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Presented by JUUL Labs
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy Monday!
CAN MOULTON MAKE THE DEBATE STAGE? — The 2020 presidential debates are coming — and there's a chance Rep. Seth Moulton won't get an invite.
When Moulton announced his presidential campaign in the third week of April, he took a risk. His home state senator had been running for nearly five months, and there were already 18 Democrats in the race.
And nearly a month after his campaign launch , Moulton hasn't found the traction that will get him on the debate stage next month. The 23 Democratic candidates can qualify for the debates in one of two ways: Register over 1 percent in at least three polls approved by the DNC, or raise money from 65,000 individual donors.
"We still have a long way to go," Moulton wrote in a fundraising email last week, in reference to the donor threshold. "To be honest, this qualification was designed to make it hard for teams like ours to get on the debate stage."
Moulton is a three-term congressman and no stranger to a competitive primary. He became a political player when he unseated incumbent Rep. John Tierney in a 2014 Democratic primary. But after four weeks of presidential campaigning, Moulton hasn't hit 1 percent in a qualifying poll, the most recent being a Fox News poll released last week. Other candidates who have not qualified for the debates are Mike Gravel, Bill deBlasio, Wayne Messam and Michael Bennet.
The Salem Democrat has been working to raise his profile, speaking to voters at house parties in states like New Hampshire, appearing on cable news and giving interviews to national publications like New York magazine.
Moulton joined the policy primary over the weekend when he unveiled his national service plan that addresses climate change and college affordability — two key issues for millennial voters. Moulton's proposal would encourage people ages 17 to 24 to serve the country, establish a "Federal Green Corps" to combat climate change, and cover a portion of the cost of higher education for those who serve.
But Moulton's been outpaced by his fellow House members Rep. Tim Ryan and Rep. Eric Swalwell, who also announced their campaigns in April but have already qualified for the debates. And Moulton has to face the reality that a candidate like Andrew Yang, who does not share Moulton's government experience, has already got a spot on the debate stage.
If Moulton's presidential ambitions don't pan out, the congressman has said he plans to run for his House seat. But Moulton's opponents already smell blood in the water. Tierney is eyeing his old seat, and other would-be candidates have expressed interest in representing the 6th District, too.
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 tours the Price Center in Newton to highlight the "Turning 22" program. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito speaks at the New England Israel Business Council's Israeli Women as Business Leaders reception. Sen. Ed Markey speaks to the New England Council.
Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu speaks with labor advocates and reporters ahead of a working session on the Fair Workweek Ordinance. Higher education funding advocates protest at the State House. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh launches the Summer Learning Initiative at Franklin Park Zoo. Walsh and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross discuss summer safety at the Boston Police HQ in Roxbury. Walsh is a guest on "Radio Boston."
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A message from JUUL Labs:
Youth vaping is a problem. We're taking action. No youth or non-nicotine user should ever try JUUL products. We've taken a series of actions to greatly reduce youth use of tobacco products, including our own. Learn more about our youth prevention efforts: JUUL.com/youth-prevention
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Norfolk sheriff's office offers a soft landing for prominent state GOP officials," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office, led by a Democrat for four decades, is looking a lot more red these days. A Democrat-turned-Republican himself, newly appointed Sheriff Jerry McDermott has turned to GOP operatives, including a fellow onetime Scott Brown aide and a former Baker administration official, to fill several management roles in his office. Appointed by Governor Charlie Baker in December, McDermott's responsibilities include overseeing the Norfolk County jail in Dedham, whose rank-and-file staff largely included unionized corrections officers. It's in the office's upper ranks where McDermott said there "were vacancies and management needs that required the hiring of these experienced, qualified professionals." They include Greg Casey, a Republican state committeeman who McDermott hired as his $95,700-a-year chief of staff, according to state payroll records."
- "Senators to consider amendments to state budget plan," Associated Press: "A proposed $42.7 billion state budget is headed to the Massachusetts Senate floor for debate. Lawmakers on Tuesday are scheduled to begin consideration of hundreds of amendments offered to the spending plan for the fiscal year that starts on July 1. The budget unveiled by the Senate Ways and Means Committee earlier this month would increase overall state spending by about 3% over the current year, with no increase in taxes most residents pay. The budget does include a proposed tax on pharmaceutical companies that sell opioid medications in Massachusetts, and a new excise tax on e-cigarettes and vaping supplies."
