RESPONSE to Syrian airstrikes — HEALEY’s New Bedford gun exchange — BAA’s hand-cyclist hand-wringing

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By Lauren Dezenski ([email protected]; @laurendezenski) with Rebecca Morin ([email protected]; @RebeccaMorin_)

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The rain’s not over just yet – Isolated showers still possible later today and tonight.

NEW THIS MORNING: CONGRESSIONAL RESPONSE TO SYRIAN AIRSTRIKES — Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Seth Moulton in separate statements both called for “clear goals and objectives” for US involvement, including congressional authorization — and both noted the Syrian regime should be held accountable for its chemical weapons attack on its citizens. Moulton’s statement was also issued jointly with Oklahoma Republican Steve Russell. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who says Assad’s “vicious brutality demands a response,” also knocks Trump’s travel ban, adding “any strategy that ignores the refugees fleeing this unimaginable terror is a half-step at best.” The latest from CNN.

WHAT A PRODUCTIVELY COMBATIVE TOWN HALL LOOKS LIKE — As Attorney General Maura Healey continues her statewide town hall tour, confrontations with gun activists continue to bubble up like one on Wednesday in New Bedford.

During the Q&A portion of the night, one man, wearing a shirt with Healey’s face and “tyrant” written underneath, criticized the AG over her enforcement of the assault weapons ban. Another asked why she didn’t work harder to fight the opioid epidemic, which has taken more Massachusetts lives than assault weapons, he said.

Healey stood her ground during the 10-minute exchange, at one point adding “I am not interested in taking away the ability for people to go to the range, to go hunt, to go sport, or to buy guns just as enthusiasts, ok? I’m really not.”

Both sides apparently left not completely bitter over the exchange — the folks from Northeast Shooters.com, a group vocally opposed to Healey and affiliated with the dozen-some that showed up at the Wednesday night town hall, gave Healey credit in a blog post for walking to the back of the room where they were standing, despite still largely disagreeing with her responses.

These types of exchanges are valuable for Healey and her camp. They (correctly) believe she will never truly win over the hearts and minds of people who think she unilaterally rewrote the state’s assault weapon law — but maybe, they hope, after enough exchanges, these people will hold off on putting Hitler mustaches on Healey photos. While members of Congress make the rounds with town halls around the state — and gubernatorial candidates work similar rooms — Healey’s own tour lets her confront lingering criticism for her assault weapon ban enforcement, boost herself among supporters and generate buzz over the appearances.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

-- “Want to buy cigarettes in Mass.? You might have to wait until you’re 21,” by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts lawmakers appear increasingly likely to raise the minimum legal age for sale of tobacco to 21, a move that would make the state just the third in the nation to enact that requirement statewide.”

-- “A duel between tax plans,” by Scott Lehigh, Boston Globe: “JON HURST, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, is about to inject an X factor into the state’s fiscal and political debate.”

-- “Senate President Rosenberg makes business case for the millionaire’s tax,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “Massachusetts Senate President Stanley Rosenberg has a pointed message for Boston’s business leaders: We’ve got it good now. So let’s not ruin it for ourselves by failing to invest in some of our state’s basic needs.”

-- “Senate OKs 2-year plan for funding for bridges and roads,” by Dick Lindsay, Berkshire Eagle: “Local officials are lauding the Massachusetts Senate for backing a long-term state funding plan to help cities and towns pay for road and bridge projects.”

-- New this morning: 71 members of the legislature and seven Boston City Councilors have signed onto a letter from State Rep. Dan Cullinane calling for the BAA to recognize handcyclists in the Boston Marathon

-- “Stop erecting speed bumps for Marathon handcyclists,” by Kevin Cullen, Boston Globe: “Almost every year, for the better part of a decade, a wounded warrior who lost part of his body in Iraq or Afghanistan has been the first to cross the finish line in a handcycle on Boylston Street and there has been no recognition of their triumph.”

