POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook NET NEUTRALITY’s Bay State backers — LYNCH would ‘consider voting for’ BAKER — JACKSON departs Boston City Council
12/14/2017 07:15 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
BAY STATE PUSHBACK TO NET NEUTRALITY CHANGE - Ahead of today's expected "total repeal" of net neutrality provisions by the FCC, Massachusetts Democrats were among those scrambling the jets to intervene.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren took to the Senate floor yesterday to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to avoid delay in seating Sen.-elect Doug Jones, and also offered remarks on net neutrality - both of which were cut into videos shared on Warren's social media platforms. On Facebook, Warren said the FCC's vote is "paving the way for giant internet companies to block access and charge more. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has barreled full speed ahead despite disturbing reports that potentially tens of thousands of comments submitted during the public comment period were fake."
Among those whose names were used to falsely submit comments in support of removing net neutrality: the wife of Rep. Michael Capuano, Fox 25 reports.
Warren and Sen. Ed Markey were among the coalition of Senators calling on the FCC's vote to be delayed - and yesterday, Attorney General Maura Healey joined 18 attorneys general who also said the evidence of those false comments should delay the FCC's vote.
This has been a months-long effort by the delegation, as well as Healey and other states' AGs, to slow or stop the FCC's decision. Back in July, Healey and 12 other attorneys general submitted comments to the FCC asking that the commission decline to change the regulations that internet service providers treat web traffic equally - and that "there is a real risk consumers will suffer harm if the Open Internet rules are revoked."
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Gov. Charlie Baker and state Sen. Bruce E. Tarr participate in the North Shore Holiday Toy Drive in Lynn before heading to Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School to announce an advanced manufacturing certificate pilot program alongside Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta and Secretary of Education Jim Peyser - First Lady of Massachusetts Lauren Baker delivers remarks at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women's Network Breakfast - Sen. Ed Markey participates in a press conference in Washington, D.C. calling on a year-end spending bill that increases money for tackling the opioid epidemic.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "State farther along on health care affordability than others," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Expect to see more concrete details on the Massachusetts House's plan for health care within the next couple of months. That's the message from Speaker Robert DeLeo's health care policy analyst, Sarah Sabshon, who said Tuesday that affordability remains the pressing issue facing the state as policymakers seek a balance between rising medical costs for consumers and the potential loss of federal funding to support care."
- "Researchers say Mass. effort to influence opioid prescribing failed," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: "Last March, the state Department of Public Health sent a confidential letter to every health care provider who prescribes opioids and other controlled substances, showing how each practitioner's prescribing practices compared with those of his or her peers. Presumably, those who were writing too many prescriptions would see the error of their ways and scale back. But an article in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine concludes that the letter probably didn't work."
- "5 Investigates: Deval Patrick's brother-in-law arrested for 'assault to rape,'" by Karen Anderson and David Hurlburt, WCVB: "5 Investigates has learned that the brother-in-law of former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has been arrested for assault. Bernard Sigh, 65, was arraigned in Quincy District Court on Monday and is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing."
'TIS THE SEASON - "Under cloud, state Senate cancels holiday party," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the state Senate president's office, but there will be no holiday party this year for senators and staff. Acting Senate President Harriette Chandler 'made the determination that a holiday party would not be appropriate' this year after speaking with other members of Senate leadership, Chandler spokesman Kevin Connor told the News Service."
TRUMPACHUSETTS -
- "Anti-Semitic incidents in New England have risen. The ADL partly blames Trump," by Travis Anderson, Boston Globe: "Educators, parents, and the broader public must 'push the bigots back into the corner' after incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti and other hateful acts have surfaced in several Massachusetts communities in recent months, a leading civil rights advocate said Wednesday. 'They never were part of the mainstream,' said Robert Trestan, the New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, in reference to fringe groups."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren gets second turn as comic book hero," by Associated Press: "All comic book heroes need a sequel - even U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The Massachusetts Democrat was the focus last year of a 22-page comic titled "Female Force: Elizabeth Warren," which told the story of Warren's rise from Oklahoma schoolgirl to U.S. senator and champion of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. Now publisher TidalWave Comics is bringing out a sequel, "Female Force: Elizabeth Warren #2," chronicling the early days of Warren's 2012 U.S. Senate campaign and her rise to power ."
