| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | IT’S NOT JUST THE GOP PUSHING VOTER ID — The state GOP’s new campaign to get a voter identification law on the 2022 ballot has been panned by Democrats from Sen. Elizabeth Warren to Secretary of State William Galvin. Yet there’s a Democrat floating a similar bill on Beacon Hill. Dracut state Rep. Colleen Garry has re-filed legislation that would require voters to show some form of government identification or a valid employee photo-ID card in order to cast their ballots. “I am afraid of fraud,” Garry told me. “I’ve always thought that we should ensure that the right people are voting.” Those sound more like Donald Trump’s talking points than a Democrat’s. Garry said it’s unfortunate he’s made the issue of voter integrity so political. “I’ve been filing this for years,” she said of her legislation, which has four co-petitioners, including another Democrat, state Rep. David Allen Robertson, who’s also from a more moderate district. “We need to stop going partisan on every single issue and look at the facts. Someone can walk in and fake who they are and vote.” The American Civil Liberties Union and voter-rights groups argue that ID requirements disproportionately harm lower-income voters and people of color and can depress turnout. Massachusetts voters are already asked to present some form of identification the first time they vote, if they’re on an inactive voter list or if there’s any question about their identity, Galvin spokeswoman Deb O’Malley said, adding that the secretary believes “additional identification requirements would likely result in disenfranchising active voters, like senior citizens who have given up their driver’s licenses.” Barry Finegold, the state Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws, also panned the idea, saying: “We absolutely must protect the security and integrity of our elections, but voter ID is not the way to do so. Double voting and other forms of voting fraud are exceedingly rare.” Yet 80% of Americans support requiring voters to show a photo ID in order to cast a ballot, according to a Monmouth University poll from late June. And nationally, Democrats are becoming more accepting of voter identification requirements as they pick their battles against the onslaught of Republican-led efforts to restrict access to the ballot nationwide. Roughly three dozen states already request or require that voters show identification at the polls — including Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Garry wants to make sure appropriate forms of identification would be free and accessible to all Massachusetts voters as part of her plan here. Voter ID bills haven’t gone much of anywhere on Beacon Hill — that’s a key reason the MassGOP is trying to take the issue directly to voters in 2022. Garry called that a “positive” move and said “there are a lot of people who want to be assured that whatever happens in elections is the truth.” GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Your Playbook scribe is still not over that Loki finale, but let’s get down to business. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito join Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development Jennifer Maddox, Finegold, and state Rep. Frank Moran for a 2021 Rental Rounds announcement at 11 a.m. in Lawrence. Polito joins Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy at 8:30 a.m. in Lowell to launch the administration's statewide small business and downtown conversation tour. Polito will deliver remarks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Cisco Brewers Kitchen and Bar in New Bedford at 4 p.m. Rep. Lori Trahan visits the Merrimack Valley Food Bank in Lowell at 8:45 a.m. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey delivers remarks at a topping-off construction ceremony at One Congress Street at 11:30 a.m. Janey delivers remarks at the 25th annual Taste of Eastie at 6:15 p.m. State Sen. Eric Lesser hosts state Attorney General Maura Healey for a noon livestream discussion on the new Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights. Healey will be on GBH News’ Boston Public Radio from 1 to 2 p.m. for her recurring “Ask the AG” segment. Rep. Richard Neal joins West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt and others to discuss American Rescue Plan funding and child tax credit payments at 2:30 p.m. at the West Springfield Town Hall. Rep. Jake Auchincloss and Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller tour Barrett Technology and announce a $1.6 million federal grant to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital at 3:30 p.m. The Responsible Development Coalition hosts a Boston mayoral candidate forum at 4 p.m. at the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Training Center. Boston City Council District 7 candidates attend a forum hosted by 18 community organizations and moderated by former Councilor Tito Jackson at 6:30 p.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com. | |
| | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts coronavirus cases rising, deaths at record low daily average,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts health officials on Wednesday reported one new coronavirus death and 208 new COVID cases, as daily deaths are now at a record low but virus cases are rising again. Hospitalizations for COVID also increased on Wednesday, and the average percent positivity is climbing.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Budget provision improves tax break for parents, caregivers,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “A proposal developed by Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues and included in the final version of the fiscal 2022 state budget, would make refundable two state tax credits meant to help parents. What that means is for families who have a low enough income that they do not pay state income taxes, or pay only a tiny amount, they would get a check for the money that they would otherwise have been able to deduct from their tax payments.” – “Hotel workers may be enlisted in fight against sex trafficking,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “Hotel workers are the next line of defense in efforts to stop sex trafficking, as a group of lawmakers calls for training in the hospitality industry to recognize signs of exploitation. A proposal filed by Reps. Tom Walsh, D-Peabody, Sally Kerans, D-Danvers, and Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, would require hotels to develop a ‘human trafficking recognition program.’” – “DCF is discriminating against immigrant families by not providing interpreters, advocates tell federal officials,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “A collection of advocacy groups asked federal health officials Wednesday to investigate Massachusetts’ child welfare agency, charging that it is discriminating against immigrant families by repeatedly failing to provide parents whose primary language isn’t English with interpreter services." – “Lawmakers hear testimony on ‘Nero’s Law’ in honor of dog shot in Yarmouth,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “A pair of bills that would allow medical personnel to treat and transport police dogs injured in the line of duty, dubbed ‘Nero’s Law,’ has picked up steam after K-9 Kitt was killed by gunshot wound in Braintree last month.”
| | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “City says over half of Boston residents are fully vaccinated as officials appeal for more to get shots,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “As of July 6, nearly 402,000 residents, or 59 percent, had been immunized, officials posted on Twitter.” – “Massachusetts breakthrough coronavirus cases: Immunocompromised people at higher risk ‘feel left behind’,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “[Former Boston City Councilor John Nucci] has to take anti-rejection drugs for his organ transplant, which leaves him immunosuppressed. He received both Pfizer shots several months ago, but he’s still wearing a mask and continues to stay away from groups.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Boston School Committee passes exam school admissions policy based on grades and economic factors,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “The Boston School Committee passed a historic exam school admissions policy that will give new opportunities to disadvantaged students by offering invitations based on grades, an exam and socioeconomic tiers.” More details from the Boston Globe’s James Vaznis. – “Study Ranks Boston 6th In Country For Heat Intensity, Tied With Chicago And Miami,” by Barbara Moran, WBUR: “A new study puts Boston among the top 10 American cities for ‘heat intensity,’ a measure of how much hotter the compact, densely populated parts of a city can be compared to leafier surrounding areas.” | | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| – “Kim Janey, Annissa Essaibi-George lead way in developer donations in Boston mayor race,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Developers have built their support around Acting Mayor Kim Janey and, to a somewhat lesser extent, City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George — and both had to give back donations from a particularly infamous local landlord." – “Forget lawn signs. Kim Janey jumps into the campaign swag game,” by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: “Acting Mayor Kim Janey is adding new swag to this year’s race for mayor, as part of a messaging and fund-raising effort making its debut in the city. ... Campaign merch is standard fare in national political elections — see swag from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders — but it’s a relatively new phenomenon in this old-time city, where candidates are used to giving away stickers, pins, and window placards.” – “Campbell touts plan to ‘activate’ vacant city lots for development,” by Rebeca Pereira, Dorchester Reporter: “[City Councilor Andrea Campbell] spotlighted her plan to ‘activate’ 100 vacant city-owned lots for affordable, mixed-use development within her first 100 days as mayor. ” – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston City Council at-large candidate Ruthzee Louijeune has been endorsed by state Sen. Joe Boncore, state Rep. Adrian Madaro and City Councilor Lydia Edwards , per her campaign. “Ruthzee knows what it means to roll up her sleeves and give back to the community she came from, especially when addressing issues of access and equity,” Boncore said in a statement. – "The Arroyos are putting their political clout behind Kim Janey in the Boston mayoral race," by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: "Members of a well-connected Latino family are putting their political clout behind Acting Mayor Kim Janey in this year’s mayoral election, a move that could help shore up her support among Latino voters, many of whom are undecided in the race." | | PARTY POLITICS |
| – Allies of state GOP Chair Jim Lyons are firing back at a group of 16 Republican donors who threatened to withhold their money unless the party switches up its leadership, and offered to raise $1 million if it does. The MassGOP First Generation Coalition, which includes some failed office-seekers, blasted the donors’ “bounty” on Lyons, which they derided as “manipulation, blackmail, and downright treason” in an email paid for by the Massachusetts Republican Party that circulated among party members last night and was obtained by POLITICO. There’s more to both sides of the story. But the takeaway is clear — the rift between the more conservative wing of the GOP led by Lyons and the more moderate wing helmed by Gov. Charlie Baker is only growing larger heading into the 2022 election cycle. And even with the state’s currently Republican-held corner office on the line, neither side seems willing to rejoin forces to help keep it. | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “ACLU argues case against Hampden District Attorney over Springfield police misconduct before Supreme Judicial Court,” by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: “Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union argued for an investigation into Springfield police brutality and misconduct and the Hampden District Attorney’s Office failure to examine and disclose the violence in front of the state Judicial Supreme Court on Wednesday." | | THE CLARK CAUCUS |
| – “Katherine Clark's friend-filled path to speaker,” by Sarah Mucha, Axios: “Rep. Katherine Clark's career-long habit of making friends has the Massachusetts Democrat in contention to be the next speaker of the House. ... Bonds she's made helping freshmen members settle into their new jobs have not only given her a network of friends and supporters but loyalists she can tap in a speakership battle.” | | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| – “Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey say student loan companies aren’t ready for payments to resume, either,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “In a letter Tuesday to President Joe Biden, the two Massachusetts senators urged their fellow Democrat to extend the pause until at least March 31, 2022, citing responses they’ve received from leaders of federal student loan servicers suggesting the companies weren’t prepared to simultaneously resume payments for roughly 30 million borrowers.” – “In wake of president’s assassination, Ayanna Pressley calls for deportation moratorium for Haitians,” by Jazmine Ulloa, Boston Globe: “With tensions mounting in Haiti after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Representative Ayanna Pressley and leaders of the House Haiti Caucus are urging President Biden’s administration to ... halt all deportations of Haitian migrants, reinstate a lapsed parole program to reunite Haitian families amid visa-processing backlogs, and to follow through on the Biden administration’s decision to renew a temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants.” | | DATELINE D.C. |
