POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: AFL-CIO enters MA-7 fray — HEALEY’s opioid suit — ‘Fireworks’ expected at Boston AIRBNB hearing
AFL-CIO enters MA-7 fray — HEALEY’s opioid suit — ‘Fireworks’ expected at Boston AIRBNB hearing
06/13/2018 07:05 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
STATE AFL-CIO JUMPS INTO MA-7 FRAY — Another powerful group is sticking with Rep. Michael Capuano as he tries to fend off a primary challenge by Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley: The AFL-CIO of Massachusetts.
The labor union, which has backed Capuano throughout his 20 years in Congress, announced their support in an embargoed-until-midnight press release. And with a near-perfect track record according to the national AFL-CIO's scorecard, Capuano hasn't given any reason for the local affiliate to pull their support for him.
"As a committed champion for the values and principles of the labor movement, Mike has proven time and time again he puts working people first, and will continue to fight for working families in our neighborhoods, and in Washington," said Massachusetts AFL-CIO president Steven Tolman in a statement.
The AFL-CIO of Massachusetts had never backed Pressley in her time on the Boston City Council.
Not all labor is in lockstep behind Capuano in this primary. Pressley has the support of Boston's Hotel and Food Service Union Local 26 and Dorchester's IBEW Local 103.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY — Sen. Elizabeth Warren attends the "We The People" summit in Washington, D.C. to discuss the national progressive agenda — The House meets in formal session — Raise Up Massachusetts rallies in Downtown Crossing to defend the Sunday time-and-a-half pay law.
DATELINE BEACON HILL —
- "'It really makes me mad': AG Maura Healey says 671 died from opioid-related overdoses after filling Purdue prescriptions," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday ripped Purdue Pharma and its board members and executives, saying they must pay for the 'harm and the damage they've caused' in the opioid crisis that has spread across the state and the country. Healey's lawsuit against Purdue, filed in Suffolk Superior Court on Tuesday, alleges that the company's drugs killed hundreds of state residents, and singles out OxyContin as an addictive money-maker for the company, which pushed doctors to prescribe the drug."
CHARLIE BAKER'S MBTA FAIL!
- "Mass. Dems: Baker treating commuters 'like 2nd class citizens,'" by Boston 25 News: "The crux of the MBTA's Green Line shut down Tuesday morning, forcing commuters to pack onto substitute buses or find alternate transportation and prompting widespread outrage. Tuesday afternoon, Massachusetts Democrats blamed the nightmare on Governor Charlie Baker's failure to address the MBTA's issues."
- "Voter registration reform urged for Bay State," by Brian Dowling, Boston Herald: "The day the U.S. Supreme Court backed Ohio's controversial culling of its voter rolls, advocates in Massachusetts pressed for an automatic voter registration bill that would also unleash new policies to clean up Bay State voter lists. A coalition of 42 groups released a letter yesterday addressed to House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo calling for action on a bill that would automatically sign a person up to vote when they interact with a state agency such as the Registry of Motor Vehicles or MassHealth."
CHARLIE BAKER: WHERE ARE YOU?
- "Corruption-riddled state police overtime program remains obscured as MassDOT continues to flout public records law," by Dan Glaun, MassLive.com: "As the number of state troopers accused of abusing overtime programs to pad their paychecks has increased -- from 21, to 30, to 42 -- two major questions remain unanswered. How much money was at stake? And what steps did the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, which funded Massachusetts State Police Troop E's patrols on the Massachusetts Turnpike, take to ensure its money was being spent responsibly?"
CHARLIE BAKER IS INCAPABLE OF LEADING!
- "Baker Administration Gets 'C' Grade On Environmental Efforts For 3rd-Straight Year," by WBUR Newsroom, WBUR:"For the third year in a row, environmental advocacy groups in Massachusetts gave Gov. Charlie Baker an overall C grade for his administration's 'lackluster' work on environmental issues. 'While there is movement and even leadership in some areas, particularly around climate change and resiliency, much of the environmental agenda and EEA [Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs] responsibilities are not getting the attention they deserve,' [the report said.]"
