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Presented by JUUL Labs
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
NEW: WARREN AND MARKEY SHOW SUPPORT FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL — Medicare for All advocates will get a boost from both of the state's U.S. senators during a legislative hearing on Beacon Hill today.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Ed Markey will submit written testimony to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing today, their offices confirm, as the committee considers a series of health insurance bills. On the docket are several bills that aim to establish a so-called single-payer health care system in Massachusetts.
Medicare for All advocates will hold a rally at the State House ahead of the hearing this morning. Versions of the Medicare for All bill were filed this session by state Sen. Jamie Eldridge in the Senate and state Reps. Lindsay Sabadosa and Denise Garlick in the House.
Warren and Markey back the Medicare for All Act of 2019 in the U.S. Senate, along with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Medicare for All gained popularity when Sanders brought it to the national stage during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Weighing in on Medicare for All is a chance for Warren and Markey to underscore their bonafides as the Democratic Party moves further to the left. Warren is competing with nearly two-dozen Democrats for the presidential nomination, and Medicare for All has become something of a litmus test for 2020 candidates. Markey, who already has two primary challengers in his 2020 reelection bid, will submit a statement on the concept of Medicare for All, but won't endorse any specific legislation, according to his office.
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 attends an education funding reform meeting with the Springfield Business Leaders for Education. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attends a Local Government Advisory Commission meeting at the State House. Film industry workers and other advocates lobby for the state's Film & Television Production Incentive at the State House.
State Sen. Harriette Chandler, state Sen. John Keenan and stateRep. Marjorie Decker hold a Tobacco Free Mass press conference on youth vaping. The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, the Joint Committee on Higher Education and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing hold hearings.
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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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- "Voters open to higher taxes to level education inequality in Mass., poll says," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "As the Legislature grapples with how to fund public education, the majority of Massachusetts voters say they are willing to pay more in taxes — or give up some education funding in their own communities — to funnel more money toward low-income or low-performing school districts. Sixty percent of the registered voters who participated in a Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll released Tuesday said they don't believe the state is adequately funding its K-12 schools. The findings indicate that voters are eager to revamp how the state funds an elementary and secondary education system that has ranked among the best in the nation — but that has also struggled to close wide gaps in achievement."
REMEMBER WHEN CHARLIE BAKER OPPOSED OFFSHORE WIND?
- "BAKER ADDRESSES PACE OF OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service:"Currently poised to be the first state in the country to draw from utility-scale offshore wind power, Massachusetts has a responsibility to get it right and to position the offshore wind industry for long-term success dealing with climate change and delivering affordable power across the United States, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday morning. The state's approach to secure clean power for itself and to blaze a trail for other states might make it "a little bit annoying to some people along the way," but is designed to balance predictability for developers and the build-out of a sturdy local supply chain with increasingly urgent calls to deal with the impacts of a changing climate."
- "Mass. lawmaker faces antivaccine backlash over his bill to scrap religious exemption," by Alison Kuznitz, Boston Globe: "A state lawmaker says he is being subjected to personal attacks from antivaccine conspiracy theorists over a bill he is sponsoring to eliminate Massachusetts' religious exemption for vaccinating schoolchildren. Despite the deluge of angry mail and social media postings, state Representative Andy Vargas said he has seen an overwhelmingly positive response to his proposed legislation, galvanized by two confirmed measles cases in Massachusetts this year — and around 1,000 diagnoses nationwide. More than 75 percent of vaccine exemptions in Massachusetts are for religious reasons, according to state data. The rest are medical exemptions, for health issues such as severe allergies or weakened immune systems, which still would be allowed under Vargas's bill."
- "DeLEO, SPILKA TAKE WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH TO GRAD TAX," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "Ahead of this week's planned debate on imposing an additional tax on residents who earn more than $1 million a year, legislative leaders were mum on whether they support the proposal to move Massachusetts towards a graduated income tax structure. Though House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka would not share their own opinions, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday that he cannot imagine his administration being supportive of a move away from the state's uniform income tax rate."
WHY ISN'T THIS BEING FUNDED WITH A GAS TAX?
- "Baker calls for $2.43B in borrowing," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "Gov. Charlie Baker wants to pour up to $2.43 billion over the next five years into infrastructure projects tied to transportation, housing and climate change resiliency. A capital investment plan unveiled late last week calls for hundreds of millions of dollars for programs such as accelerated bridge repairs, upgrades to the state highway system, resurfacing non-interstate highways, bike lanes and pedestrian safety enhancements."
