POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: DELEGATION turns screws on TRUMP’s immigration policy — SJC Millionaire’s Tax ruling expected today — Is BAKER beatable?
DELEGATION turns screws on TRUMP’s immigration policy — SJC Millionaire’s Tax ruling expected today — Is BAKER beatable?
06/18/2018 07:18 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Stay cool today because man, it's a hot one. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory today for most of the state thanks to forecast heat index values around 100 degrees.
DELEGATION PRESSES TRUMP OVER IMMIGRATION POLICY — Massachusetts' Democratic delegation has swung into action to pressure the Trump administration amid the national furor over its zero-tolerance immigration policy enforcement that separates children from their parents.
Rep. Joe Kennedy III was among the electeds who highlighted the issue on Father's Day, traveling to Tornillo, Texas, with Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who is challenging Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. The two Democrats sought to inspect a facility but were denied entry. Kennedy compared those fleeing violence in Central America now locked up in these detention centers to his family's decision to come to this country from Ireland.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized the policy in her Newburyport town hall on Saturday, saying Trump needs to own the immigration policy enforced by his administration, and taking issue with the current interpretation: "It sure as heck doesn't believe that mothers who come to our borders asking for our asylum should have their babies ripped out of their arms," Warren said. Recently, Warren became choked up in an interview after being shown an emotional video of a child reunited with a parent after being separated at the border.
Sen. Ed Markey kicked things off on Friday with a press conference railing against the policy, saying "family separation is a new low in inhumanity for the Trump administration." And Rep. Richard Neal, in a statement put out on Friday, called the policy "contrary to our basic American values and beliefs."
And as discussion of the policy raged around the country, some in Massachusetts took to the streets. A Father's Day vigil outside of the ICE facility in Boston drew hundreds to call attention to the issue.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to call on Democrats to work with him to pass immigration reform on Saturday. "Democrats can fix their forced family breakup at the Border by working with Republicans on new legislation, for a change!" he tweeted, in a false assertion of blame for the policy.
On Sunday, current and former First Ladies spoke out. Former First Lady Laura Bush wrote the zero-tolerance policy is "cruel. ... It is immoral. And it breaks my heart." Even First Lady Melania Trump said through her office that she "hates to see children separated from their families," and that "she believes we need to be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with heart."
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY — A ruling from the Supreme Judicial Court on the so-called Millionaire's Tax is expected to be announced this morning. With the Supreme Judicial Court's self-imposed deadline for its decisions falling on Saturday, today marks the last business day within the high court's 130-day window — Gov. Charlie Baker, LG Karyn Polito, Rep. Seth Moulton, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Residences at Brighton Marine, a mixed-income housing development for veterans — Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco hosts Clean Energy Future Advocacy Day.
NEVER MIND! CHARLIE BAKER IS TOO BUSY FLASHING THAT WHITE TOOTHED SMILE, GLAD-HANDING AND FUND-RAISING TO DO HIS JOB! DON'T BOTHER HIM WITH FACTS!
DATELINE BEACON HILL —
- "Paychecks balloon on Gov. Baker's watch," by Hillary Chabot, Boston Herald: "A Herald review of state comptroller records found dozens of employees at the little-known agencies earned more than $200,000 in 2017, pocketing thousands of dollars in bonuses, while executive directors at some agencies have raked in tens of thousands of dollars in raises since Baker took office — reversing reforms that were pushed through by his Democratic predecessor."
- "DraftKings, tech sector lobby for sports betting in Massachusetts," by Jordan Graham, Boston Herald: "DraftKings and one of the state's powerful technology industry associations is advocating for Massachusetts to legalize sports betting, arguing the new industry would boost the state's tech sector. ''We definitely see some opportunity for Massachusetts-based companies or even companies that are yet to exist to benefit from sports wagering, all those things, cybersecurity, AI, data analytics,' said Mark Gallagher, vice president of policy and governmental affairs for the Massachusetts High Technology Council."
ON THE STUMP —
- "Why Charlie Baker is beatable," by John Walsh, CommonWealth Magazine: "People frequently ask me about the race for governor this November. Their interest often gets boiled down to one question: "Is Charlie Baker beatable?" They usually make clear that they're pretty sure the answer is no. They are certainly not alone in that view."
- "The Last Time Democrats Faced A Moment Like This, Deval Patrick Decided To Run," by Darren Sands, BuzzFeed News: "In 2004, Massachusetts Democrats were devastated by John Kerry's loss, one that rendered the national party rudderless and confused after an election they'd been sure they'd win. The party struggled with its identity and direction. The party still couldn't agree on what happened. Was a Vermont progressive who'd lost the primary the new, more viable direction for the party? It was then that Deval Patrick decided he would get out of the private sector, back into politics, and run for executive office."
THE WARREN REPORT —
- "Sens. Warren And Gardner On Why Marijuana Policy Should Be Left To States," by WBUR: "A bipartisan bill that would allow states to pass their own marijuana laws without interference from the federal government is gaining momentum in Congress. It's an issue because the Department of Justice, under Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has returned to prosecuting marijuana as a banned substance, even though recreational cannabis is legal in 10 states and most states allow it for medical use."
