News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The congressional cash dash

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The congressional cash dash

Oct 27, 2021

MONEY MOVES — While we've all been focused on the mayoral race(s), the latest FEC filing deadline came and went.

Don't worry, my POLITICO colleague Brittany Gibson went through the Q3 finance reports and crunched the numbers on the congressional delegation's raising and spending.

HIGHS AND LOWS — Rep. Jake Auchincloss was the top fundraiser this quarter with $469,640. He's closing in on $1.9 million in the bank as he pads his war chest ahead of 2022, when he's already facing two Republican challengers and a potential Democratic primary rematch against Jesse Mermell. Rep. Bill Keating, who's also facing two Republican challengers next year, raised the lowest of the delegation with $81,983.

Rep. Richard Neal had the most cash on hand with $2.5 million. Rep. Jim McGovern had the least, with $415,892.

APART FROM THE PACK — Rep. Ayanna Pressley stood out with her vast network of small-dollar contributors, while her peers mostly raked in cash from big industry PACs and some high-dollar individual donors. In fact, 1,441 of Pressley's 1,585 itemized Q3 receipts were from donations of $100 or less. Pressley's largest contribution was $20,075 from the Squad Victory Fund. Just three other PACs contributed to Pressley this past quarter — the AFL-CIO, IAFF and Giffords PAC — for a combined total of $6,000.

IS THE RACE ON? — None of the Republicans challenging Auchincloss, McGovern and Keating are posing a cash threat, at least not yet. Keating's Q3 raise may have been the lowest of the delegation, but GOP challenger Jesse Brown raised even less, with $20,033, per his FEC filing. And Keating's got nearly $1.6 million in the bank, compared to Brown's $135,145. As a reminder, Brown loaned himself $250,000 to kickstart his campaign.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It was the pause heard 'round the #mapoli world.

GBH News' Jim Braude was trying, yet again, to get Gov. Charlie Baker to say on "Boston Public Radio" yesterday whether he's running for a third term. "Have you made a decision?" Braude asked.

What followed was five seconds of silence that felt much, much longer. "It's a very complicated issue, Jim, for all kinds of reasons," Baker said.

Braude pressed further. "It sounds like you've made a decision and you're not yet ready to announce it. Is that a fair analysis?"

"No, no, it's not," Baker said, going on to say there are "personal and professional" factors at stake in deciding whether to seek a job that "comes with an enormous amount of opportunity, and at the same time, tremendous challenges" including the horrible 2015 winter, the Merrimack Valley gas disaster and the pandemic.

Baker ultimately didn't say anything new. He'll still decide "soon," which he's been saying since July.

But the exchange offered an intriguing glimpse into the mindset of a second-term governor who's already facing a Republican challenger and three Democratic rivals should he run next year, but who's also now repeatedly noted how his priorities have taken a backseat to calamities beyond his control.

TODAY — Baker joins UMass officials for a UMass Amherst announcement at 10:30 a.m., makes a MassWorks infrastructure grant announcement in Charlemont at 1:30 p.m. and joins Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito for a Berkshire County House of Corrections tour at 3:30 p.m. Polito joins Mayor Robert Sullivan for a Domestic Violence Awareness Month event at 9:30 a.m. in Brockton, and presides over a Governor's Council meeting at noon. State Attorney General Maura Healey visits River to Recovery in Fall River at 9:45 a.m. and participates in a Cape Cod business roundtable at 1:15 p.m. in Hyannis. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey announces a new career-development partnership at 11 a.m. in Roxbury. Sen. Ed Markey hosts an 11:30 a.m. press conference on updating the Children Online Privacy Protection Act. Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu is on WBUR's "Radio Boston" at 3 p.m. Wu and City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George participate in multiple mayoral forums. The Legislature hosts a 4 p.m. screening of "This Ain't Normal" a locally shot film focusing on five gang members and mentors who helped them.