- "DeLEO ACCUSES UNION OF MOCKING EDUCATION CHAIRWOMAN," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service:"With tensions mounting between education advocates and Beacon Hill leaders over school funding, House Speaker Robert DeLeo is accusing the state's largest teachers union of resorting to "juvenile tactics" by appearing to mock House Education Committee Chairwoman Alice Peisch during a rally. The criticism from DeLeo was sparked by MTA President Merrie Najimy posting a photo to Facebook of herself and three other women smiling and clutching fake pearl necklaces. The photo caption read: "Alice Peisch, let go of the wealth and #FundOurFuture." Najimy, who teaches kindergarten in Concord, was among the hundreds of teachers, parents and school advocates who demonstrated Thursday at the State House and on Bostono Common in support of legislation to significantly boost school funding by updating the state's local aid formula."
- "As Housing Squeeze Tightens, State Lawmakers Weigh Action," by Bob Salsberg, Associated Press: "By nearly any measure, the Massachusetts economy is booming. Thousands of jobs are being created and unemployment is at historic lows. The flip side? Try finding a place to live that won't break the budget. The realities of a housing market where affordable homes, condos and apartments are increasingly hard to come by for middle- and low-income residents has prompted numerous proposals on Beacon Hill for spurring housing development. But so far, there's no consensus."
- "Senators load budget with pet projects," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Sen. Bruce Tarr is often a fixture at the rostrum during Senate budget debates, urging fiscal restraint and responsibility among fellow lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled chamber. As leader of the minority Republicans, he has pushed efforts to roll back the state's income and sales taxes, ease regulations on businesses, and implement cost-cutting reforms. But when it comes to earmarks — a tradition of the yearly process on Beacon Hill that drives up the final price tag of the state budget — the Gloucester senator is less restrained. Tarr filed or co-sponsored more than 125 amendments to the nearly $43 billion spending package the Senate takes up on Tuesday, more than any other single lawmaker. While many seek policy changes, others are for local projects."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "In attempt to stem displacement, city will set value of housing vouchers by ZIP code," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "For more than 85 tenants who call the Mercantile Wharf building home, the future looked dire. The owner of the historic North End building announced they could opt out of a subsidized-housing program, which would allow the landlord to get more than double the rent at market rate — and effectively forcing the low and moderate income residents to move. "You have a bunch of people who are going to fall through the cracks," said Sandi Padellaro, president of the Mercantile Wharf Tenants Association. "Everybody in the building was worried sick about it." In a booming housing market, it's the very story line of displacement taking hold in neighborhoods across the city. But a seemingly small change in the Boston Housing Authority's program for subsidized housing vouchers could help tenants in the Mercantile keep up with the new rents."
- "Flood Of Candidates Suggests A Seat On Boston's Council Is A Hot Property," by Isaiah Thompson, WGBH News: "Before Pressley's upset win, the Boston City Council was rarely seen as a launchpad to higher office. Historically, it's been seen as weak, subservient to the mayor and, until recently, noticeably lacking in diversity. But that's changing. And this year, the council might be due for a seismic shift of its own. By last week, there were 65 candidates for Boston City Council — including 25 running for the council's four at-large seats; another 25 running for three district seats being vacated; and eight candidates challenging incumbent district councilors. And many observers see the upcoming municipal election as a potential tipping point for a new level of diversity — and not just in terms of race — on the council."
- "On Steve Murphy, privilege, and 'pie holes,'" by Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe: "Some tips on how to be around women rightly enraged that 25 white, male state senators just voted for a near-total abortion ban in Alabama: Don't make this catastrophe all about you. Now is not the time to question whether there really is a need for more women legislators, or whether white male privilege exists. And it is definitely not the time to tell them to "shut their pie holes." In other words, don't be like Suffolk County Register of Deeds Steve Murphy, who did all of those things on Wednesday. Murphy is the longtime Boston politician who, thanks to name recognition and not much else, was elected to a job with few responsibilities and a whopping $138,521 salary. Before that, he was a Boston city councilor best known for putting his friends on the public payroll."
