GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
NEW: POLITICO'S ELECTIONS FORECAST Massachusetts Democrats are likely to extend their dominance over the states congressional delegation in 2020, according to a new elections forecast put together by my excellent colleagues at POLITICO.
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POLITICO rated every House, Senate and gubernatorial race in the nation next year, along with the Electoral College, and offered an early forecast of all the contests.
In Massachusetts, every race is rated "solid Democratic" except for Rep. Bill Keating's seat, which is rated "likely Democratic." Unless something drastic happens, most of the Massachusetts action will be on primary day in September.
Few other states are this blue. Maryland, which has eight House seats, is in the same ballpark as Massachusetts, every race is rated "solid Democratic." The other thing the two states have in common: extremely popular Republican governors. Check out all the race ratings here.
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: CLARK'S BABIES BILL Rep. Katherine Clark and Georgia GOP Rep. Buddy Carter are rolling out a new bill today. The BABIES Act would expand access to freestanding birth centers for Medicaid recipients.
Over half of the counties in the United States don't have a hospital maternity unit, according to Clark's office. To bridge the gap, stand-alone birth centers can make it easier for women and families to get medical care in less affluent areas. A number of existing licensed birth centers don't accept Medicaid, but Clark and Carter's bill would create a program that uses a new payment model for Medicaid recipients.
We have seen clear evidence that birth centers have positive outcomes for mothers and babies. By enabling innovation to guide the critical work that birth centers do every day, we can extend essential care to moms where they are," Clark said in a statement.
Freestanding birth centers resulted in lower rates of pre-term birth, low birth weight and fewer C-section procedures, according to a report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services that studied CHIP beneficiaries from 2013 to 2017. Families who used the centers saved an average of $2,000, according to the report.
POLL: VOTERS DON'T BLAME TRAFFIC ON UBER AND LYFT Massachusetts voters are opposed to higher fees on ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft, according to a new poll commissioned by the companies, and say they dont blame ride shares for the states mounting traffic problem.
Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed opposed a ride share fee increase from 20 cents to $1, according to the poll. More than half 54 percent of those surveyed said they had used ride sharing services, and 60 percent said they have a favorable view of them.
While 94 percent of people surveyed said they view traffic congestion as a problem in Massachusetts, 57 percent disagreed that ride sharing services were to blame. Global Strategy Group surveyed 640 likely 2020 general election voters in Massachusetts from Nov. 1 to Nov. 6.
IMPEACHMENT WATCH Ahead of Gordon Sondlands testimony before Congress today, someone distributed fliers to homes in Boston yesterday encouraging people to boycott his hotels. Sondland, the ambassador to the E.U., founded the Provenance Hotels chain. Pic sent to me by a source.
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 a Republican Governors Association conference in Florida. Acting Gov. Karyn Polito attends farewell addresses by outgoing state Sens. Vinny deMacedo and Don Humason in the Senate. Polito makes a MassWorks funding announcement in North Andover. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speaks at the Turn Off the Red Light Summit in Roxbury. Rep. Katherine Clark is a guest on WGBHs Morning Edition. The Senate meets in formal session. The House meets in formal session.
Agreement reached on ed funding bill, by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: LAWMAKERS HAVE REACHED agreement on a long-awaited education funding bill, setting the stage for the most significant update to the formula for financing Massachusetts school districts since the landmark 1993 Education Reform Act. The bill, which emerged after less than three weeks of closed-door negotiations by House and Senate members, would steer $1.5 billion in new state aid to local school systems, with those educating lots of low-income students poised to see the largest increases in funding.
Police chiefs back bill cracking down on distracted driving, by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: Police officials in Boston and West Bridgewater, a community thats made headlines in recent years for crackdowns on distracted driving, on Tuesday backed a bill pending on Beacon Hill that would ban the use of handheld devices behind the wheel. Any effort to enhance the safety of motorists and pedestrians is supported by the Boston police, Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross said in a statement. His words were echoed by West Bridgewater Police Chief Victor Flaherty, who said in a phone interview that the measure is definitely going to save lives if it becomes law.
Tribal leaders seek changes to state flag, by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: Native Americans say the imagery on the Massachusetts state flag is symbol of the brutal suppression of the region's indigenous people at the hands of colonial governments. On Tuesday, members of the Legislature's Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony from tribal leaders, lawmakers and others who want to create a commission to consider changes to the emblems of government.
Rodrigues Shrugs Off House Chair's Criticism, by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: After being accused by one House Democrat of setting a "dangerous precedent" by circumventing the committee process to advance a plastic bag ban bill, Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues on Tuesday dismissed the House's concerns. "We are comfortable with the process and look forward to the Senate debating and voting on this very important issue tomorrow," Rodrigues told the News Service on Tuesday in a statement. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee Co-Chair Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli on Monday expressed "grave concern" with the Senate's complete disregard towards the legislative process.
