POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook TSONGAS arena shrinkage — SETTI wants WYNN out — State of the State of the Union
01/29/2018 07:02 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
THE TSONGAS ARENA SHRINKS (SLIGHTLY) - The field of Democrats vying to replace retiring Rep. Niki Tsongas has ever-so-slightly narrowed to 12 after Nadeem Mazen announced this weekend that he's dropping out in an email to supporters.
Mazen cited the $1.6 million raised by an opponent - Dan Koh - and that Mazen had only secured pledges for a quarter of that amount in the same time, as well as a health scare this fall.
This is the first public example of Koh's cash icing out another Democratic contender, and potentially an indication of more to come if more underwhelming fundraising reports trickle in later this month. Mazen, a Cambridge city councilor who also weighed primarying Rep. Michael Capuano, was among the first cluster of candidates to declare interest in the seat but not seen as a frontrunner.
Meanwhile, the rest of the candidates are warring over endorsements, hires, and crisscrossing the district - Steve Kerrigan is in Lowell to roll out his comprehensive opioid plan today, while Alexandra Chandler has unveiled a "comprehensive progressive platform" on her campaign website. Koh today announced another union endorsement: IBEW Local 96, while Mass-Care, a leading single-payer advocacy group in Mass., has backed state Sen. Barbara L'Italien. Rufus Gifford has brought on a former constituent services staffer for Tsongas, Phil Geoffrey, and Tsongas' executive director Ben Martello is now Gifford's campaign manager. Lawrence state Rep. Juana Matias has locked down endorsements from California Reps. Linda Sanchez and Tony Cardenas.
We'll get to see the field in action next week, too. All 12 are scheduled to meet for the first time next Tuesday in a forum in Hudson put on by the Hudson and Maynard Democratic Town Committees and the Marlborough Democratic City Committee.
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 meets the other two members of the Big Three, plus other legislative leaders in a weekly meeting at the State House - Sen. Elizabeth Warren makes a classroom visit and roundtable discussion in Roxbury's Action for Boston Community Development Walnut Grove Head Start & Children's Services this morning - AG Maura Healey hosts her first town hall of 2018, in Haverhill.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Gov. Baker backs away from casino mogul Steve Wynn," by Brian Dowling, Jordan Graham, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker is distancing himself from embattled casino mogul Steve Wynn, whose prolific tenure as finance chair to the Republican National Committee was cut short by a scathing report alleging a pattern of sexual misconduct and assault against employees of his gaming empire. Baker's campaign manager, Jim Conroy, said in a statement the governor 'is deeply disturbed by the allegations of sickening behavior and is pleased that the Party has severed ties with Wynn.'"
- "Gov. Charlie Baker's budget would let welfare recipients keep more benefits while working," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "Under Baker's proposal -- which must still be approved by the Legislature -- a welfare recipient will be able to keep receiving the full welfare benefit for the first six months they are working, as long as they are earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or approximately $40,800 for a family of three. Administration officials say the goal is to make it easier for welfare recipients to return to work."
- "A blueprint created for the future," by state Sen. Karen Spilka, state Rep. Kate Hogan and Jay Ash, MetroWest Daily News: "Born out of the Fiscal Year 2015 state budget, the 495/MetroWest Suburban Edge Community Commission represents a joint effort of both branches of the state legislature and the Baker-Polito Administration to pursue this goal. The report highlights the ways in which our limited and outdated infrastructure hinders this momentum."
- "A look at 3 GOP governors thriving in Democratic states," by Steve Leblanc, Associated Press: "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker loves taking selfies - with schoolchildren, Statehouse visitors, police, and even a zoo elephant. It's all part of a charm offensive that has helped propel the Republican to high popularity in one of the most liberal states."
DATELINE DC -
- "'Thank God I didn't get Swift Yachted': John Kerry's best lines at the Alfalfa Club Dinner," by POLITICO Playbook, POLITICO: "'Here I am - President John Kerry! I knew this day would come, [Kerry joked, during his routine at Alfalfa Club dinner in D.C, after becoming club president.] 'Although given the Alfalfa average income, thank GOD I didn't get Swift Yachted.' '... President Trump is in great shape -- a trim 239 pounds. Personally, I just won't believe him until he produces his long-form girth certificate.'"
