News: Big names wade into key races

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Big names wade into key races

Jun 16, 2022

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FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: LYNCH BACKS HAYDEN — Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden is turning to two pillars of Boston's political establishment for the first endorsements of his bid for a full term.

Rep. Stephen Lynch and Laborers' International Union of North America Local 223 are endorsing Hayden, who was appointed to the role by Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this year, over Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, his Democratic primary rival.

"Crime is a huge issue right now and there's a real need for firm leadership and experience in this job, and he's been at it pretty heavily," the Southie congressman said of Hayden. Plus, Lynch told Playbook, "I know some of the people who work for him at the DA's office and I think very, very highly of them … and so their opinion of him really sealed the deal for me."

Lynch has waded into district attorney races before, backing Greg Henning for Suffolk DA against Rachael Rollins in 2018. Henning's rivals labeled him the "status quo" candidate in that race. And supporters of Arroyo, a progressive public defender, have levied the same language against Hayden.

But Lynch, a moderate, dismissed that argument. "One of [Hayden's] strengths is his reform-minded approach," Lynch said. "He does believe that reform is necessary. But he also believes that keeping people safe is a paramount concern."

Local 223 Business Manager Marty Walsh (not the labor secretary, but his cousin), also lauded Hayden as "someone who has our backs" by ensuring safe working conditions and "holding accountable those who commit wage theft."

Arroyo is out with a new endorsement of his own today: the 10,000-member-strong Boston Teachers Union.

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Opponents of a new law letting undocumented immigrants obtain driver's licenses have filed paperwork to begin their campaign to overturn it.

Republican lawmakers and office-seekers including state Rep. Marc Lombardo , state Sen. Ryan Fattman and MA-03 candidate Dean Tran; former state veterans Secretary Francisco Urena, who resigned amid fallout from the Holyoke Soldiers' Home Covid-19 outbreak; MassGOP Chair Jim Lyons' wife, Bernadette, his assistant, Elizabeth Groot and state Rep. Colleen Garry, a Dracut Democrat, all signed on in hopes of getting a question on the ballot this November asking voters to repeal the law.

The MassGOP-backed group will need to collect at least 40,120 signatures by Sept. 7, and get enough of them certified, to proceed to the ballot.

It's an arduous task, particularly for a party strapped for cash. But the Legislature gave opponents of the new law a long runway by rushing to override Gov. Charlie Baker's veto instead of waiting until closer to the end of session in July — a move neither the House speaker nor Senate president regret, per their spokespeople.

And volunteers last year got more than 75,000 signatures certified for a MassGOP-backed initiative petition on newborn care — short of the 80,239 they needed in that case, but well more than what they need now.

TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito participate in an Offshore Wind Ports Challenge RFP event at 10 a.m. at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal and award Offshore Wind Works awards at 11:30 a.m. at the UMass Dartmouth Welcome Center. Sen. Ed Markey introduces the "Good Jobs for Good Airports Act" at 9:45 a.m. Rep. Lori Trahan participates in The 19th's "50 Years of Title IX" panel on college sports at 2:25 p.m.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook will not publish on Monday, June 20 for Juneteenth. Your scribe will be back in your inboxes on Tuesday.

Tips? Scoops? Going to the Celtics watch party at Fenway tonight? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com. And go C's!

A message from PhRMA:

Did you know more than half of every dollar spent on medicines goes to someone who doesn't make them? There's a long line of middlemen, like PBMs and insurers, collecting a significant portion of what you pay for medicine. The share of total spending for brand medicines received by the supply chain and other stakeholders increased from 33% in 2013 to 50.5% in 2020. Learn more.

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey speak during a gun violence panel in Chelsea on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

— "Gabby Giffords' gun safety PAC endorses Maura Healey for governor," by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: "As the nation waits for the Supreme Court to issue a ruling in a New York gun rights case that could weaken gun laws in states like Massachusetts, a gun safety organization founded by former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, threw its weight behind Democratic candidate for governor Attorney General Maura Healey. ... When it comes to reforms in the state, Healey said Massachusetts should continue to enforce the laws already on the books. There is no specific legislation she would propose as governor to further strengthen existing laws, she said."

— NEW: Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll will pick up another western Massachusetts endorsement, this time from North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, when the lieutenant governor hopeful swings through North Adams and Pittsfield later today.

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former state senator and gubernatorial hopeful Ben Downing is endorsing Sydney Levin-Epstein for Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester state senator. Downing, in an email to supporters, said "we need an environmental champion to be a leader in the state Senate."

— NEW: The Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund is endorsing Levin-Epstein's rival, state Rep. Jake Oliveira, for state senate, citing his commitment to "improving and expanding public transit," which the group called "key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins has been endorsed for reelection by several labor unions including: Boston Building Trades; Laborers Local 22; Laborers Local 223; Laborers Local 151; Ironworkers Local 7 and Teamsters Local 25.

— CASH DASH: Former Gov. Deval Patrick and former Lt. Gov. Tim Murray are hosting a fundraiser for First Worcester state Senate candidate Robyn Kennedy at 6 p.m. at Carrie Nation in Boston. Kennedy is running against Worcester Mayor Joe Petty for the seat being vacated by retiring state Sen. Harriette Chandler.

— Patrick was also at a Jamaica Plain fundraiser for state attorney general candidate and former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell last night, per her campaign.

— "Former acting mayor Kim Janey, activist Mel King back Elugardo for Senate seat," by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: "Former acting Mayor Kim Janey and Mel King, a giant in Boston politics, are throwing their support behind state Rep. Nika Elugardo's run for state Senate."

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— "Massachusetts reports 13% drop in new COVID cases, hospitalizations down again," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 1,543 new COVID cases, a 13% decrease from last Wednesday's total of 1,780 infections."

— "Monkeypox cases in Massachusetts: 6th infection reported, state has 8% of confirmed cases in U.S.," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced two additional cases of monkeypox in men, bringing the total number of monkeypox cases in the state to six."

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "House plans vote on mental health bill," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Massachusetts House on Thursday plans to vote on a mental health bill that would improve access to mental health care, particularly for children, while ensuring that the health care system treats mental and physical health care equally. The House bill builds on a major bill that the Senate passed in November and includes many similar provisions, addressing topics like emergency room boarding and insurance coverage for mental health care."

— "Rep's Parole Board Bid Riles Guv Council," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): "Rep. James Kelcourse's nomination to the Parole Board ran headlong Wednesday into the wringer that is the Governor's Council, where councilors and advocates raised concerns about his lack of experience with mental health and addiction and questioned his motivation for seeking the position. Kelcourse, an Amesbury Republican, is a defense attorney who has served in the House since 2015."

— "Businesses urge 'bold clean energy legislation' by July 31 deadline," by Benjamin Kail, Boston Business Journal: "More than 30 Massachusetts businesses and institutions this week pressed for aggressive clean energy legislation, including ramped up procurement of offshore wind and electrified public transit, as state lawmakers work toward a compromise before the end of this year's legislative session."

— "Tipped workers rally in Boston for equal pay," by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: "Some of the lowest paid but most visible employees in the country have had enough, they say, and will continue their fight for a fair wage regardless of Beacon Hill's will to help this year. … A bill currently lodged in the Senate Ways and Means Committee, S.1213, or An Act requiring one fair wage, would amend the state's law to require all employees to be paid at least the minimum wage, regardless of tipped status. The bill most likely will not pass this year, [Yamila Ruiz, executive director of One Fair Wage] acknowledged."

— NOMINATION WITHDRAWN: President Joe Biden has withdrawn state Rep. Maria Robinson's nomination for assistant secretary of energy in the Office of Electricity after a Senate panel deadlocked on her confirmation. The Framingham Democrat isn't running for reelection this year and her seat was effectively erased in last year's redistricting process.

VAX-ACHUSETTS

— "Dr. Anthony Fauci tests positive for COVID days after visiting Worcester, College of the Holy Cross," by Erin Tiernan, MassLive: "Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and President Biden's chief medical adviser, has tested positive for COVID-19 just four days after traveling to Worcester to attend a ceremony at his alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross, officials said. A college spokesman said the university is not aware of any other positive cases stemming from the weekend ceremony."

FROM THE HUB

— "Boston City Council approves symbolic slavery apology," by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: "Boston's City Council Wednesday unanimously approved a symbolic order to 'acknowledge, condemn and apologize' for the city's role in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The resolution marks a new recognition of slavery's impact within the community known as the nation's 'cradle of democracy.' … In addition to a 'deep and sincere' apology, Wednesday's resolution contains a four-pronged commitment: to remove anti-Black symbols and erect those that reflect repair and reconciliation, to educate Bostonians about the impact of slavery in the city, to create a 'truth and reconciliation' registry for those looking for opportunities to express regret and to make policies that reverse harms done to Black Americans via systemic racism 'in various realms of city life including housing, healthcare, education, and the workplace.'"

— "Boston rolls out city property audit, spotlights big properties for redevelopment," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Apartments on the Bunker Hill Community College parking? Supportive housing in the old police station? Shops in place of a paid lot in Chinatown? Mayor Michelle Wu rolled out her audit of city-owned land, saying now is the time for the government to get the process moving on underused lots around Boston."

— "For state Democrats, wins in Worcester were driven by a parley in Dorchester," by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: "Brookline's [Chris] Dempsey, who is competing in the primary for the auditor post with Methuen state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, called [Darryl] Smith after the 'Communities of Color' event, saying that Smith and the delegates were 'the reason he won' a spot on the ballot and the party endorsement with 52.7 percent of the people inside the DCU Center, to DiZoglio's 47.3 percent."

A message from PhRMA:

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "Federal officials release startling new details about T safety failures, demand change," by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: "Top federal transit officials gave an extraordinarily grim assessment of safety at the MBTA on Wednesday, painting a picture of a dysfunctional agency that allows critical safety issues to fester, putting passengers and workers at risk. The Federal Transit Administration found dispatchers working 20-hour days, runaway trains injuring workers, many operators and supervisors with expired safety certifications, and no prompt plans to fix track sections that are in disrepair."

— "East-West rail authority talks 'very premature' says top Massachusetts Democrat as lawmakers inch toward end of legislative session," by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: "The House's top Democrat called discussions on creating a public authority to oversee the East-West Rail expansion 'very premature,' after a potential legislative vehicle emerged from a key committee earlier this week without language setting one up. … 'The jury's not in on what this is going to cost and what the federal component is going to be and what the state commitment has to be,' [House Speaker Ron] Mariano said."

BALLOT BATTLES

— "SJC lets dental insurance question proceed to ballot," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The November ballot is coming into focus as the Supreme Judicial Court on Wednesday ruled that a question regulating dental insurance can proceed to the ballot. The ballot question would require dental insurers to spend at least 83 percent of premiums on clinical costs and quality improvements, rather than administrative costs."

DAY IN COURT

— "David Hebert sentenced for his role in Jasiel Correia case, closing the book on scandal," by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: "Sounding contrite, and at times with his voice faltering, David Hebert, the remaining co-defendant to be sentenced in the fraud, extortion and government corruption case against former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia II, apologized before being sentenced to three years' probation and a total of $86,000 in fines and forfeiture in a Boston federal courtroom on Wednesday."

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WARREN REPORT

— "Warren asks Biden to use executive authority to preserve abortion rights," by Angi Gonzalez, Spectrum News: "The Supreme Court is poised to rule in a case that could limit or overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision which has guaranteed a woman's right to abortion since the early 1970s. Before that decision is handed down, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is urging President Joe Biden to take a number of executive actions to preserve a woman's access to abortion care."

— "Warren proposes sweeping ban on location and health data sales," by Makena Kelly, The Verge: "Warren's Health and Location Protection Act — cosponsored by a slate of Democratic senators, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) — would bar 'data brokers from selling or transferring location data and health data.' There are few limitations, making the bill one of the most strident proposals aimed at regulating data sales."

FROM THE 413

— "Andrea Harrington says she's not concerned by fellow progressive DA's recall in California. Her rival thinks she should be," by Larry Parnass, Berkshire Eagle: "The chief law enforcement officer in Berkshire County says she does not believe the removal of a reform-minded district attorney in San Francisco holds lessons for her re-election bid. … [DA Andrea Harrington] faces one challenger, Pittsfield attorney Timothy J. Shugrue, in a Democratic primary Sept. 6. Shugrue said he believes the [Chesa] Boudin recall shows that voters care about quality of life issues in their communities and want prosecutors to fight crime."

— "Easthampton school board, mayor strike collaborative deal," by Emily Thurlow, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "A nonbinding 'good faith' statement establishing a collaboration, further understanding and communication between city government and the school department was unanimously approved by the School Committee Wednesday during an emergency meeting. … The emergency meeting was called after Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said at Tuesday's meeting she intended to file complaints against the School Committee under the Open Meeting Law, which she did Wednesday."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "Here are the 2 gun issues in Mass. that have Rachael Rollins 'worried'," by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins on Wednesday said the Bay State should be the standard bearer for comprehensive gun control laws for the rest of the country to follow — but she has concerns about two gun-related issues locally. '(We're) very lucky in Massachusetts, and we should be a gold standard,' Rollins said during a panel on gun violence awareness hosted by the Red Sox Foundation at Fenway Park. 'But I think, you know, I get worried because I think ghost guns and Glock switches are two things that we're seeing an uptick of in Massachusetts.'"

— "Report: Unemployment fraud spiked during pandemic," by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: "A federal watchdog says nearly 20% of the unemployment claims paid during the height of the pandemic were bogus. … In Massachusetts, the improper payment rate for unemployment claims has skyrocketed from 12.4% — or $176,516 — in fiscal year 2019, to 32% — or $779,258 — in fiscal year 2021. That's the fourth highest rate in the nation, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor."

— "With 'fentanyl everywhere' and Black deaths soaring, advocates in Brockton test ways to save lives," by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: "The city is one of 67 communities from four states participating in a $350 million federal project. The HEALing Communities study set an ambitious goal: to reduce opioid deaths by 40% in three years."

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— "Marty Walsh to speak at New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention," by Adam Sexton, WMUR: "Marty Walsh, U.S. Secretary of Labor and the former mayor of Boston, accepted an invitation to speak at the convention and will attend Saturday's gathering in person."

A message from PhRMA:

Did you know that PBMs, insurers, hospitals, the government, and others received a larger share of total spending on medicines than biopharmaceutical companies? That's right, more than half of spending on brand medicines goes to someone who doesn't make them. Let's fix the system the right way and ensure more of the savings go to patients, not middlemen. Learn more.

HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to POLITICO's Madison Fernandez, Tom Fleming, CNHI Sports Boston's Mac Cerullo, MassINC's Richard Parr, Nicholas McCool and Bill Shaner.

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: STATE OF THE UNIONS — GBH's Tori Bedford and Starbucks shift manager and union committee member Willow Montana join hosts Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky to dive into the growing unionization movement. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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