News: The policy problem in the AG race

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

The policy problem in the AG race

Aug 02, 2022

PRESSING MATTERS — Want to know what the Democrats running for attorney general would do in office? You'll have to wade through a whole lot of mud.

Campaign finance quibbles continued to turn the AG race into a circular firing squad during a GBH News debate last night. Add to that Quentin Palfrey and Andrea Campbell's fresh attacks against Shannon Liss-Riordan over her fees for steering class-action lawsuits. That includes the up to $25 million she and her firm could have received as the standard 25-percent fee for a $100 million settlement with Uber that was struck down by a federal judge .

Liss-Riordan dismissed those attacks as "absurd" and a "mischaracterization of what happened," adding that she's "proud of the millions of dollars I've gotten back in the pockets of working people."

There are real contrasts in policy and in vision for the office: Liss-Riordan and Palfrey again offered full-throated support for bringing back rent control, while Campbell said she "would not stand in the way of local municipalities" looking to pursue it.

Asked how they would combat racism, Liss-Riordan said she would place more emphasis on the civil rights division of the AG's office and Palfrey said he would take on cases related to health care disparities — partly as a way to rib Campbell for not supporting Medicare for All. Campbell, the only candidate of color in the race, said she would prioritize prison reform and making the Department of Corrections more transparent.

But those differences are often buried under disputes over super PACs and self-funding and highlight-reel television ads that make it hard for Democratic primary voters who tend to be more policy driven to find what sets the candidates apart.

One thing that could help: Maura Healey. The attorney general and presumptive Democratic nominee for governor told GBH News that she's voting for Campbell in September — giving the race's polling and fundraising leader a big stamp of approval from the person she's vying to succeed. Her endorsement is unlikely to help Campbell with progressives who've already poked holes in Healey's record on criminal justice reform . But it sends a signal to voters who like Healey and her work that Campbell is now her heir apparent.

Democratic candidates for Massachusetts attorney general debate on GBH News.

Democratic candidates for Massachusetts attorney general debate on GBH News. | Screenshot.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. State Sen. Eric Lesser scored two big legislative wins heading into his Democratic primary debate for lieutenant governor at 7 p.m. on GBH.

Lesser helped negotiate the agreement to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts, delivering a deal hours after the Legislature sent a transportation bond bill to Gov. Charlie Baker that includes $275 million for another major priority of his: East-West rail.

But his rivals could counter that by focusing on everything the Legislature didn't accomplish. State Rep. Tami Gouveia started in on that Monday, tweeting : "We missed an opportunity to address the financial challenges families are facing, end wage theft, pass no cost calls, and to ensure that every student has comprehensive sex ed."

TODAY — Baker campaigns with state Rep. Lenny Mirra in Hamilton. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito makes a grant announcement at 10 a.m. in Plymouth, attends the OneCape Summit at noon in Harwich and joins a Seaport Economic Council site visit in Hyannis at 1:30 p.m. Rep. Seth Moulton is at Wakefield's Broadway Crossing at 11:30 a.m., a stormwater project in Reading at 1 p.m. and the Boys and Girls Club in Wakefield at 3 p.m. Sen. Ed Markey chairs a Senate Climate Change Task Force hearing at noon. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends BPD National Night Out events beginning at 3 p.m.

Tips? Scoops? Still exhausted from that end-of-session all-nighter? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

— "Boston-area COVID wastewater data is down: 'The rest of the summer should be quiet'," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The closely monitored Boston-area COVID wastewater tracker shows that virus data has been lower in recent weeks amid the BA.5 variant, which is an encouraging sign for the rest of summer. The COVID sewage samples in the north of Boston region have now dropped 28% in the last few weeks, while the virus data in the south-of-the-city region has decreased 22% over the past month."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— LEGISLATIVE LOOSE ENDS: For all the bills and amendments that passed through both chambers in their marathon final formal lawmaking sessions, plenty of measures fell short of the finish line.

That includes Gov. Charlie Baker's dangerousness push, which appeared all but dead after the House rejected his budget amendment linking his proposal to expand the list of crimes for which a person can be detained pre-trial to a legislative plan for free calls for inmates. But it got revived in pared-down fashion by the Senate and is now back to the House, which remains cool to the concept.

"The House was clear in its position by rejecting 122-31 [Baker's] last-ditch effort to expand the scope of dangerousness hearings. This is consistent with the Judiciary Committee's decision to further study the [governor's] proposal because of due process concerns and the list of eligible offenses," Ana Vivas, a spokesperson for House Speaker Ron Mariano, said in a statement.

But Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said in a statement that the Senate vote shows "there is momentum to pass a compromise this session that would protect survivors."

— One loose end was more purposeful: soldiers' home oversight reforms. Lawmakers approved Baker's request to extend the date for making the Department of Veterans' Services a Cabinet-level office and standing up the independent Office of the Veteran Advocate from Nov. 1 to March 1, 2023 — shifting responsibility for both to the next governor.

Advocates for Holyoke Soldiers' Home families and workers said that's a good idea, telling Playbook they're worried that having too many layers of oversight could backfire.

"The new structure appears top heavy and may prove to be unwieldy for proper command and control," former Holyoke Soldiers' Home deputy superintendent John Paradis said. "We support extending the implementation to … ensure the chain of command works."

— "Place your wager: sports betting finally arrives in Massachusetts," by Michael Silverman, Boston Globe: "While Governor Charlie Baker is expected to sign the bill soon, there will be a gap of several months before betting on college and professional sports goes live in the state. [Encore Boston Harbor President Jenny] Holaday said Encore Boston, in Everett, and the other two in-state casinos that can open sports books have been told that in-person sports betting will begin before online sports betting does."

