Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The Healey interview

Thursday, January 19, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The Healey interview

PROPAGANDA:

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SAY HELLO TO SOMEONE IN MASSACHUSETTS — Maura Healey took her oath of office two weeks ago. But the transfer of power wasn’t really complete until yesterday, when the governor rolled up the sleeves of her blazer — so the black microphone before her wouldn’t pick up the sound of buttons clacking against the table — and recorded the message that will greet travelers at Logan Airport for years to come.

“That's what I've received all these calls about in the last week or two: ‘Well, when is it your voice? When am I gonna hear your voice?’” Healey said with a bemused chuckle. “It does remind me of those Ben Affleck spoofs on Boston ... which I’m not going to do here.”

To the non-frequent fliers here, don’t click away. This recording is a big deal — it’s the first thing you hear when you get to the airport (at least at certain entry points) and the last thing you hear as you wearily lug your overstuffed suitcase toward Central Parking to hail your surge-priced cab of choice. And now, instead of Charlie Baker welcoming you to “Massachusetts, my state — and yours” it’ll be Healey welcoming you to Massachusetts. Period. She dropped the last part of the sentence.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey records a greeting in her State House office on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

Soon enough the microphone was whisked away and Healey was on to her next task in a jam-packed day of inaugurations — finding someone to bring her coffee from the nearby kitchenette while sitting down for a wide-ranging interview with Playbook.

Two weeks in, Healey’s Cabinet remains a work in progress, and the governor is still missing some of the transportation and housing officials who are likely to shape some of her signature policies. Her first budget, due in March, is coming together and will be informed by a consensus revenue hearing on Tuesday. And that means commitments on how to tackle the big issues of the day aren’t on the table just yet.

But a menu of options are. Healey told Playbook “we have to be open to the possibility” of taking away safety oversight of the MBTA from the Department of Public Utilities. Some lawmakers and transit advocates have called for such a move after a federal review found the state agency wasn’t providing proper supervision of the beleaguered transit system.

“As a first order of business, I want to get a [general manager] in place. I want a transportation safety chief in place to do that assessment. And I’ll say that we need to take whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of that system,” Healey said.

This early on, Healey’s leaving the door open to a lot of things:

— On Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s new rent-control proposal and the rent stabilization bill state lawmakers plan to refile: “I stand by my position, which is I’m open to certainly reviewing anything and looking at anything when that legislation is filed.”

— On converting underutilized downtown office spaces into housing : “I know that there’s also an interest in how that office space could be turned into lab space, for example. And certainly there has been some talk about housing. We can’t take anything off the table.”

— On involving the House and Senate minority leaders in her legislative leadership meetings: “I certainly have communicated with them and will continue to. In terms of meetings — formal, informal: to be determined.”

She’s also reaffirming her support for several aspects of Baker’s scuttled tax-relief plan, pieces of which have already been refiled this session. Healey told Playbook she's for raising the estate-tax threshold to $2 million, expanding the senior circuit breaker tax credit and increasing the rent deduction cap to $5,000 from $3,000. She’s “reviewing” Baker’s proposal to slash the short-term capital gains rate to 5 percent from 12 percent.

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Look for more snippets from Healey in the next few Playbooks and on this week’s episode of The Horse Race, out later this morning.

TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announce “efforts to support cities and towns across Massachusetts” while visiting Greylock Works in North Adams at 11 a.m. and Ludlow Mills at 2:45 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ meeting in Washington, D.C., at 1 p.m. Rep. Stephen Lynch announces federal funding at UMass Boston’s Center for Clinical Education and Research at 11 a.m. Sen. Ed Markey speaks on the war in Ukraine at 2 p.m. at Harvard.

Tips? Scoops? Got a new bill I should highlight? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

PROPAGANDA: NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE FORM OF ENERGY & PILGRIM NUCLEAR HAS NOT YET BEEN CLEANED UP - WHAT TO DO WITH ALL OF THAT REDIOACTIVE WASTE?

A message from NextEra Energy:

Seabrook Station has provided Massachusetts with low-cost, clean, reliable energy for over 30 years, reducing carbon emissions regionally by approximately 4 million tons per year. Nuclear energy is Massachusetts’ most cost-effective and essential tool to combat climate change.

