| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | ‘IT ALL SEEMS SO UNREAL’ — Rep. Jim McGovern still feels “a little bit of unease” when he heads to work. There are colleagues he says he still won’t get in an elevator with. McGovern , who was presiding over the House when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol one year ago today, told Playbook and intern Anne Brandes that he remains “horrified and furious” by what he calls “an attempted coup” — and that democracy remains “under attack.” Here’s more from our interview, which has been edited for length: What memory from Jan. 6 sticks with you the most? To watch them destroying this building, breaking the glass doors, just invading this citadel of democracy — I was furious. There was a moment where I just wanted to give them the middle finger. (He didn't). You wrote in a Boston Globe op-ed this week that the “coup is still underway.” Why is that? Voting rights are under attack all over the place in this country. We see it in their attempts to politicize non-political positions that oversee our elections. We see it in the continued spreading of false information and conspiracy theories. … The challenge for Democrats is that we have to understand that this is an emergency and we have to start acting like it. … We ought to be talking about getting rid of the filibuster, or at least amending it. And we ought to be talking about getting rid of the Electoral College. What do Jan. 6 and its aftermath mean for Massachusetts? The Republican Party in Massachusetts is kind of following the same track as the Republican parties in a lot of other states. … If you’re someone who considers yourself a Republican voter and you reject the use of political violence and believe that American democracy is worth fighting for, you need to start speaking out loudly and clearly. Have there been any changes in your relationship with conservative colleagues since the riot? There are people I won’t co-sponsor bills with, people I won’t sign onto letters with. I say this as somebody who has made it a point to develop relationships with a lot of Republicans over the years. … You can work with people you disagree with, but you can’t work with people who may have coordinated an attack that almost killed you. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The state shattered another daily Covid-19 case count record and the superintendent of Boston Public Schools taught a fourth-grade class yesterday as infections fell teachers across the map. A new statewide MassINC Polling Group survey of 1,026 registered voters out this morning (and featured on The Horse Race podcast) shows just 26 percent believe the Covid situation here is better now than a year ago, while 27 percent think it’s worse and 39 percent say it’s the same. Here are some other stats: — 65 percent support reinstating a statewide indoor mask mandate, which Gov. Charlie Baker has so far eschewed. — 56 percent support stores and restaurants requiring proof of vaccination from customers, while 65 percent support private businesses requiring proof of vax from their on-site employees. — 84 percent support providing free rapid Covid tests to households. — 67 percent support requiring proof of vax for train or air travel. Backlash against Baker’s handling of testing and schools in this latest surge is escalating: Frustrated lawmakers are looking to haul Baker in to testify on state’s Omicron response next week; the Massachusetts Teachers Association is now calling for the Legislature to “investigate” the Baker administration’s “inadequate and incompetent actions” surrounding schools; and complaints about hours-long testing lines abound. The MassINC poll conducted in late December showed the Republican governor has a 60 percent favorability rating, while only 21 percent view him unfavorably. Baker has his first public event since Monday today — a 6 p.m. inauguration in Gardner. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito chairs a Seaport Economic Council meeting at 10 a.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announces her police commissioner search committee at 11 a.m. at City Hall. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts roundtables on infrastructure in Haverhill at 1 p.m. and Lowell at 3 p.m. Rep. Seth Moulton visits the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute at 1:45 p.m. Rep. Bill Keating hosts a panel on Jan. 6 with author Nathaniel Philbrick and moderated by William Mills. Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com. | |
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| – HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW: State Attorney General Maura Healey is widely viewed as the frontrunner should she get into the governor’s race. The Democrat also has the highest favorability rating of the current field in the MassINC poll: – Healey: 33 percent favorable, 17 percent unfavorable, 26 percent undecided, 22 percent never heard of her. – Democratic state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz: 11 percent favorable, 9 percent unfavorable, 23 percent undecided and 54 percent never heard of. – Democratic Harvard professor Danielle Allen: 7 percent favorable, 5 percent unfavorable, 15 percent undecided and 70 percent never heard of. – Republican former state Rep. Geoff Diehl: 12 percent favorable, 15 percent unfavorable, 23 percent undecided and 47 percent never heard of. Remember, it’s early. The large percent of undecided people here means there’s plenty of room for any candidate to make their mark — and that Healey, a two-term AG, and Diehl, who's run statewide before, have some work to do to up their name ID. | | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts again smashes record for most coronavirus cases in one day with 27,612,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The state Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported a whopping 27,612 daily coronavirus cases, shattering the New Year’s Eve record tally of 21,397 cases. … The state’s average percent positivity has now spiked to 22.06%.” – “Massachusetts exceeds 20,000 COVID deaths,” by Jonathan Saltzman, Boston