POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook:Sound of discord in the HOUSE — SOUTHIE BREAKFAST preview — $1.4B to help tackle CLIMATE CHANGE
Sound of discord in the HOUSE — SOUTHIE BREAKFAST preview — $1.4B to help tackle CLIMATE CHANGE
03/16/2018 07:12 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE - Something incredibly rare unfolded on the floor of the Massachusetts House yesterday: Public dissent.
In a body known for keeping a tight lid on open discord in its ranks, Democratic Rep. Diana DiZoglio openly criticized House Speaker Robert DeLeo over the handling of non-disclosure agreements including an incident that occurred when DiZioglio was an aide in 2011 - a move that she says broke her own NDA. This all went down as the House debated adopting a new framework for response to sexual harassment.
DiZoglio alleges that DeLeo's office was inactive when she came to his office with complaints of harassment stemming from an incident in which she signed a non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreement after being fired by her boss, a Republican state representative. In return for her departure, she received a severance payment, which she now says she signed under duress.
DiZoglio took those complaints around the process, and DeLeo's handling of it, public yesterday first in the Boston Globe and then on the House floor itself: "We should not be in the business of silencing our critics or covering up any harassing or discriminatory behavior," DiZoglio said on the floor.
The House's longest-serving member, state Rep. Angelo Scaccia took it a step further, calling on Attorney General Maura Healey to investigate DeLeo over non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements, and quoted a Simon and Garfunkel song to make his point: "Mr. Speaker, you've been getting away for too long in this House with the sound of silence."
DeLeo strongly disputes the allegations and fired back against the claims, calling them "irresponsible speculation," in a statement issued last night - "The comments of the two representatives that agreements were used by the House to cover up wrongdoing are based on irresponsible speculation." He also said House counsel had already met with the AG and there continues to be no reason for further investigation.
If and how the public spat between DeLeo and two of his members continues in the open, much less spreads to any other members of the caucus, stands to be seen.
But as a poignant contrast to the House debate was underway simultaneously in the Senate. It happened as members went behind closed doors to discuss amendments to an uncontroversial bill that expands protections for animal welfare and support. The PAWS II bill also received unanimous support.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
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THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY BREAKFAST RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS - Boston's political scene is gearing up to descend on South Boston for the annual St. Patrick's Day breakfast on Sunday (or to tune in to catch the action on NECN starting at 10 a.m.). This year's interim co-host, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, says this year's fete is a paired-down version of the annual tradition that offers a return to its roots - including a cutback on video projection capabilities. "For the last several years rather than get up and tell a joke, a lot of politicians sent in videos. ... Last year we could have all stayed home and sent videos. I wanted to discourage that," Lynch told me this week. He estimates the cutback also saved roughly $75,000. "It's not a variety show, it's not the Oscars. Let's bring it back to what it was before," Lynch said. "It's more hokey. Less slick. Maybe more real."
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DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Storms focus attention on climate change, as Gov. Charlie Baker releases $1.4 billion environmental bond bill," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday released a $1.4 billion bond bill that would authorize spending on climate change preparedness and environmental protection. The bill includes authorization for $300 million to respond to the impacts of climate change -- $170 million to repair dams and seawalls and help coastal communities, and the rest split between grants to communities and implementation of a statewide plan to adapt to climate change."
- "Advocates petition Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to stop courthouse immigration arrests," by Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press: "Civil rights and indigent defense groups asked Massachusetts' highest court Thursday to stop federal agents from arresting immigrants targeted for deportation at courthouses, saying the practice is scaring victims, witnesses and others away from halls of justice. The challenge, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, comes as advocates, attorneys and judges have complained about courtroom arrests under President Donald Trump. Courtroom arrests happened under President Barack Obama's administration but attorneys have said the pace appears to have picked up under Trump."
- "Regulators to Begin Taking Applications for Pot Businesses," by Associated Press:"Massachusetts marijuana regulators plan to begin accepting applications for commercial pot businesses next month. The Cannabis Control Commission on Thursday approved a schedule that the panel says will allow for the 'safe, equitable and effective implementation,' of the state's voter-approved recreational marijuana law."
- "Answering the call: As region's legislative clout dwindles, 33-year-old Sen. Lesser emerges as a leader," by M.J. Tidwell, Daily Hampshire Gazette: " Hampshire County is losing clout on Beacon Hill. Two longtime state representatives have announced their impending retirements, another has died, a Democratic representative has unenrolled from the party, and the most powerful member of the delegation, Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, has had to step down from his leading role as president of the Senate. But some say that one member of the delegation who remains, one of the youngest people in the state Senate [Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow],may soon be called upon to provide leadership."
- "Judge says shops can challenge AG's gun ban," by Bob McGovern, Boston Herald: "Bay State gun shops challenging Attorney General Maura Healey's enforcement notice regarding assault weapons have made a case that the directive is unconstitutional and will have their day in court, a federal judge has ruled."
- "Rep: 'General Hooker Entrance' name change at Statehouse 'will happen'," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "Every day, hundreds of workers and visitors walk into the State House through a set of doors labeled the "General Hooker Entrance" in large letters. In an interview with the News Service at noon Thursday, [Rep. Michelle] DuBois noted that the package of rules changes the House is expected to vote on Thursday -- intended to update House policies around workplace harassment, including a new investigation process for harassment claims and new human resources employees -- includes language that could be read to deem the Hooker entrance sign discriminatory."
