|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
HOW WARREN STACKS UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — We're only a year away from the New Hampshire primary. And although polling doesn't show Sen. Elizabeth Warren as a clear-cut frontrunner among New Hampshire primary voters, she's still putting up strong numbers with our neighbors to the north.
Warren has a 60 percent favorability rating among registered voters who plan to cast ballots in the Democratic primary next year. Just over 28 percent of voters surveyed have an unfavorable view of Warren, and 98 percent of those surveyed recognize her name.
The Saint Anselm College Survey Center polled 600 registered voters in New Hampshire from Feb. 6 to Feb. 9. Among the small sample of 258 registered voters who said they plan to vote in the Democratic primary, the center tested their opinion on 14 potential and current 2020 candidates.
Warren trails former Vice President Joe Biden , who had an 80 percent favorability rating among those surveyed, and just under 13 percent found him unfavorable. Sen. Bernie Sanders had a 65 percent favorability rating, and close to 25 percent of likely voters had an unfavorable view of him. Sen. Kamala Harris had a 62 percent favorability rating and Sen. Cory Booker had just under 61 percent, and both 2020 contenders saw unfavorability ratings below 10 percent.
Warren drew thousands to her 2020 campaign announcement in Lawrence over the weekend, and locked up some key early endorsements from Bay State pols like Rep. Joe Kennedy III. But it's unclear whether that will deter Rep. Seth Moulton, who says he's mulling a run for the White House.
Not long after he told reporters at a Bedford house party he didn't visit the Granite State to talk about 2020, Moulton changed his tune earlier this week. The congressman told BuzzFeed he's not ruling out a 2020 campaign, and rolled out a foreign policy vision at the Brookings Institution in Washington yesterday.
On Friday, another Massachusetts politician could jump into the fray on the other side of the aisle. Former Gov. William Weld, who ran for vice president on the Libertarian ticket in 2016, is set to address Politics & Eggs on Friday in Bedford. The 1990s-era GOP governor has been tight-lipped on his 2020 plans, and it's not clear whether Weld would run as a Libertarian or a Republican if he starts up a campaign. But if you're looking for a hint, Weld registered as a Republican at his local town hall in Canton last month.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY - Acting Gov. Karyn Polito chairs a meeting of the Governor's Council. Sen. Ed Markey is a guest on Boston Public Radio. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh attends the Josiah Quincy School Lunar New Year celebration. Polito participates in the Exchange Club of Lawrence's Public Safety Awards.
The Boston City Council meets. State Senate President Karen Spilka and state House Speaker Robert DeLeo speak at the State House for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign. Woods Hole Research Center scientist Dr. Jennifer Francistestifies before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
|
 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
|
- "House plays follow the leader," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "ON JANUARY 30, in the midst of a debate over the rules to govern the legislative process on Beacon Hill, a vote took place that revealed a lot about the way the House runs. The vote was on a technical issue dealing with the way bills are handled as the legislative session comes to an end, when time runs short and political brinkmanship is the name of the game. Rep. Bradley Jones Jr. of North Reading, the Republican minority leader, spoke in favor of the amendment and asked for a roll call vote."
- "HOUSE DEMS TO CAUCUS THURSDAY WITH APPOINTMENTS LIKELY," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Six weeks after House lawmakers took their oaths of office, it appears that they may be getting assigned to committees on Thursday. House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Tuesday afternoon called for a Democratic Party caucus at 1 p.m. on Thursday after an informal House session in the morning. The schedule was sent to members in the afternoon, and was subsequently shared with the News Service. The timing of the caucus and the expectation among many members that leadership and committee assignments could be coming this week seems to signal that the speaker has made his decisions."
- "NDAs On Beacon Hill: An Affront To Transparency, Or Protection For Victims?" Greater Boston, WGBH: "The use of nondisclosure agreements have been at the root of debate at the Massachusetts House over the past few months, with critics saying they can be used to silence victims of workplace sexual harassment. The state Senate recently voted to ban the use of NDAs in all personnel cases in the State House. However, the State House went the opposite direction, voting to maintain the use of NDAs only when they are requested by alleged victims - with representatives arguing that this practice can ensure victims' names are not leaked to the public or press."
- "High above the city, Healey feels grounded," by VIctoria McGrane, Boston Globe: "Walk into Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's 20th-floor office, and the first thing you will notice is the view. Two walls of nearly all-glass flank the wooden desk where Healey signs papers, reads, and responds to correspondence that pours into her office, via snail- and electronic-mail, from people around the country."