- "Women Lead Ways and Means Committee for 1st Time," by NBC10 Boston: Video.
- "Businesses are still waiting for the millionaires' tax ruling. Here's what's at stake.," by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: "Without a decision, negotiations over three other ballot measures hang in the balance."
- "On Eve Of Marijuana Legalization, Impaired Driving Panel Just Getting Started," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "With legal marijuana sales expected to begin within a month, the commission that is supposed to make recommendations to prevent operating under the influence of marijuana and impaired driving is slated to meet for the first time Wednesday. The Special Commission on Operating Under the Influence and Impaired Driving is expected to go over its mission and work plan Wednesday at the Arlington police station, along with a discussion of various issues related to impaired driving and testing, according to a meeting agenda."
ON THE STUMP —
- "Gov. Charlie Baker's campaign paid for emails sent by MassGOP," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "Gov. Charlie Baker's campaign last year paid a vendor to send emails through the Massachusetts Republican State Committee mailing list, records show, illustrating the close ties between the party and the governor. The issue arises amid a pending lawsuit from Baker's Republican primary opponent over early support of the governor by the party, which has bylaws against helping a candidate in a contested primary."
- "Ayanna Pressley backs ban on citizenship census query," by Antonio Planas, Boston Herald: "Ayanna Pressley has joined a coalition of candidates pledging to support legislation to ban the U.S. Census from asking anyone if they are U.S. citizens. The city councilor and 7th District congressional candidate added if she's elected, she will file legislation 'to ban the citizenship question in future censuses; and I am honored to see so many progressives join me in this fight.'"
- AFT Massachusetts Endorses Jay Gonzalez for Governor, from the Gonzalez campaign: The 25,000-member AFT Massachusetts, one of the state's largest labor unions, today announced their endorsement of Jay Gonzalez for Governor in this year's election. The AFT Massachusetts is the first statewide labor union to make an endorsement in the race for Governor.
- "Moulton unopposed in primary, but faces GOP challenger in the fall," by Ethan Forman, Gloucester Daily Times:"Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton will not face a primary challenge in September, but he will have a Republican opponent, businessman Joseph Schneider of Beverly, in the general election in November. Saugus Republican Carlos Hernandez, who had said he was going to mount a challenge, fell short of the 2,000 signatures needed to get his name on the ballot. Friday was the filing deadline."
THE TSONGAS ARENA —
- "In campaign ad, Rufus Gifford touts ties to Obama," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Rufus Gifford, a former US ambassador to Denmark now vying for the district's open House seat, is launching a cable television ad buy that will stretch at least the next three weeks, pitching the Concord transplant as an optimistic antidote to the Trump administration. The finance director to President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, Gifford touts his ties to Obama in the slick 30-second campaign ad (and a longer 60-second version) that directly targets Trump."
- AFT Massachusetts Endorses L'Italien for Congress, from the L'Italien campaign: The 25,000-member AFT Massachusetts, one of the state's largest labor unions, announced their endorsement of Barbara L'Italien for Congress in this year's election for the Massachusetts Third Congressional District.
- Dan Koh opens campaign office in Hudson, from the Koh campaign: This Saturday, Democratic congressional candidate Dan Koh will hold an office opening for his new campaign office at 55 Central Street in Hudson. Former Hudson State Senator Bob Durand, Mayor Marty Walsh, and other supporters will attend the event. This is Koh's third campaign office: his campaign headquarters is in his hometown of Andover, and he opened an office in downtown Haverhill in early May.
- Candidate Chandler Receives Endorsement From Former State Representative Pat Walrath, form the Chandler campaign: Alexandra Chandler is proud to announce that former Massachusetts State Representative Pat Walrath has endorsed Chandler's candidacy to represent Massachusetts's 3rd Congressional District in Congress. Pat Walrath represented the 3rd Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1985 to 2009, including representing the 3rdCongressional District communities of Bolton, Boxborough, Hudson, Lancaster, Maynard, and Stow, as well as Shirley.