- "Infrastructure and climate dominate Walsh remarks to Dorchester Board of Trade," by Jennifer Smith, Dorchester Reporter: "Mayor Martin Walsh, fresh off a trip to the nation's capital with Gov. Charlie Baker, had infrastructure and climate resilience on his mind as he addressed the Dorchester Board of Trade on Friday afternoon. The mayor's annual speech before the board of trade brought out a few hundred business leaders, civic heads, and other elected officials out to Venezia, at the point of Port Norfolk, on a dreary National Bike to Work Day. "We went down to D.C. yesterday to talk about transportation and infrastructure," Walsh said. "The environment in D.C., it's, I probably would say toxic is too strong of a word, but it's toxic." Two of the biggest complaints he hears about are about traffic and housing pressures, he said. Walsh encouraged those present to talk to their federal representatives on behalf of the $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion infrastructure bill being mulled on Capitol Hill."
- "Wynn eyes sale of Encore casino," by Mark Arsenault, Boston Globe: "The chief executives of casino giants Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts are discussing a possible sale of Wynn's nearly finished Encore Boston Harbor casino complex in Everett, a potentially colossal deal that would dramatically change the gambling landscape in New England and ripple through the industry, the companies acknowledged to the Globe on Friday. Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox and MGM CEO Jim Murren met in person in Las Vegas earlier in May to discuss a possible transaction, just weeks before the June 23 scheduled opening of the $2.6 billion Encore, according to two people briefed on the talks. The meeting also came days after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission concluded a 15-month investigation into how Wynn Resorts handled accusations of sexual misconduct by its founder and former chief executive, Steve Wynn."
- RELATED: "Walsh: No going back on casino," by Brooks Sutherland, Boston Herald: "Wynn Resorts may be in talks to sell the license for its soon-to-open Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett to MGM Resorts International but Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said he isn't ready to criticize the state's Gaming Commission for tossing other suitors aside in favor of the controversial company. "It's a difficult situation," Walsh told reporters Sunday. "They did a hearing, they hired outside people. They came back with a finding and they made a recommendation. I guess it's easy to second guess them the next day, but I mean they had all of the facts in front of them." As the Herald reported Saturday, officials in Springfield and Everett have raised concerns over the bombshell news that Wynn is now in talks to potentially sell the $2.6 billion casino to MGM."
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POLITICO PLAYBOOK: "The most influential newsletter in D.C." - Stephen Colbert, host of the Late Show. Be in the know, sign up for Playbook today. politico.com/subscribe/playbook
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "It's Amazon vs. Braintree in suit over delivery signage," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "One of the world's biggest companies and a Boston suburb are squaring off in a lawsuit that could have broad implications for a booming business: getting stuff to your front door fast. Amazon has sued the Town of Braintree over a requirement that delivery vehicles going to and from a warehouse that Amazon plans to build must carry signs identifying them as such. It's a condition that Braintree's Planning Board attached last summer to zoning approval for the 250,000-square-foot facility. Local officials say the signs will allow them to make sure drivers — who will be contractors, not Amazon employees — comply with a traffic-management plan they hashed out with the online retailer."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "'DM me': Warren wins over comedian with Twitter quip," by Colin Campbell, Yahoo News: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., had a pithy response to a comedian wondering out loud about her myriad of presidential policy proposals. "Do you think Elizabeth Warren has a plan to fix my love life?" wrote Ashley Nicole Black, who was a correspondent on "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee." A full day later, on Sunday, Warren responded. "DM me and let's figure this out," she replied. Warren's response quickly went viral."
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| KENNEDY COMPOUND |
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- "Nancy Pelosi receives Profile in Courage Award," by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi took a break from sparring with President Trump and quieting disputes within her own party Sunday evening to accept a Profile in Courage Award at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. The California congresswoman was honored for her work in passing the 2010 Affordable Care Act and for leading Democrats last year to regain control of the US House of Representatives and elect the "the most diverse Congress in our nation's history," according to organizers. As Pelosi arrived on the red carpet outside the library with her family late Sunday afternoon, she told reporters she was "speechless" about the honor."
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| EYE ON 2020 |
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- "Vermont Republican governor backs Weld over Trump," by Daniel Strauss and Stephanie Murray, POLITICO: "Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signaled support for former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld over President Donald Trump in the 2020 Republican primary. Scott, during his weekly news conference Thursday, was asked whether he would prefer Weld, the only declared Republican primary challenger to Trump, over the incumbent president. "Oh sure," Scott said. But the Vermont governor said he wasn't ready to formally endorse any Republican and that he hoped Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan or Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker would consider jumping into the primary."
