MA-SEN

PPP Poll: GOPer Scott Brown In Good Shape In Heavily Dem Massachusetts

Eric Kleefeld | December 2, 2010, 11:01AM

Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)

A new survey of Massachusetts from Public Policy Polling (D) finds Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who won a tremendous upset victory in last January's special election to succeed the late Democratic icon Ted Kennedy, to be in good shape heading into his 2012 re-election bid.

Brown is in front of a number of hypothetical Democratic opponents. He leads Rep. Mike Capuano, who had previously lost the Democratic primary in that special election, by 52%-36%. Brown leads Rep. Stephen Lynch by 49%-30%, leads Rep. Ed Markey by 49%-39%, and leads Gov. Deval Patrick by 49%-42%. In addition, Brown leads Vicki Kennedy, the widow of Ted Kennedy, by 48%-41%.

Brown's approval rating is 53%, to only 29% disapproval.

From the pollster's analysis: "In a sign of how moderate and mainstream Brown's image is, 53% say his views are "about right," something only 32% say of the GOP as a whole. Likewise, 52% think the Republicans too conservative, but only a third say that of Brown. Even 35% of Democrats see Brown's ideology as acceptable, though half do think him too far right."

MA-09

Local SEIU Official Challenges Rep. Lynch After Vote Against Health Care

Rachel Slajda | April 19, 2010, 3:00PM

Mac D'Alessandro of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

When Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) announced he would vote against health care reform, several unions suggested they would find someone else to endorse come November.

That someone may be Mac D'Alessandro, the regional political director for an SEIU local in Massachusetts. D'Alessandro announced this weekend that he will challenge Lynch for the Democratic nomination. He must get 2,000 signatures by May 4 in order to get on the primary ballot.

D'Alessandro has worked for the SEIU since 2001, according to the Boston Globe, but he has never held public office.

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Health Care

Lynch: I Voted No On HCR Because Senate Bill 'Allowed The Insurance Companies To Prevail'

Ben Frumin | April 13, 2010, 11:34AM

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), who voted "no" on the Senate's health care reform bill, sent a mailer to his constituents this month explaining his vote.

"We allowed the insurance companies to prevail," he wrote.

Lynch's office confirmed the authenticity of the mailer.

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Health Care

How The Clintons Fought For Health Care Behind The Scenes

Rachel Slajda | March 24, 2010, 5:51PM

President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

The Clintons and health care: It was their issue, their passion and their failure in the '90s. This time around, both President and Secretary Clinton worked behind the scenes to get it done, giving pep talks and campaign speeches and, in Hillary's case, calling one stubborn Democrat as the clock ticked down to Sunday's vote.

It ended with a hug, Hillary Clinton's arms thrown out exuberantly to congratulate President Obama once the bill passed. The White House made sure to snap a picture and posted it online. But Hillary, and even Bill, were kept out of the spotlight for nearly all of the debate.

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Health Care

Against It: A Look At The 34 Dems Who Voted No On Health Care Reform

Brian Beutler | March 22, 2010, 9:50AM

Clockwise: Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO), Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-NY), Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA)

The 34 Democrats who voted against health care reform last night are by and large a familiar set. They overlap significantly--though not entirely--with the 39 Democrats who voted against the House health care bill in November. Just as in November, most hail from contested districts, in the south and the midwest. But just as in November, there are some surprises--members you wouldn't normally expect to see voting against legislation so closely associated with the Democratic party.

Most of the Democratic "no" votes are as you would expect: conservative members from conservative districts, in many cases facing difficult re-election challenges. Blue Dog chair Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) is one such member. So is Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA).

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Health Care

Trumka: AFL Will Look Closely At Lynch's Health Care Vote When It's Time To Make Endorsements

Brian Beutler | March 21, 2010, 6:28PM

AFL-CIO Sec. Treasurer Richard Trumka

Earlier this evening, outside the House chamber, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) told AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka that he will oppose the health care bill tonight, despite direct pressure from Trumka that he vote for it. Trumka told me in an interview just afterwards that the vote won't be forgotten.

"I told him how important the bill was," Trumka said. "I started off by saying, 'you agree with me that the status quo is unacceptable.' Everybody has to agree with that because this system is broken."

In response, Lynch told Trumka he won't be changing his mind. "He said he was not going to vote for the bill," Trumka said. That may come back to haunt him, according to Trumka.

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AFL-CIO

With Health Care Reform On The Line Unions Turn Sights On Lynch

Brian Beutler | March 20, 2010, 11:20AM

Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO President

Any in-play Democrats playing hard-to-get on health care reform won't have a restful weekend. The unions with AFL-CIO and Change to Win--the two largest labor federations in the country--are letting them know, one-by-one, that their vote for the bill is expected tomorrow, notwithstanding any remaining doubts. Yesterday, AFL put Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-NY) on notice that there will be a price to pay for opposing reform. Today, it's Rep. Stephen Lynch's (D-MA) turn.