- "BAKER URGES TECH LEADERS TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION, HOUSING," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Even as industry leaders warned how the tax hike could erode the state's economic strength, Gov. Charlie Baker steered clear in a speech to technology leaders Monday of the millionaires tax proposal that will again be before the Legislature this week. Baker, instead, sought the help of technology industry executives in passing education and housing legislation that he described as critical to developing and retaining a highly qualified workforce."
- "State handling of Weymouth air-quality data called 'unfortunate process,'" by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: "State Department of Environmental Protection officials acknowledged under oath Monday that they were prompted to revisit key air-quality tests nine months after receiving the results because of a freelance journalist's reporting that highlighted inconsistencies in the data tied to a proposed Weymouth natural gas compressor station. The department's decision to ask for updated test results in May and a subsequent weeks-long wait to disclose that information upended an appeals hearing on an air-quality permit issued for the compressor station and led hearing officer Jane Rothchild to threaten consequences and extend the hearing."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Mayor Walsh Scraps City Hall Education Post He Created," by Max Larkin, WBUR: "As Brenda Cassellius takes over as the next superintendent of Boston Public Schools, she won't be working alongside a cabinet-level aide to the mayor. Mayor Marty Walsh said Friday that he won't appoint another "education chief" for the foreseeable future. Walsh said the position makes less sense today than it did in 2014, as he first took office. "When I ran for mayor of Boston, there was a lot going on," Walsh said, including his campaign promise for universal pre-kindergarten and the district-wide facilities overhaul now known as 'BuildBPS.' As he took office, Walsh said he anticipated that he'd need to work to establish a more collaborative relationship between public, private and charter schools."
- "Seniors are more likely to work past 65 in big metro areas like Boston, data show," by Andrew Soergel, Associated Press:"Seniors in major metropolitan areas, especially in the Northeast and around Washington, D.C., are more likely to continue working past age 65 than those in other parts of the country, according to an analysis of census data by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. ''Those are the areas where all of the jobs are, really,'' said Anqi Chen, assistant director for savings research at Boston College's Center for Retirement Research. ''The coastal areas recovered well from the recession, while other areas have not.'' But it's also the types of jobs in those areas — in government, finance, law, and academia — that keep seniors working longer, analysts say."
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Attend the #WellbeingCity Forum in Montréal: Cities are currently home to more than half the global population, a figure that will soar to 70% within the next thirty years. The NewCities' Wellbeing Cities Forum, held in Montreal on June 19-20, brings together senior leaders and urban experts to explore and collaborate on city-led action to improve urban wellbeing. Guest speakers include Professor Saskia Sassen, Daniel Libeskind, and mayors from around the world. Tickets are available via NewCities here.
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| ON THE STUMP |
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- "Julia Mejia on Public School Education," from the Mejia campaign: "Boston City Council candidate At-Large, Julia Mejia, today shared her views with supporters on Boston's public school education. Julia also received today endorsements from leading education advocates and from Massachusetts Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Watchdog Group Aims To Brings Transparency To The State's Court System," by Arjun Sing, WGBH News: "There's a popular refrain, often incorrectly attributed to Plato, that asks "Who watches the watchmen," in reference to the ability of the public to properly ensure that those charged with administering justice are doing their job. But when it comes to the courts of Suffolk County, they're being closely watched by the volunteers of the organization CourtWatch MA. CourtWatch MA began with the goal of having a better understanding of what goes on inside the courtrooms of the commonwealth. Co-founder Atara Rich-Shea said during an interview with Boston Public Radio on Monday that her experience as a public defender taught her that there's a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about the court process, and as a result many people are unfairly trapped within the system, simply for not understanding what happens in court."
