POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CLARK and WARREN abroad — STATIE scrutiny — RALLY round-up

CLARK and WARREN abroad — STATIE scrutiny — RALLY round-up

03/26/2018 06:54 AM EDT

By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Welcome to Monday.

CLARK AND WARREN ON THE MOVE - As Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi leads a delegation through the Middle East over the next week, she's got some Massachusetts company: Rep. Katherine Clark.

Clark is among the 10 House Democrats accompanying Pelosi for a trip that includes stops in Jordan and Israel to focus on "global and regional security and cooperation issues," according to Pelosi's office.

On Sunday, the delegation met with King Abdullah II of Jordan "to discuss regional security and cooperation and visited a refugee camp to learn more about the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis," Clark's office told me.

This isn't Clark's first trip abroad while in Congress: She's previously visited China and Israel, but this is the first time she's traveled with Pelosi.

Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren this week heads to the Asia Pacific region to meet with leaders in Japan, South Korea, and China.

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 Boston Mayor Marty Walsh head to the new AMC Theater in Dorchester's South Bay development for a MassWorks Infrastructure Program celebration - More than 50 religious leaders of 15 different faiths plan to confront Gov. Charlie Baker over his refusal to meet with them over concerns about climate change starting at noon on the State House Steps, according to State House News. State Rep. Denise Provost and state Rep. Sean Garballey are expected to attend - Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu holds a hearing on flooding in Boston to discuss necessary legislation, structures, and funding to protect the city.

TEFLON CHARLIE BAKER OWNS THIS! ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL? 

DATELINE BEACON HILL -

- "State Police pay higher than reported, data hidden for years," by Matt Rocheleau and Todd Wallack, Boston Globe: "Revelations about an alleged overtime scam, a wave of suspensions, and hefty pay for Massachusetts State Police troopers have sparked scrutiny of the state's largest law enforcement agency. Payroll records for an entire 140-trooper State Police division - including some of the department's highest earners - have been hidden from public view and weren't filed with the state comptroller for several years, the Globe has found."

- "Nine state troopers suspended, nine more retire amid overtime probe," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Nine Massachusetts State Police troopers were suspended without pay and nine more retired this week in the midst of an internal affairs investigation into alleged theft of overtime pay, the agency announced on Friday. In all, 19 troopers were scheduled to have internal duty status hearings Friday .... The group includes members of the force that hold the rank of trooper, sergeant, and lieutenant, according to the State Police."

- "Editorial: State police must purge bad apples," by the Herald Editorial Board, Boston Herald: "The force is an embarrassment lately. The criminals they capture should dominate the headlines, not allegations of overtime padding, records shredding and questionable hires."

- "Negotiators file compromise criminal justice reform bill," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "House and Senate lawmakers released a sweeping, compromise criminal justice bill on Friday, marking the end to months of negotiations over a piece of legislation that eliminates some mandatory sentences for drug offenses, reforms the way juveniles are treated by the court system and cracks down on the trafficking of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl. The compromise bill (S 2371) ... is not expected until the first week of April."

- "Getting our House in order on transparency," by Editorial Board, Boston Globe: "... It's disappointing to hear House Speaker Robert DeLeo defend such a policy by describing his past use of nondisclosure and nondisparagement agreements as 'part of doing business.' It shouldn't be. Lawmakers are elected to represent the people, and the people have every right to know what their representatives are doing in what is essentially their house."

RALLY ROUND-UP -

- "March for Our Lives: Springfield students protest gun violence, call out Smith & Wesson at sister rally," by Shannon Young, MassLive.com: "'"Right here, it is the home of Smith & Wesson, who manufactured the weapon that was used in the Parkland shooting that killed 17 people,' [Sarah Reyes, a 16-year-old Longmeadow High School sophomore who helped organize the Springfield March for Our Lives rally] said in an interview. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, who marched in Springfield after attending similar rallies in Boston and Worcester, praised students for pushing back on gun control policy and forcing lawmakers to confront the issue."

- "From Salem to Boston Common: North Shore supports March for Our Lives," by Mary Reines and William J. Dowd, North of Boston: "The North Shore was well-represented among the tens of thousands who descended upon Boston Common Saturday for the March for Our Lives movement, demanding tighter gun-control laws across the United States. For hundreds of North Shore residents and students, the day's journey to the rally began inside Salem's Rockafellas, where Congressman Seth Moulton's team hosted a 'rail to rally' open house."