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

JOIN TODAY FOR A PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH SEN. MARK WARNER : President Joe Biden's ambitious domestic agenda is in political limbo as the White House tries to reach a deal among congressional Democrats to vote on a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. Join Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza for a conversation with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who helped write the bipartisan infrastructure bill, to discuss the fate of Biden's legislative agenda, including the more comprehensive reconciliation package as well as Virginia's tight gubernatorial race and what its outcome could mean for the Democratic Party. REGISTER HERE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports 1,115 new coronavirus cases, breakthrough cases drop," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "After the new 1,115 daily virus cases, the seven-day average of daily cases is now 880. Several weeks ago, the daily average was 1,896 infections."

– "There were 3,078 new breakthrough COVID cases in Mass. last week, the lowest since August," by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive: "The breakthrough cases accounted for about 36% of the number of new cases reported."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Charlie Baker says he 'probably' wouldn't sign legislation to allow Boston to reimpose rent control," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Gov. Charlie Baker says he likely wouldn't sign legislation to allow Boston to impose rent control, but isn't completely shutting down the conversation, as the region grapples with exorbitantly high housing costs. 'Probably not,' Baker said during an interview Tuesday on GBH's Boston Public Radio, when asked if there was 'any circumstance' in which he would sign a home rule petition seeking to 'reimpose some variety of rent control or rent stabilization' in Boston, if City Councilor Michelle Wu — a supporter of lifting the statewide ban on rent control — wins the mayoral election next week."

Baker expressed sympathy for and frustration over workers whose jobs are in jeopardy because they refuse to get vaccinated for various reasons, reports GBH's Mike Deehan, who says the governor's "comments came the same day his possible rival in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary, former state Rep. Geoff Diehl of Whitman, launched a new advertisement calling for an end to vaccine mandates."

– State Sen. Mike Barrett, who co-chairs the Legislature's Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, will attend the COP26 UN climate change conference in Scotland. He hopes to discuss his bill that would allow taxpayers to donate money through their annual tax forms to a fund that would aid nations particularly vulnerable to climate change.

– "MassGOP sees 'enormous opportunity' to raise ranks through redistricting," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Republican strategists say they see 'enormous opportunity' to raise their meager ranks in the State House through a redistricting effort that has redrawn boundaries along urban and suburban lines in an effort to boost the number of majority-minority districts."

– "Senate Struggles For Sports Betting Consensus," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "Three months after he declared the Senate 'ready' to approve legislation legalizing sports betting, Sen. Eric Lesser on Tuesday suggested that his chamber still has not reached consensus on the House-backed idea but said it's still a 'top-tier issue.'"

– "Municipal coalition endorses public bank to aid small businesses, cities and towns," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "The Metro Mayors Coalition, a group of 15 cities and towns in Greater Boston, has put its support behind proposals to create a public bank that would help small businesses and municipalities obtain financing. ... Other supporters of the concept include state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts."

– "Advocates make moral, economic argument for Medicare for All in Massachusetts," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald.

– "Lawmakers push for more funds to fix sewer outfalls," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune.

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Mass. extends universal mask mandate for most public schools through Jan. 15," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "In an effort to give elementary schools time to get their student population vaccinated before masks no longer are required, Massachusetts education leaders have extended the universal mask mandate for most public schools through Jan. 15, 2022, the state said on Tuesday. … Schools still will have the option to request permission to lift the mask requirement for vaccinated individuals if at least 80 percent of their student and staff body is vaccinated."

– "After refusing to get the COVID vaccine, about 50 Massachusetts correction officers are now suspended," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "Approximately 50 unvaccinated correction officers in Massachusetts have been suspended without pay as of Tuesday for not complying with Gov. Charlie Baker's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. That number will likely fluctuate throughout the week as more disciplinary hearings are held..."

– "'A waiting game' as scientists monitor latest Delta offspring, guarding against rekindled pandemic," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "So far, only a handful of Delta-plus cases have been identified in Massachusetts and only about 130 in the whole United States, vanishingly small numbers that suggest it's not a major threat."

