POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The SENATE’s write way — Advocacy FLYOVER — SALES TAX CUT off legislators’ radars


The SENATE’s write way — Advocacy FLYOVER — SALES TAX CUT off legislators’ radars


05/08/2018 07:37 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
DOING IT THE WRITE WAY - The dominos continue to fall in Stan Rosenberg's former Senate district. The state Senate may not be open to pushing back the filing deadline to allow more candidates onto the ballot, but that's not stopping a growing number of ambitious politicos from announcing write-in campaigns.
Among those waging write-in campaigns: Northampton City Council President Ryan O'Donnell and Central Hampshire Veterans' Services director Steven Connor (who were both seeking the seat opened by Rep. Peter Kocot's death).
Also being approached: newly independent Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose, the current state rep who left the Democratic party earlier this year. Goldstein-Rose told the Greenfield Recorder that while he's not looking at the Senate now, but he would consider it if a strong enough candidate did not arise.
The write-in flurry comes after the Senate released its ethics investigation into Rosenberg the day after the signature-filing deadline to qualify for the ballot this fall - and Rosenberg's adamant stance that he was not only staying in the Senate, but running for re-election. Now, with Rosenberg out, and Democrat Chelsea Kline the lone candidate on the ballot, pent-up political ambition in the Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester District has been uncorked.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Look up! UltraViolet, a women's advocacy group, has commissioned a plane to fly over the Massachusetts State House at noon calling on legislators to support paid family and medical leave and a $15-per-hour minimum wage - Gov. Charlie Baker will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Brookview House, a 12-unit supportive housing project sponsored by Brookview House, Inc., a community-based organization that supports housing programs for homeless families - The Cannabis Control Commission meets.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -

- "Sales tax cut not on radars of state legislative leaders," by Andy Metzger, Greenfield Recorder: "Gov. Charlie Baker gave voice Monday to a potential 'grand bargain' addressing issues raised by ballot questions, but leaders of the House and Senate said reducing the sales tax, the topic of one question, is not in the cards this year. 'I don't think our bodies are going to agree on a lowering of the sales tax. We're concerned about revenue,' Senate President Harriette Chandler said after a meeting with Baker and other legislative leaders."


CHARLIE BAKER: SOUND & FURY SIGNIFYING NOTHING!

- "Charlie Baker MIA on death penalty for cop killers," by Hillary Chabot, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker's campaign-trail rhetoric to reinstate the death penalty for cop killers suddenly falls silent when he's on Beacon Hill, where the Swampscott Republican hasn't filed a single bill to back up his bluster despite two police officers being killed on the job in the last two years."

THIS IS A NO-BRAINER! 

- "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker open to considering 'red flag' gun bill," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, said Monday that he is open to a bill that would let family members petition a judge to temporarily take away someone's gun -- although he would not commit to signing it. The bill, H.3610, sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Decker, D-Cambridge, would let a family or household member go to court and ask a judge to temporarily take away someone's gun because they pose a danger to themselves or others."


- "Baker raps Dems on tax hikes, but stays mum on income surtax," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "Give Republican Gov. Charlie Baker credit for having the discipline to stay on message. No matter how many times he is asked, the governor will not take a position on a major tax increase that has been debated and advanced in two successive legislative sessions after it was put before the General Court by Raise Up Coalition activists who collected tens of thousands of signatures."


- "Immigrants frustrated with Beacon Hill, not just DC," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "After a decision by the Trump administration last week to end protected status for Honduran refugees, immigrant activists put Democrats on Beacon Hill on notice Monday that they want more than just lip service from their state elected leaders. At a rally outside the State House in support of immigrants from Honduras, El Salvador and other countries facing deportation because of actions taken by President Donald Trump, some community leaders said it was not enough for Beacon Hill politicians to offer their rhetorical support."

- "Massachusetts Gaming Commission determines Steve Wynn no longer controls or influences Wynn Resorts," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Casino mogul Steve Wynn no longer has control of Wynn Resorts, according to state regulators at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The regulators determined that Wynn Resorts effectively terminated its relationship with Wynn, who stepped down after the Wall Street Journal reported on a pattern of alleged sexual misconduct."