ON THE STUMP -
- State Sen. Jamie Eldridge endorsed Democrat Jay Gonzalez for governor yesterday, Eldridge confirmed to me.
- "Steve Lynch defends Charlie Baker in wake of Moore race," by Brian Dowling, Boston Herald: "Bay State Congressman Stephen Lynch said he'd 'consider voting for' Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018 and criticized attacks trying to link the governor to failed GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore through Baker's fundraising for the Republican National Committee. 'Charlie Baker is a good and decent man,' Lynch said, addressing arguments from Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Setti Warren. 'To tie him to a pedophile, come on, come on. That's the worst of politics right there.'"
- "Gardner security chief will seek state rep seat in 2018," by Travis Anderson, Boston Globe: "Anthony Amore, the security chief at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum who has been trying to find the masterworks stolen in the notorious 1990 museum heist, will take on an equally tough assignment: running for office as a Republican in deep-blue Massachusetts. Amore said he saw that Republican Governor Charlie Baker was running for reelection and he thinks he could help him as a state representative."
TSONGAS ARENA -
- "Moran endorses fellow Lawrence state Rep. Matias in congressional bid," by Lisa Kashinsky, Eagle-Tribune: "Juana Matias has picked up another endorsement in her bid for the 3rd District seat in Congress being vacated by Niki Tsongas. After securing the public backing of Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera at the beginning of December, Matias has now received a formal endorsement from Frank Moran, her fellow Lawrence state representative."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "GOP TAX PLAN DEAL IN PLACE," "MAIL CALL" "SIDELINED" - Globe: "Senators forge deal for tax overhaul," "A bigot in the stands, and other stories," "Same state, different message," "Conservatory cuts ties with acclaimed music professor," "Cannabis panel backs pot bars, home delivery."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Tito Jackson, Sal LaMattina say so long to Council," by Dan Atkinson, Boston Herald: "Jackson told councilors to push back against their reputation as members of a weak organization and advocated pressuring the mayor on the school budget, telling them 'this body is a means and medium to make that change.'"
WE'RE NUMBER ONE, WE'RE NUMBER ONE - "Massachusetts is America's healthiest state, according to new rankings," by Gintautas Dumcius, Masslive.com: "Massachusetts vaulted to the top of America's Health Rankings, according to the state's Department of Public Health. The Bay State is the healthiest in the US, based on 35 measures based on behavior, environment and clinical care data, according to the annual report."
- "The Massachusetts Stories Behind Two Of The World's Most Enduring Christmas Carols," by Edgar B. Herwick III, WGBH: "There is much about the holiday season that seems timeless, inevitable; as if it simply always was. But Santa wasn't a guy in a red suit until the 19th century. Chocolate chip cookies weren't invented until the 20th century. And each of those ubiquitous Christmas carols currently dominating the airwaves was once written by someone. And it turns out, two of the most popular and enduring Christmas tunes were made in Massachusetts."
- "New Political Frustrations Aired In Tea Party Re-Enactment," by Philip Marcelo, Associated Press: "Americans are venting their frustrations with the current political climate by chucking tea into Boston Harbor. Sound familiar? The Boston Tea Party Museum has been encouraging Americans to send them loose tea leaves to toss into Boston's waters this Saturday as part of its fifth annual re-enactment of the historic act of defiance that preceded the Revolutionary War. The museum received more than 200 tea submissions as part of the new campaign."
- "Bostonian of the Year 2017: The concussion researcher," by Neil Swidey, Boston Globe: "Football may never be the same after the VA Boston scientist's research on head injuries."
HAPPY BELATED - to Boston City Councilor-elect Lydia Edwards, who celebrated yesterday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Alison Mills, comms director for Rep. Mike Capuano, State House News Service scribe Colin A. Young, and the Berkshire Eagle's Christopher Mariscz.
DID THE HOME TEAMS WIN? Yes! - The Celtics topped the Nuggets 124 to 118 and the Bruins beat the Red Wings 3-2.
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