Globe. | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – "Commission sharply split on qualified immunity proposals," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "A sharply divided commission established to study qualified immunity – a controversial legal doctrine that shields police officers and other public employees from liability from civil lawsuits – is recommending that lawmakers not change the law for at least two years. But the commission did recommend two changes that could make it easier for people to bring civil lawsuits against public employees in state courts, even with the qualified immunity doctrine unchanged." – “Massachusetts lawmakers look to outlaw ‘stealthing,’ or nonconsensual condom removal,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Nonconsensual condom removal, known as 'stealthing,' presents a clear violation and breach of trust. But it is not specifically designated as a crime anywhere in the United States. ... Now, some Beacon Hill lawmakers are pushing a bill that would make Massachusetts the first state to create both civil and criminal penalties for stealthing.” – “Fixing Massachusetts' nursing homes is a complex problem; here are some of the ways lawmakers are trying to do it,” by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle: “State Sen. Patricia Jehlen, a Somerville Democrat who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, said she believes the pandemic has moved legislative leaders to pursue changes. … Better wages for workers, improved reimbursements for facilities and increased support for nursing home alternatives are all on the table, Jehlen said. ” – “Missed stipend pushed Massachusetts lawmaker’s pay to six-figure heights,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “State Sen. Cindy Friedman’s $220,000-plus pay last year was boosted by a $64,000 stipend she missed out on the previous year, the Senate clerk has confirmed. Friedman served on eight committees in 2021, as her compensation reflects. But an accounting error resulted in her not being compensated for her role as vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee in 2019 and 2020.” | | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “Omicron accounts for 95 percent of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts,” by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: “Omicron now accounts for 95 percent of the COVID-19 cases analyzed by Broad researchers through January 2.” – “Mass. to launch ‘test and stay’ program to help child care centers remain open,” by Naomi Martin and Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts will launch a version of the state’s widely praised school ‘test-and-stay’ program for child care centers in upcoming weeks, aimed at keeping young children and staff in classrooms instead of quarantining at home.” – “DESE: Some KN95 Masks Given To Schools Not Tested By MIT, As Baker Said,” by CBS Boston: “The state now says it has learned that some of the KN95 masks given to Massachusetts school districts were not tested at MIT, as Gov. Charlie Baker had previously said. … Some superintendents are questioning their safety after the CDC found they are about 45% effective.” – “Nursing homes at a tipping point: Many are forced to freeze admissions, stranding patients in hospitals for weeks,” by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: “Already crowded hospitals across Massachusetts are being forced to keep patients on their wards for weeks after they would otherwise be discharged for rehabilitation or long-term care because there are so few available spaces at nursing homes struggling to stay open amid the Omicron surge.” – “This chart may tell us more about the Mass. COVID surge than any other. Here’s why,” by Martin Finucane, Boston Globe: “...there’s another COVID-19 metric experts are monitoring, one that makes clear just how startlingly widespread the virus is now: waste water — or sewage — surveillance data. And it has raised alarms about where we’re headed in the coming weeks.” – “As new COVID cases surge to record highs in Worcester, 110 firefighters are out creating a ‘very critical’ situation,” by Michael Bonner, MassLive. – “Cloth masks out as Amherst schools step up COVID defense,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette. – “Cape Cod gets its first free Stop the Spread COVID-19 test site,” by Cynthia McCormick, Cape Cod Times. | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Michelle Wu suggests state’s ban on remote learning — even due to staffing shortages — is too rigid,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Boston Mayor Michelle Wu suggested Wednesday that she’s hoping for more flexibility from Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration when it comes to allowing temporary remote learning at schools dealing with staffing shortages due to the omicron variant of COVID-19.” – “Hundreds rally against Boston worker vaccine mandate,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Several hundred people rallied outside the State House against the impending Boston coronavirus vaccine mandate, though it, like so much in politics, took on a distinctly nationalized flavor.” – “Probe into off-duty Boston police presence at last year’s Jan. 6 insurrection is ongoing,” by Danny McDonald and Elizabeth Koh, Boston Globe: “A year after an insurrection at the US Capitol, Boston police have yet to wrap up a probe into whether any of its officers were involved in the unrest in Washington, D.C.” – “At Boston museum, new exhibit opens highlighting Mass. role in shaping U.S. democracy,” by Caroline Llanes, WBUR: “Featured historical documents include records related to Shays' Rebellion, the 1820 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, and Black citizens after the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision in 1857.” | | ON THE STUMP |