THE WARREN REPORT —
- "Elizabeth Warren: "There are not enough ... Democrats willing to take on the billionaire class,'" by Zaid Jilani and Ryan Grim, The Intercept: "Earlier this year, 17 Senate Democrats joined every Senate Republican in voting to weaken bank regulations put in place after the 2008 financial crisis. In an interview with The Intercept's Mehdi Hasan for his Deconstructed podcast, Warren at first avoided criticizing her Democratic colleagues when asked about that vote. A former bank bailout oversight chief and longtime expert on financial issues, Warren explicitly excoriated her Democratic colleagues for supporting the changes in a last-bid effort to stop them."
- "Area congressional candidate Theresa Gasper backed by Elizabeth Warren," by News staff, Dayton Daily News (Ohio): "Theresa Gasper, the Democrat running against Congressman Mike Turner this fall, landed a major endorsement from Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Monday. Warren is mentioned as a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2020."
WOOD WAR — Herald: "BIG DEAL FOR THE LITTLE GUY," "WALKIN' ON AIR!" — Globe: "Harvard Pilgrim CEO quits suddenly," "Trump gambles on a 'very special bond,'" "No light at end of tunnels," "Suit pending, Harvard goes on offensive," "WE GET THE MESSAGE."
THE LOCAL ANGLE —
- "Expanded north-south rail service from Springfield to begin in June 2019," by Jim Kinney, MassLive.com: "About a year from now, travelers will be able to leave Greenfield on a morning train, make it to Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal in 4 hours, 15 minutes and be assured that there'll be a night train home that same day. The commonwealth of Massachusetts has an agreement with Connecticut authorities and Amtrak to provide on a pilot basis two extended daily CTrail trains from Springfield with stops in Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield."
- "Airbnb rules face Boston City Council 'fireworks,'" by Hillary Chabot, Boston Herald: "Boston City Councilors are expected to clash tomorrow over tweaked restrictions aimed at short-term rentals like Airbnb after a long and contentious back-and-forth regarding the popular booking firm. The updated regulations would allow triple-decker and two-family homeowners in Boston to continue offering unlimited short-term rentals."
- "In a sudden departure, Harvard Pilgrim CEO resigns amid questions about his behavior," by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: "The longtime leader of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, the state's second-largest commercial health insurer, abruptly resigned Tuesday for what the company said was behavior "inconsistent" with its values. The company declined to specify what led to the departure of Eric H. Schultz, who had been chief executive and president of the Wellesley-based insurer since 2010, succeeding Charlie Baker."
- "UMass Dartmouth enters pact with Portugal," by Andy Metzger, State House News Service: "Proclaiming a 'multilateral world' and prescribing one way to keep populists from power, the president of Portugal on Monday announced an agreement between institutions in his nation and the University of Massachusetts. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visited the State House for a celebration of Portuguese-American heritage and spoke to dignitaries and Bay State residents in the House chamber."
- "For Many Year-Round Nantucket Renters, Housing Is Getting Harder (And Harder) To Find," by Sarah Tan, WCAI: "Nantucket is gearing up for the summer season, when it becomes a prime vacation destination. But for a portion of the island's year-round population, it's when finding housing becomes a squeeze."
- "Some say Braintree traffic would go from bad to worse if Amazon opens shipping center," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "Some of the busiest roads on the South Shore could become even more clogged, thanks to fleets of Amazon delivery trucks shuttling packages to your door. That has some people in Braintree saying 'no thanks' to a massive distribution center the retail giant is planning for their town."
- "Catching up with the LA Olympics, and wondering what could have been in Boston," by Shirley Leung, Boston Globe:"I can't help but get wistful when I hear Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti gush about hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics. Those were the Games that could have been Boston's had we not self destructed, paving the way for LA to win the bid."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Catherine McLaughlin.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! — The Red Sox beat the Orioles 6-4.
ICYMI - THE HORSE RACE PODCAST: There were some unexpected twists at the Democratic Convention last weekend. MassLive's Gintautas Dumcius joins us to discuss the upset in the Secretary of State's race, and State House News Service reporter Katie Lannan breaks down the top-ticket governor's race. Then, Steve highlights parts of the latest WBUR poll, and answers audience questions. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud
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