- "Boston had a plan to tackle evictions. The state just killed it under its tough home rule process," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "The housing advocates began to descend on the State House early Wednesday afternoon for one last push for the Jim Brooks Stabilization Act - a city-backed measure they say could help prevent tenant displacement amid Boston's housing crunch. But then, as advocates prepared to hoist their banner, word began to spread: A legislative committee had just killed the proposal."
- "Love, Power, and the Downfall of Stan Rosenberg," by Simon van Zuylen-Wood, Boston Magazine: "When he was elected to [the Senate presidency], Massachusetts' previous three House speakers had all been convicted of felonies; Rosenberg's Senate, by contrast, became a model of good governance. More remarkable, though, was his downfall."

DATELINE DC -
- "Trump slams Kerry over 'shadow diplomacy' on Iran deal," by Cristiano Lima, POLITICO: "President Donald Trump slammed former Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday for reportedly meeting with foreign officials in a bid to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, calling his 'shadow diplomacy' a 'possibly illegal' act and bashing his role in negotiating the international agreement."

- "Massachusetts congressmen blast federal decision ending protection for Hondurans as 'cruel,' 'un-American'," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: " Days after President Donald Trump's administration decided to end a protective program for Honduran refugees, two of Massachusetts' U.S. congressmen slammed the move as 'cruel.'"
- WOOD WAR - Herald: "CHARLIE PUNTS ON DEATH PENALTY," "BARKING SPOTS" Globe"President lambasts Kerry over Iran talks," "Miniscule creatures, massive concerns," "A FIERY INTRUDER," "Justices lay out colleges' liability over suicides," "As child abuse cases arise, investigators depart," "'THIS IS AMERICA' SATIRE ANYTHING BUT CHILDISH."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "MIT Not Responsible For Student's Suicide, Mass. High Court Rules," by Lynn Jolicoeur, WBUR: "The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled Monday that MIT was not negligent and therefore not responsible for the 2009 suicide of a graduate student on its campus, upholding a lower court's decision. But the court found colleges and universities do hold some responsibility in protecting students from suicide. The case was closely watched in the higher education community, as a ruling against MIT could have changed the landscape in terms of colleges' and universities' responsibility to prevent student suicide."
- "I-Team: Boston Taxpayers Shell Out Millions For Workers Paid To Stay Home While Under Investigation," by Ryan Kath, WBZ CBS Boston: "The I-Team wondered, How many other city employees have remained on the sidelines for months while continuing to collect paychecks? The average time spent on paid leave is about nine months. The average pay on leave is about $72,000."

- "A $3.5b idea: Boost Green Line capacity with new, longer trolley cars," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "With new trains for the Red and Orange lines on the way, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is eyeing its next shiny new cars: a fleet of Green Line trolleys that could vastly increase capacity on the nation's oldest subway line. The MBTA is considering a number of improvements that would overcome longstanding obstacles to using bigger cars on the Green Line, such as short loading platforms and tight turns at some locations."

- "Dems pitch public housing as part of agenda in Southie," by Andy Metzger, State House News Service: "Standing in front of the housing development where he grew up, Congressman Stephen Lynch joined other Democrats Monday calling for a $70 billion investment in public housing around the country over five years. The Democrats' plan hinges on their winning back control in Congress this fall, the pols acknowledged."
- "Off-duty Massachusetts State Police trooper arrested for drunken driving," by Scott J. Croteau, MassLive.com: "An off-duty Massachusetts State Police trooper was arrested for drunken driving Saturday night after troopers received reports of an erratic driver in Lynnfield. State Police confirmed Monday that Alfred G. Burgos, 35, was stopped at the Goodwin Circle Rotary in Lynnfield around 11:40 p.m. Saturday."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to David Brade, regional director for Sen. Markey, and Kelley Greenman, OFA alum and now program manager and research fellow at United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and No! The Celtics lost to the 76ers 92-103.
CALL TO THE POST - FOR THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: "We'll do it Lively." It's GOP week at The Horse Race. First, we recap the Republican state convention with CommonWealth Magazine's Michael Jonas. Then, some zesty candidate insight from two convention delegates: Ed Lyons and Jon Fetherston. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud
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