News: Baker navigates national immigration debate

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Baker navigates national immigration debate

Sep 21, 2022

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING — A civil rights firm representing migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard has filed a federal class action lawsuit accusing Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis of orchestrating an "illegal scheme" to lure the mostly Venezuelan asylum-seekers to Massachusetts through "false promises and misrepresentations."

The Lawyers for Civil Rights suit, brought on behalf of the migrants and Alianza Americas, a network of advocacy organizations for Latino immigrant communities, represents the first legal action against the Florida governor since the migrants landed in Massachusetts last Wednesday. It follows a Texas sheriff announcing on Monday that his office would be investigating what he called an "abuse of human rights."

GOP Gov. Charlie Baker said on Tuesday that he's "very glad" that Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar — a Democrat whose district includes San Antonio, where the migrants now in Massachusetts flew in from — opened the investigation. "I think that's the right thing to do," Baker added. His office did not comment on the lawsuit that came later in the day.

As governors with potential presidential ambitions pick fights with each other over immigration, Baker continues to steer the conversation away from DeSantis and toward national immigration reform. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for the Justice Department to investigate DeSantis and GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who's bused thousands of migrants to blue cities over the past few months. Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker accused Abbott of "a heartless display of politics over people" as he issued an emergency declaration to deal with the influx of migrants to his state.

Baker told reporters that "we have a giant problem with immigration in the United States" and that if "anything comes out of this that could possibly be positive" it would be making immigration policy more understandable and enforceable. Still, he said, sending people "all over the country, who don't know where they are going and in some cases maybe under false pretenses — it's just a really lousy thing to do."

Baker said he hasn't spoken to DeSantis. Taryn Fenske, a spokesperson for the Florida governor, said in response to the new lawsuit that the migrants transported to Martha's Vineyard "were homeless, hungry, and abandoned" and that the DeSantis administration's program "gave them a fresh start in a sanctuary state." (Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state). Fenske also said that boarding the flight was "voluntary" and released a signed consent form that lists Massachusetts as the final destination in a section written in English but not the parts written in Spanish.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It's good to be back.

TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito chairs a Governor's Council meeting to address sexual assault and domestic violence at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark rallies with Head Start in D.C. at 9:15 a.m. Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a press conference on protecting Boston's tree canopy at 9:30 a.m. at the Arnold Arboretum.

Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.

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YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

— DUST YOURSELF OFF AND TRY AGAIN: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is putting aside her primary differences with her party's nominee for auditor.

Wu will host a fundraiser for state Sen. Diana DiZoglio next Wednesday after previously endorsing her Democratic rival, Chris Dempsey, for the post.

"There's no question Diana is the clear choice in this general election," Wu told Playbook. "I know she'll fight for accountability and transparency."

Wu campaigned for Dempsey ahead of a primary in which she risked her political capital on a few major candidates who ultimately fell short. She's now going "all in for the Democratic ticket in November" and says she's "excited to get to work alongside all of our nominees" as they campaign against Republican rivals. That includes hosting a banquet with MassDems Chair Gus Bickford and state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz next month in Chinatown, per an invitation shared with Playbook.

Boston City Council President Ed Flynn and Councilors Michael Flaherty, Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Erin Murphy, Tania Fernandes Anderson, Frank Baker, Kenzie Bok, Liz Breadon, Brian Worrell and Gabriela Coletta will co-host the fundraiser for DiZoglio at 5 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Bell in Hand Tavern. State Rep. Dan Hunt and state Sen. Lydia Edwards are also on the host committee, per DiZoglio's campaign.

As Boston Democrats coalesce behind DiZoglio, Republicans are split over their nominee for auditor. Anthony Amore has the support of major moderate figures in his party including Gov. Charlie Baker and former Acting Gov. Jane Swift. But the Dracut Republican Town Committee issued a vote of no confidence in Amore while endorsing the other Republicans running for statewide office.

"We're done with Republican establishment candidates, campaigns and cronies who only help themselves and who associate their campaigns with those who conspire with Democrats, including Gov. Charlie Baker," Brian Genest, the town committee chair, told Playbook, adding that members said they would blank their ballot for auditor. Amore's campaign declined comment.

— LISTEN: To Dempsey and former secretary of state hopeful Tanisha Sullivan reflect on their failed primary campaigns on WBUR's "Radio Boston."

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Attorney General and governor candidate Maura Healey has endorsed Simon Cataldo for 14th Middlesex state representative.

