POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook BALLOT QUESTION WATCH — BAKER’s LIVELY primary challenge — WALSH inauguration will be BIDEN time
12/07/2017 06:58 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
BALLOT QUESTION WATCH - Massachusetts voters are a step closer toward knowing what ballot questions they'll be able to assess in November 2018 thanks to yesterday's signature-gathering deadline. As expected, a potential re-work of the state's tax code, with an across-the-board sales tax cut and an additional assessment on annual income-earners over $1 million, are in the offing.
WHAT'S CLOSER TO THE BALLOT -
- $15 minimum wage and paid family and medical leave, separate questions supported by Raise Up Massachusetts which touted signatures collected in every city and down across the commonwealth by unpaid volunteers (a significant feat and show of strength by the union and faith-based coalition that successfully passed an earned sick time ballot question in 2014).
- A sales tax cut to 5 percent with an annual sales tax weekend, put forth by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Main Street Fairness Coalition business groups. Retailers President Jon Hurst recently didn't mince words about the other potential ballot question items, telling State House News he believes $15 minimum wave question "will be on the ballot regardless of what the Legislature does," and that "political reasons" motivate the labor groups who want the question on the ballot to drive turnout for their favored candidates.
WHAT'S DEFINITELY NOT -
- A ban on state-funding for Planned Parenthood and other groups that provide abortions. Backed by conservatives state Rep. Jim Lyons and former MassGOP national committeewoman Chanel Prunier, the question fell short of yesterday's hurdle by fewer than 7,500 signatures of the required 65,000.
WHAT'S HEADED TO COURT -
- The so-called millionaires tax, which faces a February court date in front of the Supreme Judicial Court as the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and other business groups battle with question proponent Raise Up, which is also behind two other ballot questions this cycle. The question is a re-write of the state's constitution and required additional legislative approvals.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - The Senate holds a session, presided over by new acting Senate President Harriette Chandler - Gov. Charlie Baker delivers remarks at the Massachusetts Conference for Women at 1:30 p.m. Conference keynote speakers include Diane von Furstenberg, Bethenny Frankel, and Viola Davis - The Gaming Commission meets, with an update on national sports betting developments included on the docket.
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DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Uncertainty in Washington tax policy complicates Massachusetts budget writing," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "Efforts in Washington, D.C. to reshape the nation's tax code are threatening to throw a wrench into Massachusetts' budget forecasting. ... 'We are experiencing a time of great uncertainty,' said Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, opening the hearing that marks the first stage of Massachusetts' fiscal 2019 budget process."
- "Senate leadership battle quickly spills into the open," by Michael P. Norton and Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Three senators - Sens. Eileen Donoghue, Linda Dorcena Forry and Karen Spilka - have now publicly acknowledged their desire to seek the presidency if a 'vacancy' occurs, and a fourth - Sen. Sal DiDomenico - all but confirmed his interest in the post in an interview Tuesday night. The self-acknowledgement of those senators' ambitions marks a rare spilling out into the public of a process typically reserved for back-channel jockeying."
- "Rosenberg faces daunting path back to power, Dems say," by Michael Levenson, Boston Globe: "Once you step down, can you step back up? ... Supporters of Senator Stanley C. Rosenberg are certainly hoping the liberal Amherst Democrat can regain his post as Senate president. They point out that Rosenberg is well-liked, has built a collegial atmosphere in the Senate, and has not been accused of any wrongdoing amid the allegations that his husband, Bryon Hefner, sexually assaulted and harassed four men and bragged that he had influence over Senate business."
- "How The Mass. Legislature Can Get Closer To Gender Balance," by Steve Koczela and Jake Rubinstein, WBUR: "State Sen. Harriette Chandler, a Democrat from Worcester, became the acting president of the Massachusetts Senate this week, the second woman of the last three leaders to hold the gavel. Four of the state's six key constitutional officers are women, and one of our U.S. senators. In the state Legislature, however, Massachusetts is very far from gender balance, and making no progress. Women make up a slim majority of Massachusetts residents, but only a quarter of state legislators."
TRUMPACHUSETTS -
- "Largest Mass. Companies Are Mostly Silent On GOP Tax Plans," by Asma Khalid, WBUR: "But hesitation to comment shouldn't be interpreted as opposition to the corporate adjustments in the tax bills. ... Part of the hesitation may also be political."
- "Rep. Richard Neal Says Tax Overhaul Isn't Set In Stone," by Molly Boigon, WGBH: "'[Republicans] are trying very hard to placate, still, members of their own caucus,' he said on Boston Public Radio today. 'I think there is room here for the discussions that will take place.' ... Neal, who represents the Bay State's first congressional district, is a part of the conference that's set to discuss the bill before its final form goes to a vote."
