POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Three things to watch at the GOP-VENTION – HOUSE passes $41B budget – STATIE tax trouble
Three things to watch at the GOP-VENTION – HOUSE passes $41B budget – STATIE tax trouble
04/27/2018 07:08 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
TGIF, MASSACHUSETTS.
IT'S GOP-VENTION WEEKEND - Are you ready? More than 2,400 Massachusetts Republicans are headed to the City of Seven Hills this weekend for the state GOP convention - the confab that not only will seed the September primary ballot, but also give a peek into the hearts and minds of state Republican activists (all with the sweet, sweet convenience of being centrally located inside Worcester's DCU Center).
And so, here are my three things to watch as we head into this weekend:
- Trump's shadow. Gov. Charlie Baker, the de-facto head of the state party, has taken pains to maintain daylight between himself and the president (and based off poll numbers, it appears to be working). But in a room full of Republicans (many of whom voted for Trump in 2016), will there be lingering resentment between the Trump wing of the state party and Baker? Or is everyone on-board the Baker train that many feel confident appears headed toward term two?
- The 5-way US Senate primary against Sen. Elizabeth Warren. A candidate needs 15 percent of the delegates' support to make the primary ballot, and balloting continues until one candidate clears the 50 percent support threshold and receives the state party's endorsement. Will state Rep. Geoff Diehl win the endorsement? Or longtime party insider Beth Lindstrom? Or philanthropist with deep pockets and a $3 million war chest, Jon Kingston? Also watch for whether upstart candidates Heidi Wellman and Darius Mitchell secure enough support to make the primary ballot.
THE ELIZABETH WARREN ATTACKERS FUNDED BY WEALTHY UNNAMED DONORS [LIKE THE MERCERS] ARE IN FULL SWING....NOTE THAT THEY NEVER ADDRESS ISSUES AND JUST EMPLOY DOG WHISTLE SLOGANS FOR THE SIMPLE-MINDED TO EMBRACE LIKE SHEEP.
- There will be SWAG. In the form of Elizabeth Warren "barf bags," thanks to the Deal Her Out super PAC. Why barf bags? "The record and hypocrisy of Elizabeth Warren is enough to make any person sick," Marty Lamb, president of Deal Her Out PAC, told the Washington Times . "The Elizabeth Warren barf bag is a stark reminder of this fact and that only one thing could make the voters sicker and that is if the Massachusetts Republican Party fails to offer a clear alternative to Senator Warren and her out of touch policies by nominating an imitation candidate of Senator Warren such as John Kingston III or Beth Lindstrom." Deal Her Out is not-so-subtly is a single-issue super PAC that opposes Sen. Warren.
I'll be in at in the hall on Saturday - be sure to say hi.
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 heads to Upton for the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills conference - Microsoft founder Bill Gates delivers the keynote speech at a Massachusetts Medical Society and New England Journal of Medicine conference in the Seaport - The Massachusetts Gaming Commission holds a hearing to determine whether or not Steve Wynn's connections with Wynn Resorts disqualifies the company from lawfully holding a casino license over suitability standards. Democratic gubernatorial contender Jay Gonzalez also plans to attend the hearing, his campaign tells me.
ON THE STUMP -
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley has endorsed Jay Gonzalez for governor, the JayGo campaign tells me. This is the first endorsement by a Boston city councilor in the gubernatorial race.
- "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker laughs when asked if he's unbeatable," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "He's got a high approval rating in public polls, a pile of campaign money in the bank, and one less opponent. But Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican in liberal-leaning Massachusetts who won by a slim margin of 40,000 votes in 2014, laughed when asked whether he was unbeatable as he goes for a second four-year term in the Corner Office."
- "Senate Candidate Shiva Ayyadurai Defends Bus Sign," by Sue O'Connell, The Take: "Shiva Ayyadurai, an independent candidate for Elizabeth Warren's Senate seat, discusses the dispute over his controversial bus sign saying that 'only a real Indian can defeat the fake Indian.'"
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Massachusetts House passes $41 billion FY19 state budget bill," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "The Massachusetts House on Thursday passed a $41.065 billion state budget for fiscal 2019 after four days of debate. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jeffrey Sanchez, D-Boston, said while opening the debate on Monday that the budget 'will touch the lives of so many, especially those who are most vulnerable among us.'"
- "Taxes not paid on perks for troopers," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "The state has failed to pay taxes on tens of millions of dollars doled out to state troopers since the 1970s as a reward for driving their own cars to work, leaving Massachusetts vulnerable to a potentially massive bill from the IRS."
- "Clergy members lobby Beacon Hill for 'red flag' bill," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "Citing the 'righteous impatience of our forebears,' faith leaders from various denominations throughout Massachusetts joined gun control activists in making the rounds on Beacon Hill Wednesday, urging lawmakers to pass a 'red flag' bill designed to reduce gun violence. Under the bill, a family member, roommate or law enforcement official could petition the court to bar someone from owning a firearm if their gun ownership presents a 'significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others.'"