- "New England Patriots lend team plane to take Parkland students, families to Washington for March for Our Lives rally," by Julia Jacobo: "Each seat was like "first class" and had a gift and a letter from Kraft in it, Barry said. Food and drinks were served, and a Patriots senior operations manager aboard the flight passed around the team's Super Bowl LI championship ring for everyone to see ..."

- "Counterprotesters at Boston Common 'defend the Second Amendment'," by Jacob Carozza, Boston Globe: "As thousands marched through Boston Saturday to call for stricter gun control laws and an end to an epidemic of gun violence, several dozen counterprotesters rallied to oppose what they see as a push to limit individual freedoms and trample on constitutionally guaranteed gun rights."

ON THE STUMP -

GOOD NEWS - "Working from hospital, Sen. Barrett hopes to be home by next week," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Sen. Michael Barrett is 'pleased and relieved to report' he's doing well after undergoing treatment for leukemia, he said Friday in a phone call from his room at Massachusetts General Hospital. He said Friday that he hopes to be home next week and has been 'able to work the entire time' he's been in the hospital."

- "Political big guns get behind Hawkins, Hall in Attleboro state rep race," by Jim Hand, the Sun Chronicle: "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker was among those stumping in the city as he went to a reception at Morin's Restaurant to endorse [Julie] Hall, the Republican in the race. A number of Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy, D-Brookline, and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., threw their support behind fellow Democrat [Jim] Hawkins."

- "A Democrat tried to get records on a potential challenger to Elizabeth Warren. He got a bill for $245,000.," by Todd Wallack, Boston Globe: "Last summer, a Democratic campaign group was searching for information on a Massachusetts Republican hoping to unseat US Senator Elizabeth Warren ... But the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] ran into a small roadblock: The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation said the records would cost $245,425, the highest fee estimate issued by any state agency for public records in Massachusetts last year ..."

- "GOP candidates blast Sen. Warren, AG Healey at Spring Fling," by Paul Tennant, the Eagle-Tribune: "Republican candidates for US senator and state attorney general castigated the two incumbents they want to defeat at the annual Spring Fling Thursday evening. Warren has not obtained the passage of any significant legislation during her nearly six years in office, [state Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman] said."

- "State Senate race not yet taking much shape," by Lisa Kashinsky, Eagle-Tribune: "Newburyport state Sen. Kathleen O'Connor Ives' decision not to seek re-election for a fourth term this week set off a ripple effect through the political community in the Merrimack Valley. Three-term Methuen Democratic state Rep. Diana DiZoglio immediately announced Tuesday her intention to run ...as of Friday afternoon, no other candidates had publicly stepped forward to challenge DiZoglio."

- "Why Democrats Are Bullish on Governors' Races, Too," by Albert R. Hunt, Bloomberg View: "Governors aren't as directly affected by the Trump factor as are members of Congress, but the gathering blue wave represents a major force nevertheless. Two Republican governors in Democratic states, Charlie Baker in Massachusetts and Larry Hogan in Maryland, having distanced themselves from Trump are in good shape."

THE WARREN REPORT -

- "A foreign policy in Asia that works at home," by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Boston Globe: "As I visit Japan, South Korea, and China this week, I recognize that our alliances around the world are one of America's unique strengths. Now more than ever, we must stand with our allies and partners to uphold our shared interests. To do so, we need a foreign policy that leverages all our national power, not just our military might."

THE KENNEDY COMPOUND -

- "Rep. Kennedy listens, pushes for mental health care reform during Fall River stop," by Deborah Allard, the Herald News: "Kennedy made a visit to Child & Family Services, 66 Troy St., to hear its concerns and work toward mending a broken mental health care system. Suicide, school shootings, alcohol and drug addiction, abuse, crime and incarceration, are all the result of lackluster mental health care funding. Kennedy said that instead of dealing with mental health issues, communities are burdened by its consequences."

WOOD WAR - Herald: "WHY WE MARCH" - Globe: "At Troop F, rich wages, poor records," "A gun battle revolving around numbers," "Boston's clogged arteries," "Daniels says threats made her stay silent," "For bartenders, app dates are showtime."