THE KENNEDY COMPOUND —
- "Joe Kennedy protests Trump's family-separation policy near 'tent city' for children," by Liz Goodwin, Boston Globe: "Representative Joe Kennedy III joined protesters at the Texas border Sunday and blasted President Trump for separating migrant children from their parents, comparing those fleeing violence in Central America to his own ancestors who left Ireland generations ago. 'My family, on both sides — this is how we came to this country,' the Massachusetts Democrat told the Globe in a phone interview Sunday."
MOULTON MATTERS —
- "U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton And His Wife Announce They Are Expecting Their First Child," by the Associated Press:"U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton used Father's Day to announce some personal news. Moulton said he and his wife Liz Boardman are expecting their first child — a girl — in the fall."
- "Rep. Seth Moulton calling for new leadership on Capitol Hill: On The Record," by WSCVB 5: "VIDEO: The Massachusetts congressman wants a new generation of leadership in the Democratic Party, which begs the question. Will he take on President Trump in 2020?"
WOOD WAR — Herald: "NUCCI FINDS HIS MATCH" "OUT OF $IGHT!" — Globe: "Taking Kennedy legacy to border fight," "Lawyer's City Hall ties raise questions," "MIA: VA accountability," "Inheritance delivers a tax mess," "THE ART OF TRAVEL IN THE AGE OF TRUMP."
THE LOCAL ANGLE —
- "Questions raised about City Hall ties of outside counsel investigating Fire Department," by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: "An outside counsel hired by the city to independently review the Boston Fire Department's handling of harassment and misconduct allegations has a long history of representing City Hall in employment disputes — including a current racial harassment case involving a black male firefighter. Mayor Martin J. Walsh ordered the investigation last month, after a Globe story detailed complaints from six current and former female firefighters who chronicled a pattern of harassment, sexism, and discrimination on the force."
- "Cash-only possible for first pot sales in Mass.," by Dan Adams, Boston Globe: "The first stores licensed to sell recreational marijuana in Massachusetts should be open in a few weeks. But anyone hoping to plunk down $60 for an eighth of an ounce of weed might have to leave the plastic at home and bring some twenties instead. With the July debut of the legal pot industry fast approaching, not a single financial institution in the state has stepped forward to say it will provide banking services to companies that grow, process, or sell marijuana products for recreational use."
Massachusetts Taxpayers are subsidizing a FREE Silver Line and that's not enough?
Where is Charlie Baker who was gonna solve PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION?
SEAPOST is wonderful...why are we encouraging jobs/construction in an area that is FLOOD PRONE?
- "The Seaport gondola idea isn't dead yet," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "The Boston Planning and Development Agency announced this week it would review the vexing topic of Seaport transportation problems. Again. The agency is planning to spend $400,000 studying transit options in a neck of Boston that has become so difficult to access that some are suggesting sailing over clogged streets."
- "Hard for women to break into legal marijuana business," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "Women looking to break into the legal weed business are bumping up against a green ceiling. "There is a huge disparity between the number of white male owners and female and minority owners in this industry," said Ashley Corrado, founder of GRNwire, an online community for people in the cannabis industry."
CHARLIE BAKER'S BENEFACTORS:
- "Eric Schultz a steady financial supporter of top officials," by Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald: "Former Harvard Pilgrim CEO Eric Schultz, who mysteriously quit for undisclosed violations of the company's "code of conduct," has donated nearly $37,000 to Bay State pols — who have been noticeably quiet about Schultz's departure. Among Schultz's biggest benefactors are Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who have received a total of $4,800 from the departed health care executive, records show."
- "Globe, after extensive review, suspends columnist," by Michael Levenson, Boston Globe: "The Boston Globe said Friday that it will suspend columnist Kevin Cullen without pay for three months after an examination of his work found significant problems in a series of radio interviews and some public remarks he made in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. When he returns, Cullen will work as a general assignment reporter for the first two months before returning to his role as a columnist, Globe publisher John W. Henry and editor Brian McGrory wrote in a statement."
MAZEL! - to Betsy Gwin and Michael Firestone for their weekend wedding - N.Y. Times: "The bride, who is 34 and known as Betsy, is the associate director of the Veterans Legal Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, where she was recently appointed as a lecturer on law. She graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse and received a law degree from Georgetown. She is also a member of the Emerging Leaders Board of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. ... The groom, also 34, is an assistant attorney general and chief of staff to Maura Healey, the Massachusetts attorney general. He previously served as Ms. Healey's campaign manager and as field director for the 2012 campaign of Senator Elizabeth Warren. He graduated from Harvard, from which he also received a law degree." With a pic https://nyti.ms/2JLQVuz
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? — Yes! The Red Sox beat the Mariners 9-3.
FRESH OUT OF THE GATE - THE HORSE RACE PODCAST: The statewide candidates are locked -- so who exactly are they? This week we breakdown the bios of the Republican Senate candidates with the Springfield Republican's Shannon Young, and Michael Bonner of the Cape Cod Times highlights Peter Tedeschi, who's challenging Rep. Bill Keating in the 9th congressional district. Then Andy Metzger of State House News returns for an update on the Grand Bargain and the continuing wait for a court ruling on the Fair Share ballot question. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud
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