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Presented by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
NEW: POPULARITY CONTEST — Gov. Charlie Baker's net approval rating among Massachusetts Democrats is only two percentage points lower than Sen. Elizabeth Warren's approval rating — and three points higher than Sen. Ed Markey's, according to a Morning Consult poll released today.
More broadly, the Republican governor has a 73 percent favorability rating in deep blue Massachusetts, meaning he can hold onto his title as most popular governor in the country for another quarter. Baker's net approval rating among Democrats is +64, while Warren's is +66 and Markey's is +61.
Warren has a 49 percent overall approval rating among Massachusetts voters, and Sen. Ed Markey has a 51 percent approval rating, according to the poll.
Although Baker draws support from the opposing party, Warren can't say the same. The 2020 candidate has the highest opposing party disapproval rating of any senator. Eighty-two percent of Massachusetts Republicans disapprove of Warren, according to the poll. Further, 71 percent of Republicans in the state indicated they strongly disapprove of her.
That being said, Republicans are a much smaller slice of the electorate here than Democrats or independents are. But it's interesting to note Warren's overall disapproval rating among Bay State Republicans is 10 percentage points higher than Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's 72 percent disapproval rating among Democrats in his home state.
Each quarter, Morning Consult polls the approval ratings of elected officials across the country. Morning Consult conducted 472,802 surveys of registered voters across the country from January 1 to March 31 to put together this quarter's rankings. Governor rankings. Senate rankings.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker stocks Jamaica Pond with trout and later highlights the administration's housing legislation in Lawrence.Rep. Richard Neal visits Huntington and Holyoke. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Seth Moulton take their 2020 campaigns to Iowa. The Senate meets in formal session. The House debates the fiscal 2020 budget. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito highlights the Baker administration's housing choice legislation in Hyannis, then makes a Green Communities grant announcement in Shrewsbury and an announcement with the Worcester Red Sox and WPI in Worcester.Boston Mayor Marty Walsh unveils a new playground at Unity Park in Dorchester and makes an announcement regarding housing for homeless residents in Roxbury.
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A message from the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School:
Harvard's John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics is the premier arena for political speech and debate. Upcoming Speakers: Thursday, April 25 at 6PM with Dr. Peter Navarro and Kennedy School Dean Doug Elmendorf; Monday, April 29 at 6PM with Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) and Ash Carter. https://iop.harvard.edu/forum/upcoming |
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Controversial plan on Uber and Lyft at Logan Airport gets governor's backing," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "Governor Charlie Baker on Wednesday endorsed the Massachusetts Port Authority's controversial plan to ban Uber and Lyft from terminal curbs at Logan International Airport, a day before the agency's governing board is expected to vote on the measure. The proposal, which has drawn blowback from the ride-hailing companies and many of their riders, would direct all airport pickups and drop-offs to the airport's central parking garage, while also raising the fees on pickups and imposing new fees on drop-offs."
- "BAKER: MUELLER TESTIMONY SHOULD PRECEDE CALL ON IMPEACHMENT," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service:"Gov. Charlie Baker would like to see special counsel Robert Mueller testify in front of Congress before House Democrats decide whether to pursue impeachment of President Trump, the governor said Wednesday, striking a more cautious note than his former political mentor Bill Weld who called on Trump to resign. Baker has been a frequent critic of Trump's and had lunch this week with possible presidential contender Larry Hogan, a friend and the governor of Maryland, who gave a speech Tuesday in New Hampshire where he said he is "seriously considering" a primary challenge to the president."
- "Feds: Pot use could block citizenship," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Immigrants who use marijuana or work in the recreational or medical pot industries could be denied citizenship, even in states like Massachusetts where use of the drug is legal. That's according to a new directive by the U.S. Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services, which warns prospective immigrants that using state-permitted marijuana or working for cannabis businesses could jeopardize their legal status or efforts to gain citizenship ."
- "Union-backed budget amendment would combat construction wage theft in Massachusetts," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "A union-backed amendment expected to be included in the Massachusetts House budget would increase the attorney general's ability to enforce wage and hour laws in the construction industry. Rep. Dan Cullinane, D-Boston, introduced an amendment that would spend $500,000 to create a specialized unit in the attorney general's office to investigate and enforce wage violations in the construction industry."
- "MassDOT tightens financial controls following Massachusetts State Police abuse of department funding," by Dan Glaun, MassLive.com: "The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has tightened its financial controls and now regularly audits its payments to the Massachusetts State Police after failing to do so as troopers abused MassDOT-funded overtime programs for years. "The Massachusetts Department of Transportation now has an enhanced process flow for financial oversight which includes the MassDOT Auditing Department reviewing reimbursements on a regular basis to see that payments are reconciled with State Police records," MassDOT spokesman Patrick Marvin wrote in a statement."
