| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky | | | SEEING RED — Gov. Charlie Baker campaigned with him last month. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the House minority whip, and his deputy, Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), will hold a fundraiser for him in Boston next week. All this attention isn't for a Massachusetts Republican, though. It's for Allan Fung, the moderate former mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island, who represents one of Republicans' best chances for a pickup in New England this November. This shouldn't be a competitive race. Democrats have held Rhode Island's 2nd District House seat for three decades and President Joe Biden won the district by nearly 14 points in 2020. But Fung continues to lead Seth Magaziner, the Democratic state treasurer, in public polls. He's buoyed by name recognition and goodwill from his 12 years as mayor and two runs for governor, $2 million in spending from outside GOP groups, and fundraisers and campaign events with big-name Republicans from Baker to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
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Former Cranston, R.I., Mayor Allan Fung (left) and state Treasurer Seth Magaziner (right) are competing in Rhode Island's 2nd District House race. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO | Magaziner is trying to undercut Fung's moderate narrative — Fung considers Baker his political role model — by casting the Republican as anti-abortion and pro-Donald Trump. House Majority PAC, a super PAC aligned with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has spent nearly $1.5 million on the race and is hitting the airwaves with a new ad today, shared first with POLITICO, that attempts to paint Fung as a Trump loyalist backed by Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election. It's straight out of the Democrats' national playbook. And in Massachusetts and elsewhere in New England, those attacks appear to be working. But polls show Magaziner struggling to make these arguments stick against a well-known and well-liked local official. Why does this matter in Massachusetts? Our House races are hardly competitive — POLITICO's chief forecaster, Steve Shepard, rates them all as solid or likely Democratic, and Republican challengers have struggled to raise enough campaign cash to truly compete. But Republicans are forecast to take control of the House. A Fung victory could help them do so — and make the next two years a legislative nightmare for Biden. Magaziner isn't trailing by much in public polls, and race ratings list RI-02 a tossup. Magaziner has a chance to gain some ground in this week's debates, the second of which airs on WPRI at 7 p.m. Dive deeper into the race. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. There are just three weeks left until Election Day, and that means… FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Andrea Campbell is releasing her first digital ad of the general election today, part of a $250,000 ad buy through Election Day that will also include a separate television advertisement starting next Tuesday. The digital ad, "Safe and Strong," focuses on the efforts Campbell says she'll take as attorney general to protect kids from predators and bullying "online and off." That includes bolstering mental health access and ensuring teachers and school staff have adequate training to better recognize abuse. Campbell has been off the airwaves since winning her high-profile primary in September. Her Republican opponent, Jay McMahon, has also yet to air a television ad, but has been getting extra press as one of the faces of the Republican-led effort to repeal the law granting undocumented immigrants access to driver's licenses. The rivals' sole debate will tape later this week and air on WBZ over the weekend. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito visits Gloucester Biotechnology Academy at 9 a.m., Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School at 10:30 a.m., the New Balance Factory in Lawrence at noon, UMass Lowell's NERVE Center open house at 2 p.m. and the Lynn Boys and Girls Club at 4 p.m. Rep. Seth Moulton addresses the New England Council at 8:30 a.m. at Hampshire House in Boston and is on WBUR's "Radio Boston" at 11 a.m. Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark celebrates the grand opening of a new Head Start center at 10 a.m. at Medford's Station Landing. Rep. Ayanna Pressley attends the groundbreaking for Chelsea's Innes Apartments redevelopment at 1 p.m. Rep. Richard Neal makes a PVTA funding announcement at 2 p.m. in Springfield. Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .
| | | | A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts: Did you know the key to good health is right under your nose? Delta Dental of Massachusetts is helping communities across the state improve their oral health and understand that a healthy smile is a powerful thing. Your mouth is the window to better overall health and happiness – open wide and let your dentist help protect you from health conditions like depression and cardiovascular disease. Discover the connection between oral and overall health at ExpressYourHealthMA.org. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | | 
From left: Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka and Gov. Charlie Baker address reporters after their first leadership meeting in three months on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at the State House in Boston. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO | — NO NEWS IS NO NEWS: Beacon Hill bigwigs held their first leadership meeting in three months on Monday — and Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano emerged from Gov. Charlie Baker's office with little new information to share about the $4 billion economic development bill that's been stalled since the end of formal sessions. The bill contained $500 million in one-time rebates for residents and $500 million in permanent tax credits that were shelved after lawmakers learned the state would trigger a 1986 tax-cap law and have to return $3 billion to taxpayers. Mariano also said the bill filed by state Rep. Mike Connolly and other progressive Democrats to cap rebates under Chapter 62F at $6,500 and redistribute the excess to lower-income earners is unlikely to see action this year. That's because lawmakers are meeting in informal sessions where legislation can be derailed by just one person's vote and lame-duck legislators abound. Next session would be the "logical place" for conversations about tweaking the law, Mariano said. — More from the Boston Globe's Samantha J. Gross and Matt Stout: "Pressed by reporters on Monday, the chambers' top officials did not provide a timeline for passing permanent tax relief nor did they identify any holdups in their process. 