- WHY NOT: "Why a Boston lawyer bankrolled the man behind the FBI's infamous Bigfoot file," by Deanna Pan, Boston Globe: "The FBI captured the imagination of the nation last week when the bureau released 22 pages of documents concerning the origin of 15 unidentified hairs and tissue sent to the agency by a renowned Bigfoot researcher. The documents, which date back to the 1970s, include a letter from Peter Byrne, director of the Bigfoot Information Center and Exhibition in Oregon, asking if the FBI would analyze some mysterious samples — "the first that we have obtained in six years which we feel may be of importance" — that he suspected of belonging to a Sasquatch. The bottom of the type-written note revealed Byrne's sponsor: The Academy of Applied Science, Boston, Massachusetts. That's right. Boston."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Elizabeth Warren Has Lots of Plans. Together, They Would Remake the Economy." by Thomas Kaplan and Jim Tankersley, The New York Times: "As the 23 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination struggle to distinguish themselves, Senator Elizabeth Warren has set herself apart with a series of sweeping proposals that would significantly remake the American economy, covering everything from tax policy to student debt relief and offering a detailed portrait of what her presidency might look like. Many of the proposals from Ms. Warren, a former Harvard law professor and hawk on financial regulation, could face a difficult path to winning over moderates in a general election, and to gaining approval in Congress if she did take the White House. But the sheer volume of her plans, and their detail and variety, is forcing her rivals to play catch-up and stake out their own positions."
- "Biden leading Warren among Democratic voters in Mass., poll finds," by Christina Prignano, Boston Globe: "Former Vice President Joe Biden is leading the 2020 primary field among likely Democratic voters in Massachusetts, a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll has found. Biden had 22 percent support in the survey, released on Tuesday, followed by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren at 10 percent, Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., at 8 percent, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders at 6 percent. Just over 40 percent of voters said they were still undecided. While Warren enjoys a high favorability rating among likely Democratic primary voters (71 percent), her lagging homestate support may reflect the thinking of voters who are looking ahead to the general election."
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| 2020 WATCH |
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- "Progressives out to oust '20 House Dems try to focus fervor," by Alan Fram, Associated Press: "Activists hoping to defeat House Democrats in next year's primary elections with more progressive and diverse challengers are assessing how to cope with unintended consequences of their 2018 success, even as they hunt for their next Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Progressives [are] preparing to challenge incumbent Democrats they consider too conservative. Those most mentioned include Lipinski and Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, among Congress' few anti-abortion Democrats. Activists' hit list also includes Reps. Stephen Lynch and Richard Neal of Massachusetts, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee ."
- "John Kerry rules himself out of 2020 US presidential race," by Stephen Murphy, Sky News: "Former US Secretary of State John Kerry has said he will not seek the Democratic nomination for the 2020 presidential election. The 75-year-old, who was defeated in the 2004 election by George W Bush, had previously said he was considering a run and wasn't "taking anything off the table". However, speaking to Sky News at an environmental summit in Cork, Mr Kerry said he would not be entering an already crowded field of 23 candidates for the nomination."
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| IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
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- "Perfect port an elusive goal for East Coast offshore wind," by Andy Metzger, CommonWealth Magazine: "NORTHEAST SEAPORTS ARE inadequate to meet the needs of the offshore wind industry, and ideas for filling that gap could create tension between the sometimes competing goals of those overseeing the burgeoning sector. "Developers have studied all the ports up and down the East Coast several times now. What we're really looking for is large areas, good capacities, no bridges and deep drafts. And if someone has that, please come forward," said Christer af Geijerstam, president of Equinor Wind US, which holds leases for offshore wind development off the coasts of Massachusetts and New York."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "Massachusetts veterinarians warn of uptick in dogs suffering THC intoxication from marijuana edibles," by George Graham, Springfield Republican: "Some Massachusetts veterinarians warn they are seeing increasing numbers of dogs suffering from THC intoxication, mostly by getting into their owners' marijuana edibles, following the state's legalization of recreational pot last November. "It's increasing in prevalence because there is a lot more use of edibles now," said Dr. Ellie Shelburne, a veterinarian with Northampton Veterinary Clinic. Prior to the legalization of recreational marijuana, the Northampton practice treated perhaps one dog a year for intoxication with THC, the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis, Shelburne said."
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| ALL ABOARD |
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- "Special fare for low-income T riders gains momentum," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "MBTA GENERAL MANAGER Steve Poftak said on Monday that the agency intends to research how to implement a special, less expensive fare for low-income people, but he said the scope and parameters of the study need to be worked out. "The intent is to study it. It's just a question of the depth of the study," Poftak said after a meeting of the Fiscal and Management Control Board, adding that he would take no position on a low-income fare until after the study is completed. He also said a low-income fare would be pursued independently of the development of a next-generation fare collection system, which is currently not scheduled to be ready until 2021."
