April 1, 2016/Dispatch

Is dark money driving Gov. Baker’s lack of vision?

We saw Democrats this week speak up for what they believe in as State Rep. Adrian Madaro took a creative approach to highlighting the damage done to his constituents from the Baker administration’s nixing of Late Night T service, State Senator Wolf explain what public service means to him, and our own Democratic State Committee member Claire Naughton elected to serve as this year’s Boston Pride Parade marshal.

On the Republican side, news media across the Commonwealth handed Governor Baker another tough week worth of stories and opinion pieces calling him and his Republican front group allies out for their continued engagement in dark political fundraising operations. With all that Right Wing money flying around Beacon Hill these days, it shouldn’t come as a surprise the Baker administration also moved to slash tens of millions of dollars in healthcare funding for some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable.

As we collectively watched in dismay as Republican front-runner Donald Trump suggested women would be punished for having abortions under his presidency, we should all remember that MassGOP voters handed him one of his most decisive victories right here in the Commonwealth. They might not always use the same overt language, but surely the expectations of Republicans for their potential future-president and their current governor can’t be so different, can it?

Please enjoy this latest edition of MassDems Talking Points – your weekly source for the updates and news stories you should know about.

 

#DemsLead

State Rep. Adrian Madaro replicated the trek home many of his constituents – often Latino immigrants – will experience in a post-Late Night MBTA service Greater Boston to highlight the disparity in its closure’s impact. Read more here

State Senator Dan Wolf shares his thoughts on politics and flying Read more here

Our own Democratic State Committee member Claire Naughton will lead this year’s Boston Pride Parade as marshalRead more here

#PromisesWatch

Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham opines on Governor Baker’s continued lack of vision. Read more here

The Boston Globe also called on Baker to come clean on his sketchy, dark political contribution schemes. Read more here

Advocates are calling on the Baker administration to reverse their decision to pull the plug on healthcare funding to many of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable Read more here

MassDems continue to push for greater transparency from Republican front groups and the GOP elected officials they coordinate with. Read more here and here