POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: MOULTON goes local — CBC backs CAP — WYNN’s holding on Boston casino

MOULTON goes local — CBC backs CAP — WYNN’s holding on Boston casino

05/18/2018 07:26 AM EDT

By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) and Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)

TGIF, MASSACHUSETTS.

MOULTON GOES LOCAL — The two Democratic candidates for governor leaned on their experience in their first high-profile debate yesterday, but one member of Congress isn't exactly bullish about his party's prospects against Gov. Charlie Baker this fall.

"I have been outspoken in my disagreements with Governor Baker, more than some of the other Democrats in the state," Rep. Seth Moulton said yesterday in a sit-down with POLITICO, when asked about his thoughts on who the party has put up against Baker. "I really took him to task on Syrian refugees. But I've also worked very closely with Governor Baker on shared priorities, and I know there are a lot of Democrats in the state who are supporting him. I think that he is a governor who very much tries to be bipartisan."

Moulton also reflected on his own race for Congress, recalling the threats of retaliation he and his staffers faced back in 2012 as he challenged incumbent Democrat John Tierney — that they would never work in Massachusetts politics again. Moulton said that with this year's wave of challenges to incumbents, he felt now that "things have changed a little bit. People paid attention to what has happened in my race and that did change the atmosphere a little bit, but it hasn't changed enough. And there's still very much an establishment Democratic political machine in Massachusetts that is hard to break into and hard to break through, and fundamentally that's just not good for the future of our party. What private sector business actively discourages talent from applying? ... But that's kind of what the party does. So I do think it is getting better but there is a ways to go."

Moulton is staying out of the highest-profile race between Rep. Michael Capuano and Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, but said he's got an "open door policy" when it comes to candidates — and that he's been in touch with a number of the contenders for Rep. Niki Tsongas' seat in the Merrimack Valley.

Moulton is also supportive of the so-called millionaire's tax, should it make it to the November ballot. "I do think it would be helpful," he said. "It's a little bit of a blunt instrument but rising income inequality is something this country faces writ large. It pervades so many things we do."

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 delivers the commencement speech at Cape Cod Community College's Project Forward, a school-to-work program for students with disabilities. He'll later headline a fundraiser for the Peter Tedeschi, the Republican taking on Rep. Bill Keating — Sen. Elizabeth Warren delivers Quinsigamond Community College's commencement speech in Worcester — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts holds its annual meeting in Boston.

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ON THE STUMP —

- NEW THIS MORNING: "Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee endorses Rep. Capuano for re-election," from the Capuano campaign: "The Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee (CBCPAC) today endorsed U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano for re-election. In its endorsement, the CBCPAC highlighted Rep. Capuano's commitment to creating opportunities for communities of color in his district and across the U.S., and his progressive record of fighting for civil rights, affordable housing, healthcare, transportation equity and gender pay equity; as well as his commitment to fighting back against the bigoted policies of the Trump Administration."

- "Campaign notebook: Diehl says he supports Baker for governor," by Mark Sullivan, Telegram & Gazette Staff: "Before the recent Massachusetts Republican State Convention, a letter to delegates endorsing Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito for re-election was signed by every Republican state lawmaker except one. The only one not to sign was state Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, who went on to win the convention endorsement for U.S. Senate."

- "Senate candidate Kingston cuts staff pay," by Frank Phillips, Boston Globe: "Now that the GOP convention is over, it's time for US Senate candidate John Kingston to enjoy the warmth of some sunny Southern beaches. But first the Republican — one in a trio seeking to oust Elizabeth Warren — had some business to resolve."

- "Warren challenger ends lawsuit over 'fake Indian' sign," by Associated Press: "US Senate candidate in Massachusetts is ending a lawsuit he'd filed against a city that asked him to remove a sign from a campaign bus reading: 'Only a REAL INDIAN Can Defeat the Fake Indian.' In a court filing Thursday, [Shiva] Ayyadurai asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the city of Cambridge has rescinded its enforcement order."

