POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CLIMATE CHANGE politics — SPILKA secures Senate presidency — ‘14 GUN LAW had ‘little effect’
CLIMATE CHANGE politics — SPILKA secures Senate presidency — ‘14 GUN LAW had ‘little effect’
03/22/2018 07:02 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
CHARLIE BAKER: ALL FLUFF, NO SUBSTANCE!
STORM POLITICS REPORT - As a fourth winter storm knocks Massachusetts with more of a whisper than a wallop, the state House and Senate leaders of the committees on Global Warming and Climate Change say Gov. Charlie Baker's week-old $1.4 billion environmental bond bill (with $300 million for infrastructure and mitigation and prevention of climate change) doesn't go far enough to gird the state from the effects of climate change.
And Senate chair Marc Pacheco specifically criticized the timing around Baker's proposals.
"It's good optics, when you talk about politics, it all sounds good, but when you really have a chance to analyze the bill's language," Pacheco told me. "When I read it, I found a watered-down version of the climate adaptation bill that had already passed the Senate." The Senate bill in reference has been passed multiple times by the body, and stalled out before getting to the House floor.
Pacheco says his full response to the bill itself was delayed in part because he and others had only seen the text of the governor's proposal the morning of the announcement.
"The danger is that we can't think that we're solving something just based upon the optics of what the governor has filed," Pacheco said.
Pacheco (and his House counterpart state Rep. Frank Smizik) said any comprehensive response would require a so-called coastal buy-back program that would enable the state to buy-back coastal properties frequently demolished by storms, as well as the need for a comprehensive, statewide plan to respond to climate change.
Smizik hinted at the potential those proposals be folded into the finished bill by the House and Senate. "Though I am glad that the bill would significantly boost funding to help municipalities plan for the impacts of climate change, the Legislature must expand the bill's reach," Smizik said in a statement. "We must include provisions allowing for coastal buyback and requiring that policies be consistent with the statewide climate adaptation plan."
Meanwhile, 47 percent of Massachusetts voters say the state is "somewhat prepared" to deal with the effects of climate change, according to new polling from MassINC and WBUR. Only six percent say the state is "very prepared" while 16 percent say Massachusetts is "not at all prepared."
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 is on-hand to kick off the Massachusetts YMCA's Youth and Government program at the State House - Schools in Boston and other parts of the state are canceled due to weather - Secretary of State Bill Galvin and the Election Modernization Commission hold a press conference on automatic voter registration in the Secretary of State bookstore at the State House.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Karen Spilka says she has votes to be next Mass. Senate president," by Joshua Miller and Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Senator Karen E. Spilka said Wednesday she has the votes to be the next president of the Massachusetts state Senate - a move her colleagues hope will settle a chamber in upheaval since its former leader, Stanley C. Rosenberg, stepped aside following accusations that his husband sexually assaulted or harassed four men. The powerful chair of the Senate budget-writing committee, Spilka locked up the necessary votes with a flurry of phone calls over the weekend, according to her colleagues, tipping a race that had dragged on for months and absorbed the attention of the 40-seat body."
- "Tough 2014 Mass. Gun Law Has Had Little Effect, A State Study Finds," by David S. Bernstein, WGBH News: "An impressive, wide-ranging gun reform law, passed in 2014, has not reduced gun violence and gun crime at all in Massachusetts. The annual number of firearm-related crimes, homicides, suicides, and prosecutions appears unaffected so far, according to a new report required by the law itself."
- "Massachusetts students take case to lawmakers, keep pressing for gun legislation," by Amanda Kaufman, Boston University Statehouse Program: "Massachusetts students are walking out of their classrooms and lobbying state legislators for stricter gun laws, joining a wave of young people who are demanding safer learning environments and an end to gun violence ahead of nationwide rallies Saturday. Days of action in communities across the state, including Pittsfield, are slated to take place in tandem with Saturday's March For Our Lives event in Washington, organized by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., after a gunman opened fire and killed 17 people at the school last month."
- "As Students Plan Another March For Gun Control, WBUR Poll Finds Widespread Support," by Max Larkin, WBUR: "As thousands of Massachusetts students are readying another march for gun control this Saturday, most voters stand with them. Seventy-three percent of respondents to a new WBUR poll (topline results, crosstabs) say they support the recent student activism. Even larger majorities favor some of the reforms that many students are calling for."
- "Chandler: Ethics Inquiry Is A 'Very Difficult Time' For Rosenberg," by Tori Bedford, WGBH News: "Senate President Harriette Chandler told Boston Public Radio she has been in contact with Sen. Stan Rosenberg, who has been on leave amid an ethics inquiry into accusations of misconduct against Rosenberg's husband Bryon Hefner. Chandler said she has been largely uninvolved with the ethics investigation and is unsure about its status."
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ON THE STUMP -
- "Sturbridge Democrat Tanya Neslusan challenges state Rep. Todd Smola," by Telegram & Gazette Staff, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Tanya Neslusan, a Sturbridge Democrat, will challenge state. Rep. Todd M. Smola, R-Warren, for the 1st Hampden District seat. Ms. Neslusan announced her candidacy recently and said she wants to be a voice that supports economic development in the area."
- "Zakim seeks weekend voting, expanded absentee options," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Secretary of state candidate Josh Zakim pledged this week to increase voter turnout if elected, offering up a package of reforms he said would make it easier for people to vote. Meanwhile, the current officeholder, William Galvin, has been pursuing his own election reform initiatives aimed at expanding access to the polls, and plans on Thursday to join the Massachusetts Election Modernization Coalition 'to announce a joint effort on Automatic Voter Registration.'"