TRANSITION TIME

— “‘A shining example of what is possible’: Andrea Campbell becomes first Black woman to be Mass. attorney general,” by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: “Andrea Campbell was sworn in as attorney general Wednesday afternoon, making history as the first Black woman to serve as the state’s top lawyer and first woman of color to hold statewide office. …

"Campbell grew up in public housing and without parents for the first eight years of her life after her mother died in a car crash on her way to visit her father in jail. Her two brothers cycled through the criminal justice system, and her twin brother, Andre, died at 29 of an autoimmune disease while in state custody as a pre-trial detainee. ‘I like to think of it as an impossible story made possible by the power and grace of God,’ she said in her inaugural address.”

— “Top 5 takeaways from Mass. Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s inaugural address,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell takes her oath of office on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Boston. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

— “'Source of hope, inspiration' — Methuen's Diana DiZoglio sworn in as state auditor by Gov. Maura Healey,” by Will Broaddus, Eagle-Tribune: “The auditorium at Methuen High School was packed Wednesday night with people who came to see native daughter Diana DiZoglio sworn in as Massachusetts State Auditor. She took the oath of office from newly elected Gov. Maura Healey, who mentioned the ‘unlikely path’ that DiZoglio had taken to reach her new position.”

— “Galvin’s Focus: Survivor Supports, Voter Registration, Civics Ed,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “Expanding supports for survivors of domestic violence, building up a more robust civics education curriculum and convincing lawmakers to authorize same-day voter registration stood atop Secretary of State William Galvin's to-do list as he set out Wednesday on a record eighth, and possibly final, term. Less on his mind, however, was the weight of that history.”

— GALVIN HAS AN ALLY IN HEALEY: Gov. Maura Healey reaffirmed her support for same-day voter registration in her Playbook interview.

— “Family Bonds On Goldberg’s Mind as She Begins Third Term,” by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): “In a speech delivered to a nearly full Senate Chamber and galleries, [Treasurer Deb] Goldberg said that the unpredictable events of her first eight years in office — like the COVID-19 pandemic, a volatile economy and war in Ukraine — have shown her that ‘now more than ever what my parents taught me is increasingly important: no matter what happens, keep on going, and remember, you cannot do it alone.’"

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— POWER TRIO: The Boston Globe's Matt Stout and Samantha J. Gross unpack the dynamics between and differences in style among the new Big Three on Beacon Hill.

— “As energy bills soar through the roof, Massachusetts legislators push state to reverse rate hikes,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “In a letter to DPU Chair Matthew Nelson about the energy rate increases, the legislators noted that fuel prices have dropped since DPU approved the rate increases. ‘We are requesting that the DPU take immediate action to reassess the recently granted rate increases,’ the State House lawmakers recently wrote to Nelson.”

— “Murder charges for deadly drug dealers proposal will reemerge in Senate,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “If you kill someone with the drugs you sell them you should be charged with murder, according to [GOP state Sen. Patrick O'Connor]."

— “Mass. Lawmaker Wants to Ban TikTok on Government Devices,” by John Moroney, NBC10 Boston: “[GOP state Rep. Michael Soter] has filed a bill to prohibit TikTok on devices owned by state, local and county governments in Massachusetts.”

FROM THE HUB

— “Wu floats long-awaited rent control proposal, but many hurdles remain,” by Catherine Carlock and Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “In a bid to bring rent control back to Boston for the first time in three decades, Mayor Michelle Wu is readying a proposal that would limit allowable rent increases to 10 percent per year. … Wu’s approach is modeled on versions of rent control that have recently taken effect in Oregon and California, tying allowable rent hikes to inflation. In this case, it would allow annual increases up to 6 percent higher than the federal government’s Consumer Price Index.”

— More: “Public comments show deep divide on rent control in Boston,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News.

— “New BPS safety report pushes internal police force, BPD contract consideration,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald.

— “Co-founder of Embrace Boston on mixed reviews for King sculpture,” by Alexi Cohan, GBH News.

— “This quasi-public state agency just signed a bigger lease in downtown Boston,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal.

