POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The anti-DRILL team — National DEMS passing on BAKER reelect — WARREN’s stealth campaign to shed ‘Pocahontas’
The anti-DRILL team — National DEMS passing on BAKER reelect — WARREN’s stealth campaign to shed ‘Pocahontas’
02/26/2018 07:02 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
YOU KNOW THE DRILL - The Bureau of Ocean Management is headed to Boston on Tuesday. And opposition to the feds' proposal to offer up Massachusetts' waters for offshore drilling, which has stewed for months, is roaring to a full boil ahead of the midday hearing.
Today, Sen. Ed Markey has queued up a press conference and hearing complete with 16 experts from the fishing industry, tourism, environmental organizations, and academia to discuss the proposal - and Gov. Charlie Baker met with Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke in Washington yesterday to reaffirm his opposition to the proposal, according to Baker's office.
Baker's office was mum on whether Zinke made any sort of assurances related to the offshore drilling plan during their 45 minute meeting at the Department of Interior.
Of course another GOP governor was able to extract a special deal with the feds to be exempt from the unpopular offshore drilling proposal. But Florida's Gov. Rick Scott has proven to be a crucial ally for President Donald Trump in a way Baker never has - and unlike Massachusetts, the state has leverage as a critical part of a path to victory in 2020.
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 wraps up the final day of National Governors Association activities, including a governors-only meeting at the White House, a discussion on opioids, and a spouses' luncheon with the First Lady - Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, AFSCME President Lee Saunders, and Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Steve Tolman mark the AFL-CIO's Working People's Day of Action at Boston Firehouse Engine 10 - Calling hours for state Rep. Peter Kocot will be held in Northampton at Czelusniak Funeral Home beginning at 2 p.m.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "National Democrats may not invest in Baker fight," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: "As the nation's governors gather in Washington this weekend, Democrats expressed excitement about their prospects for winning a good number of the 36 gubernatorial races this year. But in blue Massachusetts, not so much."
- "Massachusetts Joining Interstate Gun Safety Coalition," by Bob Shaffer, WBUR: "Massachusetts gun control advocates say they're encouraged the state is entering into a multi-state effort to fight gun violence - but they are now calling for more aggressive actions. Massachusetts Parents United Founder Keri Rodrigues told WBUR Sunday she wants Baker to use his influence in the Republican Governors Association to push for a national ban on the AR-15 - the gun used in the Florida school shooting."
DAY LATE CHARLIE ONCE AGAIN!
ON YOUR WATCH CHARLIE - YOU OWN IT!
- "Baker 'extremely disappointed' with data breach at revenue department," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: " Governor Charlie Baker said he is 'extremely disappointed' with a Department of Revenue data breach that made private information from about 39,000 business taxpayers visible to other companies, potentially including competitors. He said the intent of what the tax-collecting agency was originally pursuing with the change that lead to the breach - allowing its tax agents to better help businesses with questions about withholding - was positive."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Elizabeth Warren's stealth campaign to shed 'Pocahontas'," by Gabriel Debenedetti, POLITICO: "Elizabeth Warren's surprise address this month on her disputed Native American heritage was just one piece of a concerted campaign by the Massachusetts senator and potential 2020 hopeful to put the controversy behind her. One week before the speech, Warren met with Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, in Massachusetts, who wound up introducing her on stage. The senator also sat down with leaders of the Tribal E-Commerce Coalition, and the day before her address she met with Ramirez, as well as prominent members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe."
- "CPAC attendees see Elizabeth Warren as most beatable Dem in 2020," by Adam Shaw, Fox News: "An unofficial straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference this week suggested that attendees see Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., as the Democrat they think Trump would be most likely to defeat in 2020. According to CNN, the poll taken Thursday and Friday posed the following question to 75 respondees: "Which Democrat considering a run in 2020 do you think Trump would be most likely to defeat?"