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Laborers Local 243 endorses Dan Koh for Congress, from Koh's campaign: "Emphasizing Dan Koh's 'ability to get things done for working families,' Laborers Local 243 today endorsed Koh in the race for the 3rd Congressional District. Local 243 represents close to 400 members, and is the tenth union endorsement that Koh has received."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Warren to March for Our Lives in Springfield," by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics and Insight: "United States Senator Elizabeth Warren is slated to attend the Springfield March for Our Lives this Saturday. ... By speaking at Springfield's march, Warren will be highlighting a city with a unique place in the gun debate."
- "Elizabeth Warren Has A Plan To Make Health Care Coverage Cheaper And More Reliable," by Daniel Marans, Huffington Post: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced a bill Wednesday aimed at dramatically increasing the affordability and reliability of health insurance plans available on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. The legislation, called the Consumer Health Insurance Protection Act, would offer people buying health insurance on their own more financial assistance ― and allow more people to qualify for that assistance. Nobody would have to pay more than 8.5 percent of income on premiums ."
- "'We have not forgotten Puerto Rico' says Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 6 months after Hurricane Maria," by Elizabeth Roman, MassLive.com: "Many storm evacuees, particularly from Puerto Rico, arrived in Massachusetts by the thousands, leaving behind family, friends and damaged homes in hopes of finding shelter and work. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, Tuesday issued a post on the social media blogging platform Medium to bring awareness to the issues facing those who chose to remain on the island, from lack of clean water and food to limited or no electricity."
MOULTON MATTERS -
- "New House Bills Take Aim at Foreign Propaganda," by Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, Elias Groll and Robbie Gramer, Foreign Policy: "A pair of bills expected to be introduced in Congress on Tuesday aim to increase transparency requirements for foreign media outlets and government-backed institutions vying for influence in the United States, representing the latest attempt by American legislators to respond to foreign propaganda and influence peddling in the United States. The bill, which was introduced Tuesday by Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY), targets outlets owned and controlled by foreign governments and would not affect broadcasters such as the BBC and France 24, which receive funding from the British and French governments, respectively, but retain editorial independence."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "CITY HALL TRIAL CALLED OFF," "HEAVY HEARTS." - Globe: "City Hall officials' trial is canceled," "The RMV got faster, but a roadblock looms," "Specialists say to fix State Police, fix culture," "RETALIATION IN RED," "Zuckerberg admits mistakes."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Trump tariffs could backfire on Mass. cranberry growers," by Matt Viser, Boston Globe: "But a few weeks later, the ripple effects of [Trump's stiff tariffs on steel and aluminum imports] decision are being felt in other industries across the country as the European Union prepares to retaliate. One potential victim: the humble cranberry industry in Massachusetts."
- "Trial canceled in Boston Calling case,"by Maria Cramer, Boston Globe: "The upcoming trial of two City Hall officials accused of illegally pressuring organizers of the Boston Calling music festival into hiring union members was canceled Wednesday after federal prosecutors conceded their evidence was unlikely to meet the judge's standard for conviction."
- "DiMasi loses battle to overturn his conviction," by Laurel J. Sweet, Boston Herald: "A long-languishing petition by former House speaker and convicted extortionist Salvatore DiMasi to vacate his eight-year federal prison sentence has been dismissed by his federal trial judge. U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf broomed the one-time North End Democrat's petition yesterday because no action has been taken to move it forward since it was first filed in 2015."
CHARLIE BAKER: YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
- "After scandals, State Police need to restore accountability, legal specialists say," by Mark Arsenault, Boston Globe: "The series of scandals that has tarnished the Massachusetts State Police since last fall - most recently the alleged theft of overtime pay - speaks to an organization suffering from a breakdown of professional culture and accountability, police and legal specialists say. The next step for a law enforcement organization in turmoil is recovery - and that sort of change of culture is never something that happens by itself, said William Bratton, who has served as the head of the Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles police departments."
- "Walsh hits pause on short-term rental regulations," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "As state representatives prepare to vote to regulate and tax short-term rentals, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh is withdrawing his own plan to govern the industry in the city, citing a need for more time to refine it. In a letter to the Boston City Council Wednesday, Walsh said he plans to refile a proposal 'in the coming weeks' and work with the council 'to produce the most effective policy.'"
- "Caught on Cam-Share: BPD seeks access to private security cameras, experiments with new surveillance network," by Daniel Defraia, DigBoston.com: "The Boston Police Department wants to deputize your surveillance system. For now, the BPD wants to help officers more quickly locate and access footage. However, if the program expands beyond its small introduction-about 13 locations, according to BPD records-it could develop into a centralized surveillance network."
- "Backers of stalled pipeline keep pilot light lit," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "By Jon Chesto: "Don't write off Access Northeast just yet. Enbridge and its partners, National Grid and Eversource, pulled the plug on the pipeline expansion project last year, amid difficulties financing the $3 billion-plus venture. But the controversial Algonquin system upgrade could still resurface in some form as local business groups ramp up lobbying efforts to boost New England's pipeline capacity."
- "Longtime WCVB personality Frank Avruch dies at 89," by WCVB Channel 5 Boston: "During more than 40 years on the air, Avruch wore many hats including, 'Good Day' contributor, host of 'The Great Entertainment' and WCVB's 'Man About Town.' 'In this business that is not known for longevity, I have managed to hang in there for a long time,' Avruch said during a retrospective of his career when he was inducted into the National Television Academy's Gold Circle."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - former Rep. Tom Sannicandro, Daniel Sullivan of the UN Association, and University of Westminster MSc Candidate in Transport Planning & Management Zachary Agush.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN YESTERDAY? No! The Bruins lost to the Blues 2-1 in OT
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