- "UMass details plans for Mount Ida property," by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: "Amid growing backlash, the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst penned a letter to state lawmakers Thursday assuring them that his plan to purchase the 72-acre Newton campus of the soon-to-be-closed Mount Ida College is a wise investment. The letter said the state's flagship campus needs to stay competitive in attracting students and preparing them for jobs in the local economy, and it said this campus, as an outpost for students to do internships in Boston, will help accomplish that goal."
- "Lawmakers reject Seaport joint policing, but idea may not be dead," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "House leaders on Wednesday struck down another attempt by Boston to give its police shared jurisdiction with the State Police in the Seaport, extending - at least for now - the long-running standoff. A state budget amendment pushed by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Representative Nick Collins seeking to settle the years-long turf war was sliced from the House spending bill during the third day of debate in the chamber."
- "National Grid customers won't see relief for months," by Christian M. Wade, Salem News: "National Grid gas customers could receive rebates as a result of the new federal tax law but they will have to wait until fall to see a reduction, if any, in their bills. The utility recently informed state regulators that it won't be able to meet a July 1 deadline to pass back savings from the tax law to its customers."
- "Lawmakers up funding for regional transit authorities," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Despite opposition from the Baker administration, lawmakers on Beacon Hill funneled more money on Thursday to the state's 15 regional transit authorities, which provide bus service in communities outside the MBTA service area. The House approved an amendment to its fiscal 2019 budget plan that increased funding for the authorities by $2 million - from $80 million to $82 million."
- "Massachusetts Gaming Commission gives final OK to MGM Springfield casino boundary, game floor," by Peter Goonan, MassLive.com: "The Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday voted to approve the MGM Springfield gaming establishment boundary lines and the gaming floor, key moves as the casino moves toward its newly announced Aug. 24 grand opening date. The votes were unanimous by the five-member commission during a meeting conducted at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, a short distance from the $960 million casino."
- "State announces funding to face mounting storm damage," by Doug Fraser, Cape Cod Times: "Hammered by three March nor'easters, it was easy for many on the Cape to forget the punishing flooding that occurred in a January nor'easter that left much of Provincetown's downtown under 2 or more feet of water and caused damaging flooding of neighborhoods and roads from Provincetown to Sandwich."
DATELINE DC -
- "US Rep. Richard Neal to meet with Puerto Rico's governor Friday," by Shannon Young, MassLive.com: "U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, will meet with Puerto Rico's governor Friday morning to discuss the island's recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and issues facing evacuees who have yet to return to their homes. The congressman, who faced criticism from a congressional opponent Thursday over his efforts to help Western Massachusetts residents impacted by the September storms, will sit down with Gov. Ricardo Rossello at his Washington office 'to discuss the issue of hurricane evacuees,' Neal spokesman William Tranghese announced."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Trump administration the 'most corrupt ... ever'," by Clare Foran, CNN: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren called President Donald Trump's administration the 'most corrupt administration ever' in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on Wednesday. Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, leveled the accusation after Tapper asked her to comment on a series of controversial remarks made by Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, whom Trump tapped to also serve as interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in November."
- "Republican Sen. Cory Gardner to introduce cannabis bill for states' rights with Elizabeth Warren," by Michael Walsh, Yahoo.com: "Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., is teaming up with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., on a bill that could finally reconcile the current discrepancy between federal and state cannabis laws. Earlier this year, Gardner protected thriving marijuana industries in states like Colorado by threatening to block all Justice Department nominees after Attorney General Jeff Sessions killed the 2013 'Cole memo,' which effectively allowed states to determine their own cannabis laws."
THE KENNEDY COMPOUND -
- "With 1 Question, Tory Burch Teaches 2 Politicians a Powerful Lesson on What Women Face," by Kimberly Weisul, Inc.com: "On April 24, entrepreneur Tory Burch was onstage at her Embrace Ambition conference in New York, ready to interview Kevin McCarthy, Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Joe Kennedy III, a Democratic member of Congress from Massachusetts. 'I want to ask you a question I get, in almost every interview,' began Burch. 'Tell me about what you're wearing.'"
WOOD WAR - Herald: "HEY, HEY, HEY! TIME TO PAY!" - Globe: "Taxes not paid on perks for troopers," "Yawkey name dropped from Fenway street," "THIS TIME, COSBY IS GUILTY," "As lawmakers press, Trump rages in another day of chaos," "My compliments to the robot."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Colleges Like Mount Ida Have Financial Responsibility Scores. But They're Not That Predictive," by Carrie Jung, WBUR: "Since news broke a few weeks ago about the closure of Mount Ida College, there are a lot of upset students and parents. Everyone has a different story to tell, but there's one common theme: None of them saw this coming."