THE TSONGAS ARENA —

- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Tom McKean, chairman of Concord Select Board, endorses Dan Koh for Congress, from the Koh campaign: Tom McKean, Chairman of the Concord Select Board, today endorsed Dan Koh in the Third District congressional race. McKean has served on the Select Board since 2016. He previously had served on the Concord Board of Health Committee, as well as Chairman of the Concord Cable Committee.

- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Fitchburg, Gardner Democratic Committee Chairs Endorse Rufus Gifford, from the Gifford campaign: Patricia Vacca Martin, Chair of the Fitchburg Democratic City Committee, and Brad Heglin, Chair of the Gardner Democratic City Committee, have endorsed Rufus Gifford for Congress. Martin said, "I think he is the one candidate who can actually bring people together and help get government working again so it makes people's everyday lives better." Heglin said, "Rufus is a genuine and authentic politician and someone who actually wants to listen, learn, and represent the interests of his constituents. I've seen him in Gardner and Worcester County more times than I can count, and that means a lot."

- "Dan Koh's family taught him government 'should be a force for good'," by Chris Fuchs, NBC News: "More than three years into his role as Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's chief of staff, Dan Koh had no intention of leaving. But that changed when U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, a Massachusetts Democrat, announced her retirement in August."

DATELINE BEACON HILL —

- "Kulik: Pipeline resistance strong in House," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The leader of the anti-pipeline forces in the House said on Wednesday that the coalition remains strong and could probably defeat any legislative bid to have electric ratepayers finance a new natural gas pipeline. 'There's still a lot of resistance,' said Rep. Stephen Kulik of Worthington, the vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee."

- "How Capeless plotted succession plan," by Colman M. Herman, CommonWealth Magazine: "David Capeless worked closely with Gov. Charlie Baker to choreograph the handoff of his job as Berkshire Country district attorney to a top aide, going so far as to pull nomination papers for himself to throw reporters off the scent. Emails obtained from the district attorney's office under the Public Records Law indicate Capeless was concerned that reporters might learn of his scheme if they discovered he wasn't running for reelection."

- "Bill breathes new life to Navy birthplace claims," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "There's little debate that the U.S. Navy was conceived nearly 250 years ago with an act of the Continental Congress. As to its birthplace, well, that's complicated. Six communities — most notably, Marblehead and Beverly — have claimed to be the cradle of the Navy, but the issue has yet to be resolved."

WOOD WAR — Herald: "NO TIME FOR 'MONEY CRIME,'" MARKLE MANIA!" — Globe: "No end in sight for Mueller probe," "NCAA softens stance on sports betting ban," "SEEKING THE STARTUP VIBE," "'Manels' have no place in business," "From the Markles, uninvited antics."

THE LOCAL ANGLE —

- "Off the table: Wynn Resorts declines offers from MGM, Caesars to buy Encore Boston Harbor," by Michelle Williams, MassLive.com: "After weeks of engaging in talks about the potential sale of Encore Boston Harbor, insiders say the deal is off the table. Wynn Resorts is keeping its Boston-area casino project, reports the New York Post — which broke news of the initial talks — citing two sources 'with direct knowledge' of the plans."

- "Developer wins approval for its Winthrop Square tower," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "Millennium Partners still has a few details to work out on the 690-foot tower it wants to build on the site of the Winthrop Square Garage, but the long-planned project just cleared a key hurdle. The Boston Planning & Development Agency board approved Millennium's skyscraper Thursday night, more than two years after the agency and the Walsh Administration kicked off a competition to find a developer for the shuttered downtown garage."

Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson doesn't seem able to do his job beyond supporting extremist views. Where are the statistics beyond the inflammatory rhetoric? Not there! 

- "Sheriff Hodgson: 'People dying almost every day at hands of illegals'," by Michael Bonner The Standard-Times: "Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson traveled to the nation's capital Wednesday to voice support for the program that allows local law enforcement to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hodgson joined a panel that supported the 287g program, which through a partnership with ICE allows law enforcement authority for immigration enforcement within their jurisdictions."

- "UMass, Mount Ida close on real estate acquisition that shuts down private college," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "It's a done deal: University of Massachusetts officials closed on the controversial real estate deal allowing the acquisition of Mount Ida College in Newton, Mass. Under the agreement signed Thursday, UMass Amherst is acquiring the small private college's buildings, equipment and its 74 acres in tiny Newton, eight miles away from downtown Boston."

