Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Conference committee calling

Friday, May 26, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Conference committee calling

With help from Kelly Garrity

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook will not publish on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. We’ll be back in your inboxes on Tuesday.

MONEY TALKS — Senators just slapped a lot more down on the budget negotiating table.

We’ve known the big points of departure between chambers for a while now: online lottery sales, in-state public-school tuition for certain undocumented immigrants, permanent funding for free school meals, etc.

But we’ve got our eye on a few less-headline-grabbing differences that emerged as senators debated their $56 billion budget — and yes, there was some actual back-and-forth in the chamber thanks to Republican leader Bruce Tarr and his props , even though his three-member “minority crescent” was often quickly overruled.

Senators voted to give another $1 million to DPH to support the creation of birthing centers that provide midwifery care, and $300,000 to purchase and distribute drug-testing kits to nightlife venues to cut down on drink spiking. The chamber is also driving efforts to study congestion pricing and a floating hospital for mental health and substance abuse recovery.

And senators are pushing tweaks to an eviction-protection program called “Chapter 257” that lawmakers let lapse last month but are now trying to revive.

The pandemic-era policy paused eviction cases while tenants had a pending application for rental aid through programs such as the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). The House voted during its budget proceedings to bring back the program as it was.

The Senate followed suit, but also tacked on new provisions through an amendment filed by Lydia Edwards that would require courts to notify the state of stayed eviction cases so officials can “expedite” related applications for rental aid, and to dismiss those cases once landlords are repaid in full. Another measure would let tenants petition to seal their court records so a past eviction case couldn’t hurt their chances of getting housing in the future.

“When you pay what you owe, you should be able to close your record,” Edwards, the housing committee co-chair, told Playbook. “These are reasonable additions that really add to the spirit and I think the goal of Chapter 257.”

Yet some homelessness-prevention advocates are sounding alarms over a provision that would instruct judges to pause eviction cases only if tenants were seeking financial assistance “in good faith” — a clause they worry could inject subjectivity into the legal proceedings.

But Edwards said on the Senate floor that “this is important because we don’t want this to be seen as a lifeline that people use as an excuse not to pay their rent or as an attempt to try and avoid any consequences.”

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Now to see if the conference committee that’s about to be called manages to hammer out some compromises before the new fiscal year starts on July 1. Last year the Legislature sent the governor the budget on July 18.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 1 p.m. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark holds a press conference on the debt ceiling at 11 a.m. outside the Revere American Legion. Sen. Elizabeth Warren celebrates federal funding for electric school buses at 11 a.m. in New Bedford. Rep. Jim McGovern announces federal affordable housing funding at noon in Athol.

THIS WEEKEND — Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Doug Howgate is on WBZ's "Keller @ Large" at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. State Rep. Dylan Fernandes is on WCVB’s “On The Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Tips? Scoops? Email me at lkashinsky@politico.com or find me at Boston Calling!

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

Outside the Massachusetts Senate chamber. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

— REJECT LIST: Among the hundreds of amendments senators voted down during their budget deliberations was one from Republican Ryan Fattman that sought to prioritize Massachusetts residents under the state's "right-to-shelter" law by restoring language surrounding residency requirements from the original 1983 statute.

But people already have to be Massachusetts residents and meet other requirements, including income limits, to be granted immediate housing under the state's emergency assistance program. It's also specifically for families, rendering the example Fattman gave of a single veteran living out of his car moot.

Still, Fattman’s amendment hits at how the state is struggling to keep up with the stress on its shelter system . Gov. Maura Healey has already signed off on $85 million to expand the operation that’s reached capacity as housing costs rise and more migrants enter the state. And she's seeking another $324 million in the budget to add more beds. Nineteen more families entered the emergency assistance shelter system on Thursday, according to the state’s tracker. And 928 families were in motels — a temporary solution the state turned to as traditional shelters filled.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is asking a state court to modify his city’s right-to-shelter law as local shelters buckle under the strain of serving tens of thousands of asylum-seekers who have come through the city since last spring.

But Healey isn’t entertaining a similar move. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to supporting families arriving in Massachusetts and ensuring they have access to shelter, in accordance with state law,” Healey spokesperson Karissa Hand said in a statement. “We have been actively engaging multiple state agencies, the City of Boston, federal partners, health care providers and advocates to evaluate our options moving forward.”

— “Bill in works for insurers to cover biomarker testing for people with cancer, other diseases,” by Sydney Ko, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

FROM THE HUB

— “Boston Reparations Task Force coordinator arrested in City Hall,” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald: “The project coordinator for the City of Boston’s Task Force on Reparations was arrested last week inside City Hall and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. He has since been fired.”

— "City of Boston awards $711,000 in grants to 15 nonprofits providing legal services for immigrants," by Claire Law, Boston Globe.

— “Boston police lieutenant facing OUI charge was previously fired, rehired after another incident,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe.