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| WHAT CITY HALL IS READING |
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- "Michelle Wu driving change in City Hall," by Jessica Heslam, Boston Herald: "City Councilor Michelle Wu wants to fix the city's dismal parking problem, visit all the high schools to learn why some teens underperform all while gearing up for reelection. Then there's that recent Atlantic magazine profile asking if she's "The Next Mayor of Boston?" The 34-year-old mother of two, who said she never aspired to be a politician, is suddenly a hot commodity in City Hall. She's taken on the MBTA — she's against the fare hike — and could aim at Mayor Marty Walsh next, too. I headed to City Hall to ask Wu if she plans to run for mayor in 2021. She didn't say no. But she didn't say yes."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Boston Superintendent Interviews: Santos Speaks From Insider Perspective," by Max Larkin, WBUR: "In the race to become the next superintendent of Boston Public Schools, no finalist knows Boston better than Oscar Santos. Santos is the only BPS alumnus among the three finalists (he graduated from Boston Latin School) and the only former Boston teacher and principal. (He's certainly the only one whose photograph appeared on the front of the Boston Herald, alongside an open letter.)"
- "Stop & Shop owner says 11-day strike cost company about $100 million," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: " The owners of Stop & and Shop said the strike that halted work for 11 days could cost the company upwards of $110 million. Ahold Delhaize, the Dutch ownership group of New England's largest grocery chain announced the strike that stopped work at 415 stores likely cost the store between $90 and $110 million. The company said the losses include lower sales, shrink of seasonal and perishable inventory and additional supply chain costs."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "'All Democrats must be eradicated:' Matthew Haviland charged with threatening to kill Massachusetts professor who supports abortion rights," by Dan Glaun, MassLive.com: "A Rhode Island man is facing federal charges for allegedly sending death, torture and rape threats to a Massachusetts professor who supports abortion rights and has publicly criticized President Donald Trump. "I will kill every Democrat in the world so we never more have to have our babies brutally murdered by you absolute terrorists," 30-year-old Matthew Haviland allegedly wrote in a March 10 email to the professor."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "'Racism and sexism': Women of color slam white male tilt of Dem primary," by Laura Barrón-López, POLITICO: "A procession of Democratic hopefuls took the stage, including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Beto O'Rourke and Cory Booker, and were all asked why women of color should vote for them. Warren won the crowd with her detailed ideas, garnering cheers whenever she said dropped the line, "I have a plan." Sanders got a less enthusiastic reception, though he was praised for showing up. And Harris revved up the crowd when she mocked politicians who've "evolved" on the opioid crisis."
- "Elizabeth Warren fires back at Amazon on Twitter," by Abbi Matheson, Boston Globe: "Senator Elizabeth Warren isn't backing down when it comes to her fight against what she sees as unfair business practices on the part of big technology companies. On Tuesday, an Amazon corporate Twitter account responded to a tweet from the Massachusetts senator, who had shared a video from her New Hampshire CNN Town Hall in which she responded to a question about breaking up big tech companies by using Amazon as an example."
- "THE RISE OF THE LIZ LADS," by Miles Klee, Mel Magazine.Link.
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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- SHOW ME THE MONEY: "Second watchdog group seeks probe of US Representative Lori Trahan's campaign money," by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe: "A Washington D.C.-based watchdog group has called on the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate US Representative Lori Trahan's campaign spending, alleging the freshman lawmaker was either "grossly negligent" or "willfully concealed" the true source of a last-minute infusion of cash into her campaign. Trahan already faces two other federal complaints related to her spending in a heated 10-way Democratic primary when she loaned her campaign $371,000. Trahan did not disclose a key source of the money — a joint bank account with her husband — until after the election, raising questions about her transparency."
- "Rep. Katherine Clark: 'I Have No Reason To Doubt' Rep. Lori Trahan," by Arjun Singh, WGBH News: "Congresswoman Katherine Clark said she stands by Rep. Lori Trahan after a watchdog group accused her of illegally loaning money to her campaign in 2018. After narrowly winning a crowded Democratic primary — by 150 votes — and surviving a highly publicized recount in Massachusetts' third congressional district, Trahan has been accused by the Campaign Legal Center of loaning her campaign $371,000 from unknown sources, and possibly from campaign donations that exceeded the legal limit. Clark said that she has no reason to believe Trahan did anything illicit or suspicious."
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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- "Jeff Sessions speaks at Amherst College, says Mueller decision 'deserves respect,'" by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe:"Former attorney general Jeff Sessions spoke Wednesday night at Amherst College, a controversial appearance that came as the crescendo to a tumultuous semester at the elite liberal arts college, as students and the administration have confronted the boundaries of free speech and political correctness. Sessions was expected to speak about the forces that led to President Trump's election and about issues that will be important in the 2020 election. The event was organized by the Amherst College Republicans in conjunction with Young America's Foundation, a national conservative youth organization ."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "Former state senator Tolman's company developing pot breath test for drivers," by Jonathan Ng, Boston Herald: "Former Watertown state senator and representative Warren Tolman told Boston Herald Radio Wednesday about a new pot breath test that will be a tool for cops in identifying impaired drivers on the road. Tolman, currently the director of business at Hound Labs, said his company is developing a marijuana breath test that will be sold commercially and to law enforcement agencies by the end of the year."