| – “Victoria Kennedy reportedly under consideration to be Biden’s ambassador to Austria,” by Jim Puzzanghera and Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the widow of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy and a longtime friend of President Biden, reportedly is under consideration to be US ambassador to Austria. Kennedy, 67, a senior counsel at the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, has been given the required diplomatic approval by the office of Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, the Austria Press Agency reported Tuesday." | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – “Offshore wind staging area planned for Eversource site,” by Will Sennott, New Bedford Light: “The Cannon Street Power Station, once proposed for an ocean aquarium and later a waterfront casino, will be demolished and the surrounding area cleared to develop a staging area for the coming offshore wind industry, the city announced...” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Springfield police officer in hot water for insensitive social media post about George Floyd; Mayor Sarno ‘fit to be tied’,” by Patrick Johnson, Springfield Republican: “A city police officer is in hot water for an apparent violation of the employee social-media policy after posting a doctored Facebook photo that shows a statue of George Floyd pointing a gun at a pregnant woman. The officer, Hector Santiago, apparently deleted the photo sometime after posting it, but not until after someone captured a screen shot of it and forwarded it to City Councilor Justin Hurst.” – “‘Long time coming.’ Gov. Baker says Greylock Glen project found its ‘right time’,” by Larry Parnass, Berkshire Eagle: “To any doubters standing before him, on a sun-drenched field beneath Mount Greylock, Gov. Charlie Baker made this promise Wednesday: ‘We’re going to make sure this gets done, period. For you, it’s been a long time coming.’ Half a century, in fact.” | | THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP |
| – “New PAC forms ahead of Nov. election in Amherst,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A political action committee with an aim to improve the lives of all residents by supporting progressive and racially and ethnically diverse candidates for public office has formed in advance of the town’s Nov. 2 election. The Progressive Coalition of Amherst this week filed paperwork with the town clerk’s office to become the second PAC. Amherst Forward organized in advance of the first election under the new town charter three years ago and endorsed a slate of candidates.” | | THE LOWELL CONNECTOR |
| – “UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney to step down in June 2022,” by Alana Melanson, Lowell Sun: “UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney will step down in June 2022 at the end of the upcoming academic year … [UMass President Marty Meehan’s] office will launch a national search for Moloney’s successor in the fall.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Restaurant Shuts Down for a ‘Day of Kindness’ After Customers Make Its Staff Cry,” by Neil Vigdor, New York Times: “The final indignity came last Thursday, when a man berated one of the restaurant’s young employees for telling him that they could not take his breakfast takeout order because the restaurant had not opened yet, said Brandi Felt Castellano, the co-owner of Apt Cape Cod in Brewster … Ms. Felt Castellano, 39, said that some customers had assumed that it would be business as usual, but had not grasped that restaurants were still grappling with staffing and supply shortages. ... When a group of diners didn’t get the table that they had requested, she said, they threatened to sue.” – “ACLU: Fall River School Committee violated free speech in restricting public comments,” by Audrey Cooney, Herald News: “The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has admonished the Fall River School Committee over rules governing public comment during meetings that the civil rights organization says violate constitutional protections for free speech.” – “She Drowned in Ted Kennedy's Car — and Mary Jo Kopechne's Family Says They'll 'Never Stop Looking' for Answers,” by Liz McNeil, People: “Fifty-two years after Ted Kennedy's car plunged off the Dike Bridge on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts, killing passenger Mary Jo Kopechne, her family says they are grateful that she is finally being seen as more than ‘the girl who died in the car.’" | | MEDIA MATTERS |
| – “Globe apologizes for photo error; Barros says voters need to see candidates ‘beyond the color of our skin’,” by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: “The Globe mistakenly published a photo of mayoral candidate John Barros in a version of a Wednesday story about another mayoral candidate, Jon Santiago, dropping out of the race — prompting criticism from Barros that the candidates in the historically diverse field are too often lumped together as people of color.” TRANSITIONS – The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University has named Tanya M. Holton as director of institutional advancement. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Ariel Zirulnick, David Lippman (h/t son Daniel), Jon Hurst, Stefanie Coxe and Allison Godburn. 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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