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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It's really coming down out there!
WILL HE STAY OR WILL HE GO? — What's in store for House Speaker Robert DeLeo's future? That's what everyone wants to know.
The Massachusetts political world got rocked last night when news broke that DeLeo was on his way out, and headed for a new gig at Northeastern University. Shortly after NBC10 broke the story, a DeLeo spokesperson issued a denial that he was in talks with Northeastern — but did not say whether the speaker might leave his post.
Rumors had swirled all day Wednesday that DeLeo was stepping down, and an incoming snowstorm seemed to add to the drama of it all. At this point, speculation about DeLeo's career is almost cliché. The Winthrop Democrat, who is 70, is the longest-serving speaker in Massachusetts history. Gossip about when the speakership may change hands bubbles up all the time.
But there are signs that DeLeo's departure could be coming soon, according to several Beacon Hill sources. And the fact that his aides are not outright denying it added fuel to the fire last night. Reached by the Boston Globe, Northeastern said it was "premature" to comment on the situation.
If DeLeo does leave his role as speaker, many Beacon Hill insiders say the front runner to replace him is Majority Leader Ron Mariano of Quincy.
A speaker leaving the State House on his own terms is something of a rarity in Massachusetts. The past three speakers — Sal DiMasi, Thomas Finneran and Charles Flaherty — all resigned and later became convicted felons.
The most recent speaker to leave without a legal cloud over his head was George Keverian in 1990, the same year DeLeo was first elected as a state representative. DeLeo's potential departure would open up a special election to fill the seat he's held representing Winthrop and Revere for 30 years. That election would likely happen in March.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Sen. Ed Markey holds a virtual press conference with Massachusetts Municipal Association CEO Geoff Beckwith, Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, and Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer. Rep. Seth Moulton hosts a Facebook Live conversation with Dr. Alain Chaoui. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Boston City Council President Kim Janey, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins and Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer join a MassDems phonebank into Georgia.
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 | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
– “Massachusetts reports 5,450 new COVID cases, 71 deaths on Wednesday as hospitalizations climb to 1,851,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials confirmed another 5,450 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the number of active statewide cases to 74,212. Those new cases are based on 124,172 molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Health officials also confirmed another 71 COVID-related fatalities on Wednesday, bringing the statewide death count to 11,261 since the pandemic began.”
| THE FIFTY |
– “‘It is madness’: Governors rage over states stimulus snub,” by Stephanie Murray and Kellie Mejdrich, POLITICO: “America’s governors seethed on Wednesday over news that a much-anticipated federal stimulus package will not include a bailout for local governments — and accused Washington of abandoning states and cities. Leaders across the country pleaded with Congress for months to reach a deal that would deliver hundreds of billions of dollars to plug budget holes and shore up everything from schools to emergency services. But the $900 billion emerging deal, expected to include direct checks to Americans and a weekly unemployment boost of $300 through March, will not provide the state and local aid that was requested."
| DATELINE BEACON HILL |
– “House Speaker Robert DeLeo rumored to be stepping down, ending 12-year reign,” by Matt Stout, Andrea Estes and Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: “Virtually everyone on Beacon Hill sprang into a frenzy Wednesday over speculation that House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo was preparing to leave his post to accept a teaching job at his alma mater, Northeastern University — except, that is, for DeLeo himself, whose office offered a carefully worded denial, while he dodged questions as he left the State House.”
– “House rejects Baker’s abortion amendment,” by Sarah Betancourt and Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The House on Wednesday voted 107-49 to reject Gov. Charlie Baker’s amendment paring back a legislative proposal to expand access to abortion in Massachusetts. The measure now goes to the Senate, which is likely to vote similarly, and from there back to the governor, who can veto it, sign it into law, or let it become law without his signature.”
– “Baker urges residents to stay home and off the roads during storm; Walsh declares snow emergency in Boston,” by Travis Andersen and Andrew Stanton, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker and members of his leadership team urged Massachusetts residents to stay home if possible during the big snowstorm expected to hit the state Wednesday evening and directed non-emergency state employees not to go to work Thursday.”