MOULTON MATTERS -
- "Guns not a hot topic at Moulton town hall," by Paul Leighton, Salem News: "[Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton], in his opening remarks, addressed last week's shooting at a high school in Florida that left 17 people dead. But it wasn't raised by the audience until the final question of the hour-long session, which was attended by about 150 people. Instead, [he] fielded questions about immigration, North Korea and the divisive political climate in Washington and around the country, among other subjects."
- "Combat veterans push for gun reform: 'This isn't right'," by Nikki Wentling, Stars and Stripes: "... A loose group of veterans formed - some staffers for elected officials, some policymakers and some advocates. They're urging Congress to reform the access to and sale of firearms, from fixing and expanding background checks to limiting the style of guns sold. '"It shook me to my core because it sounded like combat," [Former Army combat medic Dennis Magnasco, who works in Moulton's office] said of the Parkland shooting."
THE KENNEDY COMPOUND -
- "Joe Kennedy III bashes GOP response to school shooting," by Globe staff, Boston Globe:"US Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III, in a fiery appearance on "The View" Friday morning, lashed out at the Republican response to the Parkland, Fla., school massacre last week, but struck a softer tone when he addressed the need for more bipartisanship in Washington. 'The idea that somehow the right way to protect our children in schools is to try to make sure more and more people have guns? . . . There was someone with a gun outside this shooting and it didn't make a difference at all,' he said, referring to the armed school resource officer stationed outside the building who failed to respond."
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Laborers Local 175 and Laborers Local 609 Endorse Dan Koh. From the campaign: "Laborers Local 175 and Laborers Local 609 both endorsed Dan Koh today in the 3rd District Congressional race. Local 175, based out of Methuen, represents more than 1000 members and Local 609 represents over 500 members. In total, Koh has received endorsements from seven unions, more than any other candidate."
- "Green focusing on economy, infrastructure in bid for Congress," by Peter Francis, Eagle-Tribune: "... If you ask Rick Green, the lone Republican running to become the next congressman from the 3rd District, the story of this election to succeed Rep. Niki Tsongas is not about President Donald Trump or the number of Democrats also running - it's about him getting his own message out to voters. Focusing on working to pare back onerous regulations, repair the district's crumbling infrastructure and building on existing relationships in Washington, Green is hoping voters in the region will give a Republican a chance for the first time since Andover's Paul Cronin represented the old 5th District in 1975."
- "Chandler touts experience, 'call to serve' in bid for 3rd District," by Chris Lisinski, Lowell Sun: "With an extensive background in military intelligence and health care, as well as a compelling personal story about her "call to serve," Haverhill's Alexandra Chandler argues she is the 'best person to get things done for the working-class residents' of the 3rd Congressional District. Chandler had already made a point early in her campaign to outline a wide range of progressive positions, from universal health care to publicly funded elections to an entirely renewable energy infrastructure."
ON THE STUMP -
- "In the Shadow of Grief, the Path Forward for Noho Area District," by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass. Politics and Insight: "Kocot, like his retiring colleagues in abutting districts, had been a presence in the legislature for well over ten years. His co-chairmanship of the Healthcare Finance Committee put him at the epicenter of one of Beacon Hill's thorniest issues. The Northampton rep's passing has hit colleagues particularly hard."
- "Huntington journalist first to seek Kulik's seat," by M.J. Tidwell, Daily Hampshire Gazette:"An Emmy-award winning journalist who has recently made Huntington her home is making a bid for state representative in the 1st Franklin District. Kate Albright-Hanna is the first person to file papers to run for the House seat currently held by Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, who recently announced that he would not seek re-election this year after serving since 1993."
MUST READ!
MORE PHONY PROMISES BY DAY LATE CHARLIE WHO CAN'T EVEN KEEP THE MBTA RUNNING, NEVER MIND HIS BOGUS SOUTH COAST RAIL. UP FOR RE-ELECTION CHARLIE FINALLY WOKE UP?
FORMER GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK AND THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE MIDDLEBORO ROTARY THAT PUT THE REGION IN GRIDLOCK....CHARLIE CANCELLED IT!
THANKS CHARLIE!