'The House and Senate are actively . . . working through the details,' said Senate president Karen E. Spilka. 'It's all very complicated.' … House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano said that waiting until next year to pass a bill is 'always an option,' though he left open the possibility of passing something before the end of the calendar year." — "New Bulletin Spells Out State's Tax Relief Approach," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): "The Baker administration took meaningful steps Friday towards sending nearly $3 billion in excess state revenue back to taxpayers, officially repealing the regulation that governed how taxpayers obtained a credit the only other time that Chapter 62F came into play, in 1987, and releasing a technical document spelling out exactly how the process will work this year. About 3.6 million Bay Staters are expected to get back a piece of $2.941 billion that state government is required to return after it collected more in taxes last year than a 1986 voter law known as Chapter 62F allows. Auditor Suzanne Bump certified that amount last month and the Baker administration said it planned to return the money via mailed checks or direct deposits, likely starting in November. To be eligible, a taxpayer must have filed a 2021 state tax return by Monday." — "Massachusetts winter energy price hikes: Legislators call on DPU to 'protect Massachusetts residents from these drastic rate increases'," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "As energy price hikes loom this winter, State House lawmakers are calling on the Department of Public Utilities to 'act' and 'protect Massachusetts residents from these drastic rate increases.' More than 100 Bay State legislators recently wrote a letter to DPU Chair Matthew Nelson about the energy rate increases that are slated to impact residents this winter." — "State moves ahead with loan repayment plan," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "A $4 billion pandemic relief bill signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in December 2021 included $110 million for a college loan repayment program for mental health professionals who work in community health centers. Those eligible for the loan repayment program include psychiatrists, psychologists, registered nurses and nurse practitioners, and others who work in behavioral health care settings. The move is aimed at recruiting and retaining new workers in a sector of the state's health care system that is traditionally among the lowest paid. The state Department of Health and Human Services is currently negotiating a contract with a private company to run the new program."
| | | | NEW AND IMPROVED POLITICO APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. With a fresh look and improved features, the sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don't miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. Already a POLITICO app user? Upgrade today! DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID . | | | | | | | FROM THE HUB | | — "DA Hayden drops charges in corruption case involving MBTA police officer after new evidence found," by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: "Suffolk District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden's office has dropped criminal charges against an MBTA Transit Police sergeant accused of covering up the beating of a homeless man in 2018 after new information came to light, authorities said Monday. In court papers, Suffolk prosecutors said they could not continue the case against David Finnerty after Transit Police discovered a previously unknown computer record that prosecutors said showed Finnerty had not added false information to a 2018 police report on the assault." — "Michelle Wu vetoes Boston City Council's self-increased salary hikes," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Mayor Michelle Wu is vetoing the council's boosted salary increases as friction between the mayor and the council continues. 'Like all workers, our elected officials should receive salary increases, but they should square with the increases that our frontline workers have received and are receiving in the contracts that we continue to settle,' Wu wrote in a letter to the council on Monday explaining the veto of the bill passed by the city council that would have hiked their and her pay by more than 20%, rather than the 11% she had proposed. … The council can override her veto on Wednesday if nine of the 13 members vote that way, or they could go through the process of introducing and then later voting on the resubmitted version." — Q&A: "Mayor Michelle Wu Wants to Change Boston. But Can Boston Change?" by David Marchese, New York Times.
| | | | A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:   | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — "Poftak owes T riders timeline on speed restrictions, Baker says," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Gov. Charlie Baker said on Monday that MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak owes the public an answer on when speed restrictions on the Orange Line will be lifted. At a press availability at the State House with the leaders of the House and Senate, Baker said Poftak hasn't been able to deliver on a promise he made to riders before and during the one-month shutdown of the Orange Line that travel times would decrease after the work was completed. Instead, travel times have increased." — "Baker punts MBTA leadership change decisions to next Mass. governor," by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: "Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday that any decision to make leadership changes at the MBTA is a problem for the next governor after U.S. Sen Elizabeth Warren said last week the agency needs new oversight 'top to bottom' in the wake of a federal investigation. 'That's a decision that obviously will be made by the next administration,' Baker said. 'But I think there are many people at the T who have done terrific work in many cases, as the FTA pointed out, on a shorthanded basis over the course of the past couple of years, and I would hate to see them get washed out with whatever else happens.'"