Were hooked on cars, despite the gridlock. Only powerful incentives will change that, but major employers make it too easy to drive. Boston Globe Spotlight Team: Its become a persistent refrain for the booming biotech companies of Kendall Square. Yet, sit in traffic is what many of their employees do, fighting their way through some of the countrys worst rush-hour congestion to get on with the work of changing the way we live, and maybe saving lives. They are miserable about it miserable, fed up, and increasingly tempted to give up. A recent state survey from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council found that 60 percent of biotech workers were so unhappy with their commutes that they would change jobs for a better one, with nearly a quarter considering moving out of state because of the problem.
DOC launching unit for young inmates who are fathers, by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION is planning to open a special unit for incarcerated fathers between the ages of 18 to 24, with the goal of helping them straighten out their lives and become better parents while in prison and once they are released. Similar units have been launched at some of the county jails, but this is the first time the state prison system has decided to separate young fathers, who account for about a quarter of inmates ages 18 to 24, from the rest of the prison population.
Study Finds Mass. Worst In Nation For Elder Economic Security, by Adrian Ma, WBUR: Single, older people in Massachusetts are more likely to face economic insecurity than their peers in any other state, according to a new UMass Boston report. The study estimates that 61.7% of state residents older than 65 and living alone do not have enough income to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, health care, transportation, clothing and household supplies.
Southie pols call for affordable housing as project lands at Gillette property, by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: A developer specializing in pricey high-end apartments and condos is planning more than a million square feet of housing, offices and labs on land bought from Gillette in South Boston as Southie pols say what the booming area needs is affordable housing. Related Beal filed a letter of intent with the Boston Planning & Development Agency on Monday to build on the 5.5-acre parcel it paid $218 million in May to shave off of Gillettes South Boston headquarters. The project comes as Gillette considers selling off more land.
40 Ambitious Ideas to Save Transportation in Boston, Boston Magazine: Once upon a time, Bostons transit system was the envy of every metropolis from Chicago to DC: The subway running between Park and Tremont streets, unveiled in 1897, was the first in the United States; 3,500 miles of railroad track, meanwhile, once stretched across the state, connecting the hinterlands to the big city. Flash-forward more than a century, and commuting by car from the exurbs can take upward of two hours, the commuter rail is pretty much never on time, and many of our T cars are so old that the MBTA cant even order parts anymore.
By 2022, highways, routes across Massachusetts will have new exit numbers, MassDOT says, by Aram Boghosian, Boston.com: Over the next two years, exit numbers along Massachusetts highways and routes will change under a federal mandate, MassDOT officials said Monday. Exits, which currently use sequential numbering, will shift to mileage-based numbering, according to Neil Boudreau, the departments assistant administrator for traffic and safety. The switch comes as the commonwealth adopts federal policies that spell out required uniform traffic features, he said. So far, all but three states have begun to put those changes in place: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Delaware, Boudreau said at a MassDOT board meeting.
Kennedy holding Senate fundraiser in RI next month, by Ted Nesi, WPRI: Massachusetts Congressman Joe Kennedy III will cross state lines next month to raise money for his U.S. Senate primary bid against incumbent Democrat Ed Markey. Kennedy will be in Providence at noon on Dec. 3 for a lunch reception featuring former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy, his cousin, as a special guest, according to an invitation obtained by WPRI 12.
MARKEYCHUSETTS: Sen. Ed Markey's reelection campaign just rolled out three new endorsements from state lawmakers. Sen. Pat Jehlen, Sen. Mike Barrett and Rep. Natalie Higgins and announced they are backing Markey yesterday.
Shack Exploring Run for Congress in 4th District, by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: Former state Comptroller Thomas Shack announced Tuesday that he was forming an exploratory committee to run for Congress in the 4th District, taking a step toward joining a Democratic field that already includes six candidates vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III in the House. Shack left his position as comptroller earlier this year after more than six years working in the office, including four years as the comptroller overseeing more than $60 billion and government spending and other funding each year.
T notes: Commuter rail on-time performance takes dive, by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: THE ON-TIME PERFORMANCE of the commuter rail system took a sharp dive in late September and October, particularly on the Fitchburg, Franklin, and Providence lines. According to statistics released at a meeting of the Fiscal and Management Control Board on Monday, the system as a whole was on-time (defined as within five minutes of the scheduled arrival time) 84.6 percent of the time in October, the lowest level in at least a year. The worst-performing line was the Franklin Line, with 79.2 percent on-time performance, followed by the Fitchburg and Providence lines, both at 80.2 percent.
