by Dialynn Dwyer, Boston.com: "Jessica Tang, president of the Boston Teachers Union, told Boston.com that on Monday and Tuesday the union has received reports from 'hundreds' of classrooms without air conditioning recording indoor temperatures in the 80s and some topping 90 degrees with high humidity."

– "Boston looks to move Dennis White suit to federal court," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The city of Boston is looking to move Dennis White's lawsuit over to federal court as both sides gird for more legal wrangling."

– "Five more linked to burgeoning Boston police pay fraud scandal, including former union president," by Dugan Arnett and Maggie Mulvihill, Boston Globe: "Another five members of the Boston Police Department's long-troubled evidence unit have been implicated in a burgeoning overtime fraud scandal, including a former police union president and the ex-wife of the city's most recent police commissioner, records show."

– "South Boston pot shop that was voted down will get rehearing," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A politically connected South Boston pot shop proposal shot down by the zoning board last month is getting sparked back to life with the grant of a rare rehearing that has opponents fired up. … the general contractor for the project was slated to be Greg Janey, a longtime Boston builder who's the cousin of Acting Mayor Kim Janey."

PARTY POLITICS

– "Charlie Baker is one of the nation's most popular governors. That isn't enough for the GOP," by Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: "Charlie Baker has won two terms as a Republican governor in deep blue Massachusetts. He typically ranks as one of the most popular governors in the nation and enjoys an approval rating over 70 percent — and that's just among Democrats. Even so, the Massachusetts GOP isn't sure it wants him back for a third term."

– "Republicans Face Many Opponents In Deep Blue Massachusetts — Including Each Other," by Anthony Brooks, WBUR: "The Massachusetts Republican Party is a house divided. The state is led by Gov. Charlie Baker, a popular moderate Republican who refused to support Donald Trump. But the chairman of the state party, which meets Wednesday night, is Jim Lyons, a conservative who backed Trump and argues the best way to grow the party is to embrace the former president's base."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Mayoral candidates appeal to LGBTQ activists," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "Several candidates for mayor committed at a forum Monday night to dialing back police coverage of large-scale Boston events like the annual Boston Pride parade to lessen tensions with community members and present a less militaristic public safety presence. … The forum was organized by Mass NOW, Trans Resistance, the Transgender Emergency Fund, and the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, and held at the same time as a forum already scheduled by Boston Pride. Boston Pride was forced to reschedule its forum for Monday after mayoral candidates dropped out so they could participate in the protest forum."

FEELING '22

– "Taunton Senator Weighing Possible Run for State Auditor," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "Veteran Sen. Marc Pacheco has been calling allies in recent weeks to discuss a potential run for state auditor next year, multiple sources told the News Service. Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat, has not made a final decision on whether to join the growing field of auditor candidates in 2022 and appears to be gauging support."

– "Amherst 'homestead' alone will not disqualify Hinds from running for reelection," by Danny Jin, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "While Adam Hinds has purchased a home outside of the district he represents in the state Senate, his 'declaration of homestead' in Amherst would not necessarily disqualify him from seeking reelection."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "'Rigged for billionaires': Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey renew call for 'wealth tax' after report highlights how ultra-rich dodge Uncle Sam," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: "Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey on Tuesday repeated calls to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans following ProPublica's report on leaked Internal Revenue Service files showing top billionaires have long used legal loopholes to sidestep tax burdens."

TRUMPACHUSETTS

– "Fan escorted from Fenway Park for unfurling 'Trump won' banner on outfield wall," by WCVB: "A fan who displayed a banner reading 'Trump won' during a Boston Red Sox game was kicked out of Fenway Park, according to a spokesperson for the team. … The act was in violation of the Red Sox's policy prohibiting signs of any kind to be hung or affixed to the ballpark, according to the spokesperson."

DATELINE D.C.

