POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: POT LICENSING kick-off — ‘Series of reforms’ coming to STATE POLICE — WILBUR ROSS buys Berkshire home
POT LICENSING kick-off — ‘Series of reforms’ coming to STATE POLICE — WILBUR ROSS buys Berkshire home
04/02/2018 06:58 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. And welcome to April!
LET THE GOOD LEGAL TIMES ROLL SOON - High times are coming for Massachusetts. Beginning today at noon, the state will begin accepting applications to open recreational marijuana dispensaries. It's all ahead of the state's goal of recreational pot sales coming from legal and licensed dispensaries beginning in early July.
Officials hope this goes better than the last time the state sought marijuana dispensary licenses. After voters legalized medical marijuana in 2012, the state's licensing process was, by all accounts, fraught with issues around properly vetting applicants, disproportionate advantages to those with political connections, delays, and a resulting five-month-long process to untangle the mess.
This time around, it's a gradual process - and it's already been delayed by six months. Today, those with existing licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries will be able to apply for priority certification to switch to recreational dispensaries, as well as priority certification for companies that "are led by, employ, or benefit communities that had high rates of arrests for drug crimes. This is part of a broader effort to redress racial disparities in the past enforcement of marijuana prohibition," according to the Globe's Dan Adams . Those priority licenses will be able to apply for a dispensary license on April 17 - everyone else has to wait until at least May 1.
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, Health and Human Services Sec. Marylou Sudders, Commissioner of Insurance Gary Anderson, Senate President Harriette Chandler, state Sen. Karen Spilka, state Sen. Cindy Friedman, state Rep. Kate Hogan, state Rep. Patricia Haddad, state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez and other elected officials to sign An Act to Protect Access to Confidential Healthcare, known as the PATCH Act - It's legislative education and advocacy day for the National Association of Social Workers - The MBTA's Fiscal Management and Control Board meets.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Gov. Baker: Stan Rosenberg must quit if aware of alleged acts," by Dan Atkinson, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker is not yet calling for state Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg to step down following his estranged husband's indictment on a raft of sexual assault charges, but said the former Senate president needs to quit if anything 'implies or suggests' he knew about the alleged attacks - as does anyone else on Beacon Hill. A grand jury indicted Bryon Hefner, 30, Thursday on 10 felony charges, and he will be summonsed to Suffolk Superior Court on April 24."
EXPECT NO LEADERSHIP FROM CHARLIE!
- "Massachusetts State Police scandals: 'Series of reforms' coming, Gov. Charlie Baker says," by Gintautas Dumcius: "A day after Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey dinged him over the scandals at the State Police, Gov. Charlie Baker said a 'series of reforms' is coming to the troubled law enforcement agency. Col. Kerry Gilpin, installed by Baker in November 2017 as the new State Police superintendent, 'took the first step' with an audit of Troop E and alleged skipped overtime shifts, according to Baker."
- "Senator facing drunken driving charge may pay political price," by Andy Metzger, State House News Service: "Senators should discuss possible action, according to state Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, and Senate President Harriette Chandler said this week a decision over whether to take action in the Senate would follow adjudication of [state Sen. Mike] Brady's case in the courts."
- "Gov. Baker pushes $110M opioid proposal," by Dan Atkinson, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker pushed for action on his $110 million opioid addiction package yesterday, calling on the Legislature to act on the proposal before the end of its current term in July. Baker didn't talk about the most controversial part of the package - a plan to involuntarily hospitalize addicts, which was rejected in the 2016 legislation."
- "State's long-promised health-costs website is now due to arrive this spring," by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: "For years, Massachusetts health policy makers have envisioned a website that could serve as a one-stop shop for consumers who want to know the price of a common medical test or procedure. State officials are finally preparing to launch such a website this spring, months later than their previous self-imposed deadline, and with more tempered ambitions."