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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- "Moulton unveils national service education plan," by Alejandro Serrano, Boston Globe: "Presidential hopeful Representative Seth Moulton on Sunday unveiled a plan modeled after the GI Bill that would guarantee young Americans an educational benefit if they take part in national service. "I have a simple proposition: If you are willing to work hard and sacrifice to serve your country, America will support you by paying for job training and education," the Salem Democrat said in a statement announcing the plan. "Using the GI Bill as a model, we will provide education and job training benefits for those who answer the call to serve." The plan includes broad outreach to Americans ages 17 to 24 to ask them to serve in some capacity. It would create a Federal Green Corps to address climate change and environmental protection."
- "Dem candidate Seth Moulton visits SF, says Trump harder to beat than most think," by John Wildermuth, San Francisco Chronicle: "Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton may have jumped into the presidential race three weeks ago, but that doesn't mean he's confident about his chances of beating President Trump in 2020 — or those of any other Democrat. "I think Donald Trump will be a lot harder to beat than most people think, especially those in Boston or San Francisco," Moulton told about 50 people at a Mission District fundraiser Thursday night. "I'd say it's 60 percent that Trump will be re-elected," especially if the economy stays healthy. But four more years of Trump would be disastrous for the nation, he said."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "PROM KING," — Globe: "On the horizon, organ delivery via drones," "New push to bridge the age gap," "A DEGREE OF PRIDE," "Amazon sues over mandatory vehicle IDs." |
| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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- "Forgiven for his crimes, pardoned man still fighting system," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "It's been nearly 15 years since Thomas Schoolcraft was caught breaking into homes in Plum Island and New Hampshire - crimes that branded him a felon. For Schoolcraft, then an 18-year-old high school dropout, the arrest proved a turning point that led him to get a GED and eventually pursue a master's degree in criminal justice at Boston University. But the felony charge lingering on his record also kept him from getting a state-issued firearms license, something he needed to pursue a career as a corrections officer. Schoolcraft thought his luck had turned when he was granted a rare executive pardon in 2015 from Gov. Deval Patrick, one of only four issued by the Democrat during his eight years in office. The Governor's Council narrowly voted to approve the pardon but not before Patrick attached a condition aimed at allaying their skepticism — no firearms license."
- "As economy booms, more Mass. children go hungry," by Mary Whitfill, Patriot Ledger: "While much of Massachusetts prospers amid a booming economy that has unemployment down to about 3 percent, a growing and largely hidden number of families are having trouble getting enough to eat as parents grapple with rising home prices, stagnant wages and ever more expensive child care. Even in communities that appear outwardly affluent, including those on the South Shore, educators and public health experts say it often falls to schools to make sure the children they're trying to teach are properly fed. "Folks might be getting by and doing fine and living in a nice house in the suburbs, but when they lose two paychecks they all of the sudden can't eat," Erin McAleer, president of the nonprofit Project Bread, said."
WEEKEND WEDDINGS: Marina Rachel Zhavoronkova and Joel Robert Smoot were married at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard. Zhavoronkova is assistant secretary of program and performance management at the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, and Smoot is an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company in Boston. The couple met at the Harvard Kennedy School student activities fair. NYT.
Amanda Sarah Hanley McGuire and Alexander Robinson Zook were married at the Somerset Club in Boston. McGuire is special-events manager of the French Cultural Center in Boston and Zook is the lead marketing associate at Payne-Bouchier. The couple met at a wedding in Brookline. NYT.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Margaret O'Meara, who celebrated Sunday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to UMass Amherst Journalism professor Kathy Roberts Forde, Allison Goldberg, Kathy Giles and Matt Solberg.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Red Sox beat the Astros 4-3.
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POLITICO LAUNCHES NEW GLOBAL PODCAST: Trade. Technology. The environment. The globe is beset by profound challenges that know no political bounds. But are our world leaders up to the task of solving them? POLITICO's newest podcast, "Global Translations" presented by Citi and launching on June 6, will go beyond the headlines, uncovering what's really at stake with the most pressing issues of our time, the political roadblocks for solving them and the ideas that might just propel us forward. Subscribe to receive the first episode at launch.
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Advocating for raising the legal age to purchase our products to 21+ nationwide.
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Strengthening our retail compliance program with over 2,000 secret shopper visits per month.
Shutting down our Facebook and Instagram accounts and working to remove inappropriate social media content generated by others on those platforms.
And investing in new technologies to further prevent youth use.
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