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY" — Globe: "Voters OK with higher taxes for education," "A shot that echoes to N.E." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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- "What does Raytheon-UTC merger mean for Western Mass? Impact feared for those who commute to jobs in Windsor Locks, Farmington, Conn.," by Jim Kinney, MassLive.com: "Combined defense and aerospace giants Raytheon and United Technologies will be headquartered in Massachusetts — not Connecticut. Good news for the state, but what will be the impact of the merger, announced Monday, of the two companies into one company with an estimated $74 billion in sales for 2019 have in Western Massachusetts where many who work at UTC's Connecticut factories and offices live and where small machine shops make components that end up in both company's products."
- "Baystate mental health consolidation stirs anxiety," by Linda Enerson, CommonWealth Magazine: "ON THE FACE OF IT, Baystate Health's plan for a new mental health facility in Holyoke seems like a boon for the region. The proposed new facility will have approximately 130 beds, increasing the total number in the region by 30 percent. The new facility also offers mental health beds for geriatric and pediatric patients, as well as those who are disruptive or have a substance abuse problem. Right now, many of these hard-to-place patients "board" for days if not weeks in emergency rooms waiting for inpatient care."
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POLITICO Pro G20 Report: Sign-up for exclusive reporting from the G20 Summit, June 27, 28 & 29. POLITICO Pro's policy reporters collaborate with POLITICO Europe and the South China Morning Post to deliver exclusive summit coverage with an international focus. The newsletter arrives each morning with a summary of the day's developments from Osaka, Japan. Sign up today.
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "When It Comes To Housing In The Suburbs, How Dense Is Too Dense?" by Craig LeMoult, WGBH News: "As more people move to the Greater Boston area, there's more demand for housing, which means the cost of homes goes up. And housing experts say it's partly up to the suburbs to develop more affordable housing to address that. But when it comes to new developments in the 'burbs, the most hotly debated issue is density. At a public hearing in Newton last week on a proposal for a huge new housing and commercial development, some community members who spoke said they see density as a solution to the city's housing problems. Dense housing, these residents said, creates a more vibrant community atmosphere, enables more use of mass transit, and helps reduce the city's impact on climate change."
- "Legislators hear call for help with Cape's drug crisis," by Tanner Stening, Cape Cod Times: "Parents, business leaders, law enforcement officers and doctors spoke in unison Monday during a meeting with state legislators to discuss the addiction crisis and its broader mental health care challenges on the Cape and Islands. Their message, delivered with visible frustration, desperation and anger: We need more help. Lawmakers on the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery sat down with area residents to gather feedback about how effective local efforts aimed at stemming the tide of addiction really are in meeting the Cape's recovery needs."
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| MEDIA MATTERS |
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- "Massachusetts paper expands Sunday biz coverage," by Chris Roush, Talking Biz News: "The Berkshire Eagle newspaper in Massachusetts has expanded its Sunday business section and renamed it Berkshire Business Insider." Link.
- "Christian radio station broadcasting illegally in Worcester agrees to settlement after multiple FCC warnings," by Haley Johnson, MassLive.com: "A radio station operating illegally in Worcester has agreed to stay off the air after multiple warnings and could face a $75,000 fine, officials said. Vasco Oburoni and the Christian Praise International Church reached a settlement with federal authorities and agreed Monday to stop running the unlicensed radio station and surrender broadcasting equipment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts."
REMEMBERING MIKE KITTROSS ... from Emerson College:"Emerson College is remembering former professor, dean, and provost Mike Kittross, a rigorous communications scholar and self-described "gadfly, iconoclast, and curmudgeon," who died Friday, June 1, in Seattle. Kittross consulted for Emerson for a number of years before officially joining the faculty as a dean in 1984. He served as vice president for academic affairs and provost for a time, before choosing to return to the classroom teaching mass communication from 1987 to 1993. Kittross considered himself a "better editor than writer," according to an endnote on his C.V., whose goals were to help his students and colleagues achieve their potential." Link.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell, Sam Tracy and Tad Devine, who is 64.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Rangers beat the Red Sox 4-3.
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 JUUL Labs:
We're combating the problem of underage vaping by:
Advocating for raising the legal age to purchase our products to 21+ nationwide.
Stopping the sale of non-tobacco and non-menthol based flavored JUULpods to traditional retail stores.
Enhancing our online age verification process.
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.
JUUL.com/youth-prevention |
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