– "Why Labor Chief Walsh Has Dodged Harm From Boston Police Drama," by Ben Penn, Bloomberg Law: "When Labor Secretary Marty Walsh appears before a House panel this week, he'll face tougher questions from Republicans than he did during his Senate confirmation hearing, especially about President Joe Biden's call to spend trillions on infrastructure and job creation. Far less clear is whether any lawmakers will inquire about the police commissioner Walsh hired in his final days as Boston mayor."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "These Boston-area roadway projects could see a windfall of federal money," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Rep. Ayanna Pressley's office said Tuesday that the House's five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill will include $18.6 million for initiatives in her district, including an overhaul of a key corridor from Mattapan to Roxbury, improvements to the MBTA's Ruggles Station, and new bike lanes and bus improvements in Somerville."

– "CRRC factory in Springfield welcomes first Los Angeles subway cars," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "CRRC, the largest manufacturer of railroad rolling stock in the world, celebrated the arrival of the first cars for the B (Red) and D (Purple) Lines of the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority."

THE OPINION PAGES

– "Are George Regan's fingerprints on Dennis White's media strategy?" by Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe: "If fired Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White wanted to discredit his former wife, hurt former Boston mayor and current Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and make life unpleasant for Acting Mayor Kim Janey, his take-no-prisoners media strategy worked beautifully. But if he wanted to convince people he should remain commissioner — it was a disaster."

FROM THE 413

– "Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, City Council president confer amid renewed calls for ouster of Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and City Council President Marcus J. Williams say they have begun a dialogue to address concerns about the Police Department, including renewed calls for the ouster of Police Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood. … Bishop Talbert W. Swan II, president of the Springfield NAACP, joined the Massachusetts Senior Action Council of Greater Springfield in urging the mayor to terminate Clapprood over alleged insensitive and dismissive comments to that council, which Swan termed as 'racist.'"

– "Berkshire district attorney tried to unseat a judge she called a public safety 'threat.' Her bid failed," by Amanda Burke, Berkshire Eagle: "Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington took an unusual step last month: She called the judge who regularly presides over her district court cases a 'significant threat to public safety' and asked Judge Jennifer Tyne's bosses to remove her from the bench. In the end, Harrington's bid to oust Tyne failed…"

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Top Schools Worry Supreme Court Could Undercut Diversity Efforts With Harvard Case," by Kirk Carapezza, GBH News: "That stated commitment to diversity is one reason Amherst and other selective colleges in Massachusetts are watching whether the Supreme Court will decide this month to hear a case that charges Harvard discriminates against Asian-American applicants. At stake is whether selective colleges across the country can continue to consider race in admissions or, administrators say, lose hard-fought gains they've made in student diversity over the years."

– "Guard general threatens to withdraw support from Cape businesses over proposed gun range," by Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times: "[Brig Gen. Christopher M. Faux] the executive director of Joint Base Cape Cod, sent an email to the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce last week threatening to withdraw military support from area businesses. 'The General's comments were not authorized and do not reflect the Massachusetts National Guard's decades-long commitment to support local business on Cape Cod,' Capt. Aaron Smith, spokesman for the Massachusetts Air National Guard, wrote in an email to the Times."

– "Steamship Authority continues to deal with ransomware hack, Maura Healey sounds alarm on cyberattacks," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "In the wake of the local hack, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday urged Bay State businesses and government agencies — including law enforcement — to immediately assess their existing data security practices, and take appropriate steps to upgrade security measures."

– "Striking nurses at St. Vincent to put picket on hold during services for fallen Officer Enmanuel Familia," by Cyrus Moulton, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Nurses on strike at St. Vincent Hospital say they will suspend picketing to honor fallen Worcester Police Officer Enmanuel Familia and free up officers to attend their colleague's wake and funeral. ... Familia occasionally worked the line, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association."

– Not the lobster rolls! "Lobster prices pinch pockets as demand soars," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "Lobster is a summer staple in New England, but a recent rise in prices may give even the most devoted lobster lovers pause."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, Calla Walsh, Jeff Solnet, John Dukakis, 90 West's Harry Shipps and Kelsey Perkins, district director for Rep. Katherine Clark.

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