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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
TRAHAN UNDER THE MICROSCOPE — The House is likely to vote on whether to impeach President Donald Trump today. But there's some other news out of Congress with a Massachusetts angle.
Rep. Lori Trahan's campaign finance woes are not going away just yet. A congressional committee charged with investigating ethics complaints announced on Tuesday it would continue its look into Trahan's campaign finances, and even recommended she be subpoenaed during the next step in the query.
The House Ethics Committee voted to further review a complaint which alleges Trahan may have violated federal law by accepting campaign contributions that exceeded legal limits.
At the heart of the issue is a loan Trahan made to her campaign at the end of the 2018 Democratic primary. Trahan says the money came from a joint bank account she shares with her husband, while the complaint alleges that the money in question may not have been Trahan's to use. It's important to note that continuing the investigation is not an indication by the board that Trahan is guilty of any wrongdoing.
The Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics' initial review found that Trahan may have misdated checks she used to contribute money to her campaign, and that her husband had transferred money from his personal and business accounts to their joint checking account after those dates. The report also recommended the committee subpoena Trahan, her husband and her campaign, claiming they did not cooperate with the investigation.
For its part, Trahan's office accused the OCE of abusing its authority, cherry-picking details to make its case against her and playing "fast and loose" with her personal financial information. A Trahan spokesperson also disputed the claim that she did not cooperate with the investigation.
"The Federal Election Commission has found no violations in numerous cases involving the use of marital assets that closely mirror Congresswoman Trahan's use of funds, which is why we remain confident that any review will rule in her favor. We look forward to the Ethics Committee's final decision on this matter," Trahan spokesperson Mark McDevitt said in a statement.
Trahan's former rival Dan Koh , who she narrowly beat in a crowded 2018 primary, slammed Trahan by saying the report was "disturbing" and "incredibly disappointing" shortly after its release.
For months, political watchers have wondered whether Koh will launch a campaign against Trahan in 2020, especially as the complaint into her finances has developed. The window for him to declare a congressional run has become quite narrow, and it's not clear whether voters will pay attention to a campaign focused on campaign finance issues that are hanging in limbo. The more immediate problem Trahan faces is the House Ethics Committee, which is not bound to any timeline as it continues its investigation.
LAWMAKERS CONSIDER HOUSING BILLS — Now that Beacon Hill has addressed the funding the state's education system, banning flavored tobacco and outlawing distracted driving, could an antidote to the housing crisis be on the horizon in 2020?
The Joint Committee on Housing is polling members on a number of housing bills this week, including Gov. Charlie Baker's legislation that would make it easier for cities and towns to make changes to housing-related zoning. The email poll opened Tuesday and ends on Thursday. An aide in committee chair Rep. Kevin Honan's office said it was not clear whether lawmakers plan to take up a housing bill in January or February, or which bill that might be.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — IMPEACHMENT TRACKER: Rep. Jim McGovern leads impeachment debate on the House floor. Rep. Katherine Clark speaks during the impeachment debate on behalf of House leadership.
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito rings the Salvation Army Bell in Boston. Polito , Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley attend a groundbreaking for Cote Village in Mattapan. Polito will chair a weekly meeting of the Governor's Council. Walsh is a guest on the "Greg Hill Morning Show" on WEEI. Walsh speaks at Project ASSERT's anniversary celebration.
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POLITICO TECH AT CES - We are bringing a special edition of the POLITICO Tech newsletter to CES 2020 . Written by Nancy Scola and Cristiano Lima, the newsletter will take you inside the largest and most influential technology event on the planet, featuring every major and emerging industry in the technology ecosystem gathered together in one place. The newsletter runs from Jan. 6 - 10 and will focus on the public policy related aspects of the gathering. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of the Summit.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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— "States disclose details of new emissions controls that would drive up gas prices," by Jon Chesto and Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "Officials in a dozen Northeast and mid-Atlantic states rolled out details on Tuesday for an ambitious plan to control carbon emissions from vehicles by imposing new fuel controls at the wholesale level, potentially driving up the cost of gas for motorists. The scenarios spelled out in the Transportation & Climate Initiative proposal could translate to an extra 5 cents per gallon to 17 cents per gallon at the pump, depending on whether suppliers fully pass on the costs to drivers and how aggressively the states choose to curb emissions. The models are based on cutting 20 percent to 25 percent of carbon emissions from the region's transportation sector over a 10-year period."