- "Housing: Boston City Hall Versus The Market," by Adam Reilly, WGBH News: "Boston's overheated real-estate market is already changing its fundamental character, and there's grave concern that, in the future, lower- and middle-class people simply won't be able to call the city home. Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis speak with Boston City Councilors Lydia Edwards and Michelle Wu, who say there's still time to craft policies to keep that from happening — and describe in detail what they think needs to be done."

- "Boston mayor: Airbnb's public relations push 'not way to go'," by Dan Atkinson, Boston Herald: "Airbnb and its critics are gearing up for a final push next week, as the City Council prepares to vote on strict new short-term rental regulations — but Mayor Martin J. Walsh is slamming the latest PR efforts from the home-sharing giant as 'ginning up opposition' against city officials."

- "Cape Cod Restaurants Brace For (Another) Tough Summer Without Enough Foreign Workers," by Jason Margolis, WGBH News: "Last summer was rough for restaurants, hotels and other tourist shops that couldn't find enough seasonal workers. Most businesses there rely on foreign workers who come to the US on H-2B visas — those are temporary, non-immigrant visas given to seasonal employees. With record demand, it's proving to be not nearly enough."

- "Immigrant living in sanctuary of Amherst church forced to leave after medical emergency," by Michael Levenson, Boston Globe: "It was Monday night when Lucio Perez doubled over in pain. For most people, this would mean an immediate trip to the hospital for routine surgery. But Perez is in the country illegally and has spent the past seven months sheltered at a church in Amherst, wearing a GPS device on his ankle that alerts immigration officials to his every move."

- "The Dramatic Transformation Of Transportation In Boston," by Paula Ebben, WBZ CBS Boston: "Boston traffic. It's the worst. Well, actually it's the 14th worst, just ahead of Istanbul. So, how did we get here? Well, the truth is, it's always been kind of a disaster."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to POLITICO's national security editor and Boston Globe alum Bryan Bender and Billerica state Rep. Marc Lombardo.

HAPPY BIRTWEEKEND — to NBC Boston political reporter Alison King, State House News scribe Katie Lannan, Eagle-Tribune beat reporter Kiera Kathleen Blessing, Emerge Massachusetts' Haley McFarland, who all celebrate on Saturday and to Sunday birthdayers state Rep. Juana Matias, Chris Walsh of Framingham, Dorchester's own Erin Murphy, Government Relations Group owner Joseph Giannino, Joe Schatz (father of POLITICO States Editor Joe Schatz) out in Acton, and POLITICO's Rebecca Morin.

DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! - The Red Sox crushed the Orioles 6-2.

FRESH OUT OF THE GATE - THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: Pastor turned politician Scott Lively surprised some in the GOP establishment when he secured a spot on the ballot for the Republican gubernatorial primary. WGBH reporter and co-host of The Scrum Adam Reilly digs into who Lively is, and how he plans to cover the candidate. Then we look west with the Springfield Republican's Shannon Young to check in on the primary challenge to Congressman Richard Neal (MA-1). Plus POLITICO's Steve Shepard and our co-host Steve Koczela get their nerd on explaining a new experiment in exit polls. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud

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** A message from Bay State Wind: Bay State Wind's global expertise is keeping us at the forefront of the permitting process. With eight geophysical, geotechnical, visual, benthic and avian assessment surveys completed to date in our lease area and along our proposed cable route, and the largest geophysical and geotechnical survey campaign in Ørsted's history starting this month, we are proactively gathering the data necessary for a complete and sufficient Construction and Operations Plan. Bay State Wind was the first to receive BOEM approval for our Site Assessment Plan and the only project to be designated under the Department of Interior's Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41) program. We have the credibility to deliver on-time development and construction. Bay State Wind is the clear choice for Massachusetts. More at baystatewind.com **

To view online:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/massachusetts-playbook/2018/05/18/moulton-goes-local-cbc-backs-cap-wynns-holding-on-boston-casino-271160

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