Will Deval Patrick's ties to drug companies help or hurt his 2020 bid? by Ron Leuty, San Francisco Business Times: As former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick last week entered the race to be the Democratic Party's nominee for president, his experiences with two Bay Area drug companies could prove to be a boost or a drag. Patrick still serves on the board of Global Blood Therapeutics Inc., whose sickle cell disease drug could be approved by the Food and Drug Administration by late February. The South San Francisco company (NASDAQ: GBT) has't publicly set a price of the drug, called voxelotor, but Patrick's involvement on the board could give him additional insight into the national debate on drug pricing.
Deval Patrick finds voters across US receptive to his campaign, but they say he has little chance of getting nominated, by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: As Deval Patrick sprinted around the country the past few days on a hastily assembled trip kicking off his presidential campaign, he discovered something both encouraging and disheartening: People liked him. But at this eleventh hour in the Democratic race, they dont think he has a chance to win. At a veterans home in Las Vegas, a bakery in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a county Democrats meeting in Des Moines, voters said they found the former Massachusetts governor funny, relatable, and experienced. They described him as a moving orator and a good listener with a bad sense of timing.
Warren's private equity crusade faces resistance at House hearing, by Zachary Warmbrodt, POLITICO: A high-profile House hearing Tuesday designed to showcase the dangers of private equity instead revealed that the industry enjoys bipartisan backing in Washington despite a wave of attacks from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other critics. The tone of many members at the Financial Services Committee hearing titled "America for Sale?" suggested that the Massachusetts Democrat will struggle to rally her party against the industry in the 2020 presidential campaign.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren issues plan to combat white nationalism stoked by President Donald Trump, by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: Citing more than 7,000 hate crimes logged by the FBI last year and hundreds of thousands more that go unreported, Democratic presidential contender and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Friday released a plan to combat the rise of extremism and white nationalism. Warren, who mentioned a series of violent attacks since 2015, including shootings of black worshippers, Jewish worshippers and immigrants, called for an interagency task force to combat white nationalist crime.
A Mass. politician is fighting MLBs proposal to split the Lowell Spinners from the Red Sox, by Hayden Bird, Boston.com: In the wake of a new proposal from Major League Baseball to cut down its minor league system, a U.S. representative from Massachusetts is trying to help lead a bipartisan response. The MLB proposal, which first became known in October, would cut the Major League affiliation with 42 minor league teams (out of 160 in total). The teams in question would become independent after the current Professional Baseball Agreement between MLB and MiLB expires in 2020, and possibly join the Dream League (with rosters composed of un-drafted players and free agents).
Mass. lawmakers decry SNAP rule change, by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: The entire Massachusetts congressional delegation signed a letter urging the Trump administration to reconsider a proposed regulation that the lawmakers said would result in Massachusetts losing about 9%, or about $100 million, in annual nutrition funding. The administrations proposed rule would remove flexibility around how states set the Standard Utility Allowances, based on local utility costs, for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.
House Democrat discusses impeachment inquiry, MSNBC: House Dem Caucus Vice Chair, Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., discusses a letter from House Speaker Pelosi to Democratic leadership on Trump's actions.
Herald: CANCEL CULTURE," "AWAY GAME, Globe: LATE, AS ALWAYS," "Deal is reached on school funding.
Worcester colleges offer free tuition for 3 children of fallen Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard, by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: Residents, restaurants, organizations and sports teams around Massachusetts, and in Worcester especially, have stepped up to help out or make donations to assist the family of fallen Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard in the days since tragedy struck the citys fire department once again. Some Central Massachusetts colleges and universities have extended that offer of support. Nine institutions have offered to pay tuition for Menards three children -- Joshua, Hailee and Morgan -- if they are accepted into the schools programs.
Owner says hes turning controversial Weymouth billboard back on, by Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger: With no alternative plan in place, the owner of a controversial digital billboard on Route 3 plans to turn the two-faced billboard back on, cut down trees blocking it and begin building a second further south on the highway. Ed OSullivan of Cove Outdoor LLC said in a memo to officials that he has been working with the town to come up with a plan that will satisfy neighbors infuriated by the digital billboard on the northbound side of Route 3 and generate the revenue the company is entitled to.
MAZEL! to Hanna Switlekowski, legislative director to state Sen. Paul Feeney, who was elected to the Sharon Select Board last night.
ALSO MAZEL! to UMass Amherst grad Jackson Cote, who joins MassLive.com as a reporter in Springfield. Cote just finished an internship at CNN. Tweet.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Rep. Jim McGovern, who is 6-0; state Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, community organizer and political operative Samuel Gebru, and Ethos CEO Valerie Frias (I was a day early on her birthday yesterday).
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Bruins beat the Devils 5-1.
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Big day for EDUCATION on Beacon Hill 2020 FORECAST CLARK'S new bill - Politico