POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook TRUMP’s Mass. connection — BAKER defends hires — Taxing CHARLEMONT?
TRUMP’s Mass. connection — BAKER defends hires — Taxing CHARLEMONT?
03/20/2018 07:14 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Welcome to the first day of Spring. Hope your ready for tomorrow's "Four'easter."
THERE'S ALWAYS A MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTION - President Donald Trump may have avoided Massachusetts physically yesterday during his drug plan rollout in Manchester, but he couldn't resist jabbing Boston and Lawrence - two places Trump and his administration have frequently ripped over their status as sanctuary cities.
"Ending sanctuary cities is crucial to stopping the drug addiction crisis," Trump said. "In Boston, Mass., which is a place where you have sanctuary cities . . . I'm repeating my call on Congress to block funds for sanctuary cities and to close the deadly loopholes that allow criminals back into our country and into our country in the first place."
Trump cited a Dartmouth College study in calling Lawrence "one of the primary sources of fentanyl in six New Hampshire counties," and pointed to its recent arrest of 15 MS-13 gang members in the immigrant-heavy city near the New Hampshire border.
And, eager to fight the unpopular president on behalf of their electorates, Boston's Mayor Marty Walsh and Lawrence's Mayor Dan Rivera leaned into it.
Walsh, in a statement, criticized Trump's criticism of the city - as well as the drug plan he was in New Hampshire to roll out: "The President criminalized both our immigrant community and those suffering from substance abuse all in one speech today. It's time to stop painting all undocumented immigrants as criminals ... And this epidemic is not something we can arrest our way out of-we need actual investments in prevention and treatment programs and policies, not just talk."
Rivera held a press conference to denounce Trump. "I'd like to start by saying, 'shame on the president.' He's trafficking in pain and divisiveness, creating boogeymen where we need solutions."
Meanwhile, today, Gov. Charlie Baker heads to Haverhill for an event rolling out legislation that would bolster the state's fentanyl trafficking law. Baker, a member of the president's opioid working group, told reporters yesterday said he hadn't seen Trump's entire drug plan - but that what he saw of it incorporated recommendations made by the group (other than the death penalty for drug traffickers). "Now the proof will obviously be in the follow through and the execution of that," Baker said.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - AG Maura Healey delivers remarks to the New England Council's breakfast in Boston this morning - Secretary of State candidate Josh Zakim rolls out a "common-sense voting package" to increase voter turnout in a press conference on the State House steps - Students from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida participate in a discussion about changing the conversation around guns at Harvard's Institute of Politics.
PLAYBOOK POOL BRACKET BUSTING! Oh man. The weekend was devastating for a lot of brackets (and Wahoos). An astounding 1 in 4 brackets submitted to the Playbook Pool had UVA winning a national title before they were upset by the UMBC Retrievers. Amazingly, 21 Playbookers predicted that upset, including Governor Hogan, Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Steny Hoyer. In all, nearly 40% of all Playbook Pool brackets have either UVA, MSU, or UNC winning it all - which means thousands have already been eliminated. Our leaderboard is going to change, since several of the leaders picked an eliminated team to go all the way, but our current leaders are: 1) Andy Colgan, followed by a six way tie for 2nd place: Andrew Shult, Margie Almanza, David Vittorini, Gabriel Spiro, Claire Bischoff, and Meghan Byrd. Gabriel is the frontrunner at this point, as both of his final teams remain (Kentucky & Duke). Over on our VP board, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell is in the lead and her eventual champion Michigan is still alive. She is followed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, and associate director of external affairs at the Office of National Drug Control Policy Charmaine Yoest. Congressman Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) and California State Senator Steve Glazer remain in the hunt. Good luck to all heading into the Sweet Sixteen round.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
CHARLIE BAKER DEFENDS INCOMPETENT POLITICAL HACKS!
- "Gov. Charlie Baker defends Massachusetts Revenue Department hiring practices," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday defended the hiring practices at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue after a Boston Globe story reported that the state's former revenue chief hired several of his neighbors and friends. 'Every single one of those people was qualified to do their job,' Baker said. 'I have full confidence in Secretary Heffernan.'"
- "Airbnb open to collecting taxes in Massachusetts, but opposed to new House bill," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "The Massachusetts House on Wednesday will consider a bill to tax short-term room rentals. The new House bill would impose a tax rate of between 4 and 8 percent, depending on how many units the person rents out."
CHARLIE BAKER'S POLITICAL HACKS!
- "The Right to Bear Influence," by Will Meyer, the Shoestring: "In July, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker appointed Ron Amidon (pictured above), the then-president of GOAL (Gun Owners' Action League), the Commonwealth's NRA affiliate group, to head the state's Department of Fish and Game. The $27 million office is responsible for maintaining wildlife and fisheries and issuing hunting licenses. GOAL has lobbied aggressively to change the state's fish and wildlife laws and has pushed for standard NRA-style legislation, including but not limited to attempting to repeal Massachusetts' ban on assault weapons."
- "First recreational tax in Massachusetts proposed for Charlemont," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "A unique tax on recreational activities, proposed by the hilltown community of Charlemont, is advancing through the Massachusetts Legislature. The Massachusetts House and Senate have both taken initial votes to pass a bill that would let Charlemont add a 3 percent tax to the ticket price of commercial recreational activities that originate in or go through the town."