- "Conway: Trump had 'wonderful conversation' with Romney on Tuesday night," by POLITICO's Louis Nelson: "President Donald Trump spoke by phone Tuesday night with Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee and occasional Trump critic reported to be considering a Senate bid next year if longtime Utah lawmaker Orrin Hatch retires. Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway told CNN on Wednesday morning that Romney and the president discussed the tax reform bill currently making its way through Congress and Trump's announcement Monday shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Warren, Markey Among Democratic Senators Calling For Franken's Resignation," by Jonathan Cain and Lisa Creamer, WBUR: "'I think he should resign,' Warren said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. An aide to Warren told WBUR earlier Wednesday that the senator also privately told Franken he should vacate his seat."
ON THE STUMP -
- "Taking It To Charlie: Springfield Conservative Running Against Governor Baker in GOP Primary," by Evan Lips, New Boston Post: "Springfield's Scott Lively, a conservative whose views have made him a target of the Southern Poverty Law Center, ran for Massachusetts governor in 2014 as an Independent. Earlier this month Lively filed documents with Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin's office to challenge Baker as a Republican."
NEW PODCAST EPISODE ALERT - An emergency episode of The Horse Race, hosted by yours truly and MassINC Polling Group President Steve Koczela: Allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct leveled against Bryon Hefner, husband of Senate president Stan Rosenberg, are roiling Beacon Hill. In an emergency podcast, we explain what this means from the standpoint of the senate. We also recap the results of the Worcester/Middlesex state senate special election, and celebrate Ballot Question Deadline Day! Listen in on SoundCloud and iTunes.
TSONGAS ARENA -
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Trans United Fund endorses Alexandra Chandler - From the Chandler campaign: "Alexandra Chandler welcomed the endorsement of Trans United Fund [today]. ... During the 2017 election cycle, Trans United Fund and its associated Breakthrough Fund Initiative PAC provided expertise and financial resources to help transgender candidates win a record number of historic victories, including the election of Virginia Delegate-elect Danica Roem, and Minneapolis City Councilmembers-elect Phillipe Cunningham and Andrea Jenkins."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "WALL OF FIRE" - Globe: "In historic shift, Trump recognizes Jerusalem," "Wealthy suburbs would feel pain of GOP tax plan," "At Miss. museum, a protest emerges," "For some, a little more development isn't enough," "HOLIDAY PARTIES SOBERING UP."
FEAT. A FAMILIAR #MAPOLI FACE - THE PLAYBOOK POWER LIST: 18 TO WATCH IN 2018: The final Playbook Power List of the year highlights 18 politicians, activists and operatives across the country who are poised to make waves in 2018. From the anti-Trump "Resistance" on the left to the far right Bannonite wing trying to remake the GOP, keep an eye on these people over the next 12 months. Click HERE to find out who made the list.
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "'Showstopper' Joe Biden to preside over Marty Walsh inauguration," by Dan Atkinson, Boston Herald: "Biden will preside over Walsh's New Year's Day swearing-in ceremony at the Cutler Majestic Theatre, according to the mayor's office. The two pols are friends, and Walsh said he was 'humbled' Biden would be at the ceremony."
- "Boston School Committee approves new start times," by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "The Boston School Committee on Wednesday approved a new policy that would change the start and end times at many schools across the city for next fall, and officials planned to disclose what the new hours of operation would be at individual schools Thursday. ... Officials spoke only in broad terms prior to the meeting about what the proposed policy calls for - having more high schools start after 8 a.m. and having more elementary schools dismiss students before 4 p.m."
- "Research on the world's deadliest microbes will soon begin at a Boston lab," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: "The Boston Public Health Commission on Wednesday gave the final approval for Boston University's high-security laboratory to start research on the world's deadliest microbes, ending a decade and a half of controversy. The commission's OK was the final step allowing the study of Biosafety Level 4 pathogens - those that have no treatment or vaccine, such as Ebola. Level 4 research could begin in a month or two at the facility, called the National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratories ."
- "Eversource, National Grid Complete Transmission Line From Mass. To N.H.," by Annie Ropeik, NHPR: "The 345-kilovolt line stretches 25 miles along state right-of-ways. Eversource says it will power up to 400,000 homes at peak demand."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Longmeadow Dems chair Candy Glazer.
DID THE HOME TEAMS WIN? Yes! - The Celtics topped the Mavericks 97-90.
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** A message from Atlantic Link: The Atlantic Link advantage: delivering a new, reliable source of clean energy directly to Massachusetts for a delivered price that remains fixed for 20 years. It's a reliable, cost-effective solution to help the Commonwealth meet its energy diversity and greenhouse gas reduction goals. Atlantic Link is a proposed 1,000 megawatt subsea cable, securely and reliably delivering onshore wind energy, supplemented by hydropower, directly to Plymouth, MA from Atlantic Canada. The subsea cable will connect to the grid using existing infrastructure that is currently tied to the Pilgrim Nuclear Station, which will close in 2019. Atlantic Link is the only clean energy project delivering to Massachusetts more than 200 jobs during construction. The only clean energy project delivering $2.5 million a year in tax revenue to the Town of Plymouth. Projected in-state capital investment of $260 million. And a commitment of $15 million to support low-income energy programs in the Commonwealth. http://politi.co/2hsN050 **
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