11/30/2017 07:10 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: HITTING THE AIRWAVES IN THE CENTRAL MASS. SPECIAL - We're less than a week away from the final special election of the year: the race to replace outgoing Democratic state Sen. Jenn Flanagan. And in a hint of of how close the race could be, Democrat Sue Chalifoux Zephir's campaign today will begin running a 30-second TV ad, targeted to "key groups" in the central Mass. district, the campaign tells me.
This is the first TV advertisement in any of the local special elections this fall by my count - the campaign would not disclose the size of the cable ad buy, which will run through Election Day on Tuesday. Chalifoux Zephir, who has raised $25,000 since primary day, has also spent $42,000, putting her campaign nearly $7,000 in debt, according to campaign finance filings on Nov. 27.
The Worcester and Middlesex-based seat has been held by Democrats since 1974, but the party isn't believed to have an absolute lock on the seat in what's expected to be a low-turnout election. This swath of the state has increasingly become a conservative stronghold, and in the 11-town state senate district that includes Leominster and Fitchburg, Donald Trump won both Westminster and Sterling. Also in the race: Republican Dean Tran, Green-Rainbow party candidate Charlene DiCalogero and unenrolled candidate Claire Freda, a Leominster city councilor.
Like other races, the state's big names have all mobilized for their preferred candidates - on Saturday, Sen. Ed Markey and AG Maura Healey will hit the stump for Chalifoux Zephir, joining the ranks that have including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Niki Tsongas, and more.
Gov. Charlie Baker and central Mass.'s own LG Karyn Polito have both campaigned for Tran, with Baker visiting the district as recently as last night. And the stakes are high. This is the the last of three special elections this year that MassGOP has identified as competitive, and the party is currently 0-2 following the special races in the Bristol-Norfolk district and the Third Essex.
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 will present the Jennifer Eddy Community Leadership Award to Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll for her dedication to young people and outstanding commitment to providing workforce opportunities to the area's youth - Rep. Katherine Clark, Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Massachusetts Building Trades Council, and Ironworkers Local 7 hold a rally and reception for Wisconsin's Randy "Ironstache" Bryce in Arlington, according to State House News. Bryce, a veteran and union member, is running to unseat House Speaker Paul Ryan - Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil mark 100 years of friendship between Boston and Nova Scotia at the 76th annual Boston Common Christmas tree lighting.
** A message from New England Clean Power Link: Poised to supply Massachusetts with 1,000 MW of clean, renewable power, the New England Clean Power Link is ready to roll. The only project with a Presidential Permit, full site control and full host state support, the innovative buried project will help Massachusetts meet its legislative requirements for lower carbon emissions. More **
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Special budget for pot agency surfaces in the House," by Katie Lannan, State House News: "Cannabis Control Commission Chairman Steven Hoffman said Tuesday he felt "very good" about the fledgling agency's chances of getting more money soon from lawmakers, and it now looks like that feeling was warranted. ... A spending bill began moving through the House Ways and Means Committee just after 5 p.m. Wednesday, appropriating $2.7 million for the operations of the commission charged with standing up the state's new legal marijuana industry."
- "Lt. Gov. Polito lauds business efforts to combat domestic violence," by Kim Ring, Worcester Telegram: "Employers Against Domestic Violence, a nonprofit group that encourages businesses to get involved and help victims and survivors of domestic, heard Tuesday from Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito at the YWCA of Central Massachusetts as she advocated for the program that is starting in Massachusetts. Courtney Cahill, chief of the domestic violence unit for Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, is president of Employers Against Domestic Violence. She said during the launch that the program is a grass-roots effort that will eventually engage '10,000 businesses.'"
- "Rosenberg wants sales tax cut off 2018 ballot," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "When Senate President Stanley Rosenberg votes in next year's statewide election, he plans to fill in the bubble for the Democratic nominee for governor and see his own name on the ballot again. There's one thing Rosenberg hopes he won't see on the 2018 ballot: a question that would lower the state's sales tax from 6.25 percent to 5 percent. And he might have a willing partner on a deal in the Retailers Association of Massachusetts."
- FROM THE ED BOARD - "The secrets of Governor Charlie Baker," by the Boston Globe editorial board: "Public records, especially the governor's, should belong to the public. But even after a much-hyped reform last year, the state's laws for disclosure still have multiple exemptions and loopholes that allow key government agencies, including the governor's office, to routinely withhold information."
TRUMPACHUSETTS -
- LETTERS FROM WORCESTER - "Mayor Petty and City Manager Augustus Stand Against Provisions in Proposed Federal Tax Reform" from Petty's office: "Today Mayor Joseph M. Petty and City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. sent a joint letter to Congressman James P. McGovern, as well as Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, explaining that they have concerns about the proposed federal tax reform bill, specifically language that would have negative effects on the City of Worcester and its residents." Read the letter here.
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren propose $146 billion 'Marshall plan' for Puerto Rico," by Aída Chávez, The Intercept: "Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday unveiled a massive $146 billion 'Marshall Plan' for Puerto Rico with several other senators. The plan includes immediate relief for the island's cash-strapped government, billions more for economic development, renewable energy, and Medicaid and Medicare parity, a key priority for the island."