PARTY POLITICS

— “E-mails appear to show coordination between Mass. GOP chairman and outside PAC, in alleged violation of state law,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Embattled Massachusetts Republican Party chairman Jim Lyons appears to have communicated directly with an outside political action committee about digging up dirt on Governor Maura Healey during last year’s election, according to e-mails obtained by the Globe. … The e-mails reveal that Lyons sent multiple messages last fall to Antoine Nader, chairman of the Mass Freedom Independent Expenditure PAC, referring to opposition research Lyons had solicited on Healey during her bid for governor.”

PROPAGANDA: A message from NextEra Energy:

FROM THE DELEGATION

— “Watchdog targets Trahan over term limit pledge,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “The group U.S. Term Limits has paid for a billboard ad along I-93 in Methuen criticizing the Westford Democrat for backing away from a proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution limiting House members to three terms, or six years, and senators to two terms, or 12 years. … In a statement, [Rep. Lori] Trahan said she first ran for Congress because she ‘thought Washington wasn’t working and wanted to make things better,’ and claims that she ‘honored’ her pledge to support the term limits amendment during her first term. ‘Now that I’ve learned more, I have changed my mind on this specific legislation,’ Trahan said."

— “Student-loan borrowers' 'monthly costs could rise dramatically' this year if Biden's debt relief gets struck down, Elizabeth Warren says. She wants to know how that would impact you, ” by Ayelet Sheffey, Insider

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FROM THE 413

— “DOJ lauds Springfield for advances in use of force policies, targets Board of Police Commissioners as weak link,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Heroux Hosts Tour of New Bedford’s Ash Street Jail After Announcing Closing Plan,” by Marcus Ferro, WBSM: “The day after Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux announced on WBSM's SouthCoast Tonight that he has developed a plan to close the controversial Ash Street Jail in New Bedford, he hosted a media availability at the now-defunct ICE detention center in Dartmouth where he plans to relocate the Ash Street inmates."

— “2022 marked state’s sixth warmest year on record,” by Chris Larabee, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “With statewide temperatures averaging 50.3 degrees — 3.4 degrees above the 20th-century mean — 2022 tied 2016 as the sixth-warmest year in Massachusetts since 1895, with only January’s average temperature registering below normal, according to data from UMass’ Climate System Research Center.”

MEDIA MATTERS

— “Appeals court orders judge to reconsider fee award in T&G police records lawsuit,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “The Massachusetts Appeals Court has ordered a judge to consider increasing the amount of money the city must pay to lawyers for the Telegram & Gazette following the city's three-year withholding of police records that was ruled to be illegal and conducted in bad faith.”

PROPAGANDA: NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE FORM OF ENERGY AVAILABLE & WHERE'S THE RADIOACTIVE WASTE FROM PILGRIM GOING?

A message from NextEra Energy:

A Beacon Research poll of Massachusetts’ voters conducted in July 2022 showed that a majority support the use of clean, low-cost, carbon-emissions free nuclear energy to fight climate change. Over 70% of informed voters support including nuclear energy to fight rising energy costs and climate change.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

SPOTTED — at Attorney General Andrea Campbell ’s inauguration: Gov. Maura Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll , U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins , Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox , Boston Mayor Michelle Wu , Sen. Ed Markey , Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Lori Trahan , former Sen. Mo Cowan , Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne , state Reps. Russell Holmes, Lindsay Sabadosa and Adrian Madaro ; state Sens. Liz Miranda, Cindy Friedman, Julian Cyr and Sal DiDomenico ; Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden , Essex DA Paul Tucker , Middlesex DA Marian Ryan , Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune , former Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim , Governors Councilors Marilyn Pettito Devaney, Tara Jacobs and Eileen Duff, Daryl Smith, Juan Jaramillo and the Environmental League of Massachusetts’ Elizabeth Turnbull Henry .

SPOTTED — at Maryland Gov. Wes Moore 's inauguration: Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (h/t POLITICO's Brakkton Booker) .

TRANSITIONS — Antonio Caban joins 90 West as associate VP after serving as deputy communications director to Senate President Karen Spilka.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Sen. Julian Cyr and Adam Sege . Happy belated to Kate Dineen , who celebrated Wednesday.

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: OFF THE RAILS — Hosts Lisa Kashinsky and Jennifer Smith dive into Kashinsky’s interview with Gov. Maura Healey . Then, Steve Koczela joins to talk with Boston Globe transportation reporter Taylor Dolven about MBTA subway car assembly woes. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud .

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