- "Massachusetts High Court to Take up Suicide Texting Appeal," by Associated Press: "The highest court in Massachusetts will hear the appeal of a young woman convicted of involuntary manslaughter for sending her suicidal boyfriend a barrage of text messages urging him to kill himself when they were both teenagers. The Supreme Judicial Court told attorneys Wednesday it will weigh in on the case of Michelle Carter, who was sentenced last year to 15 months in jail for the 2014 death of 18-year-old Conrad Roy III."
ON THE STUMP -
- "Candidate fields widen in Suffolk races," by Jennifer Smith, Dorchester Reporter: "Rachael Rollins, of Roxbury, former chief legal council for Massport and former Assistant US Attorney, pulled papers March 9 to seek the open Suffolk County district attorney post. District Attorney Dan Conley announced last month that he would not run for re-election."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "HUNG UP ON HOOKER," "TRUMP RETURNING TO N.H." - Globe: "Mueller subpoenas Trump's businesses," "DeLeo accused of 'silencing tactics,'" "CAST KEEPS CHANGING AS THE SHOW GOES ON," "Massive debt took fun out of Toys 'R' Us," "A patient's best friend, when it's needed most."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Bulger's badge on auction block," by Antonio Planas, Boston Herald: 'Notorious killer James "Whitey" Bulger's prison badge is up for auction and had fetched a bid approaching $1,000 as of last night. Lelands.com is auctioning off the South Boston mobster's Federal Bureau of Prisons badge."
- "Lawsuit adds details to sexual harassment claims against Felix G. Arroyo," by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: "A woman who said she was repeatedly harassed by former Boston health and human services chief Felix G. Arroyo filed a lawsuit against him this week, alleging Arroyo manipulated her into a sexual relationship in 2016 and harassed and verbally abused her at work when she ended it. Hilani Morales, who is married and worked for Arroyo in the department of health and human services, filed the complaint Monday in Suffolk Superior Court against Arroyo and the City of Boston. Arroyo has denied any wrongdoing and has accused Morales of trying to destroy his reputation."
- "Openly transgender principal put on leave, denied contract renewal," by WCVB 5: "The Swampscott elementary school principal who recently came out as transgender has essentially been fired. Superintendent Pamela Angelakis announced Thursday that [Shannon Daniels] will be placed on paid administrative leave for the remainder of the school year and that her contract will not be renewed."
- "St. Patrick's Day parade organizers not giving up on longer route," by Alana Levene and Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "After 14.5 inches of snow fell in Boston Tuesday, Mayor Martin J. Walsh swiftly announced a shorter route for Sunday's annual St. Patrick's Day parade in South Boston. But the decision upset parade organizers, the South Boston Allied Veterans Council, which issued a statement, saying that it was 'extremely disappointing' that Walsh made a 'unilateral decision' to shorten the route."
- "St. Patrick's parade in Boston won't let anti-war vets march," by Sarah Betancourt, Associated Press: "Boston's popular St. Patrick's Day parade is all about veterans - but not all who've served in uniform will be allowed to march this weekend. .. [The parade] has refused to accommodate Veterans for Peace, and the anti-war group won't be allowed to walk in Sunday's parade. Its applications to participate have been denied since 2011, despite support from Democratic Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Police Commissioner William Evans and sympathetic lawmakers."
- "Holy Cross drops knight image, keeps 'Crusaders' name," by Associated Press: "The College of the Holy Cross says it will stop using the image of a knight as a logo and mascot even though trustees last month decided to keep the nickname Crusaders for its athletic teams. The president of the Worcester (WUS'-tur), Massachusetts, Jesuit college, the Rev. Philip Boroughs, wrote in a letter to students, alumni and staff Wednesday the depiction of a knight with the moniker Crusader is an inevitable reminder of the religious wars and violence that marked the Crusades."
- "Former high-ranking State Police officials ask judge to throw out case against them," by Maria Cramer, Boston Globe: "Lawyers for former State Police colonel Richard McKeon and a former major urged a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit against them Thursday, saying the officials did not violate the constitutional rights of two troopers who were ordered to make changes to a police report about the arrest of a judge's daughter. McKeon, who resigned last November after an outcry over the altered report, ordered the changes after a Worcester judge agreed to impound the police account of the October 2017 arrest of Alli Bibaud, his lawyer said."
- "Curl to Action," Britni de la Cretaz, DigBoston: "'I can make you a Paralympian in a year.' Those were some of the first words Tony Colacchio ever said to Steve Emt. It took five years, not one, but Colacchio made good on his promise-Emt is a member of the 2018 US Paralympic wheelchair curling team (Colacchio is the associate national coach)."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Ludlow state Rep. Thomas Petrolati, Mass Audubon's director of public policy and government relations Jack Clarke, and MassLive.com sports reporter Conor Ryan.
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND - to Andover Rep. Jim Lyons, who celebrates on Saturday and to Sunday birthday-ers former state Rep. Gloria Fox, Brewster Rep. Tim Whelan, and the Ringer'sDanny Heifetz.
Did THE HOME TEAM WIN YESTERDAY? No! The Bruins lost to the Panthers 0-3.
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