— RELATED: "Baker's walk on the wild side," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "GOV. CHARLIE BAKER'S all-in embrace of the transportation climate initiative is another step away from his shrinking Republican base and a tacit admission that the state needs more transit funding. The transportation climate initiative, or TCI, places a price on the carbon contained in gasoline and diesel fuels and requires wholesale distributors to pay allowances for the right to sell their product. The cost of the allowances will likely be passed on to drivers in the form of higher prices at the pump, and the revenue from the allowances will flow back to the participating states to be used for efforts to deal with climate change."
— "Walsh pushes for affordable housing bill on Beacon Hill," by Bill Forry, Dorchester Reporter: "Mayor Martin Walsh made the case Tuesday for city-sponsored legislation that he says will help Boston leverage a boom-time development market to help seed affordable housing starts and workforce training programs. The home rule petition, unanimously passed by the City Council and signed by Walsh, is accompanied by Bill H. 4115, "An Act authorizing the city of Boston to limit buildings according to their use or construction to specified districts." The bill is sponsored by Rep. Kevin Honan (D-Brighton), chair of the Committee on Housing."
— "Disney Trip, Fiscal Reporting Collide for Comptroller," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "Comptroller Andrew Maylor spent much of this fall dogging legislative leaders on Beacon Hill, urging them to finish their overdue budgeting work so he could comply with a state law requiring him to submit an annual financial report by Oct. 31. Late Wednesday night, Maylor got results. After unilaterally setting a deadline and threatening to yank $1 billion in surplus revenues, which legislators could not decide how to use, and stash them in the state's rainy day fund, the Legislature met for 13 hours to pass a $541 million spending bill that deposits $587 million into the state's savings account ."
— "DOC backtracking on MCI-Framingham," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION appears to be backtracking on the troubled women's prison at MCI-Framingham. In October, when Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins said MCI-Framingham was closing and then later amended his statement to say parts of the facility were being shut down for renovations, the DOC said he was wrong on both counts. The agency said there was no renovation project happening at the facility that would reduce prison beds. But earlier this month the state's real estate arm began soliciting construction design firms to see if the Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk and the South Middlesex Correctional Center in Framingham could be remodeled to accommodate inmates from MCI-Framingham."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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— "In Boston and Cambridge, crowds call for Trump's impeachment," by Danny McDonald and Sofia Saric, Boston Globe: "Droves of people calling for the impeachment of President Trump and his removal from office demonstrated in Greater Boston Tuesday, a day before federal lawmakers are expected to take a historic vote. Hundreds weathered a steady rain on Boston Common late Tuesday afternoon, to listen to speakers rail against the president on the eve of a highly anticipated impeachment vote on two articles, one charging abuse of power and the other obstruction of Congress."
— "In Boston and beyond, black Santas remain elusive," by Dugan Arnett, Boston Globe: "Every year, the search for Santa Claus is the same. Some stalk Google. Others rely on word of mouth, hoping a friend or a friend of a friend knows where to find one. Then there are those like Nellie Moore, who, while raising her now-grown daughter in Hyde Park, resigned herself to the idea that the elusive one she sought simply couldn't be found. "We wouldn't waste our time searching," says Moore. It's not that there is ever any shortage of shopping mall Santas. It's that they are almost always white."
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| ALL ABOARD |
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— "MBTA vows to cut the wait for Red, Orange Line trains in half," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The MBTA is making grand promises that Red and Orange line trains will arrive every few minutes by 2025 — changes critics say they'll believe when they see as the beleaguered transit agency continues to struggle five years after it was brought to its knees by the Snowmageddon. Red Line trains should be coming every three minutes and Orange Line trains every 4 1/2 minutes during peak times in five years, T staff said Monday, and the T claims 95% of Red Line trains and 96% of Orange Line trains will show up on time."
— "Report says land at T stations could handle 253,000 housing units — and ease traffic gridlock," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "Housing-starved Massachusetts could add a quarter-million homes just by building more around MBTA stations. That's the upshot of new data being released this week by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, a nonprofit that advocates for affordable housing. Researchers at the organization studied and mapped development patterns around 284 stations on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's rapid transit and commuter rail lines and found that more than 517,000 houses and apartments are within a half-mile of a station."
