POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: HOUSE’s ‘Red Flag’ gun bill vote today — BAKER travels to Washington — Another write-in contender for ROSENBERG’s former seat
HOUSE’s ‘Red Flag’ gun bill vote today — BAKER travels to Washington — Another write-in contender for ROSENBERG’s former seat
05/23/2018 07:01 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
GUN BILL HEADED FOR HOUSE DEBATE, PASSAGE — A bill that would strengthen the state's already tight gun laws - and which saw a groundswell of support following the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida - is slated for debate and widely expected to pass in the House today.
Known as the Extreme Risk Protection Order or "red flag" bill, it would allow a court to order an individual deemed dangerous to themself or others to surrender any firearms or stun guns in their possession. The order would be in effect for one year and can be renewed. It was originally drafted by Cambridge state Rep. Marjory Decker.
Massachusetts is already home to some of the strictest gun laws in the country — a point of pride for House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who has shepherded two major updates to the state's gun laws since 2011. DeLeo came out in forceful support of the red flag bill earlier this month in a press conference alongside Stoneman Douglas alumni, police chiefs, and gun safety advocates.
The pro-gun group Gun Owners Action League pushed hard against the bill itself, calling the redrafted version approved on Monday a "pure gun confiscation bill" because it removed mental health or suicide prevention provisions.
With likely easy passage in the Senate after today's House vote, Gov. Charlie Baker has not yet explicitly indicated how he'll come down on the bill, though he did say in February he was open to considering ways to strengthen the state's gun laws. Public opinion, in the very least, is on the bill's side, with support from 89 percent of Massachusetts voters, according to a March WBUR poll.
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 Washington, D.C. for the day to meet with Commanding General and Chief of Engineers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lieutenant General Todd Semonite, followed by a meeting with the Congressional delegation — Also in Washington, Sen. Elizabeth Warren will deliver remarks at the United Steelworkers Rally to Protect Workers' Freedom on Capitol Hill. Warren's remarks will focus on labor, trade, infrastructure, and the years-long assault by Republicans and the far right on workers and unions, according to her office — More than 700 volunteers will assemble the 9th annual Boston Memorial Day flag garden on Boston Common honoring more than 37,000 military heroes from Massachusetts, from the Revolutionary War to present. Construction of the flag display begins at 1 p.m.
** A message from Bay State Wind - the Clear Choice for Massachusetts: Bay State Wind's global expertise is keeping us at the forefront of the permitting process. We have proactively gathered the data needed for comprehensive permitting applications, with eight assessment surveys completed and more to come. Bay State Wind has the credibility to deliver. More at baystatewind.com **
DATELINE BEACON HILL —
- "Galvin disciplines employees for performing political tasks on government time," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Three employees under Secretary of State William F. Galvin are being stripped of some pay after an internal review determined they had performed political tasks on Galvin's behalf at times that seem to conflict with their taxpayer-funded work schedule, his office disclosed Tuesday. The internal probe, first launched nearly two weeks ago, also found that three other employees used sick time on days they also were listed as submitting nomination papers to local clerks' offices for Galvin's reelection campaign."
- "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker 'disappointed' with how UMass Boston chancellor search ended," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh both voiced disappointment with the turmoil at UMass Boston, a day after all three finalists for the top job on campus pulled out of consideration. The sudden withdrawal of the candidates led UMass President Marty Meehan to blame the faculty at the Boston Harbor campus, who questioned whether the candidates were qualified for the job of chancellor."
- "16 protesters arrested during anti-racism demonstration at State House," by Elise Takahama and Alana Levene, Boston Globe: "Sixteen protesters were arrested on trespassing charges during an anti-racism demonstration at the State House Monday evening, officials said. The 13 women and three men were part of a Massachusetts Poor People's Campaign event to address the intersection of racism, poverty, and xenophobia, said Savina Martin, a spokeswoman for the group."