** 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. **
TRUMPACHUSETTS -
- "Massachusetts and New Hampshire to Receive Extra Federal Money for Opioid Fight," New England Cable News, by New England Cable News:"Massachusetts, New Hampshire and West Virginia are each receiving $333,000 from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker announced the funds during a visit Friday to a recovery center in South Boston."
- "Massachusetts, a Health Pioneer, Turns Its Focus to Drug Prices. It's in for a Fight.," by Robert Pear, New York Times: "Massachusetts, which led the nation in expanding health insurance coverage, now wants to rein in the growth of prescription drug spending for low-income people on Medicaid, but its proposals have met an icy reaction from patients and drug companies. The state has asked the Trump administration for permission to limit the number of drugs that will be covered in its Medicaid program, seeking to exclude 'drugs with limited or inadequate evidence of clinical efficacy.'"
- "US Commerce Secretary buys home in Berkshires," by Associated Press: "The Berkshire Eagle reports Commerce Secretary Wilbur L. Ross Jr. has purchased a Revolutionary War era home on 18 acres in the western Massachusetts town of Great Barrington. The property on Seekonk Cross Road was sold for $3.2 million, according to deed records."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "United States waking up to Chinese abuses, US Senator Elizabeth Warren says in Beijing," by Reuters: "US policy towards China has been misdirected for decades and policymakers are now recalibrating ties, US Senator Elizabeth Warren told reporters during a visit to Beijing amid heightened trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. The Massachusetts Democrat and Trump foe, who has been touted as a potential 2020 presidential candidate despite rejecting such speculation, said US trade policy needed a rethink and that she was not afraid of tariffs."
- "Senator Warren says Trump diplomacy has been a 'terrible mistake'," by Reuters: "Warren discussed trade and North Korea with senior Chinese officials including Liu He, vice-premier for economic policy, Yang Jiechi, a top diplomat, and minister of defense Wei Fenghe. Warren said success [in talks with North Korea] would be getting a commitment to discuss verifiable steps to reduce North Korea's nuclear threat, which would require careful negotiations from a state department whose role has been vastly diminished under Trump."
- "Dems demand information about Kushner loans," by Alayna Treene, Axios: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) along with several other Democrats on Friday sent letters, obtained by Politico, to two companies demanding information about their business dealings with Jared Kushner. The request comes after Kushner was accused of self-dealing, based on revelations that his family business received substantial loans from investment firms whose top executives met with Kushner at the White House."
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
- "3rd District Dem hopefuls to join in Sun debates," by Chris Lisinski, Lowell Sun: "With six months to go before the primary election in September, the large group of Democratic candidates seeking U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas' seat will stake out their positions in two debates scheduled in Fitchburg and Devens in May and June, respectively."
- "Matias vows to fight for working class (VIDEO)," by Chris Lisinski, Lowell Sun: "In order to run for the 3rd Congressional District, state Rep. Juana Matias must give up the Lawrence seat she won from an entrenched incumbent less than two years ago. But Matias is prepared to take that risk, stressing repeatedly in an interview with The Sun Thursday that she wants to continue her public service by ensuring the federal government supports working- and middle-class residents."
THE KENNEDY COMPOUND -
- "'Chappaquiddick': The Trial of Ted Kennedy," by Peter Canellos, POLITICO Magazine: "The new movie "Chappaquiddick" arrives in the midst of a mini-Kennedy revival, and threatens to skunk it up. Many CNN viewers who watched the promos for the new miniseries 'The Kennedys,' featuring the beautiful family romping on the beach in rich mid-century home-movie stock, were instantly fed the counter-image of Ted's car plummeting off a bridge in ads for 'Chappaquiddick.' Liberals who dared to love Rep. Joe Kennedy III's passionate rebuttal to Donald Trump's State of the Union risk being dragged to the multiplex by smirking conservative friends when "Chappaquiddick" opens on April 6."