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DEBATE PREP: Seven candidates have qualified for the final Democratic Presidential debate, hosted by PBS Newshour and POLITICO, in Los Angeles on Dec. 19. Check out POLITICO's debate hub featuring election forecasts, a breakdown of the candidates' policy positions, and everything you need to know to get ready for the big night.
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| DAY IN COURT |
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— "Thousands of dollars seized from operators of Florida spa where Robert Kraft was charged, records show," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "Investigators seized hundreds of thousands of dollars from operators of the Florida spa where New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft allegedly paid for sexual services on two separate visits in January, records show. The seizure of the cash and other items was detailed in legal filings related to the probe of the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Fla. Kraft, 78, was charged in February with two misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution at the spa. He was one of 25 men charged in connection with a multiday sting at the establishment."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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— "'Don't threaten me': Court records show Elizabeth Warren turned down lucrative job after hearing from consumer group," by Tucker Higgins, CNBC: "Democratic presidential contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren refused to take a lucrative legal job in 2006 after a consumer advocacy group raised concerns about the work, earning the fury of an attorney who had sought to hire her, court documents show. The records from more than a decade ago, connected to a lawsuit against two credit reporting giants, shed new light on Warren's motivations for taking on private legal work amid criticism from fellow contenders who have sought to cast the Massachusetts progressive as a hired gun for big business."
— "Fighting Corruption Is The Most Electable Thing A Democrat Can Do In 2020," by Kevin Robillard, HuffPost: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren argued in a New Hampshire speech last week that the best way to defeat President Donald Trump is to focus on fighting corruption. Over the past year, every member of the often-ballooning and occasionally shrinking field of Democratic presidential candidates has tried to convince an uncommitted and nervous electorate that they are the candidate to defeat President Donald Trump. Every candidate has their own theory of how to effectively oust the incumbent. Last Thursday, at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren finally unveiled her theory: The candidate who can defeat Trump is the one who will put the focus on the long-standing political corruption that helped sweep Trump into office and that his administration has only exacerbated."
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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— "Frates 'flourished,' Moulton says in House floor speech," by Ethan Forman, The Salem News: "Congressman Seth Moulton paid tribute Tuesday on the floor of the House of Representatives to Pete Frates, the Beverly man whose struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) helped popularize the Ice Bucket Challenge. Since being diagnosed in March 2012, Frates and his supporters raised millions for research for a cure to ALS, the disease that took his life at age 34 on Dec. 9. The Salem Democrat drew inspiration for the House tribute from the words of another Pete, the late Rev. Professor Peter J. Gomes, Moulton's minister and mentor at Harvard's Memorial Church when Moulton was an undergraduate at the university in Cambridge."
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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— "Here's where the Mass. delegation stands on Wednesday's impeachment vote," by Christina Prignano, Boston Globe: "The idea of impeaching President Trump first gained significant momentum in the spring, after the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Trump-Russia investigation. At the time, only a portion of the Massachusetts congressional delegation was in favor. In the wake of the report, and the subsequent refusal by the White House to cooperate with congressional investigations, more of the state's nine House members got on board with the idea of an impeachment inquiry."
— "Mass.'s McGovern in the spotlight as Rules Committee discusses impeachment vote," by Martin Finucane, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts US Representative Jim McGovern was in the spotlight Tuesday as the House Rules Committee, which he chairs, held a hearing that was expected to lay the ground rules for Wednesday's historic impeachment vote. "It's unfortunate that we have to be here today," McGovern said in his opening remarks. "But the actions of the president of the United States make that necessary. President Trump withheld congressionally approved aid to Ukraine, our partner under siege‚ not to fight corruption but to extract a personal political favor."
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| TWEET OF THE DAY |
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Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll weighs in on President Donald Trump's claim that those accused in the Salem witch trials received more due process than Trump has during the impeachment proceedings.
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| DATELINE D.C. |
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— "Ways and Means sends USMCA to the House floor," by Sabrina Rodriguez, POLITICO: "The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday advanced the bill to implement the new North American trade pact, clearing the way for a floor vote later this week. Lawmakers approved the USMCA implementing legislation with all members in favor, except for Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.). Committee members on both sides of the aisle spent almost four hours largely praising the revised deal that the Trump administration landed after months of negotiations with the nine-member USMCA working group."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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— "Legislators seek ban on pot billboards," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: " Tough state restrictions on marketing and advertising of marijuana mean billboards are one of the few places cannabis businesses can showcase their products. Companies likes Weedmaps, a California-based online cannabis directory, have gobbled up ad space on billboards since recreational sales of the drug began last year, touting the benefits of legalization and directing people to visit their website. Cannabis retailers also have taken out billboard ads to help them stand out from competitors. But critics say pot billboards are proliferating."