– “Hodgson puts Healey report ‘down the sewer pipe’” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said on Wednesday he had no interest in following any of the recommendations contained in a report released by Attorney General Maura Healey that faulted his handling of a violent incident between his officers and immigrant detainees on May 1.”
– “State sets pandemic learning times,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “State education leaders will now be mandating how much time students spend in class, either online or in person, during the pandemic. The state Board of Education on Tuesday narrowly approved emergency rules that require public schools to provide a minimum of 35 hours of live instruction over a 10-day period under hybrid learning models, which blend in-person and online learning.”
– “Galvin’s office says popular investing app Robinhood violates state securities rules,” by Andy Rosen, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts regulators on Wednesday accused the popular online investing platform Robinhood of violating state securities laws, claiming in an administrative complaint that the app-based service treats personal finance as a game to attract young and inexperienced consumers.”
– “Senate advances campus sexual assault bill,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Massachusetts Senate on Wednesday advanced a bill that would give students on college campuses more rights and resources in dealing with sexual assault. Sen. Michael Moore, a Millbury Democrat and the bill’s prime sponsor, said on the Senate floor that many students do not report incidents of campus sexual assault.”
– “Despite Pandemic, Baker's Cabinet Agencies Boosted Spending With Minority Businesses,” by Paul Singer, GBH News: “Executive branch agencies in Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration boosted their spending with minority-owned businesses by nearly $20 million in fiscal year 2020, pushing minority contracts to account for more than 6% of the state’s discretionary spending for the first time since 2015, according to data obtained by GBH News.”
| FROM THE HUB |
– “City Council Approves Boston Police Oversight Office,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Boston’s City Council approved a compromise measure to create a new office to investigate and monitor Boston Police affairs. In its final session of the year, the council Wednesday passed an ordinance establishing the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, or OPAT by a vote of 12 to 1.”
– “Massachusetts snowplow driver shortage due to COVID-19 expected to affect storm response,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “In some ways, with many residents already working and going to school remotely, Gov. Charlie Baker says that COVID-19 has coincidentally made it ‘easier’ for the state to dig out from the snowstorm that arrives Wednesday night. But in other ways, the pandemic has undeniably made the process more challenging.”
– “Health officials prepare for a new challenge — snow,” by Hanna Krueger and Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “As the first major snowstorm approached the region, health officials on Wednesday prepared for the first weather-related challenge to the state’s COVID-19 testing system, which largely relies on a web of tented outdoor sites that will likely be shut down in high winds and heavy snowfall.”
– “Class failure rates at Boston schools up 4.6%, district shares in remote learning update,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Failing grades across four core subjects at Boston Public Schools are up 4.6% compared to last year and the rate of students failing at least one class has also increased, district officials announced in a remote learning update.”
– “Vaccinations boost spirits at hospitals throughout Mass.,” by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: “Joseph Previtera has seen up close what COVID-19 does. A respiratory therapist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, he recalls the day last spring when six people were intubated within six hours, and everyone knew the pandemic had crash-landed in their midst. He paused a moment before coming up with the word to describe it: ‘devastating.’”
– “Mass General Brigham to pay back cut retirement benefits,” by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Business Journal: “Despite reporting its worst financial year ever, and facing another temporary shutdown of all elective inpatient procedures, Mass General Brigham told employees it will pay back three months worth of retirement benefits that it had cut earlier this year.”
| THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
– “Trying to break through in a pandemic.” by Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe: “It’s difficult enough to run against an incumbent mayor in Boston. Throw in a pandemic, and you have the hardest of all hard slogs. But two candidates with impressive records and compelling personal stories are trying. City Councilors Andrea Campbell and Michelle Wu, each challenging Marty Walsh for the city’s top job, have less than a year to convince voters that one of them would be a better leader for Boston than he has been.”