| – NEW: Lydia Edwards has been endorsed by Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo and Winthrop Town Council President James Letterie in her state Senate bid. Arrigo had endorsed Anthony D’Ambrosio in the primary Edwards, a Boston city councilor, won last month. The general election is Tuesday. – “Allen unveils democracy agenda for Mass.,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Democratic gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen unveiled a democracy agenda on Wednesday, outlining a host of initiatives to encourage greater voter participation and civic involvement and reduce the influence of money in politics.” – “Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins to face challenge from former top aide,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: "Sandy Zamor Calixte, a 16-year veteran of the department, [formally announced] her candidacy Wednesday in Mattapan. ... The incumbent Tompkins confirmed he will seek re-election.” | | ROLLINS REPORT |
| – DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOMINOES: If the lieutenant governor’s race is the hottest contest in Massachusetts right now, the slate of district attorney races shaping up across the state might be the second. Essex DA Jonathan Blodgett and Cape & Islands DA Michael O’Keefe — both in office since 2002 — said yesterday they won't seek reelection. Salem state Rep. Paul Tucker quickly said he would run to replace Blodgett, per the Salem News. Salem School Committee Vice Chair Manny Cruz, who had been eyeing the LG race, then told POLITICO he would run for his former boss Tucker’s seat instead. Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins will be sworn in as U.S. attorney for Massachusetts on Monday, the Boston Globe first reported , meaning we’ll soon know her replacement and get a better picture of the field for this fall. A fourth seat could open up if Middlesex DA Marian Ryan runs for state attorney general (should current AG Maura Healey run for governor). On top of all that, Berkshire DA Andrea Harrington, a Democrat who appears to be laying the groundwork for a reelection bid, faces a challenge from attorney Robert Sullivan, an independent. Republican Plymouth DA Timothy Cruz, who told the Boston Globe he plans to seek reelection, could face Democrat Rahsaan Hall of the ACLU Massachusetts. – The Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter also reports that Joshua Levy, who’s been working for Ropes & Gray, will become Rollins’ first assistant U.S. attorney. | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Former mayor Jasiel Correia gets a few more weeks of freedom due to current COVID surge,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “Former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia II, who was to self-report to prison on Monday, has been given another temporary reprieve from federal Court Judge Douglas Woodlock — at least another few weeks of freedom, with the pandemic identified as the reason.” – “Tsarnaev got a COVID relief payment last year. Prosecutors want that and his other cash to go to victims,” by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: “Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev received a $1,400 COVID-19 relief payment last June, and the government is asking a federal judge to order that payment and all other funds in his inmate trust account to be put towards payment of criminal penalties, including restitution for his victims." | | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| – “Legislators reflect on Jan. 6, one year later,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “Congresswoman Lori Trahan thought she and her family were in for a fun week when she brought her husband and elementary school-aged children down to D.C. for her swearing-in ceremony just before Jan. 6, 2021.” – "Pressley wants Americans to ‘stay uncomfortable’ with memories of Jan. 6," by Jazmine Ulloa, Boston Globe. – “Markey calls new voting rights laws crucial as Capitol attack anniversary looms,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News. – “One year after Jan. 6, where are their cases? New Englanders charged in the Capitol riots,” by Hadley Barndollar, USA Today/Worcester Telegram & Gazette. – “Senators seek probe of Plymouth County ICE detention facility following detainee allegations of abuse,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “An immigrant detainee is alleging he was sexually harassed and physically assaulted at Plymouth County jail’s immigrant detention unit — the latest in a series of allegations that have led Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to call for an immediate review of the facility by the Department of Homeland Security.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Nurse’s attempt to remove MNA union from Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester could leave nurses unrepresented for at least a year,” Michael Bonner, MassLive: “The nurse who attempted to remove the Massachusetts Nurses Association from Saint Vincent Hospital is now represented by a national right-to-work organization in a second attempt to expel the union from the hospital in Worcester.” – “Rail Trail, ambulance, police training: How Fall River will spend $20M in COVID funds,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “Mayor Paul Coogan released a comprehensive plan on Wednesday to spend $20 million of the $69 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding promised to the city, with quality-of-life initiatives geared toward residents and small businesses.” – More: “South Shore gets 0.22% of state's $4 billion COVID relief bill,” by Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Patriot Ledger. TRANSITIONS – Elizabeth Sweet will become executive director of the MIRA Coalition. Boston-based Melwood Global announced Obama alum Amanda Munger has joined as a partner leading its D.C. efforts. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Sarah Blodgett, communications director for state Senate President Karen Spilka; Natalie Boyse, Âri de Fauconberg, Sean Costello and Mark Hyman. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: NEW YEAR, SAME COVID — CommonWealth Magazine's Shira Schoenberg joins hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky to talk Omicron in schools. The crew runs through MassINC's latest polling on Covid-19 and the governor's race. 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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