-- “Attack on DiMasi was irresponsible,” by James Aloisi, CommonWealth Magazine: “Progressives in Massachusetts should always remember that we would not have marriage equality, or a strong stem cell research law, or a powerful global warming act, or our landmark health care law without the leadership and persistent support of DiMasi. Of course he needed the support of others and he had an important ally in former Senate president Robert Travaglini. He was also able to craft strategic alliances with both Mitt Romney and Deval Patrick in order to accomplish these important advances in our state’s quality of life.”

TRUMPACHUSETTS

-- “Hodgson, Curtatone spar in heated debate over immigration,” by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone engaged in a heated debate Thursday over immigration issues at the University of Massachusetts School of Law. … At Thursday morning’s event, Hodgson argued that when communities like Somerville enact so-called ‘sanctuary city’ policies, ‘they undermine law enforcement ability to keep the communities safe.’”

-- “Bank Reform Architect Puzzled by Effort to Undo It,” by Michael Corkery, New York Times: “Barney Frank is puzzled. The former Massachusetts congressman says that President Trump is vowing to roll back financial regulations that even some of the biggest players in the banking industry have quietly come to tolerate. … ‘He has to denigrate everything the Democrats did,’ says Mr. Frank, who retired from the House in 2013. ‘I think he has to say he inherited a mess. Well, he has to find a mess.’”

-- “The Secret Lobotomy of Rosemary Kennedy,” by Lyz Lenz, Marie Claire: “When the baby finally arrived, she was named Rose Marie Kennedy, after her mother. Later nicknamed Rosemary, her life would be one of struggle, heartache, medical malpractice, and abandonment. But Rosemary Kennedy’s legacy is not a story of tragedy—it’s a story of quiet power that would eventually change the quality of life for disabled and mentally ill people across the country.”


THE WARREN REPORT

-- “Senator Elizabeth Warren Has Millions of Young Fans, a New Book, and Swagger to Spare,” by Mikki Halpin, Glamour: “I love a rebel. My political heroes tend to be the ones who not only say what they think but shout it from the rooftops. With her fiery speeches and tendency to rile Donald Trump on Twitter, Senator Elizabeth Warren fits the bill.”

-- “Warren delivers Dunkin’ Donuts to senator’s staff after marathon speech opposing Gorsuch,” by Dialynn Dwyer, Boston.com: “Elizabeth Warren showed her support for a fellow senator who spent more than 15 hours speaking on the Senate floor opposing the Supreme Court nomination of Neil Gorsuch with some tried-and-true New England sustenance: Dunkin’ Donuts. Warren delivered the treats to Sen. Jeff Merkley’s staff herself Wednesday morning after the Oregon Democrat yielded the floor.”

ON THE STUMP

-- “Tito Jackson Speaks: What he regrets — and what he doesn’t,” by WGBH’s The Scrum: “What’s more, Jackson is trying to recover from a rough week that included a Boston Globe story about his years as a pharmaceutical rep who marketed opioids — and an incident with a WGBH News reporter that led Jackson to issue an apology. Jackson sat down with Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis to discuss those developments, the state of his campaign, race in the city, and the challenge of running for mayor in the age of Trump.”

-- “Ayyadurai is no ordinary Senate candidate,” by Chris Lisinski, Lowell Sun: “Shiva Ayyadurai is an entrepreneur, MIT graduate, Donald Trump-supporting Indian-born immigrant and U.S. citizen hoping that his outsider status will carry him to the U.S. Senate. A Republican, Ayyadurai declared on social media several weeks ago that he intends to challenge for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s seat in the 2018 election.”

-- “Baker, Polito create formidable war chest,” by Frank Phillips, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker’s relentless collection of donations continues to fatten his political account, including a $352,380 haul in the last two weeks of March — a record pace for a governor just two years after taking office.”