DATELINE DC —
- "US Rep. Richard Neal offers bill to help provide low-income parents training for in-demand jobs," by Shannon Young, MassLive.com: "With jobs across the country going unfilled due, in part, to a lack of skilled workers, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, introduced legislation this week to help low-income parents overcome employment barriers and train for in-demand jobs. The bill, which Neal, the top Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, filed in the House on Monday, calls for $1 billion in investments to help train parents, who receive cash benefits under the T emporary Assistance for Needy Families program, seek better employment opportunities."
- "Democrats' Next Big Thing: Government-Guaranteed Jobs," by Jim Tankersley, New York Times: "Prominent Democrats — stung by their eroding support from working-class voters but buoyed by the deficit-be-damned approach of ruling Republicans — are embracing a big idea from a bygone era: guaranteed employment. The 'job guarantee' plans, many of them pressed by Democratic White House hopefuls, vary in scope and cost, but they all center on government-sponsored employment that pays well above the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum wage — a New Deal for a new age, absent the bread lines and unemployment rates of the Great Depression."
ON THE STUMP —
- "Bump backs Gonzalez for gov," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Auditor Suzanne Bump, one of four statewide Democratic elected officials on Beacon Hill, threw her support to former state budget chief Jay Gonzalez on Monday, choosing sides in a two-way primary contest for governor as Democrats prepare to gather in Worcester in two weeks. In choosing Gonzalez over progressive climate change activist Bob Massie, Bump becomes a potentially influential ally in rallying party insiders to Gonzalez's camp ahead of the June 1-2 Democratic Party Convention."
- "Beth Lindstrom on Herald Radio, seeks primary debates," by Herald staff, Boston Herald: "GOP Senate candidate Beth Lindstrom appeared on Boston Herald Radio today where she said she's ready to debate her opponents in the Republican primary to unseat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Lindstom's primary opponents include State representative Geoff Diehl, who won the party's endorsement at its recent convention, and businessman John Kingston."
- "Maine governor stumps for Mass. US Senate candidate," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Underlining the Trump connections that run through his US Senate bid, Republican candidate Geoff Diehl enlisted Maine Governor Paul R. LePage to the campaign trail Monday, tapping his unapologetic conservatism to drum up cash and media attention. The two-term governor's headlining appearance at a Diehl fund-raiser drew about 100 supporters and a dozen protesters, who LePage dismissed as of little consequence."
- "Jo Comerford, former MoveOn campaign director, enters race for Stan Rosenberg's former Massachusetts Senate seat," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "Jo Comerford, former campaign director at the national progressive group MoveOn, has announced a write-in campaign for the state Senate seat formerly held by Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst. She will kick off her campaign Tuesday with stops in Greenfield, Amherst and Northampton."
THE TSONGAS ARENA —
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Lowell Democratic City Committee Chair Endorses Rufus Gifford for Congress, from the Gifford campaign: Judith Durant, Chair of the Lowell DCC, has endorsed Rufus Gifford, marking the 4th City Committee Chair in the 3rd District that has endorsed Gifford. Durant said: "He won me over with the optimism he displayed when discussing the many challenges we face. Other candidates have the same concerns, but Rufus made me once again believe we can do it."
- Rick Green & Mayor Mark Hawke to hold Press Conference in Gardner, from the Green campaign: Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke will join Rick Green, Republican candidate for Congress in the Third Congressional District, for a press conference and media availability on Wednesday at the Pleasant Street Bridge in Gardner as part of the Green campaign's "Fix it Now" tour.
WOOD WAR — Herald: "GAS UP YOUR WALLET," "SPRINKLE OF SUMMER" — Globe: "Vote near on taking guns from at-risk," "Hit's the beach? It's already been done," "ICE official says practice has shifted on Mass. arrests," "No love lost for Harvard classmate," "Philip Roth dies at 85," "From Walsh, an offer to help defuse UMass Boston battle."