— “Wu changes proposed mandates on market-rate housing in city,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “Eng touts ‘forward progress’ in removing MBTA slow zones,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Magazine: “The MBTA is targeting slow zones that would most impact daily commutes as it chugs along on completing track replacements and lifting speed restrictions. General Manager [Phillip] Eng touted ‘forward progress’ at an MBTA board meeting on Thursday, saying 66 speed restrictions across the system have been lifted in April and May. That leaves 204 slow zones still in place covering some 27.4 miles, or 20 percent of the T’s rail system.”

— “MBTA takes steps to hike bus driver pay amid service cuts,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Under a new agreement with the Boston Carmen’s Union, the MBTA, for the first time, is allowing new drivers to start at 40 hours per week, rather than 30. This would bump an annual starting salary from $34,647 to $46,196, based on a $22.11 hourly rate for new hires. The option to work full-time will also be extended to part-time drivers already employed by the T.”

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DAY IN COURT

— “After dodging it for months, Shaquille O’Neal finally gets served over FTX lawsuit at Game 4 of Celtics-Heat,” by Katie McInerney, Boston Globe: “The law comes for all of us. For months, former NBA star and 'Inside the NBA' host Shaquille O’Neal has been dodging process servers attempting to notify him that he is being sued in a class-action filing by people who invested in the failed cryptocurrency company FTX … O’Neal was finally served during Tuesday’s Heat-Celtics game, for which he was on site as part of his analyst coverage for TNT.”

MOULTON MATTERS

— “AI vs. nukes: ‘This is much more dangerous’,” by Matt Berg and Mohar Chatterjee, POLITICO: “Rep. Seth Moulton believes that killer robots could be here… today. And, not that much further ahead in the future, they could replace actual soldiers on the battlefield — which is why the Massachusetts Democrat is picking a fight with the Pentagon about it."

THE LOWELL CONNECTOR

— “LifeLock protection to cost Lowell $1 million,” by Melanie Gilbert, Lowell Sun: “Five weeks after the ransomware group ‘Play’ claimed responsibility for the cyberattack that has disrupted municipal operations since April 24, services are being slowly restored to the city’s network. Additionally, both Superintendent of Schools Joel Boyd and City Manager Tom Golden have allocated more than $1 million combined funding from their respective budgets to purchase LifeLock protection for all current city and school employees impacted by the cyber breach.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Quincy-based billionaire gives UMass Boston grads $1,000 — each,” by Sonel Cutler, Boston Globe: “All seemed normal at the University of Massachusetts Boston’s class of 2023 commencement Thursday morning as graduates settled into their seats for what they thought would be a straightforward and traditional procession. … What came next was a scene straight out of an Oprah episode. Dumbfounded students erupted into cheers and chants as the commencement speaker, Quincy-based billionaire Rob Hale, interrupted to announce he would give each of the 2,500 soon-to-be graduates $1,000 just moments before they crossed the stage.”

— “'This is bull—': Fall River has paid $136K for consultants, and councilors want answers,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “Questions arose during a recent City Council meeting over the costs spent for city financial services, and some councilors are scrutinizing expenses that have doubled since city chief financial officer Bridget Almon took the helm over a year ago.”

— "Massachusetts National Guard changes linked to leak case," by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: "Top brass at the Massachusetts National Guard said the military outfit is holding off on making changes before findings are released from an investigation into how a 21-year-old airman leaked highly sensitive government documents."

— “Worcester drag show to fight anti-LGBTQ+ legislation around the country,” by Tréa Lavery, MassLive.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

SPOTTED — at the Celtics/Heat game: former Gov. Charlie Baker and his wife, Lauren Baker ; Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and former Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito .

ALSO SPOTTED — graduating from Harvard Kennedy School: Baker administration alum Brendan Moss , Charlie Pearce, Gina McLaughlin, Cory Azmon, Rumi Pavlova-Plotnik, Carol Leon, Andy Paul and Joe Caiazzo.

TRANSITIONS — Commonwealth Care Alliance has appointed Elizabeth Gianini as SVP of public affairs and David Weader as SVP and general counsel.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Rep. Sally Kerans , Rachel Pollak , Hana Veselka Vizcarra , Sunny Lee , Allison Davis Tuck , Benchmark’s Colleen Fitzgerald and Brendan Deady . Happy belated to Ryan Sherriff , who celebrated Thursday.

HAPPY LONG BIRTHWEEKEND — to Melissa Ludtke , Andrew Fowler and Brian Choquet , who celebrate Saturday; to Alan Khazei , Rich Thuma , Jeff Santos and Ellen Weinstein Pildis , who celebrate Sunday; and to Monday birthday-ers state Rep. Michelle Ciccolo , attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan , Alicia DePaolo , Charles River Esplanade Executive Director Michael Nichols and GBH’s Matt Baskin .

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