— "Task Force Would Target Illegal Marijuana Sellers," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "To truly hamper the illicit marijuana market in Massachusetts, the state has to address both supply and demand -- the demand side will be addressed as the Cannabis Control Commission opens new stores, but a bill that would target unlicensed marijuana sellers is needed to deal with the supply end of things, a state regulator said Tuesday. CCC member Britte McBride testified Tuesday morning in support of legislation (H 4168) that would create a task force to handle complaints and conduct investigations into illegal marijuana sales by creating an alternative to prosecution that would allow for illegal sellers to be taxed instead of charged with a crime."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "PAIN IN THE GAS!" — Globe: "In the House, a day of decision," "Climate initiative coul boost gas prices." |
| NO PLACE LIKE THE CITY OF HOMES |
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— "Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno won't grant refugee consent, defies unanimous City Council vote," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "Opposing a unanimous City Council vote Monday calling for local involvement in refugee resettlement, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Tuesday he will refuse to issue a letter of consent. Sarno has long held that Springfield does more than its fair share when it comes to providing a new home to refugees , that refugee resettlement will concentrate poverty and place an unfair burden on the school system. His announcement Tuesday seems to be setting up another veto override for the council around the topic of immigration."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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— "Officials, residents concerned with compressor site cleanup," by Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger: "Town officials and residents are concerned that crews working to excavate contaminated fill at the site of a planned natural-gas compressor station are not following safety protocols and allowing hazardous materials to spread. Alice Arena of Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station, a group opposed to the project, went before town council on Monday night to raise concerns about the ongoing work to remove contamination and more than 10,000 tons of soil containing arsenic and potentially other hazards."
— "Attleboro mayor moves to fire traffic study chairman," by George W. Rhodes, Sun Chronicle: "Mayor Paul Heroux said he intends to fire the chairman of the city's volunteer traffic study commission over disagreements and "ideological differences," but it won't happen without a fight. Commission Chairman Joe Caponigro said he intends to contest the action, which will result in a hearing before the city council. In addition, council vice president and ex-officio commission member Heather Porreca said she's backing Caponigro and is "disgusted" by Heroux's move. Porreca, who lost to Heroux in this year's mayoral election, is an ex-officio member because she's chairwoman of the council's transportation and traffic committee. She said the mayor's action could have a chilling effect on the free discussion of issues."
SPOTTED: at the annual Massachusetts Public Safety Holiday Party hosted by former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis and former Homeland Security official Ed Cash at the Legal Seafoods Seaport roof deck last night ... Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, Boston Fire Commissioner Joe Finn, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Francisco Urena, U.S Coast Guard Admiral Andrew Tiongson, Mass State Police Lt. Col. Richard Ball, FBI ASAIC Peter Kowenhoven, Secret Service SAIC Tom Baker, Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger, Boston Athletic Association Director Tom Grilk, Boston Red Sox Security Chief Colm Lydon, former U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, Winthrop Police Chief Terry Delehanty, Encore Boston Chief of Security Richard Prior, Sharon Hanson, Mark Delaney, Paul Fitzgerald, Pauline Wells, Joe Lawless, Brian O'Riordan, Erin Loughran, Charlie Cellucci, Chris Collins, Joe Baerlein, Lauren Janes, Jaret Wright, Frank McGinn, Katlin McInnis, Bob O'Toole, Eric Gahagan, Pat McMurray, Gerry Leone, Joe Cheevers, Gary Eblan.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Dion Irish, Boston Election Department commissioner; and Emily Williams, digital campaigns associate at Everytown for Gun Safety.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Kings beat the Bruins 4-3.
FOR YOUR COMMUTE: THE POLL-AR EXPRESS - On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela discuss new polling on the New Hampshire primary. Boston Globe reporter Adam Vaccaro runs through the safety report on the MBTA conducted by an independent panel of experts. MassINC Polling Group Research Director Rich Parr rounds out the show with a look at a regional poll focused on the Transportation Climate Initiative. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
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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