– “Growing interest in District 6 seat,” by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: “Ten years ago, the two front-runners in the five-way preliminary race for the District 6 City Council seat were Matt O’Malley and Sean Ryan, continuing what is now a 37-year tradition of Irish-Americans representing the West Roxbury/Jamaica Plain seat. Back then, West Roxbury voters accounted for as much as 60% of the vote in the district.”
| PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
– “T board members clarify fare, service votes,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Some members of the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board on Wednesday sought to clarify a couple of controversial votes on fares and short-term service levels that they took at the end of a lengthy meeting earlier this week. Both votes were on amendments to a sweeping proposal to reduce service levels at the T – but at a much-reduced level compared to what the transit authority originally recommended in November.”
| THE OPINION PAGES |
– “Governor Baker, regulating facial recognition technology is a racial justice issue,” by Boston Celtics Players, Boston Globe: “Since the tragic and outrageous police killing of George Floyd in May, Boston Celtics players have doubled-down on our commitment to raising public awareness about policing and systemic racism, and advocating for sound changes to law enforcement that improve public safety and strengthen racial justice for everyone.”
| CABINET WATCH |
– “Meet Gina McCarthy, a Mass. native who is set to serve as White House climate coordinator,” by Shannon Larson, Boston Globe: “Another Massachusetts native — and former Obama administration member — is heading to the White House come January. President-elect Joe Biden is slated to announce several members of his energy and environment team this week and among them is the reported choice of Gina McCarthy, a former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, as senior adviser on climate change.”
| DAY IN COURT |
– “‘I won’t let you down’: Serge Georges Jr., Boston Municipal Court judge, sworn into Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Serge Georges Jr. wore a red Eagles face mask in honor of his alma mater, Boston College, as he was sworn into the highest court of Massachusetts. Georges was sworn in to the Supreme Judicial Court Wednesday morning in a small ceremony in the State House Library in Boston.”
– “Former GOP candidates scale back lawsuit challenging Massachusetts election results,” by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: “A handful of failed Republican candidates have scaled back the scope of their challenge to the results of the Nov. 3 election in Massachusetts and one — former 9th Congressional District hopeful Helen Brady — has dropped out of the lawsuit altogether. But John Paul Moran, a former 6th Congressional District candidate who’s spearheading the legal challenge, told the Herald the four remaining plaintiffs are forging ahead undeterred.”
– “Ruling in lawsuit upholds mask-wearing in workplace,” by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “As the pandemic continues to rage across the country, a 2016 lawsuit brought against Baystate points to the ability employers have to require employees to either get vaccinated or wear a mask if they have a religious or health-related exemption for not getting vaccinated. A judge dismissed the lawsuit this summer.”
| WARREN REPORT |
– “The Bankruptcy Code Is Stacked Against Black Families. Elizabeth Warren’s New Bill Would Change That.” by Elena Botella, Forbes: “On December 9, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced legislation that would reduce the disparity between Black and white filers, by streamlining Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy into a single system available to all consumers.”
– “Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s book ‘Persist’ to come out in April,” by Hillel Italie, The Associated Press: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren has a book coming out about six key experiences and perspectives. The title should be familiar to those who have followed the Massachusetts Democrat’s career: ‘Persist.’”
| THE PRESSLEY PARTY |
– “Ayanna Pressley leads letter calling on Joe Biden to use executive action to abolish the federal death penalty,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “President-elect Joe Biden campaigned on stopping the use of the federal death penalty once he takes office. Rep. Ayanna Pressley is calling on him to do it on Day 1. In a letter Tuesday, the Massachusetts congresswoman led more than 40 fellow House Democrats (along with several who will be sworn in next month) calling on Biden to use executive authority on the day of his presidential inauguration to halt all federal executions.”
| IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
– “The start-up of the controversial Weymouth gas compressor station delayed at least until January,” by Mike Stanton, Boston Globe: “A controversial natural gas compressor station in Weymouth will not start pumping natural gas this week, as the operator had previously indicated, and the start date now depends on the resolution of a full safety review that is not expected until January.”