MOULTON MATTERS -
- "Massachusetts lawmaker slams reported $17.2 million in congressional settlement payments, urges Congress to protect victims," by Shannon Young, Masslive.com: "Following several high-profile allegations of sexual harassment and abuse on Capitol Hill, one Massachusetts lawmaker took issue this week with the reported $17.2 million spent on congressional settlements over the last 20 years, urging House and Senate lawmakers to better protect victims - not abusers. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, slammed a recently released Congressional Office of Compliance report, which noted that it has spent more than $17 million on 264 settlements and awards to federal employees for violations of various employment rules, including sexual harassment, since 1997."
ON THE STUMP -
- THERE'S ALWAYS A MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTION - Tweet from Chelsea Handler: "Excited to announce that I'm co-chairing the @emilyslist Creative Council. Working with co-chair @pbernon, I'm going to help reach new voters to support pro-choice women and it feels like there's no better place to be right now. Let's do this together." - Paul Bernon is a Wellesley resident and has served as finance chair for both Deval Patrick and Martha Coakley.
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
- "Rivera formally endorses Matias for 3rd District seat," by Lisa Kashinsky, Eagle-Tribune: "Mayor Daniel Rivera is formally endorsing state Rep. Juana Matias in her bid for Congress. Matias, 30, is running for the 3rd District seat U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, is giving up after a decade. Matias, a Lawrence Democrat, pulled off a major upset last year when she defeated then-state Rep. Marcos Devers for his 16th Essex District seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "THE $1M QUESTION," "B'S LIGHT IT UP!" - Globe: "Trump shares anti-Muslim videos online," "Boston on-track to ban single-use bags," "Walsh blames Chang, past mayor for audit," "It already looks a lot like Christmas," "'Today' host Lauer fired over sexual misconduct."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Trooper lawsuit targets Worcester DA's office," by James F. Russell, Worcester Telegram: "One of the two federal lawsuits filed against top state police officials, involving accusations that troopers were told to alter records detailing the arrest of a judge's daughter, was amended Tuesday and promises to name as defendants employees in the office of Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. The amended complaint of Trooper Ryan Sceviour indicates personnel from the state police and the Worcester district attorney's office would be individually sued. The amended complaint also drops Trooper Sceviour's claim to damages as a whistleblower."
- "Tickets still on sale for Garrison Keillor performance in Pittsfield, despite WAMC backing out of event," by Shannon Young, Masslive.com: "Garrison Keillor, the former host of A Prairie Home Companion, is scheduled to take the stage in Pittsfield Wednesday -- just hours after Minnesota Public Radio announced his firing over allegations of inappropriate behavior. Tickets for the evening event at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield remained on sale as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, despite Northeast Public Radio station WAMC announcing it would no longer participate in sponsoring the performance."
- "Evans: Sexual Harassment Not A 'Serious Issue' In The BPD, Few Cases Result In Firings," by Tori Bedford, WGBH: "Police Commissioner Bill Evans says the Boston police force has dealt internally with several cases of inappropriate misconduct within the past two years, though it's 'not a serious problem' department-wide. 'We take it very seriously,' Evans said in an interview with Boston Public Radio Wednesday. "I know of at least two or three people in the last couple of years for inappropriate conduct, they were facing disciplinary action and we worked out for them to go away."
- FROM THE ED BOARD: "Editorial: Yes, it's a big deal," by the Boston Herald: "One thing that angers taxpayers is when public officials pat them on the head and tell them there's nothing to worry about - when it's obvious that there is. The Boston Public Schools have run into big problems with the IRS, and it turns out Superintendent Tommy Chang didn't inform the mayor or the School Committee about it in a timely way. That ought to have officials incensed - but at least outwardly, well, it doesn't seem that way."
- "Worcester panel favors 15 pot shops at most, and 3% local tax on marijuana sales," by Nick Kotsopoulos, Worcester Telegram: "Tuesday night, the Economic Development Committee unanimously endorsed those recommendations made by City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. as part of an overall package he submitted to the City Council detailing how the city should respond to the new state law that allows sale and use of marijuana."
- "Harvard, Yale to play The Game at Fenway Park next year," by Associated Press: "One of college football's oldest rivalries will be visiting major league baseball's oldest ballpark. The Game between Harvard and Yale will be played at Fenway Park next year. It's the first new site for the longtime football rivals since 1912."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Chris Dempsey, VP at Mesabi and former No Boston Olympics co-chair; accessibility advocate Christopher Hart; Boston Globe editor in chief Brian McGrory; and Will Keyser, founder of Keyser Public Strategies.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! - The Bruins topped the Lightning 3-2.
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** A message from New England Clean Power Link : Poised to supply Massachusetts with 1,000 MW of clean, sustainable power, the New England Clean Power Link is ready to roll. The only project with a Presidential Permit, full site control and full host state support, the innovative buried project will help Massachusetts meet its legislative requirements for lower carbon emissions. The entire line will travel underground and underwater, and is expected to deliver low-cost electricity to the Commonwealth over the next 40 years. Massachusetts can expect to reap $19.9 billion in benefits over the next 20 years alone, while ratepayers can expect to save $655 million a year in energy costs. Most importantly, the project is 100% privately financed and comes with a fixed-price bid, protecting taxpayers and ratepayers alike from any cost overruns. The project's developers have also established a $20 million fund to assist low-income ratepayers in western Massachusetts. More **
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