– "FDA panel votes to authorize Pfizer vaccine in kids age 5-11," by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald.

FROM THE HUB

– "Boston with 848 on unpaid leave as vaccine mandate enforcement spreads to police, fire," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The city is back up over 800 workers on unpaid leave as enforcement of the city's vaccine mandate expands to first responders and has departments implementing 'contingency plans' to deal with the people out. According to Acting Mayor Kim Janey's office, the city now has 848 employees out of compliance with the vax-or-test mandate — 642 from the Phase 1 crowd, and 206 from Phase 2, which saw enforcement begin on Tuesday."

– "Boston weighs creating commission to study Black reparations," by the Associated Press: "Boston officials are weighing creating a commission to account for the city's role in Black slavery and potentially provide reparations to Black residents."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George is launching the final television ad of her mayoral campaign today.

"I don't play politics," will air on broadcast, cable, streaming services and digital platforms, a $150,000 buy.

"Too often politicians come along with empty promises and then leave our communities behind. Not me," Essaibi George narrates in the 30-second spot in which she pledges to make Boston more affordable and its schools more equitable, and to support small businesses. "I will bring us together to make big plans to take on our city's challenges and to take bold action to get it done."

The airwaves are getting crowded in the race's final days. Boston Turnout Project, an independent expenditure PAC supporting City Councilor Michelle Wu, has also released its final spot, a $100,000 buy running through Election Day. The Dorchester Reporter's Gintautas Dumcius reports that more spending is expected from PACs backing Essaibi George. Real Progress Boston dropped a pro-Essaibi George radio ad earlier this week.

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: SEIU Local 509, which has 20,000 members across Massachusetts, has endorsed Wu for Boston mayor.

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston City Council at-large candidate Carla Monteiro has been endorsed by former city councilor Tito Jackson and state Reps. Liz Malia and Jon Santiago, per her campaign.

– "One of the biggest fights Boston's next mayor will face: keeping control of the public schools," by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "The state has indicated it could take over the Boston Public Schools if its performance doesn't improve fast enough in the coming years, while a coalition of parents and advocacy organizations, fed up with mayoral control of the School Committee, is pushing to replace it with one elected by voters."

– "Boston mayoral candidates steer clear of firm goals for students," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "Education advocates say the plans issued by both candidates hit on many of the important areas in need of attention. But for all the breadth of their agendas, neither candidate lays out clear goals for improved student outcomes... Meanwhile, despite polls showing that improving the schools ranks at the top of voter concerns, education has often taken a backseat to other issues in the campaign, with Wu and Essaibi George citing scheduling conflicts in waving off efforts by several groups to hold a candidate debate focused solely on public education."

– "Boston City Council race this week: Janey endorses candidates, more drama around campaign material in District 6," by Tiana Woodard, Boston Globe: "[Acting Mayor Kim] Janey backed at-large candidates David Halbert and Ruthzee Louijeune. Janey Tuesday also endorsed Evandro Carvalho. … Politicos and supporters of District 6 candidate Kendra Hicks accused the Mary Tamer campaign of fear-mongering Monday evening in response to a campaign graphic highlighting Hicks's old social media posts about policing."

– "Michelle Wu, Annissa Essaibi-George both claim to be candidates of 'action'," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A little less conversation — a little more action, please. The refrain made popular by Elvis is now the tune being sung by both Boston mayoral hopefuls, who each are declaring they're about 'getting things done' — though what 'things' those might be remain blurry."

– WATCH: Wu and Essaibi George sit down for King Boston, BECMA and NBC10's "The Final Word."

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former Rep. Barney Frank has endorsed Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller in her reelection bid, per her campaign.