- "An allergy almost killed her son. Now she's trying to change Mass. law," by Kara Baskin, Boston Globe: "Last year during Super Bowl Sunday, Nicole Arpiarian experienced every parent's worst nightmare: She watched her child almost die. Arpiarian was enjoying a post-church brunch with her family at a Harvard Square restaurant. Her then-12-year-old son, Tripp Hollister, ordered a special menu item — a fruit-filled pastry. Eating out is hard for Tripp. He has a severe peanut allergy. But the family tries to live as normally as possible, communicating Tripp's allergy with servers and always carrying an EpiPen. In part, the family is buoyed by Massachusetts' already strong food allergy law. The state is a forerunner in awareness, having passed a law in 2009 championed by chef Ming Tsai, whose son suffers from food allergies."
- "Mass. business confidence at lowest level since October 2016," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service:"Dimming employer views of the state and national economies drove down business confidence in Massachusetts in January. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index lost 0.9 points, falling to 57.7, its lowest level since October 2016. According to the business trade group, confidence has dropped 6.4 points during the past year, but remains in 'optimistic territory,' which is any reading over 50."
|
| FROM THE HUB |
|
- "Without immigrants, Mass. would lose population, study says," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "AS DEBATE OVER immigration continues to roil the national political waters, a new study highlights the crucial role newcomers to the US play in the Massachusetts economy and population growth. If it were not for international migration, the state would have lost population from 2010 to 2018, according to a report issued by The Boston Foundation."
- "At Harvard, Harvey Weinstein is now a cause for concern," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "To witness all the tumult, you might think Harvey Weinstein had just moved onto Harvard's campus. That is not the case. But the news that the disgraced Hollywood producer has chosen for his legal 'dream team' a faculty dean of one of Harvard's residential houses has unleashed a wave of concern on campus."
- "Local accountability in schools lacking, says report," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "MASSACHUSETTS HAS BUILT its school reform effort on a combination of new state funding and accountability measures that track student and district achievement, but that has largely let local districts off the hook for setting ambitious goals of their own and holding themselves and schools responsible for meeting them. That's the conclusion of a new research report released on Wednesday that calls local accountability an 'untapped strategy' for driving school improvement."
- "Supporters of controversial Mass. film tax credit aim to make it permanent," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Supporters of the state's film tax subsidy have spent years defending it as an economic boost to local industry, protecting it from an early death amid criticisms the benefits are not worth the cost. Now, its backers are throwing their energy toward a new front: keeping it alive forever. As the controversial program inches toward its January 2023 expiration, advocates warn the looming deadline could hamstring the state's ability to attract coveted episodic series and the more consistent, long-term source of jobs they offer locals in the entertainment industry."
- "Ed Commission 'optimistic' about Alma del Mar deal in New Bedford," by Aimee Chiavaroli, Standard-Times: "The state's top education official told the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Tuesday morning that he's optimistic about the agreement between Alma del Mar and New Bedford leaders. Jeffrey Riley said there has been good progress and collaboration between New Bedford Public Schools and Alma del Mar. They've been meeting to develop and negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU), he said."
- "Want to be a butler? How about a dock master? Encore casino has some interesting job postings," by Steve Annear, Boston Globe: "Looking for a gig? Or perhaps you want to make a sudden — or drastic — career change, and try your hand at something new. The Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett is looking for thousands of people to fill a range of jobs ahead of its planned grand opening in June — and some of the positions up for grabs are intriguing."
|
| DAY IN COURT |
|
- "ACLU Mass Executive Director Weighs In On Carter Decision," by Arjun Singh, WGBH News: "Rose said that while the case was 'indisputably a tragic situation,' the court made a new precedent by saying speech in and of itself can be considered grounds for a criminal indictment. Previously, Rose said, for speech to be considered criminal it needed to be linked with another action, such as a bank robber threatening to use a gun, but not actually firing it. According to Rose, the robber's words imply the use of force, but in Carter's situation there was not an actual criminal action linked to her speech."