THE LOCAL ANGLE -

- "The Massachusetts gun manufacturing industry thrives despite recent shootings," by Paige Smith, Boston University Statehouse Program: "Some key manufacturers and distributors in western and central Massachusetts and the surrounding region include Savage Arms, Kahr Arms, Camfour Inc., Sturm, Ruger & Co. and Colt's Manufacturing Co. The Bay State has banned assault weapons since 1998, yet Springfield-based Smith & Wesson, now a subsidiary of American Outdoor Brands, manufactured the semi-automatic rifle used in Parkland."

- "Grid security falls to industry to self-regulate," by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Times: "The U.S. power grid is coming under increasing attacks from hackers, but security experts say rules on dealing with cyber threats are being written mostly by the energy industry, leaving the public in the dark. Regional utilities like National Grid, Eversource and Unitil are upgrading their physical infrastructure and computer systems to deal with the increasing threats from hackers, but remain tight-lipped about how much they are spending or where the money is being invested."

- "Supreme Court's Breyer to visit for event on hate speech," by Associated Press: "United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is expected to be in Boston for an event exploring hate speech and the First Amendment."

- "The state's new pay-equity law takes effect soon, and lawyers say many businesses aren't ready," by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: "The state's new pay-equity law takes effect within months, and lawyers say many businesses aren't ready."

- "Legal group says ICE is targeting immigrants in Fitchburg," by Amanda Burke, the Sentinel & Enterprise: "Immigrations and Customs Enforcement are arresting undocumented immigrants on their way to and from hearings at the Fitchburg District Courthouse, according to an legal group suing to stop the practice and two local defense attorneys. The Sentinel & Enterprise has learned that about a dozen defendants have been arrested for immigration violations at, or near the district courthouse, in the past two months."

- "Push to save PVTA from cuts ramps up," by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Advocates for increasing funding for the Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority and the other 14 regional transit authorities in the state are ramping up efforts to stave off service cuts and fare hikes through advertisements that will begin appearing on PVTA buses in the region."

- "Path to extinction for North Atlantic right whales," by Doug Fraser and Mary Ann Bragg, Cape Cod Times: "''Up to 2010, you had this appallingly slow climb, then decline. Now we have a species that is clearly headed for extinction,' ; [Charles "Stormy" Mayo, senior scientist and director of the Right Whale Ecology Program at the Center for Coastal Studies] said ...Threats have largely been replaced by entanglements in fishing line and gear, which are blamed for 85 percent of right whale mortalities."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Caroline Darmody, law student at Harvard and a Joe Kennedy alum, and Nick Bayer, Convention Director for team Baker-Polito.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Lily Zarrella, Deputy Campaign Manager for team Baker-Polito, who celebrated on Sunday.

DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Celtics beat the Kings,104-93 and the Bruins beat the Wild, 2-1 in OT.

ICYMI - THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: It's all about polls and emerging political power this week. First, Nichole Mossalam, co-chair of Our Revolution Massachusetts' Coordinating Committee, joins us to discuss ORMA's rise and what the brand new organization sees in its future. Then, Steve drops some serious polling insight - courtesy of his most recent WBUR poll - on Sen. Elizabeth Warren's Republican challengers and major policy initiatives on Beacon Hill. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud

OUTTA THIS WORLD - POLITICO Space is our new, free weekly briefing on the policies and personalities shaping the second space age in Washington and beyond. Sign-up today to start receiving the newsletter right at launch on April 6th. Presented by Boeing.

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.

FOR MORE political and policy news from Massachusetts, check out: http://politi.co/1qNSlWx

SUBSCRIBE to the Playbook family: POLITICO Playbook http://politi.co/2lQswbh ... New York Playbook http://politi.co/1ON8bqW ... Florida Playbook http://politi.co/1OypFe9 ... New Jersey Playbook http://politi.co/1HLKltF ... Massachusetts Playbook http://politi.co/1Nhtq5v ... Illinois Playbook http://politi.co/1N7u5sb ... California Playbook http://politi.co/2bLvcPl ... Brussels Playbook http://politi.co/1FZeLcw ... London Playbook http://politi.co/2xfDPuK ... All our political and policy tipsheets http://politi.co/1M75UbX

To view online:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/massachusetts-playbook/2018/03/26/clark-and-warren-abroad-statie-scrutiny-rally-round-up-259205

---

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA