News: Dems on parade

Friday, August 5, 2022

Dems on parade

Aug 05, 2022

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook won't publish next week. I'll be back in your inbox on Aug. 15. In the meantime, email me at lkashinsky@politico.com .

THREE'S A CROWD — Three of the nation's top Democrats have visited Massachusetts in as many weeks, and they're not just stopping by to say hello.

Vice President Kamala Harris's abortion-rights roundtable in Boston yesterday capped off a mad dash of Democrats through the Bay State that started with first lady Jill Biden at the American Federation of Teachers convention in mid-July and was followed just days later by President Joe Biden's climate speech in Somerset.

Voters here who gave Biden one of his largest margins of victory in 2020 have soured on him . But it's safe to say they're not angling to potentially vote for former President Donald Trump in 2024. So why all the attention?

Massachusetts is where the money is. And as the donor class heads for their summer homes on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, Democrats will follow. Harris hit Martha's Vineyard for a fundraiser and a "friends and family" event yesterday, while Jill Biden headed for Nantucket during her visit.

The Bay State is also a media gateway to the Granite State, meaning the Biden administration can get free exposure in voter-rich southern New Hampshire just by showing up in front of TV cameras in Massachusetts.

On TVs throughout the region last night was Harris' reproductive rights roundtable at the IBEW Local 103 in Dorchester, where the nation's second-highest-ranking Democrat called Massachusetts a "model" for protecting access to the procedure. She praised Democratic lawmakers' and GOP Gov. Charlie Baker's "national leadership" on the issue as she and the Republican governor worked to show that Americans' views on abortion can cross party lines.

The visit came after Biden signed an executive order directing federal officials to look at ways to protect access to the procedure, including for pregnant people who need to travel across state lines, and after Kansas voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the state legislature to ban abortions.

But Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who wasn't at the roundtable, is urging Biden to go further. She joined Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) in a letter outlining several ways the president can use his executive authority to expand access to medication abortion. That follows Warren saying she would not vote for a bipartisan bill offering federal abortion protections because it "does not codify Roe."

Vice President Kamala Harris in Massachusetts

Vice President Kamala Harris at an abortion-rights roundtable in Boston, Mass., on Aug. 4, 2022. | NBC10 Boston screenshot

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Stay cool out there and I'll see you on Aug. 15!

TODAY — AG Maura Healey is on Bloomberg Baystate Business. Rep. Jim McGovern and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra discuss the Biden administration's work to address food insecurity at 9 a.m. at Growing Places in Leominster. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Becerra join a roundtable on abortion care and Black maternal health at 1:30 p.m. at Codman Square Health Center.

THIS WEEKEND — Healey and AG hopeful Andrea Campbell host a canvass kickoff at 10 a.m. Saturday in Mattapan before heading to an Open Streets event on Blue Hill Avenue. State Auditor Suzanne Bump is on WBZ's "Keller @ Large" at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Secretary of state hopeful Tanisha Sullivan is on WCVB's "On the Record" at 11 a.m. Sunday.

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YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Massachusetts Teachers Association, which represents about 115,000 members statewide, has endorsed Secretary of State Bill Galvin for reelection, praising his work to "protect and expand voting rights" — including his support for Election Day registration, which was not included in the VOTES Act that's now law — and "the great value of his experience in the post."

— Sen. Elizabeth Warren has endorsed ACLU of Massachusetts alum Rahsaan Hall for Plymouth County district attorney.

— "A tug-of-war over the GOP brand is playing out in Massachusetts," by Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: "The battle for control of the Republican Party has reached deep-blue Massachusetts. On one side of the GOP contest for governor is Donald Trump-endorsed Geoff Diehl, a conservative former state representative and failed U.S. Senate candidate who's being advised by former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. On the other is Chris Doughty, a more moderate wealthy businessman and political neophyte who's poured more than $2 million of his own money into his first campaign. It's a low-stakes race where the winner of the Sept. 6 primary is likely to lose to presumptive Democratic nominee Maura Healey, the state's attorney general, in November. Yet the GOP contest is attracting attention from a growing cast of Republican characters with potential presidential ambitions — and turning a local face-off into a proxy war between the Trump wing of the party and more moderate New England Republicans fighting to keep their way of politicking alive."

— "Republican Chris Doughty launches anti-Maura Healey website ahead of primary," by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: "Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty has a new website aimed not at his primary opponent, but at the presumptive Democratic nominee, Attorney General Maura Healey. 'Today following a successful event with Governor Chris Sununu, Chris Doughty, Republican candidate for Governor, launched a new website called StopMauraHealey.com. Doughty believes it is extremely important that voters know her real record,' his campaign said in a release shared with the Herald."

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— "Massachusetts reports 9,646 new COVID cases: BA.5 variant is 'concerning because it can cause reinfection'," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The daily average of 1,378 COVID cases is a bit down from the daily rate of 1,422 infections during the previous week."

— "Massachusetts reports 42 new monkeypox cases, as Biden administration declares public health emergency," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The 42 new monkeypox cases in the Bay State are up from 36 cases during the previous week, which had been the state's one-week record high. The 42 new cases were diagnosed in men within the past week."

— "Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts," by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "Tax cap giveback appears not as big as forecasted," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "State officials said on Thursday that tax revenues grew by more than 20 percent in the most recently completed fiscal year, but that growth will nevertheless yield a tax cap credit that is probably more than $600 million less than what the Baker administration estimated last week. … Tax revenues totaled $41.105 billion for the year ending June 30. Subtracting the estimated allowable tax revenue of $38.872 billion, the tax cap amount would come to $2.233 billion."

— "No tax breaks for Massachusetts residents, and few seem to care," by Katie Lannan, GBH News: "[R]egardless of how voters feel, most state lawmakers — including those who will make the ultimate call on how or if Beacon Hill handles tax changes — face little chance of consequences. … All 200 seats in the state Legislature are up this election cycle. In more than half of those races, incumbents are running without an official challenger in either the Sept. 6 primary or Nov. 8 general election. That means most lawmakers can't be voted out, even if their moves on taxes or anything else rile constituents."

— "Baker vetoes prison moratorium," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday vetoed a five-year moratorium on new prison construction, citing concerns that it would constrain the state from moving forward with several planned prison improvement projects. The moratorium was included in a $5.1 billion bond bill for projects related to government operations, which Baker signed. … In addition to the bond bill, Baker also signed a bill overhauling the governance structure of the Holyoke and Chelsea soldiers' homes."

— "Legal sports betting won't 'happen overnight,' commissioner says," by Katie Lannan, GBH News: "Massachusetts Gaming Commission member Brad Hill said Thursday the commission will have 'quite a process' to get sports betting up and running if [Gov. Charlie] Baker does ultimately sign the bill, and will need to take time 'to ensure that we're doing it right.' … Hill's comments stand as a point of contrast to legislative leaders' suggestions that they're eyeing a quick start."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

— "CDC expected to ease Covid-19 recommendations, including for schools, as soon as this week," by Brenda Goodman and Elizabeth Cohen, CNN: "A preview of the plans obtained by CNN shows that the updated recommendations are expected to ease quarantine recommendations for people exposed to the virus and de-emphasize 6 feet of social distancing."

— "A slow start to youth COVID vaccination in Massachusetts," by Craig LeMoult, GBH News: "Six weeks after COVID-19 vaccines became available for children under the age of 5, just 11% of kids in that age group have received at least one dose. And while the numbers in the youngest age group are still too low to see clear trends based on racial identity of those getting vaccinated and those who are not, experts say there are early signs the age group may be subject to the same disparities seen among older children."

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PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "Pressley, Markey want MBTA to eliminate fares on all subway and bus service while Orange Line is shut down," by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: "Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Senator Edward J. Markey are calling on the MBTA to make all subways and buses free to ride for the duration of the 30-day Orange Line shutdown, which starts in two weeks. The federal lawmakers are urging the T to spend federal funds already provided to the agency to cover the lost fare revenue during the shutdown of the T's second most popular subway line to ease the burden on perhaps hundreds of thousands of riders who will seek alternate transportation."

— MORE T TROUBLE: "MBTA bus catches fire in Jamaica Plain," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "An out-of-service bus returning to the Arborway facility in Jamaica Plain caught fire on Thursday and the Boston Fire Department had to be called in to extinguish the blaze. MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said the fire was in the vehicle's 'rear compartment.' He said MBTA personnel tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire and two employees were transported to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation."