- "Transit issues could help, haunt Gov. Baker's election hopes," by Associated Press: "For Gov. Charlie Baker, public transportation could be a path to victory or road to ruin in the November election. The Republican has staked much of his reputation as a Mr. Fix-It technocrat on dragging the metropolitan Boston area's creaking subway, bus and commuter rail system into the 21st century."
- "Secret of three popular GOP governors? Don't be like Trump.," by Alex Seitz-Wald, NBC News: "'With each of these governors, [Maryland Gov. Larry] Hogan, [Massachusetts Gov. Charlie] Baker, and [Vermont Gov. Phil] Scott, we've seen their numbers hardly move over time, with substantial support from Republicans, independents and Democrats," said Cameron Easley of Morning Consult, which polls all 50 governors and ranks their popularity several times a year.' Fiscally conservative, socially moderate and quietly competent, Baker presents himself as a Dunkin' Donuts man in a Starbucks world. "
- "Minimum-wage hike backers: Take it or leave it," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "The ballot proposal to raise the state's minimum wage to $15-an-hour is non-negotiable, according to a Raise Up Massachusetts insider who described the group's wage-floor hike effort as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition as legislators look to find a compromise that would keep that question and two others off the November ballot. While Raise Up leaders remain optimistic that talks between lawmakers and business groups will yield a compromise over paid family and medical leave, the grassroots group feels no impetus to negotiate over the wage increase, either separately or as part of a bigger deal, the source familiar with Raise Up's strategy told the News Service."
- WOOD WAR - Herald: 'HIS JOURNEY IS NOT OVER' - Globe: "Governors reflecting US divide over guns," "A generous heart taken," "New rules on student, professor boundary," "Prospects dim for survival of right whales," "Wynn brand 'not about one person,' new CEO says."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Inspired by Fla. students, Stoneman Douglas alumni meet in Somerville," by Eric Moskowitz, Boston Globe: "For alumni of Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School now living in the Boston area - dozens of whom came together Sunday in Somerville amid a growing effort to support current students calling for tougher gun laws - the Feb. 14 mass shooting felt much as the Boston Marathon bombing had for so many New Englanders in 2013."
- "Marty Walsh against pressuring MBTA on assessments," by Laurel J. Sweet, Boston Herald: "Mayor Martin J. Walsh indicated yesterday he won't back any plan to pressure the MBTA on its climbing assessments to the cities and towns its serves, with the City Council calling for a hearing amid ongoing service woes."
- "Hampshire County residents looking forward to upcoming political change," by Tashanea Whitlow, WWLP-22News: "The retirements of State Representatives [Stephen] Kulik and [John] Scibak, combined with the death of [Peter] Kocot who's been in the House for 15 years, will mean a loss of seniority for the Hampshire County delegation. This could play a role in committee assignments."
- "Hogan, Garballey, and Eldridge: Access to one's own birth certificate: A question of equality," by Kate Hogan, Sean Garballey, and Jamie Eldridge, MetroWest Daily News: "Most people probably assume they are entitled to their own vital records, but that's not the case for everyone in Massachusetts. Adoptees born in the 33-year "gap" period between July 17, 1974, and Jan. 1, 2008, do not have access to their own original birth certificates. We have filed legislation, supported by more than 50 of our colleagues and the grass-roots advocacy organization Access Massachusetts, to eliminate this gap: House Bill 1163 and Senate Bill 1195, An Act granting equal access to original birth certificates to all persons born in Massachusetts."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's chief comms officer Laura Oggeri
HAPPY BELATED - to political fundraiser Sharon Durkan, who celebrated on Saturday.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and no! The Celtics beat the Knicks 121- 112 on Saturday, while the Bruins lost to the Sabers 1-4 yesterday.
ICYMI - THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: CommonWealth Magazine's Michael Jonas descends on the bunker to explain the recent surprise in the Suffolk County District Attorney race, while political observer Josh Gee calls in from New York to dish on frugging (fundraising under the guise of research). Then, Steve and Lauren break down a potentially confusing ballot question regarding the repeal of the transgender accommodations law. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud
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