** A message from Bay State Wind - the Clear Choice for Massachusetts: Only Bay State Wind has the experience, expertise and record it takes to launch the American offshore wind industry here in the Commonwealth. We are the clear choice for highly complex projects, bringing jobs and cost-effective offshore wind to Massachusetts. More at baystatewind.com. **
ON THE STUMP -
- ANTI TRANS LAW BALLOT QUESTION SUPPORTERS DROP FIRST ONLINE VIDEO, Keep MA Safe, opponents of the state's transgender public accommodations law have released their first video ahead of this fall's ballot question asking voters to repeal it. The online video is just slated for social media platforms for now, according to the group. (1:58)
- "Lindsay Sabadosa to run for Kocot's seat," by Bera Dunau, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "The director of the Pioneer Valley Women's March has announced her candidacy for the 1st Hampshire District in the Massachusetts House. Democrat Lindsay Sabadosa informed the Gazette on Sunday night that she wants to bring a community organizer's energy and expertise to the legislative process."
- "Ex-West Springfield mayor Greg Neffinger joins Scott Lively's campaign to unseat Gov. Charlie Baker," by Shannon Young, MassLive.com: "Gregory Neffinger, a former West Springfield mayor and East Longmeadow town administrator, has joined Scott Lively's 2018 gubernatorial campaign, the Republican hopeful announced this week. Neffinger was terminated from his town administrator role in April 2016 amid a scandal surrounding bribery allegations."
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
- "3rd Congressional District hopefuls lay out gun platforms," by Chris Lisinski, Lowell Sun:"In the wake of the Feb. 14 Florida high school massacre, candidates for the 3rd Congressional District have offered a range of proposals calling for substantial gun reform. Some have so far spoken in more general terms or offered a handful of brief suggestions on their campaign websites. Some have yet to offer clear stances."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "HIT THE BRAKES," "GRANITE STATE OF MIND." - Globe: "Trump hits Boston in detailing opioid fight," "Harvard pressed on sex abuse claims," "FIRST DAY OF WHAT?" "Facebook swaps our privacy for big bucks," "A seething set-to by the sea," "Not so outdated: Matchmakers make a comeback."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "City wants companies to stop self-driving car tests in Seaport," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "Boston officials have asked local self-driving car companies to halt their ongoing testing in the Seaport District after an autonomous Uber vehicle in Arizona killed a pedestrian. The companies, Optimus Ride and nuTonomy, are both based in Boston and have been testing their technology in the neighborhood under an agreement with local officials."
- "FEMA extends deadline allowing Puerto Rican evacuees to continue receiving temporary shelter benefits," by Shira Schoenberg: "A deadline for Puerto Rican evacuees to continue receiving temporary shelter benefits has been extended from March 20 to May 14, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA is offering temporary shelter benefits for people who fled Puerto Rico after hurricanes devastated the island. The program, originally announced Oct. 30, 2017, offers short-term hotel and motel placements for evacuees while they are displaced."
- "$500K Boston Public School Pizza Contract Skipped Public Bidding," by Isaiah Thompson, WGBH News: "That year, Boston Public Schools awarded a contract worth $500,000 annually, to Sal's Pizza, to provide thousands of over-ready pizzas to BPS schools for a years-old tradition known as 'Pizza Fridays ...' but WGBH News' findings come amid other reported financial accountability issues within the district."
- "Danvers selectmen to discuss joining opioid lawsuit," by Ethan Forman, Salem News: "Selectmen are mulling whether to go to federal court alongside more than 70 other Bay State communities in litigation to take on big drug makers and distributors of prescription opioid painkillers.The move may allow the town to recoup costs for increased fire and police calls, health care premium increases and other impacts related to the opioid epidemic."
- "Weymouth council bans recreational marijuana," by Fred Hanson, the Patriot Ledger: "A statewide referendum in 2016 permitted recreational marijuana sales to those 21 and older beginning on July 1. Weymouth voters opposed legalizing recreational marijuana by a narrow margin, with 14,755 opposed and 14,624 in favor."
MEDIA MATTERS - "After sale to Digital First, Boston Herald will end Globe print deal," by Don Seiffert and Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: "The Boston Herald will be printed in Rhode Island after its sale to Digital First Media, effectively taking away one of the Boston Globe's biggest customers for its contract printing business at a time when the Globe is trying to build that business up. The Herald's decision to print at the GateHouse Media-owned Providence Journal comes several months after Boston Globe Media transferred its printing presses from its longtime home in Dorchester to a new plant in Taunton."
BRISTOL COUNTY SHERIFF HODGSON TOO BUSY GRABBING HEADLINES TO DO HIS JOB?
- "Bristol County report on suicide deaths leaves out key details," by Christopher Burrell and Jenifer McKim, New England Center for Investigative Reporting: "The two jails there hold 13 percent of county inmates but account for more than one-quarter of county jail suicides in Massachusetts. Over the last dozen years, 16 inmates have killed themselves in the jails located in North Dartmouth and New Bedford. And lawsuits against Sheriff Thomas Hodgson and his department are mounting."
- "Boston Marathon Banners Go Up, Marking The Beginning Of Race Season," by Linda Polach, WBUR: "Starting today, you'll be seeing up to 500 new 2018 Boston Marathon banners flying from light posts in the city, a signal that the big race is right around the corner. [Mayor Marty] Walsh used the occasion to note that for the fourth consecutive year, April 15, the day before the race, will be recognized as One Boston Day - a day of service for the people of Boston that was started in 2015 to honor the city's resilience and strength in the wake of the 2013 marathon bombings."
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Seth Rogovoy of the Rogovoy Report, who celebrated yesterday.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN YESTERDAY? No! The Bruins lost to the Blue Jackets 4-5 in OT.
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