— ICYMI: "After 'no comment' sparked controversy, Diehl will accept results of the November election, campaign says," by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: "Will Geoff Diehl, the Donald Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for governor who has echoed the former president's bogus claims that the 2020 election was rigged, accept the results of the November election in Massachusetts? Yes, Diehl said a day after The New York Times published a story in which his campaign gave a 'no comment' when asked whether Diehl would agree to the outcome of his race against Democratic nominee Maura Healey."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "State education board approves literacy screening mandate to detect learning disabilities," by Adria Watson, Boston Globe: "In an attempt to catch learning disabilities at earlier ages, all Massachusetts school districts now will be required to assess a students' reading ability and progress in literacy skills twice a year. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday unanimously approved the mandatory literacy screenings from kindergarten through at least third grade. The mandate goes into effect next July."

— "House Budget Chief Won't Commit To Middle Class Relief," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "The House budget chief wants to 'get something done in the shortest period of time possible' to revive an economic development bill, but he will not commit to keeping already-approved tax relief measures in the final legislation as the state prepares to return billions of dollars to taxpayers via another route. … Some of [state Rep. Aaron] Michlewitz's Democrat colleagues have called for prompt action to reshape the law and steer more of the money to lower-income earners for whom it might make a bigger difference. The Boston Democrat said he would rather allow the process to unfold as expected in the next few months, and then rethink Chapter 62F for any future instances in which the tax cap is triggered."

— "Pittsfield state Senator Adam Hinds named CEO of Edward M. Kennedy Institute," by Tony Dobrowolski, Berkshire Eagle: "Adam Hinds is taking his professional career in a slightly different direction. After failing to qualify in June for the primary election for lieutenant governor, the Pittsfield Democrat is now giving up his state Senate seat three months before his term expires to become the CEO and executive director of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston. Hinds, who has represented the Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden District since 2017, will resign his Senate seat on Sunday and start his new job the following day."

— "Rep. Dylan Fernandes said he's received death threats over support of Martha's Vineyard migrants," by Alexi Cohan, GBH News: "Rep. Dylan Fernandes, who represents Falmouth, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, said he has received death threats and hateful messages over his support of the migrants who recently arrived to the island."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

— "Report: Mass. closing COVID-19 vaccine equity gaps," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Massachusetts has some of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the nation for ethnic and racial minorities, according to a new state report. The report by the state's Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which was based on Kaiser Family Foundation data from July, shows the state is ranked third in the nation for the percentage of Black residents who are fully vaccinated, or 85% of those eligible. Meanwhile, the percentage of Hispanic residents who are vaccinated is also the third highest in the nation, or 82%, according to the report."

FROM THE HUB

— "Hayden doubles down on his commitment to juvenile justice reform," by Aidan Connelly, GBH News: "Interim Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden is set to shed the 'interim' part of his title next January — but what Hayden has, and hasn't, done from the DA's office is being hotly debated by close observers. … Speaking Tuesday on GBH's Boston Public Radio, Hayden addressed several points of contention, including last week's firing of his office's juvenile unit chief, his handling of a transit police misconduct case and lackluster public support from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "State gets fed funds to expand EV charging stations," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "The state is getting a share of $900 million in new federal funding to expand electric vehicle charging stations after the U.S. Department of Transportation approved its plans for getting more electric vehicles on the roads."

— "Drivers irked by Boston's plan to keep Orange Line street changes," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: "Mayor Michelle Wu said several street changes implemented to mitigate traffic and encourage public transit and biking during the Orange Line shutdown will become permanent, but the move has sparked concern among rideshare drivers and the Boston business community."

— "MBTA pulls Orange Line train with door problem day after shutdown," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: "A new Orange Line train was removed from service with a door problem Tuesday, causing significant delays a day after a monthlong shutdown on the subway line ended."

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FROM THE DELEGATION

— "Mass. delegation requests expedited financial aid to local nonprofits that aid migrants," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts congressional delegation sent a letter to federal officials Monday requesting expedited financial assistance to local groups that aid migrants, citing the recent unannounced transfer of dozens of Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard. The letter, spearheaded by Senator Elizabeth Warren and signed by every member of the state's all-Democratic delegation except for US Representative Richard Neal, was addressed to the heads of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency."