– "Baker super PAC returns to action," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Super PAC affiliated with Gov. Charlie Baker skipped this year's preliminary municipal elections, but returned to action late last week, pouring $129,020 into 17 races, including three featuring challengers seeking to oust incumbent mayors in Framingham, Attleboro, and Amesbury. … The super PAC spent $9,900 on direct mail and digital advertising backing 76-year-old Charlie Sisitsky in his race to unseat incumbent Yvonne Spicer in Framingham. Sisitsky topped Spicer by a 2-1 margin in the preliminary election, and appears to be in a strong position to oust the first Black woman popularly elected to a mayor's post in state history."

Spicer, a Democrat, urged voters to rally against a "Republican takeover" of Framingham's government in a statement last night. "If turnout in Framingham's election remains low next week, they may very well succeed," Spicer said. "We cannot let the Republican Party pick our next Mayor or buy the Mayor's office."

– "After a year filled with controversy, this mayor finished a distant second in the primary. But she still says she can win in November," by Arianna MacNeill, Boston.com: "The previously popular mayor of one coastal Massachusetts city was coming off a year filled with accusations, resignations, and complaints filed against her by city employees when she placed a distant second in the mayoral primary last month. No one would blame Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken if she were worried about her trajectory heading into the general election next week. But she said she wasn't surprised by the results."

– "FBI Visited Braintree School Board Hopeful After Capitol Riot," by Jimmy Bentley, Patch: "A candidate for Braintree School Committee and former teacher at Braintree High School said he has been visited twice by the FBI since participating in the Jan. 6 rally in support of President Donald Trump that turned violent as some attendees stormed the Capitol."

– "'Words matter;' LGBTQ+ community denounces statements made by Worcester school committee candidate Shanel Soucy that homosexual behavior is 'demonic'," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive: "The group said that [Shanel] Soucy is spreading misinformation about the LGBTQ-inclusive sexual health curriculum called Rights, Respect, Responsibility … [Soucy said] she is the only candidate who has been vocal about opposition to the 3Rs curriculum."

DAY IN COURT

– "A dozen individuals indicted in Massachusetts lottery scheme that helped winners avoid paying state, federal taxes on prizes," by Michael Bonner, MassLive: "A dozen individuals and three stores in Boston, North Reading and Chelsea were indicted on charges of a 'ten-percenting' scheme that allows lottery winners to avoid paying taxes at the state and federal level. The charges were announced Tuesday by the office of Attorney General Maura Healey."

DATELINE D.C.

– Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian is one of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's appointments to the First Responder Network Authority board. It's not a full-time gig, so members can keep their current employment.

– "Sinema steers Dems into uncharted territory on taxes," by Brian Faler, POLITICO: "Rep. Richard Neal may be the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, but these days Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) is the queen of tax — and her demands now have Democrats scrambling. ... The big loser here, potentially, is Neal. He spent months developing his tax plan — the only one that's been fully fleshed out, that has passed muster with congressional scorekeepers and that was approved by a committee."

– "Child care funds likely spared the budget ax other programs face," by Lindsey McPherson, Roll Call: "Democrats appear ready to protect much of their proposed child care spending in a sweeping budget bill as negotiators close in on a far smaller package than most sought … 'Child care is the issue that I hear across my district — and across the country — as what is needed to get the doors back open and get people back to work,' Assistant Speaker Katherine M. Clark, D-Mass., said in an interview. ' This has to be one of our major priority areas.'"

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– While you were sleeping, the nor'easter-turned-bomb-cyclone continued, bringing power outages, school closures and even a 94 mph wind gust.

– "Massachusetts Nurses Association accuses Saint Vincent Hospital of 'patient dumping' after striking nurses say they cared for individuals outside of facility in Worcester," by MIchael Bonner, MassLive: "The MNA filed the complaint against Saint Vincent Hospital on Monday claiming in several circumstances last week patients were found outside unattended until the striking nurses offered assistance."

– "MIT expert on work says any boss who thinks employees will return to offices is dreaming," by Steven Zeitchik, Washington Post.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Rep. Lori Trahan, Stephanie Knapp of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation and Cara Burke.

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