- "Why the military's long reckoning with sexual assault can help us now," by Reps. Mike Turner and Niki Tsongas, CNN.com: "For the better part of a decade, we have worked with the military to identify root causes and institute safeguards that prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault and increase support for survivors. For the better part of a decade, we have worked with the military to identify root causes and institute safeguards that prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault and increase support for survivors."
- "US Rep. Richard Neal seeks White House update on Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands hurricane recovery efforts,"by Shannon Young, MassLive.com: "The Springfield Democrat, who recently joined other Massachusetts lawmakers in traveling to Puerto Rico, penned a Thursday letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney raising concerns about the White House's response to recovery efforts on the islands. Contending that Mulvaney's office and congressional Republicans have fallen short in appropriating the $94 billion Puerto Rico's governor requested for recovery efforts, Neal accused the Trump administration of failing to secure 'even the most basic level of support during this difficult time.'"
THE STATE OF THE STATE OF THE UNION -
- "US Rep. Richard Neal invites Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi as guest for President Donald Trump's 1st State of the Union Address," By Shannon Young, MassLive.com: "Neal, who is using his pick to highlight the federal response to the opioid abuse epidemic, said he is 'thrilled' Cocchi will accompany him for the president's Tuesday speech before a joint session of Congress."
- "At Trump address, a soldier who stands tall for her rights," by Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe: "Staff Sergeant Patricia King enlisted right after graduating from Cape Cod Tech, and has been deployed to Afghanistan three times. She is also a transgender woman. US Representative Joe Kennedy III invited King to the speech as his guest ..."
- "Moulton will bring Salvadoran guest to State of the Union," by Staff, the Salem News: "On Friday, the Salem congressman announced he will be accompanied by Edenilson Granados to the president's second annual address. Edenilson, a father and Salvadoran immigrant, is one of more than two dozen employees at Kettle Cuisine, in Lynn, who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and whose futures are in question due to the Trump Administration's immigration policies, according to Moulton."
- "Can Joe Kennedy Beat the State of the Union Curse?," by John A. Farrell, POLITICO Magazine: "Tuesday's appearance won't give the young Kennedy much of an opportunity to match his famous kin with lofty principles and political poetry. He'll be sailing notably tricky waters. The formula for the opposition response is as molded and time-tested as the rituals in the House chamber that proceed it, the scholars at the Congressional Research Service have determined. The speeches "routinely" contain 1) a call for bipartisan cooperation, 2) the promotion of one's party agenda, and 3) a judgmental reply to the president."
2020 VISION
- "Rising stars collide in shadow primary," by Gabriel Debenedetti, POLITICO: "At least eight states have multiple Democrats considering national bids, an unprecedented development that threatens to fracture the party in some of the bluest states in the nation....In Massachusetts, Sen. Elizabeth Warren may run - as might former Gov. Deval Patrick and Rep. Seth Moulton. 'The honest answer, which is going to sound fake, is they get along really well,' said John Walsh, Patrick's 2006 campaign manager who then served as the Massachusetts Democratic Party chairman when Warren ran for Senate in 2012 ."
- "Dems give lukewarm response to possible presidential bid by John Kerry," by Chris Cassidy, Brian Dowling, Boston Herald: "'I think he would be a great president if he made the decision to run again,' [said Setti Warren, a Democratic candidate for Massachusetts governor]. But Democratic strategist Scott Ferson said that while Kerry could help a rising star behind the scenes by phoning influential donors, his moment has passed."