- P.S. If you use medical marijuana or CBD (or if you're a health professional who has worked with it), we want to hear from you. Tell us your story and a reporter might reach out.
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| EYE ON 2020 |
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- GET OUTTA HERE: "Weld: 'If Donald Trump is an American patriot, he should resign,'" by Jamie Ehrlich, CNN: "Republican presidential candidate Bill Weld called on President Donald Trump to resign Wednesday, writing in an op-ed that the country would be "better served with a President Mike Pence." "If Donald Trump is an American patriot, he should resign from office," Weld, the only announced Republican primary challenger to the President, wrote in an op-ed published in The Bulwark, an online platform that publishes conservative commentary."
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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- "Presidential Candidate Moulton Knows He's Not Very Well-Known," by Antony Brooks, WBUR: "Among the challenges facing Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, who announced this week he's joining the crowded field of Democratic candidates for president, is the fact that he's not well-known. It's a fact the North Shore politician is well aware of. Speaking at the Politics & Eggs breakfast Wednesday in Bedford, New Hampshire, Moulton began with a story about touring a company recently in his own district. He said he met with employees and invited them to ask him questions. Nobody did."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "SUPER SHOWDOWN," "HOT IN THE HALL," — Globe :"A warning for aging middle class boomers," "Logan plan for Lyft, Uber backed by Baker." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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- "Springfield-area business leaders talk marijuana, health care, education with state policy leaders," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "Education. Marijuana. Health care. Gambling. Springfield area business leaders traveled to the Statehouse on Wednesday to hear from top policy makers on a range of topics, in an event organized by the Springfield Regional Chamber. "You talk about the economy booming and doing well in the state. Often, we in Western Massachusetts lag behind," said Sen. Jim Welch, D-West Springfield, who co-hosted the trip."
- "Amherst restaurant has liquor license revoked over 'egregious' violations," by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "A downtown restaurant has lost its liquor license after the Board of License Commissioners determined that significant violations of state alcohol laws had occurred there. At a hearing on Wednesday afternoon about Porta, 51 East Pleasant St., the five-member panel voted unanimously to revoke the restaurant's license following testimony from four police officers of repeated violations, which continued to occur even after Porta's license was suspended for three days earlier this month."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Dracut bars local Republicans from marching in Memorial Day parade," by Amaris Castillo, The Lowell Sun: "Last week, the Dracut Republican Town Committee was not allowed to march in the town's Memorial Day Parade on May 27. On Tuesday, they were. Finally, by midday Wednesday, the committee was barred again, turning the festivities into a political hot potato. Town Committee Chairman Brian Genest, in an email to The Lowell Sun, called the decision "... the underbelly of Dracut politics at its worst. The town is trying to pass the buck, which is total nonsense, and the Board of Selectmen should be ashamed of the political tactics they are allowing to silence free speech and our right to march."
- "'It's an absolute nightmare': New Bedford nursing homes among 5 closing," by Jennette Barnes, Standard-Times: "The embattled Bedford Gardens nursing home and four other facilities owned by Skyline Healthcare will close, a state spokeswoman told The Standard-Times Wednesday. "Skyline Healthcare will voluntarily surrender the licenses for each of their five Massachusetts nursing homes," a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said in an email. "The Department of Public Health is working with the licensee on an orderly closure process for these facilities." The other nursing homes to close are Bedford Village Care & Rehabilitation Center in New Bedford, Rockdale Care & Rehabilitation Center in New Bedford, Dighton Care & Rehabilitation in Dighton, and Highland Manor Care & Rehabilitation Center in Fall River."
TRANSITIONS - Thomas Roberts joins Catalant as vice president of worldwide business enablement and insights.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to state Rep. Paul Frost, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, MassTech Collaborative's Garrett Quinn, Tom Springer, Mariah Philips, grad student at Duke and a Rep. Joe Kennedy III alum; and Dimara Coulouras.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Red Sox beat the Tigers 11-4.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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A message from the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School:
The John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics is Harvard University's premier arena for political speech, discussion and debate. The forum hosts heads of state, leaders in politics, government, business, labor and the media, and is free and open to the public. Join us for the following upcoming events:
Ricardo is Dead. Long Live Fair, Balanced, and Reciprocal Trade
Thursday, April 25 - 6:00pm
A presentation on U.S. trade policy by Dr. Peter Navarro, Director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, moderated by Harvard Kennedy School Dean Doug Elmendorf.
A Conversation with Senator Bob Corker: Reflections on a Life of Leadership
Monday, April 29 - 6:00pm
The Hon. Bob Corker (R-TN), former U.S. Senator from Tennessee, discusses his public service and lessons in leadership with former Secretary of Defense and current Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Ash Carter.
https://iop.harvard.edu/forum/upcoming |
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