— "White House says 813,000 in Mass. eligible for student debt relief," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "An estimated 813,000 student loan borrowers in Massachusetts will qualify for debt relief under President Biden's student debt relief plan, according to data released by the White House Tuesday. As a pandemic-era pause on student loan repayments ends in December, Biden announced a plan last month to provide permanent relief for some borrowers. Biden's plan will cancel up to $20,000 in debt for Pell Grant recipients, who are generally the lowest-income borrowers, and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation for non-Pell Grant borrowers. Borrowers will be eligible for debt relief if they have an individual income of less than $125,000 a year or a household income under $250,000. Of the Massachusetts borrowers who are eligible for relief, the White House says around 401,200 of them received Pell Grants, so they will be able to get up to $20,000 in debt canceled."

— SQUAD GOALS: Rep. Ayanna Pressley will join Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush for "An Evening with the Squad" at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Somerville Theatre, as part of the lawmakers' "ongoing efforts to grow the progressive movement," per a press release. Ibram X. Kendi will moderate. Pressley, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar and Tlaib are also holding a canvass kickoff at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Boston.

BALLOT BATTLES

— "Filings flesh out opposing sides in immigrant driver's license fight," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Unions and liberal-leaning groups are spearheading the campaign to keep in place the state's new law granting driver's licenses to immigrants without legal status, while a repeal effort is being led by the conservative-leaning Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance and its founder Rick Green, with support from individual donors. The first campaign finance reports shedding light on the late-filed ballot referendum were due to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance Tuesday. So far, the reports show, more money has been raised to uphold the law than to eliminate it. The pro-driver's license campaign is funded mostly by unions, while the campaign to repeal the new law has attracted support from a greater number of individual donors. The repeal effort has just $8,000 left in the bank after early spending to secure a spot on the ballot, while the committee supporting the law has nearly $210,000 in cash on hand."

— "Greater Boston Chamber says it's a 'no' on Question 1," by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: "It's already hard enough to do business and taxing incomes over $1 million would make a bad problem worse, according to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. 'Massachusetts already ranks 49th in the country in the cost of doing business,' Jim Rooney, President & CEO of the Hub's Chamber, said in a Tuesday statement."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "Worcester moves away from fossil fuel ban; some climate activists disagree," by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette: "Some climate activists are disappointed with what appears to be a decision by the city administration not to make an attempt to become one of 10 cities and towns in Massachusetts to ban fossil fuels in some buildings."

MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND

— "Magaziner criticizes Fung for being on board of group that backed overturning Roe v. Wade," by Edward Fitzpatrick, Boston Globe: "Democratic congressional candidate Seth Magaziner on Tuesday noted newly filed financial disclosure forms show his Republican opponent, Allan W. Fung, is on the board of the St. Thomas More Society of RI, saying that underscores how Fung would oppose abortion rights if he's elected to Congress. … Steven Paiva, spokesman for the Fung campaign, responded by pointing to video of Magaziner speaking about how his previous employer, Trillium Asset Management, worked with Catholic organizations that didn't want to invest in companies that supported abortion."

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— "Pompeo, preparing for potential 2024 run, walks fine line on Trump during New Hampshire stop," by Paul Steinhauser, Fox News: "Mike Pompeo says it is no surprise he returned to New Hampshire. 'I'm here. It's not random,' the former secretary of state told Fox News on Tuesday when asked about his latest visit to the state, which for a century has held the first primary in the race for the White House."

MEDIA MATTERS

— "Former Granite Recovery owner sues over story about allegations of his sexual misconduct," by Josie Albertson-Grove, Union Leader: "The former owner of Granite Recovery Centers is suing New Hampshire Public Radio and former recovery center employees who spoke to the radio station's reporters, over a story relaying allegations of sexual misconduct from employees."

HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH

WEDDING BELLS — Massachusetts Playbook and POLITICO alum Stephanie Murray married Eric Farmer on Aug. 30 at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Murray covers crypto policy at The Block and Farmer is an account executive at Meltwater. Pic of the happy couple, courtesy of Aimlee Photography.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Samantha Power, Cass Sunstein, Mia Appelbaum and Deborah A. Weinberger. Happy belated to Dorey Scheimer, Rachel McNeill, Kennedy alum Brian Phillips, John Hawthorne, Maddie Miller and Sophie Hansen, who celebrated Monday; and to former Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley, former congressional candidate Robbie Goldstein and Vanessa Kirsch, who celebrated Tuesday.

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