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS | | — ENDORSEMENT ALERTS: Sen. Ed Markey has endorsed Democrat Dawne Shand for First Essex state representative. Shand won a write-in campaign to appear on the November ballot opposite Republican C.J. Fitzwater , who also won his primary write-in campaign for the seat vacated by GOP state Rep. Jim Kelcourse. — EGOT-winner John Legend tweeted his support for Democratic Plymouth district attorney candidate Rahsaan Hall yesterday. — "Healey Puts Community Colleges At Center Of Workforce Plan," by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (paywall): "To address workforce shortages in Massachusetts and the rising costs of higher education, Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll released a new policy plan Monday to help older state residents complete their education after high school. The policy, which the candidates have named MassReconnect, would fund community college certificates and degrees for state residents who are 25 years old and older and have not earned a college degree. Students could pursue either certificates or degrees, depending on which would better serve their career goals." — "Mass. Auditor Candidate's Ex-Wife Accused Him of Emotional, Verbal Abuse During Divorce, Court Docs Say," by Glenn Jones, NBC10 Boston: "Less than a month until Election Day, court records have surfaced from the divorce of Republican nominee for Massachusetts auditor Anthony Amore. The documents show Amore's wife filed for a restraining order in 2009 — a month after filing for divorce. She alleged emotional and verbal abuse, said he 'shoved' her and also threatened 'revenge,' according to the documents. She also told the court she was concerned her husband owned a gun. A judge granted a temporary restraining order requiring Amore to vacate his family's home and forfeit his gun to police. He ended up getting it back months later, after the divorce. According to documents, DCF initially supported his wife's allegations, but a year later reversed its ruling, saying it was wrong to support them in the first place. 'Divorce is painful and takes a toll on all members of the family. Mine was no different,' Anthony Amore told NBC10 Boston in a statement. 'It is deeply disappointing that my opponent would stoop to attacking my family simply to win political office.'" — "10th Bristol District race: Straus touts track record, Swift says new blood needed," by Grace Ferguson, New Bedford Light: "State Rep. Bill Straus [the House chair of the Transportation Committee] has worked on Beacon Hill for three decades. Jeffrey Swift thinks it's time for a change. ... Straus, the incumbent Democrat, is campaigning on his years of experience. Swift, his opponent, wants to flip the seat Republican and 'bring back the concept of a citizen legislator.'"
| | BALLOT BATTLES | | — "Few wealthy Massachusetts retirees will pay Ballot Question 1 surtax, report says," by Benjamin Kail, Boston Business Journal: "Fewer than 1% of the Bay State's elderly tax filers receive more than $1 million in distributions from taxable retirement accounts or pensions each year, the amount that would trigger the proposed surtax before voters in Ballot Question 1, a new report suggests."
| | DAY IN COURT | | — "Lawyer for Ludlow parents suing over Baird Middle School's gender identity policies argues before federal judge," by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: "An attorney for a set of Ludlow parents argued before a federal judge Monday that they were 'hijacked' by teachers and administrators who concealed from them that two of their children had adopted new names and pronouns while students at Baird Middle School. Four parents filed a civil rights complaint in U.S. District Court in April. Two have since dropped out of the lawsuit, according to Mary McAlister, a lawyer with the Georgia-based Child & Parental Campaign that bills itself as 'protecting children from the harms of gender identity ideology.' ... The judge held the hearing after the educators and school administrators asked him to toss out the lawsuit."
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today . | | | | | | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — "Malden Teacher Strike Ends; Court Orders Haverhill Teachers to Work," by Darren Botelho, Alysha Palumbo and Brian Burnell, NBC10 Boston: "Teachers in Malden, Massachusetts, ended their strike when their union reached a tentative deal with school committee members Monday. Meanwhile, in Haverhill, a court has ordered striking teachers to go back to work. Classes were canceled Monday for students in both communities, where teachers began strikes after failing to come to agreements during contract negotiations over the weekend. Malden educators announced their tentative agreement Monday night. ... Negotiations in Haverhill took a step back Monday, with school district officials saying the proposed contract from the teachers union would mean layoffs. Classes were canceled Tuesday." — "Woburn officer resigns amid investigation into alleged role in deadly 2017 'Unite the Right' rally," by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: "A Woburn police officer resigned Monday amid allegations he participated in and helped plan the violent 2017 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Va., an event that included neo-Nazi groups and claimed the life of a counterprotester. Officer John Donnelly, who was placed on paid leave last week after the allegations surfaced, submitted a letter of resignation to Woburn police Chief Robert Rufo Jr. and Mayor Scott Galvin on Monday, and it was 'promptly accepted,' Rufo and Galvin said in a statement. Donnelly could not be immediately reached for comment on Monday. Despite his resignation, Donnelly remains the focus of an internal affairs investigation by the Police Department, the statement said." — "Second, undisclosed suicide attempt on Oct. 2 exposes strain on Bristol County jails' mental health system," by Ben Berke, The Public's Radio: "The death of an inmate under suicide watch reignited old criticisms of Bristol County's jails, which for years reported the highest number of suicides of any county jail system in Massachusetts. An investigation by The Public's Radio has since revealed that, just six minutes before Adam Howe was found unconscious in his cell, guards were responding to a previously unreported suicide attempt down the hall – exposing greater strains on the county jails' mental health system than were publicly known when the sheriff defended conditions in his facilities earlier this month."
| | | | A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts: Delta Dental of Massachusetts connects with communities statewide to highlight the importance of oral health. Your oral health is a key predictor of overall health — with direct links to diabetes, heart disease, mental health, and other medical conditions. So, this fall, remind your loved ones – and yourself – to show your mouth some love. Get back to the dentist and remember to practice at-home preventive oral health habits like brushing and flossing regularly. Because the key to good health is right under your nose. Discover the connection between oral and overall health at ExpressYourHealthMA.org. | | | | | HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — The Boston Globe's Katelyn Harrop is joining WBUR as a podcast producer . Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com . | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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