News: Has Diana DiZoglio already won?

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Has Diana DiZoglio already won?

Jul 11, 2024

CAREFUL WHAT YOU PUT ON THE BALLOT — Legislative leaders have long fought Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s effort to crack open their books and illuminate what goes on behind closed doors on Beacon Hill.

But in their scramble to keep DiZoglio's office in the dark, they’ve thrust the issue into the light for voters across the state who, come November, will weigh the DiZoglio-backed ballot question that would let her audit the Legislature. And they’ve handed the ambitious Methuen Democrat a popular political platform that she’ll get to campaign on statewide.

Secretary of State Bill Galvin gave the approval to the ballot petition on Wednesday, setting up a four-month sprint for supporters and opponents to make their pitch to voters.

DiZoglio has a head start. She’s spent the last year on the de-facto campaign trail — setting up outside of grocery stores, making appearances on the local Sunday morning political shows, tabling at the state Democratic Party’s convention and even hitting the radio waves with an original song — in order to collect the tens of thousands of signatures from voters required to put the petition up for a vote. Meanwhile, no formal opposition committee has formed yet to encourage voters to block it.

Polls show public opinion is on DiZoglio’s side: 67 percent of the 700 Bay Staters surveyed in a UMass Amherst poll last fall said they would vote in favor of the question, and 55 percent of respondents to a GBH News/CommonWealth Beacon poll this spring said the same. Galvin, during a recent interview on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large,” said he believes it’s likely to pass.

“I’m assuming that it will pass, I think it seems very popular,” he said on the show. But Galvin also said enforcement could be a challenge, citing the same concerns DiZoglio’s opponents have raised around constitutional separation of powers.

Lawmakers have had multiple opportunities to stop DiZoglio from reaching this point. They could have acquiesced to her original audit request, or they could have sat down with her to reach a legislative compromise that would have removed the need for her petition to proceed to the ballot.

Instead, they’ve created a situation that puts Beacon Hill’s lack of transparency squarely in the spotlight. And they’ve given DiZoglio, a deft campaigner with what Bay State political observers see as an eye toward higher office, a popular platform to pitch across the state.

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Forming an opposition campaign? Email me: kgarrity@politico.com.

TODAY — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announces the recipients of federal funding to combat veteran homelessness at 1:30 p.m. in Somerville. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends a summer celebration at White Stadium at 4:30 p.m.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “‘Why choose this particular issue?’ Mass. life sciences industry frets over Senate’s scaled-back proposal,” by Matt Stout and Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe: “A sweeping economic development bill barreling through the Massachusetts Senate has unnerved the state’s powerful life sciences lobby, with sector leaders warning that the Senate Democrats’ move to slice hundreds of millions in proposed funding and tax incentives could cost Massachusetts its pole position in the industry. Governor Maura Healey, too, offered a rare rebuke of legislative leaders’ approach, saying through a spokesperson Wednesday that the Senate’s plan ‘falls short of what’s needed.’”

— “Restaurant group alleges tipped minimum wage supporters ‘fraudulently obtained’ voter signatures,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “A restaurant industry group alleged Wednesday that “numerous” voter signatures supporting a potential ballot question that would gradually increase the minimum wage for tipped workers were “fraudulently obtained,” according to a challenge filed with state officials. The question, backed and funded by the group One Fair Wage, cleared the latest threshold required to get on the ballot by only 136 signatures, according to the state’s election department. But the Massachusetts Restaurant Association disputed some of those in an effort to keep the measure from being placed before voters in November.”

— “Lab-grown meat, tickets and a stadium: Here's what's in the Mass. Senate $3B bond bill,” by Katie Lannan and Paris Alston, GBH News.

— “‘There is tremendous fear.’ As Massachusetts farm workers toil under brutal conditions, some push for legislative change,” by Andrew Botolino, The Boston Globe.

FROM THE HUB

— “Boston City Council, Wu administration at odds over push to exempt small businesses from commercial tax hike plan,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Wu administration threw cold water on the Boston City Council’s push to partially exempt small businesses from the mayor’s plan to hike commercial tax rates, saying that the extra assessment work it would require may not be feasible. Chief Financial Officer Ashley Groffenberger said that if the city were to adopt a small business exemption, it would require changes to the bill it sent to the state Legislature last month. It would also necessitate the review of roughly 6,000 commercial properties that are expected to qualify for the tax break, she said.”