ON THE STUMP -
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - SETTI WARREN 'WOULD WORK TO ENSURE STEVE WYNN LOST HIS OPERATIONAL CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN WYNN RESORTS" IF ELECTED GOV, from Setti's campaign, emailing this morning : "It's clear that Steve Wynn is not a good partner for Massachusetts. If I were governor right now, I would work to ensure that Steve Wynn lost his operational control and ownership interest in Wynn Resorts. ... If we move forward with a partnership with Wynn Resorts while Steve Wynn is still in charge, we will only be helping him amass more money and more power. ... We can't look away. If we go forward with this partnership with Steve Wynn, we can't claim ignorance. If we don't stop it, the people of Massachusetts will be complicit in Steve Wynn's evil behavior and his attempts to avoid responsibility for his actions."
- "Gubernatorial candidate Setti Warren's New Bedford appearance focused on opioids, funding," by Steve Urbon, Southcoast Today: "The scourge of opiate addiction was the topic Warren focused on when speaking to a packed room of about 60 at the Greater Southeastern Mass. Labor Council on Pleasant Street downtown. His message was one he's been spreading in other places as well, particularly cities that are also being overwhelmed by opiate addiction, overdoses and death."
- "Mayor's economic development chief considers bid for state Senate," By Akilah Johnson, Boston Globe: "John Barros, the mayor's chief of economic development, is seriously considering running for the state Senate seat that Linda Dorcena Forry will vacate, according to someone with knowledge of his thinking. Other potential candidates include state Representative Nick Collins of South Boston, who narrowly lost the seat to Dorcena Forry in a 2013 special election; City Councilor Ayanna Pressley; and state Representative Evandro Carvalho."
- "Gomez Steps into Senate Race and toward Primary Battle with Welch....," by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: "Springfield Ward 1 Councilor Adam Gomez has announced he will challenge West Springfield Senator James Welch in the Democratic primary. The district was explicitly constructed as a minority-majority seat to capture largely Latino areas like Gomez's Ward 1 and black populations clustered around Mason Square and the Hill neighborhoods."
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
- "3rd District candidate Das comes out swinging in Sun Editorial Board meeting," by Chris Lisinski, Lowell Sun: "[3rd Congressional District candidate Abhijit "Beej"] Das described himself as a candidate who, despite never before running for elected office, could blend legal experience with business acumen to bring a fresh perspective to Congress. He believes Congress should vote to overturn federal laws criminalizing marijuana. He thinks the Democratic party whose nomination he seeks was "tone deaf" in the previous election cycle and needs a new perspective to flourish ."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "DYNASTY II" - Globe: "Kochs vow to protect vast gains by right," "With 'raw water' trend, questions flow," "Disorder from the 'party of law and order,'" "New mom, old drug problems," "For dynamic organizer, a new task: Making Metco more vital, vibrant."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Ah, South Coast Rail promises, must be an election year," by Will Richmond, the Herald News: "Sure Massachusetts isn't the biggest state but when the governor mentions your town in a State of the State address it's worth taking notice. As we've seen with South Coast Rail words mean nothing. Action matters."
- "At forum, state officials urged to bring development to Nashoba Valley," by Mina Corpuz, Lowell Sun: "House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash, and Cannabis Control Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan offered tools to empower towns and support development. DeLeo said meeting with regional leaders and chamber of commerce groups helps him learn about how towns contribute to the state economy and what some of their development needs are."
- "NWSL's Boston Breakers fold in advance of the 2018 season," by Associated Press: "Many players were told last week that the team was folding, but no official league announcement was made and rumors circulated over the weekend that an investor or group of investors might step forward to save the team. Fans who bought tickets for the upcoming season will be given full refunds, the league said."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Easton Rep. Claire Cronin, Barnstable Rep. William Crocker, the Boston Globe's Marcela Garcia, and yours truly.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? - THE HOME TEAMS DID NOT PLAY.
ICYMI - THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: We've got veteran State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy in the bunker this week breaking down Governor Charlie Baker's State of the Commonwealth address. Plus Maureen McInerney, public affairs associate at MassINC fills in for host Steve Koczela to talk fundraising in the governor's race, the election for Suffolk County Register of Deeds (it's wonky, we know) and the upcoming forum featuring the Democrats -- all thirteen -- running for the MA-3. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud
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