- "Yawkey Way Name Change Is OK'd," by Benjamin Swasey, WBUR: "Yawkey Way will again be Jersey Street. Boston's Public Improvement Commission voted unanimously in favor of the name change on Thursday, removing the name of Tom Yawkey, the longtime former Red Sox owner, from the public street adjacent to Fenway Park."
- "West Springfield Public Schools worried about adequate state funding to accommodate Puerto Rico evacuees," by Conor Berry, MassLive.com:"Transportation costs and potential overcrowding continue to be sources of concern for school district officials, who worry that the level of projected state aid for hurricane evacuees from Puerto Rico won't be enough to cover expenses in the coming fiscal year. As of Tuesday, there were 84 hurricane evacuees from Puerto Rico attending West Springfield Public Schools, 22 of whom have found permanent housing outside of the school district, Superintendent Michael J. Richard told the School Committee this week."
- "Boston College will not rescind Bill Cosby's honorary degree," by Elise Takahama, Boston Globe: "Boston College will not rescind an honorary degree it gave to Bill Cosby, once one of America's best-loved entertainers, after his conviction Thursday, a spokesman said. 'As a matter of policy, we do not rescind honorary degrees, which are given to individuals based on their accomplishments at the time of the award,' BC spokesman Jack Dunn said."
- "MGM Springfield reveals $960 million resort casino to open earlier than expected (photos, video)," by Peter Goonan, MassLive.com: "MGM Resorts International will open its Springfield casino ahead of schedule on Aug. 24, culminating a seven-year journey from vision to operation. MGM had committed to opening the $960 million resort casino by September, describing its project as 'New England's first integrated luxury resort and entertainment destination.'"
- "San Juan, P.R., mayor lifts up young women in Holyoke," by Cristela Guerra, Boston Globe: "'When the aid was not getting to Puerto Rico, I couldn't just be quiet,' [Carmen Yulin Cruz] said during a visit Wednesday to this Western Massachusetts city, where Puerto Ricans make up half the population. 'It was my responsibility not just as a mayor but as a human to speak the truth.'"
- "Ribbons of mourning replace Yarmouth campaign signs," by Kristen Young, Cape Cod Times: "Two weeks after police Sgt. Sean Gannon was shot and killed in the line of duty, and about two weeks ahead of the town's annual election, Yarmouth is without many of the campaign images that often line its streets this time of year."
- "RFK's final journey," by Juliet Williams, the Associated Press: "The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy 50 years ago this June fractured the nation just two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and five years after his brother John F. Kennedy was killed. But RFK's funeral, particularly the train that took his body from New York City, following a funeral Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, to Washington, D.C., brought the country together: An estimated 2 million ordinary Americans gathered beside railroad tracks to honor him as the train passed by."
- "Trump backtracks, delays release of JFK assassination records until at least 2021," by Brent D. Griffiths, POLITICO: "President Donald Trump on Thursday delayed the full release of JFK assassination records until at the latest 2021, siding with the CIA and FBI over national security concerns that the release of the remaining files could spark. Trump added that need for the continued protection of the documents, 'can only grow weaker with the passage of time.'"
MAZEL AND WELCOME TO THE WORLD! - to Charlotte Rose Fenlon, born to parents Samantha Fenlon, of ABC 6, and Matt Fenlon, of UMass Boston, on April 24.
ALSO MAZEL! - to Katie Lannan, the new official curator of the Massachusetts Politicians with Animals Tumblr page, taking the reins from David S. Bernstein. Drop what you're doing and send her your adorable #mapoli animal photos right now!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to MIT's Seth Mnookin, Pat Bench, founder and president of Benchmark Strategies and creator of Campaign Star, Brendan Joyce, Organizing Director at Fair Shot For All, WEMF's Mike Crawford, Dorchester Youth Collaborative executive director Emmett Folgert, and Lou Mandarini, executive director at Massachusetts Laborers Benefit Funds and Mansoor Abdul Khadir Northeast Director for the DNC, who covers Massachusetts.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and No! The Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 5-4, but the Celtics lost to the Bucks 97-86, forcing a deciding Game 7 Saturday night.
POLITICO's Ben White is bringing Morning Money to the Milken Institute Global Conference to provide coverage of the day's events and evening happenings. The newsletter starts on April 29th. Sign-up to keep up with your daily conference coverage.
FRESH OUT OF THE GATE - THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: The Ballot Stakes. It's a busy week in the bunker with Voter Choice Massachusetts' Adam Friedman on ranked choice voting, and - in a return to the pod - our senior campaign finance correspondent Sean Curran on the funding behind ballot question campaigns. Then, Steve and Lauren dig into the latest polling and upcoming debate in the race for the MA-3. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud
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
POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA
Comments
Post a Comment