— “Boston gets $10 million to help close life expectancy gap between neighborhoods,” by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: “Last year, a Boston Public Health Commission analysis shared a startling data point: the life expectancy for those living in Back Bay was 23 more years than those living in Roxbury's Nubian Square. Now, Atrius Health Equity Foundation is spending $10 million to help close the life expectancy gap across much of Boston.”

— “Boston City Council exploring birth control to curb randy rats,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Boston City Council is considering deploying birth control to cut down on the city’s rat population as an alternative to killing rodents with poison, which has inadvertently led to the deaths of local pets and wildlife. Councilor Enrique Pepén introduced a measure Wednesday that urges the city to consider implementing a ‘community-safe rodent birth control’ program that would prevent rats from ovulating, while also protecting the animals who eat them.”

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

DECISIONS, DECISIONS — Some top Democrats are repeating a new refrain when asked about their support for President Joe Biden’s flailing candidacy: It’s his decision whether or not to step aside.

But Biden has already loudly and repeatedly vowed to continue his campaign, so the comments urging him to make a decision are a bit confounding. Wednesday morning started with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi pushing a subtle suggestion during an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

“The time is running short. … He’s beloved, he is respected, and people want him to make that decision,” Pelosi said. Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, a Pelosi protégé, echoed that message, telling reporters on Capitol Hill: “President Biden is the nominee. ... As always, this decision is up to the president.”

That’s not quite as far as Rep. Lori Trahan, a close Clark ally, went Wednesday when she said in a statement that while Biden “has made clear he feels he is the best candidate to win this election, nothing that has happened over the past twelve days suggests that voters see things the same way.”

And at the State House, Gov. Maura Healey told reporters Biden can still beat Trump, but that’s “a decision the president has to make as to whether or not he wants to continue to be” the nominee. Still, Democratic leaders here say they'll do whatever it takes to defeat former President Donald Trump.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is endorsing Mark Sylvia in his bid for the 10th Bristol House seat, per his campaign.

Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more.

WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET

— “Campbell explains why she settled Uber, Lyft case on eve of likely court victory,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon: “In interviews with Attorney General Andrea Campbell and top aides, they said they were confident they could win the court case but worried the verdict would have been severely blunted by a ballot campaign. Once the state’s Supreme Judicial Court cleared for the ballot all of the questions put forward by the tech giants, Campbell made the decision to settle and hastily brought the negotiations to a close the very same day.”

— “AG Backs POST Appointee After BPD Demotion,” by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (paywall): “Attorney General Andrea Campbell on Wednesday disagreed with Boston's mayor and police department over the demotion from a command staff role of her appointee to the commission that sets standards for law enforcement following his appointment to the state board. Eddy Chrispin, Campbell's recent addition to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, had been a member of the Boston Police Department's command staff until the change in his role. The POST Commission was created in a 2020 criminal justice reform law that followed the murder of George Floyd, and is implementing accountability measures and certification for law enforcement officers across Massachusetts.”

FROM THE 413

— “‘We lost 27,000 acres’ in five years: Mass. agricultural commissioner visits Berkshire County to hear from local farmers,” by Josh Landes, WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

— “An Account of Legislative Campaign Finances in Springfield Area Primaries,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: “The two surprise legislative races anchored in Springfield may yet rock political foundations in the city. However, on the fundraising front, the races are proceeding more or less typically for incumbent challenges. Both State Senator Adam Gomez and State Rep Bud Williams maintain healthy fundraising leads over their respective challengers City Councilor Malo Brown and educator Johnnie McKnight.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “What we know about Brockton schools' new interim superintendent,” by Christopher Butler, The Brockton Enterprise.

— “'She's already doing it.' Hopkinton Select Board names Lazarus to become town manager,” by Tom Benoit, The MetroWest Daily News.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Viji Rangaswami is now the chief public affairs officer for Liberty Mutual. She was the head of federal affairs and the international public affairs officer at the company.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Sen. Ed Markey, WBUR alum Jack Lepiarz, Maximos Nikitas, Angus Abercrombie, Chris Maloney, partner at the Black Rock Group and a Mitt Romney alum; and to Noa Burke-Schlossberg, daughter of Dennis Burke (chief of staff for state Sen. Jason Lewis), who turns 1 today.

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.

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