THE LOCAL ANGLE —
- "'Shame on you, Jared Kushner': Harvard alumni tear apart classmate in 15th reunion notes," by Matt Viser, Boston Globe:"Graduates of the Harvard class of 2003 are making known their displeasure with the current White House administration in an unusual way, using the platform of their 15th reunion alumni notes to launch harsh, personal attacks on a former classmate. The salvos against Kushner — by a small number of alumni — are tucked in among the usual fare of alumni notes, where former classmates proudly recite their latest accomplishments, volunteer work, a move across the country, or the birth of a child."
- "ICE agents in Mass. halt controversial practice of office arrests," by Maria Cramer, Boston Globe: "Federal agents in Massachusetts have halted the controversial practice of arresting undocumented immigrants who are visiting government offices in hopes of gaining legal status, an immigration official told a federal judge Tuesday. The decision represents a reversal by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and follows sharp questioning by a federal judge in Boston over the practice, which has drawn a legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union as a symbol of the Trump administration's aggressive stance on illegal immigration."
- "25 Investigates: Cops say sex traffickers sell foster kids on the weekends," by Eric Rasmussen and Erin Smith, Boston 25 News: "Sex traffickers are selling foster kids on the weekends, 25 Investigates has uncovered. Investigative Reporter Eric Rasmussen found cases of kids in foster care pimped out on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then returned to their taxpayer-funded group homes on Monday."
- "'That hurricane was a monster': As Markey, Warren state directors visit Springfield welcome center, Puerto Rican evacuees continue getting, and needing, help," by Elizabeth Roman, MassLive.com: "Ruth Santiago and her husband Juan L. Vazquez still remember the sound of glass shattering as Hurricane Maria struck their apartment in Caguas, Puerto Rico, last September. While many families have moved back to Puerto Rico and others have found apartments, there are still people living in hotels, with the FEMA shelter assistance extension running out on June 30."
- "NH court OKs novel pipeline financing approach," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The New Hampshire Supreme Court took a very different stand than its counterpart in Massachusetts on Tuesday, ruling that electric utilities in the Granite State could tap their ratepayers for the money to finance a new natural gas pipeline into the region. The ruling could help resuscitate efforts to build natural gas pipeline projects in New England, but the likelihood those efforts will succeed without financial support from Massachusetts ratepayers is unlikely."
- "Mayor Walsh says a strong UMass Boston is critical, and offers to help," by Adrian Walker, Boston Globe: "Mayor Martin J. Walsh has made an offer to the University of Massachusetts that should be accepted immediately. Walsh has offered to serve on the search committee that is seeking a new president for UMass Boston."
- "Editorial: Restore Motley to UMass Boston chancellor's post," by Bill Forry, Dorchester Reporter: "The university desperately needs a leader, someone with a deep institutional knowledge and- critically - a well-informed vision for what Boston's only public research university can and should be. Until last spring, UMass Boston had that kind of leader in place: Keith Motley."
- "After ransomware attack, tech a likely topic at Leominster budget talks," by Peter Jasinski, Sentinel & Enterprise: "As the School Department's budget is formulated over the coming weeks, school officials expect funding for technology updates to play a part in discussions following the $10,000 ransom they paid to cyber-extortionists last month. The April 14 ransomware attack locked school staff out of their emails, the district's website, and the electronic payment system for student lunches until $10,000 in the digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin was wired to the source of the invasive software. "
MEDIA MATTERS -"Globe Editor Brian McGrory Accused Of Sexual Harassment," by Emily Rooney, WGBH News: "Right after the #MeToo movement picked up a full head of steam last fall, former Boston Globe.com editor Hilary Sargent started firing off tweets and calling people around town, demanding to know why The Boston Globe, which was reporting on everyone else's transgressions, was not reporting on its own. For months, Sargent's accusations were vague, but this week, she dropped the veil and named Globe Editor Brian McGrory as one who had sent her an inappropriate text while she was in the process of writing a story."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Dorchester Reporter editor and publisher Bill Forry.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Red Sox beat the Rays 4-2.
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