— "No start date for Green Line Extension to Medford as Orange Line closure approaches," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The T has 'no update to report at this time on the schedule for the start of service on the Medford branch,' a spokesman said Thursday. … A Somerville spokeswoman said the latest the city's heard for the GLX is 'late summer,' which is what the T has said since the spring. The fall solstice is Sept. 22."

DAY IN COURT

— "Appeals court tosses former UMass students' lawsuit challenging COVID vaccine mandates," by Luis Fieldman, MassLive: "A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit on Thursday brought by two former students of the University of Massachusetts campuses in Boston and Lowell claiming that vaccine mandates were unconstitutional."

— "After 2020 ballot question, Right to Repair still tied up in court," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The law was supposed to go into effect for model year 2022. But major car manufacturers, through the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, challenged the law in federal court. Attorney General Maura Healey postponed implementation until the lawsuit was resolved. … Now, as car manufacturers get closer to releasing their 2023 cars, proponents of the ballot question are getting increasingly impatient that a federal judge has not yet issued his ruling."

— "Judge dismisses 8 charges against Zhukovskyy; 15 charges remain," by Kirk Enstrom and Marissa Tansino, WMUR: "Judge Peter Bornstein ruled there is sufficient evidence to support charges of negligent homicide, manslaughter and reckless conduct, but not to support charges related to whether [Volodymyr] Zhukovskyy was intoxicated or operating under the influence of controlled drugs."

FROM THE 413

— "Western Massachusetts Challenges the U.S. Dollar," by Ben Schreckinger, POLITICO: "At the Berkshire Food Co-op, you can see which local farm grew your produce, pick up a 'reclaimed wheat stalk eco mug' and, as of this harvest, pay for it all in cryptocurrency. No, the crunchy co-op has not suddenly decided to embrace Bitcoin, with its high carbon emissions, or the many private cryptocurrencies backed by profit-hungry venture capitalists. Instead, it is working with a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement to use a technology often associated with unfettered global capitalism for a different end: radical localism. The launch this spring of the Digital Berkshares cryptocurrency marks the latest step in a decades-long effort to foster a self-sufficient economy in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts, a popular retreat for affluent, educated Northeasterners."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "A reprieve for the last birth center in Eastern Massachusetts," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "Reproductive rights advocates are breathing a sigh of relief after learning Thursday that a planned early September closing has been postponed for the North Shore Birth Center in Beverly, the last operating, free-standing center in Eastern Massachusetts."

MEDIA MATTERS

— "A former journalist's nonprofit helps survivors of high-profile tragedies," by Amaris Castillo, Poynter.

HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH

SPOTTED — with Vice President Kamala Harris in Dorchester: Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Gov. Charlie Baker, state Reps. Aaron Michlewitz, Liz Miranda, Kate Hogan, Diana DiZoglio, Brandy Fluker Oakley, Christine Barber, Tami Gouveia, Jon Santiago, Jay Livingstone, Michael Day, Tommy Vitolo, Ruth Balser and Chynah Tyler; and Reproductive Equity Now's Rebecca Hart Holder.

ALSO SPOTTED — at the celebration of life for Elaine Schuster at Temple Emanuel in Newton: Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin, state Attorney General Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Reps. Lori Trahan and Jake Auchincloss, former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, state Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Mark Walsh and Bryan Rafanelli , and Meredith DeWitt.

TRANSITIONS — Former gubernatorial hopeful and former state Sen. Ben Downing is now VP of public affairs at Cambridge VC firm The Engine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former ambassador, MA-03 candidate and chief of protocol Rufus Gifford, Christina Pacheco and Jim Puzzanghera of the Boston Globe's D.C. bureau. Happy belated to Alexis Vaillancourt, who celebrated Thursday.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to MassINC's Maeve Duggan; Rick Mikulis of Gov. Charlie Baker's budget team; and former Amherst town councilor Evan Ross, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Scott Stossel, national editor of The Atlantic; Megan Costello, Aissa Renee Canchola, CC Leslie and Lyndsey Wajert.

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: THE ALL-NIGHTER NO ONE WANTED — GBH's Katie Lannan and Lisa Kashinsky walk host Steve Koczela through what happened — and how much coffee they drank — during the marathon that was the end of formal sessions on Beacon Hill. Kashinsky and Koczela spill the tea on the T's Orange Line closure. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud .

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