- "Rachael Rollins prepared to investigate Boston-based assault allegations against Va. lieutenant governor," by Maria Cramer, Boston Globe: "Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins said Tuesday that she is ready to investigate allegations that Virginia's lieutenant governor sexually assaulted a woman at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, raising the prospect of a criminal probe that could deepen the extraordinary political turmoil engulfing Virginia. Rollins, a Democrat who took office in January, said she e-mailed a letter to lawyers for Vanessa Tyson last Thursday informing them that if Tyson wants to file a criminal complaint against Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, prosecutors in Rollins's office will investigate ."
|
| WARREN REPORT |
|
- "I asked Wall Street insiders whether they'd prefer Elizabeth Warren or Donald Trump. It turned out to be a hard question." by Emily Stewart, Vox: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren has made no secret of her disdain for Wall Street and the ultra-wealthy. She has proposed a wealth tax as part of her 2020 platform and has for years crusaded against the big banks. President Donald Trump has been good in some significant ways for the moneyed interests in America, from his tax cuts to his deregulatory efforts. So whom would Wall Street prefer: Warren, the anti-corporate crusader who promises to be a steadier hand? Or Trump, a president who generally tries to keep his friends happy but is so unpredictable that his actions risk blowing up the system?
- "Why Elizabeth Warren Needs to Give 'The Speech,'" by Russell Arben Fox, POLITICO Magazine: "Some suggest that Warren's best (and perhaps only) option is to stay away from her past and lock away her family stories, and instead focus her campaign entirely on her attacks on the 1 percent and her proposals for structural economic reforms. But there is a better alternative. It is risky, and the odds of Warren being able to pull it off are, I admit, not very good. But still, the rewards—both for her candidacy and, for those of us who mostly agree with her diagnosis of American capitalism in 2019, for the country— would be great."
- "Elizabeth Warren attends Native American event in Washington," by Martin Finucane, Boston Globe: "US Senator Elizabeth Warren appeared Tuesday at the National Indian Women's 'Supporting Each Other' lunch in Washington to introduce a Native American leader from Massachusetts, her presidential campaign said. The Massachusetts senator attended to introduce and honor her friend Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe, the campaign said."
|
| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
|
- "Bay State mom urges president to 'hold strong' on border wall," by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: "A Bay State mom whose son was dragged to his death by an illegal immigrant is urging President Trump to 'hold strong' and keep pushing for the full $5.7 billion to build a wall on the southern border. 'I don't want the president to give in,' said Maureen Maloney of Milford. 'I don't care how long it takes. We can't lose more loved ones to illegal aliens.' Maloney's 23-year-old son Matthew Denice was killed in 2011 by an Ecuadorean illegal immigrant who was convicted of motor vehicle homicide and manslaughter and is now serving 12 to 14 years."
|
| MOULTON MATTERS |
|
- "What sort of presidential campaign would Seth Moulton run?" by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "The Harvard-educated Marine captain has garnered as much attention for his criticism of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a fellow Democrat, as he has for his criticism of President Donald Trump. And if he decides to run, the 6th District congressman would join Sen. Elizabeth Warren as the second Democratic presidential candidate from Massachusetts. However, they would have very different campaigns."
|
| ABOVE THE FOLD |
|
— Herald: "HOLD STRONG," — Globe: "Trump sees a shutdown as unlikely," "FAR FROM THE COLD AND THE BAD OLD DAYS." |
| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
|
- "Head Of Mass. Pipeline Safety Division Stepping Down," by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: "The state's director of pipeline safety is stepping down, nearly five months after gas explosions and fires in the Merrimack Valley. Richard Wallace's job was posted Friday. He was appointed acting director in 2015, payroll records show. A DPU spokesperson said Wallace is retiring after 30 years with the department, and will stay on until a director is hired."
- "A breakdown of 40B affordable housing," by Eli Sherman, Patriot Ledger: " Want to ruffle some feathers? Bring up the subject of 40B in Massachusetts. The affordable-housing program, known technically as Chapter 40B, has existed for five decades and is the subject of endless debate across the Bay State. The subject, however, is often clouded with confusion surrounding the program, how it exists and why it creates so much friction in a state where affordable housing is so tough to find."
- "Hands Across the Hills story spreads far beyond Franklin County," by Richie Davis, Greenfield Recorder: "After a year of drawing attention solely from The Greenfield Recorder, this town's Hands Across the Hills effort and its organizer, Paula Green, are in the spotlight nationally and internationally as an effort to help bridge the political - and now racial - divides in this country."
SPOTTED: Sen. Elizabeth Warren dining last night at Farmers and Distillers in Washington, D.C.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and yes! The Bruins beat the Blackhawks 6-3. The Celtics beat the 76ers 112-109.
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.
|
|
|
|
Follow us on Twitter
|
|
Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family
|
FOLLOW US
|
| |
Comments
Post a Comment