— Related: "Sports betting in Massachusetts: MGM Springfield Sports Lounge is gearing up for live sports gambling," by Tristan Smith, MassLive.

— "'It's going to happen:' Massachusetts taxpayers to see relief this year despite Legislature scrapping $250 stimulus checks," by Erin Tiernan, MassLive: "Tax relief is 'going to happen' this year in Massachusetts, House Speaker Ronald Mariano said, despite the Legislature's failure approve $250 stimulus checks for middle-income residents, but some watchdogs say the relief headed to taxpayers [through a 1986 tax-cap law] is 'steps backwards in terms of progressivity.'"

FROM THE HUB

— FLAGGING: Boston City Hall will fly Christian organization Camp Constitution's flag on Wednesday, three months after the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the Walsh administration erred in refusing to fly the group's flag while flying those from other groups. The Boston Globe's Danny McDonald has more .

— "Boston's Beacon Hill bacon: No MBTA seat, transfer fee — but Long Island ferry, shelter funding and more," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The main priority that didn't get through the Legislature was the Boston-specific MBTA board seat that the emerged last week as a possibility. Mayor Michelle Wu and many other Boston pols — even ones she rarely agreed with, such as former Mayor Marty Walsh — for years have said that the capital city, which kicks in more than $80 million annually for the beleaguered system, should be able to appoint a member to the T's governing board."

— "In Mattapan, bike lanes divide the community: 'They're just trying to push us out'," by Tiana Woodard, Boston Globe: "Mayor Michelle Wu's administration is putting together an ambitious plan to replace Mattapan's faded and unprotected bike lanes with new biking infrastructure, with the hope of taming traffic congestion and making a green transit option safer citywide. … But an undercurrent of opposition is running through community meetings, neighborhood association gatherings, and social media; some residents see bike lanes as a subtle, yet powerful, agent of gentrification that will only aggravate traffic congestion for residents."

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PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "T safety, East-West rail, e-bikes, and EVs get boost in transportation bond, climate bills sent to governor," by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: "The $11.3 billion transportation bond bill — which includes approval for borrowing to fund East-West rail investments, MBTA safety fixes, and classifies electric bicycles — and the climate bill are now on Governor Charlie Baker's desk. The governor has 10 days to sign or veto the legislation. Many advocates described the bills as 'a good start' but doubted they do enough to curb greenhouse gas emissions and get people out of vehicles — the largest source of the state's emissions — to meet the state's climate goals."

— " Democrats introduce bill to guarantee cash refunds for canceled flights," by Karl Evers-Hillstrom, The Hill: "Democratic lawmakers on Monday introduced a bill that would require airlines to provide cash refunds to travelers when they cancel or significantly delay a flight. … The Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act is backed by [Sen Ed.] Markey and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.)."

— "Commuter Rail passengers climb fence after train loses power in Framingham," by WBZ.

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III is endorsing Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo for Suffolk district attorney, saying he has "steadfastly refused the false choice between public safety and equal justice, understanding that the law can — and must — be used to deliver both."

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The SEIU Massachusetts State Council is endorsing Rep. Ayanna Pressley , her campaign said, a big show of union support for an incumbent lawmaker who's not facing a primary and is expected to win reelection in November.

— CASH DASH: Attorney General Maura Healey will report raising $512,876 in July, her campaign said, and has more than $5.5 million in cash on hand. It's Healey's fourth-best fundraising month since announcing her run for governor, coming when she's now unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

— "Geoff Diehl, a pro-Trump Republican, hopes to ride red wave into Mass. governor's office," by Anthony Brooks, WBUR: "[Geoff Diehl] has Donald Trump's endorsement again. Charlie Baker, the popular Republican governor, declined to seek a third term, creating an open race. And polls show Diehl has a big lead over businessman Chris Doughty in the GOP primary in September. … Moreover, many Republicans are hopeful a red wave this fall will sweep conservatives like Diehl into office across the country — even in blue states like Massachusetts, where Healey holds a huge lead in early polls. … In a candid moment, Diehl said he can no longer even talk about politics with Democrats in his own family. Not even with his own mother."

— "Doughty pledges jobs, affordability in western Mass. campaign stop," by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "During an afternoon press conference in front of the Sept. 11 Monument at Riverfront Park, [Chris] Doughty and running mate Kate Campanale unveiled the broad strokes of their plan to support economic growth in the Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires, while also offering assurances to voters who are worried about the future of marriage equality and access to abortion."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

— "How high should a high schooler be? The Massachusetts Legislature wants to find out," by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: "The Legislature made last-minute moves on cannabis reform, sending the governor a host of changes to the state's weed laws including a proposal to study giving students access to medical marijuana."

FROM THE 413

— "Dearth of resources, declining enrollment stinging rural school districts," by Chris Larabee, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "While enrollment and budget concerns batter schools across the state, the Special Commission on Rural School Districts' recent report found rural schools face a particular set of problems that smother their ability to provide a similar level of education to their urban counterparts."

— "Amherst social justice panel proposes fund to compensate victims of 'police harassment'," by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "A victim compensation fund, through which the town of Amherst might provide individuals money based on certain negative interactions with its law enforcement professionals, is being recommended to the Town Council by a newly formed panel."

HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Madison Fernandez is the new author of POLITICO's Morning Score; she was previously on the production desk.

— Rep. Jake Auchincloss is loaning spokesperson Matt Corridoni to the DCCC Midwest Press Desk through Election Day. Corridoni is a Senate Majority PAC and Pete Buttigieg for President alum. He'll be back with Auchincloss full-time after November.

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