| ABOVE THE FOLD |
— Herald: “ALMOST DIDN’T MAKE IT HOME,” — Globe: “A Copley Square spruce-up, and maybe more," "Congress gets close on $900b stimulus," "Snow expected to hamper virus testing today.”
| FROM THE 413 |
– “Williamstown sergeant drops lawsuit against former chief, town manager,” by Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle: “The Williamstown sergeant who filed a federal civil lawsuit alleging bias and sexual harassment within the town’s Police Department has dropped the case, saying through his attorney that he now seeks to fix problems from within.”
– “National Guard Col. Michael Lazo named acting superintendent of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke trustees on Wednesday beat back an effort by state officials to name a new acting superintendent for the facility, instead voting unanimously to appoint their own pick. National Guard Col. Michael Lazo, the new chief operating officer for the beleaguered state-run home for veterans, will replace outgoing interim administrator Val Liptak as she heads back to her post as CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital on Dec. 20.”
– “’I’m not resigning’: Chicopee City Councilor Lucjan Galecki states after Facebook posts about sexual assault; city has history of being unable to remove elected officials,” by Heather Morrison, MassLive.com: “A Western Massachusetts city councilor said he’s not resigning after posting a series of comments published on Facebook that placed the blame in cases of sexual assault on victims. ‘I’m not resigning, it’s not happening,’ Chicopee City Councilor Lucjan Galecki told MassLive Wednesday afternoon.”
| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
– “Change ... or the illusion of change?: Worcester's Black community reacts to new chief diversity officer,” by Veer Mudambi, Worcester Magazine: “On Nov. 30, Stephanie Williams became the new chief diversity officer for the Worcester city government, and the third since the position was created about five years ago. The third time could be the charm.”
– “Redistricting expert presents proposed Lowell election districts,” by Alana Melanson, The Lowell Sun: “Intact or divided neighborhoods. Crossing the river or not. It’s hard to satisfy everyone in a redistricting process. Trying to shift just one small piece can create a ripple effect across the whole map, Stanford University professor Nathaniel Persily, the election-law expert the city hired to draw new municipal election districts, told residents in an information session .”
– “NOAA Creates New Slow Zone To Protect Whales Off Nantucket,” by Associated Press: “Federal authorities are implementing a speed restriction zone southeast of Nantucket due to the presence of an endangered species of whale in the area. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the voluntary vessel speed restriction zone was triggered by an observation of North Atlantic right whales on Dec. 14.”
SPOTTED: at a virtual event on Tuesday hosted by Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics for new members of Congress on "America’s Role in the World": Nick Burns, Meghan O’Sullivan, Wendy Sherman, Dina Powell McCormick and Rob Stavins. After that session, Ron Klain discussed the new administration’s priorities and took questions from members, and Harvard President Larry Bacow spoke after.
TRANSITIONS – The Alliance for Business Leadership announces new board members: Chenelle Brown, Keith Chaney, Tito Jackson, Juana Matias, Gustavo Quiroga and Priscilla Rojas.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Joe Kaplan and Catherine Sanderson.
NEW EPISODE: FEELIN' 22 – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray discuss what could be in store for the 2022 gubernatorial race, and speak with Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur about the coronavirus pandemic. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
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Government price setting means politicians can arbitrarily decide that some patients and diseases are worth more than others. Through his proposal, Charlie Baker could put government in the way of personal health decisions that should be made by patients and their doctors. Tell Governor Baker: Stop endangering access to innovative treatments and vaccines. Find out more here.
JOIN TODAY - CLOSING THE HEALTH CARE GAP: Another Covid-19 outbreak is taking a significant toll on the health of the Latino community. As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to assume office, how will his administration address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color, particularly Latinos? Join POLITICO for a virtual conversation on the policy, economic and cultural barriers Latinos confront in accessing quality health care and how the pandemic can create an opportunity to identify solutions. REGISTER HERE.
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