Congressman, we will not be able to explain to the working women and men of our union
why you voted against their interests," reads a letter from AFL to Lynch, dated this morning. "We have stood together time and time again and you have made an enormous difference in the lives of our members. It takes courage to make history. We know that you have always had the courage to do the right thing - national health reform is the right thing for Massachusetts families."

You can read the entire letter below the fold. Lynch has been trashing the health care reform bill for days, despite the fact that President Obama has personally asked him to support the legislation.

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Public Option

Lynch: Obama Told Me He Might Try To Get Public Option Next Year

Rachel Slajda | March 19, 2010, 2:19PM

President Barack Obama and Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), who is sticking to his "no" vote on health care, said President Obama told him in a meeting yesterday that he might go for the public option next year.

In an interview with Mother Jones, Lynch said Obama told him he can't put progressive provisions, like a public option, into health care reform this year. But next year may be a different story.

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Health Care

Lynch Still 'Firmly A No' After Meeting With Obama

Rachel Slajda | March 19, 2010, 9:05AM

President Barack Obama and Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) says he is still "firmly a 'no' vote" after meeting one-on-one with President Obama yesterday afternoon.

The Boston Herald reports that Lynch, emerging from the 40-minute meeting, was unswayed.

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Health Care

Lynch Digging In Before White House Meeting

Christina Bellantoni | March 18, 2010, 6:49PM

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

Rep. Stephen Lynch is expressing serious doubts about the health care legislation, but strangely saved his most stinging criticism of the bill for this afternoon, the same day he was going to meet with President Obama.

Obama has met with more than three dozen members this week, but is saving his in-person pitch for critical Democrats who are leaning toward "No" votes. Put Lynch (D-MA) in that category.

Earlier today, he told reporters the final version of the Democrats' health care legislation is a "complete surrender of all the things that people thought were important to health care reform."

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Democrats

Pelosi Picks Off No Votes -- But Has Yet To Woo Toughest Reps On Health Care

Brian Beutler | March 18, 2010, 6:01PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

The past day and a half have gone pretty well for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Yesterday saw a number of in-play Democrats come out in support the final health care reform package, and netted her her first commitment from a member--Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)--who voted against the House health care bill in November. Today, the Congressional Budget Office gave the legislation a winning score, and she won more commitments, and her second and third converts from no-to-yes: Reps. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Betsy Markey (D-CO).

But here's the rub: Pelosi still lacks the votes to pass it. Some former supporters of reform continue to say they'll vote against the current legislation. And though many members are coming around, very few of them are in the elusive pool from which Pelosi needs to draw: Members who voted against reform in round one.

And she's running out of easy pick-ups.

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Stephen Lynch

Lynch: I Could Vote For Health Care Bill 'If They Put Reform Back In'

Eric Kleefeld | March 18, 2010, 3:27PM

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), who has already declared his opposition to the Senate health care bill in its current form, vocally aired his criticisms of the bill this afternoon -- and this was before a scheduled meeting with President Obama.

"There's a difference between compromise and surrender, right? And this is a complete surrender of all the things that people thought were important to health care reform," Lynch told reporters. When asked what might cause him to vote for the bill, Lynch said: "There's one thing. If they put reform back in the health reform bill, that would change my position."

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Health Care

Dem Rep. Stephen Lynch Switches From Yes To No On Health Care

Eric Kleefeld | March 18, 2010, 1:15PM

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), who voted for the House health care bill in November, will now vote against the Senate bill, Politico's Glenn Thrush reports.

Although Lynch is a strongly pro-life Democrat, it is interesting to note that the language on abortion does not appear to be his sticking point. Instead, he opposes any tax on cadillac health care plans, even under the delayed version in the new compromise, according to Thrush's report.

House Democrats need 216 votes in order to pass the bill, and don't appear to have much room for error.

Late Update: Lynch told TPMDC's Brian Beutler that he will be meeting with President Obama this afternoon.

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MA-SEN

Rep. Lynch Takes Out Nomination Papers For Kennedy's Seat

Rachel Slajda | September 4, 2009, 1:39PM

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

A representative for Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) took out nomination papers today to run for the Senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy.

A spokesman for the Massachusetts secretary of state confirmed to the that someone from Lynch's office picked up the papers.

Lynch's spokeswoman wasn't immediately available for comment.

If Lynch runs, he'll be campaigning against Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, who announced yesterday she's running for Kennedy's seat. The primary is scheduled for Dec. 8, and the election for Jan. 19.

The secretary of state's office told the Globe several other lesser-known people have taken out papers.