ON THE STUMP -
- "Five lawmakers facing tough primary races," by Lisa Hagen, the Hill: "[Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.)] has been a progressive staple in the Massachusetts delegation for nearly two decades. But he's facing a primary challenge from Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who says the Boston-area district needs fresh leadership, although she doesn't differ with him much on policy."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "GREEN RUSH!" - Globe: "Aid boost unlikely to help most schools," "A troubling junction of alcohol, science," "Leaving little to chance," "Mass. Democrats hoping to regain Capitol Hill clout," "Pothole payouts? City helps fund car repairs," "BREAK TIME FOR BUNNIES."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Modest state aid increase leaves many school systems strapped," by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "Governor Charlie Baker's effort to boost local education aid would offer little relief to most school systems across Massachusetts that are grappling with escalating budget costs, according to a Globe review of the proposal."
- "Hidden payroll reveals 8 troopers earned $1M or more," by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: "The secret payroll for state cops at Logan International Airport has been cracked open revealing eight troopers took home $1 million or more since 2014, a stunning haul one fiscal watchdog said left him feeling disgusted. 'I have a very emotional reaction to this,' said Greg Sullivan, the state's former inspector general. 'A monopoly at Troop F has ended up making millionaires out of a few state troopers.'"
- "Despite progress, racism still ugly fact of life on Cape, Islands," by Geoff Spillane, Cape Cod Times: "As the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of King's assassination Wednesday, the Times spoke with more than two dozen people of color on the Cape and Islands to gauge the current state of race relations and civil rights here. The resulting message was unanimous, resounding and clear: The fight for equal rights is far from over and racism - albeit, mostly subtle these days - is alive and well."
- "Proud Boys plan Patriots' Day rally in Concord," by Henry Schwan, Concord Journal: "On the same day as the re-enactment at Old North Bridge and the parade down Monument Street marking the annual Patriots' Day festivities in Concord, a group will set up shop. Proud Boys is a fraternal organization of men who are proud to call themselves Western Chauvinists, according to a description on the organization's Facebook page."
- "Harvest time at Berkshire County's first legal cannabis farm," by Larry Parnass, the Berkshire Eagle: "Berkshire Roots becomes the county's second medical marijuana dispensary since voters approved them in 2012, joining the Theory Wellness outlet in Great Barrington. And one morning this week, the company's cultivation manager, Dennis Gibbons, had the next harvest in mind as he stood at the controls of a complex irrigation system and pumps sipped from barrels of nutrients near a 5,500-gallon emergency water supply."
SPOTTED at a Passover seder Friday night hosted by Michael Greenwald at his family home in Brookline, Mass. - pic http://bit.ly/2GYYycr : Barbara and Michael Greenwald, Marisa Greenwald Kenney, Kerry Healey, Beth, Curt and Mark Myers, Cofer and Suzzane Black, Stephen and Francine Trachtenberg, Meghan O'Sullivan, Daniel Lippman and Alice Lloyd, Michelle Kosinski, Sheika Najla Al-Thani, Sheika Amna Al-Thani, Al-Daana Al-Mulla, Ali Abdullatif AlYahya, Hamad Al-Hajri, Saba Al-Fuhaid, Anna Morris, Robert and Lo Marie Obrien, Jonathan and Jerry Weinberger, Lisa Randall, Paul and Tracy Palandjian, Stefan and Heidi Selig, Farah Pandith.
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to state Rep. Frank Moran of Lawrence
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and no! The Red Sox beat the Rays 2-1, but the Bruins lost to the Flyers 4-3 in OT. The Celtics beat the Raptors 110-99 on Saturday.
ICYMI - THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: We're answering your questions on ballots and questions on ballot questions this week on The Horse Race First Pam Wilmot, head of Common Cause Massachusetts, explains Automatic Voter Registration and why it's a big deal. Then political reporter Shira Schoenberg joins us for an update on the final version of the criminal justice reform bill. Finally, Steve and Lauren look at the impending decisions on three big revenue issues: the minimum wage, the "millionaire's tax" and the sales tax ballot questions. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud
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