-- “Big ballot battle may bite Charlie Baker,” by Matt Stout, Boston Herald: “The potential swarms of energized Democratic voters drawn out by a heated challenge to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren could mean down-ballot trouble for Gov. Charlie Baker, Republicans acknowledge as they weigh the calculus of the 2018 races.”

-- “In the past, Setti Warren has had two liens and a license suspension,” by Frank Phillips, Boston Globe: “‘I learned some hard lessons, and I paid my debts,’’ he said in a statement released by his spokesman. ‘Serving in the Navy later taught me the importance of discipline, and becoming a father and mayor of my hometown helped me understand what real responsibility feels like.’”

-- “Senator Mitt Romney?” by McKay Coppins, The Atlantic: “Republican leaders and high-powered donors in Utah are waging a quiet but concerted campaign to convince 83-year-old incumbent Senator Orrin Hatch not to seek reelection next year—and now, they may have found a successor. Mitt Romney, the one-time presidential nominee and leading Trump critic, is exploring a run for Hatch’s Senate seat.”

WOOD WAR -- Herald: “MESSAGE SENT” -- Globe: “Trump orders strike on Syria,” “Filibuster broken, Gorsuch vote is set,” “IN DEMAND, BARISTAS CALL THE SHOTS,” “State may raise age for tobacco sales,” “New intolerable acts: Hate finds a voice, venues.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

-- “Hepatitis C drugs inflate Bay State’s health costs,” by Christian Wade, Newburyport Daily News: “New medicines used to treat a deadly virus are saving lives, but also driving up the state’s health care expenses.”

-- “Iraqi mother and son reunited in Worcester,” by Cyrus Moulton, Worcester Telegram: “As they greeted each other at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Zeki Khamisi and his mother, Shukriyah Khamisi, cried and held each other close, looking into each other’s eyes. It had been 13 years since they had last been together, in Iraq, and they recalled last week that their impression upon reuniting in New York was that each looked - well, old.”

-- “Worcester, other school districts explore legal action to achieve funding equity,” by Scott O’Connell, Worcester Telegram: “More than two decades ago, a major lawsuit alleging poor students were not getting an equal education in Massachusetts helped push the passage of landmark education reform in the state. Now, some school officials, frustrated that school funding inequity continues to persist, are contemplating another legal action against the state.”

-- “Bourne selectmen place pot shop moratorium on warrant,” by Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: “The Bourne Board of Selectmen has unanimously voted to go forward with a town meeting article that, if passed, would place a one-year moratorium on recreational marijuana shops in town.”

-- “Medical pot grower, dispensary proposing to set up shop in Attleboro,” by George W. Rhodes, Sun Chronicle: “A firm called BCWC, Inc., which has an office in South Attleboro, has applied for a special permit to establish a dispensary and cultivation facility in Attleboro Industrial Park off Frank Mossberg Drive.”

SPORTS! -- “Derek Jeter, Jeb Bush among bidders interested in buying Marlins, source says,” by Tim Healey, Sun Sentinel: “Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter and ex-Florida governor Jeb Bush have each expressed interest in purchasing the Miami Marlins, a financial industry source familiar with the situation confirmed to the Sun Sentinel. … The financial industry source said that former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney has also shown interest in the Marlins.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY -- to Watertown Rep. Jonathan Hecht, pride of Great Barrington and POLITICO’s own Daniel Lippman, BRA Community Affairs Liaison Mark McGonagle, Zak Doenmez of Sen. Warren’s office (h/t Legistorm), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s regional director Jeremiah Montgomery Thompson.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND -- to Kesley Schiller, communications director for Rep. Kate Hogan, and Lowell Sun scribe Chris Lisinski, who celebrate Saturday, and State Rep. Dan Cullinane of Dorchester who celebrates Sunday.

DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! -- The Celtics lost to the Atlanta Hawks, 116-123. The Bruins fell to the Ottawa Senators, 1-2. The Red Sox game against the Pittsburgh Pirates was postponed.

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