Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The perils of one-party rule

Monday, July 24, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The perils of one-party rule

With help from Lisa Kashinsky

THE POWER OF ONE — Full control of Beacon Hill should make it a breeze for Democrats to push through their big agenda items.

But instead, the legislature is in the midst of its slowest start in years . Nearly all of the 22 bills Gov. Maura Healey has signed since taking office are for minor items like establishing sick leave banks for state employees and regulating local alcoholic beverage licenses.

Democratic legislative leaders appear to be in no rush to finish the now three-week-late budget. And tandem negotiations over yawning differences in the House and Senate tax relief plans are threatening some of Healey’s signature proposals.

Meanwhile, an interchamber power struggle that started over joint committee rules is now hobbling gun control legislation — often a unifying issue for Democrats — because the House and Senate can’t agree on which committee should steer the bill that House Speaker Ron Mariano wants to move before the August recess. That’s on top of the chambers’ monthslong stalemate over road and bridge repair funding .

Yikes. Why can’t the majority seem to rule?

“There’s been a longstanding dynamic between the House and the Senate that I think explains a lot of what goes on in Massachusetts,” former Democratic state Rep. Jonathan Hecht told Playbook. “It's not like folks are acting like they're part of the same party. They're two tribes: there's the House and the Senate.”

According to Hecht, who's on the steering committee of the Coalition to Reform our Legislature , the problem starts at the top. Power is concentrated among a small group of leaders — the House speaker, Senate president and their respective Ways and Means chairs — which means rank-and-file members and, yes, even the governor, have to “tread carefully,” he said.

“Their budget priorities, their bills, are all ultimately dependent on whether those two or three people at the top look favorably on them or not,” Hecht said.

And unlike in other states where Democrats recently secured trifectas — Michigan or Minnesota for example — legislators in deep-blue Massachusetts aren’t often faced with serious electoral challenges. That means there’s both less pressure on lawmakers to get their party’s priorities passed quickly, and less need for them to rack up legislative wins to leverage on the campaign trail.

“There’s a sense of complacency in the Massachusetts Legislature,” Jonathan Cohn, political director for Progressive Massachusetts, told Playbook. “When you have a situation where most of them never face any type of electoral challenge — primary or general — if you don't finish something, you can get the band back together in the next legislative session.”

The result is that Democratic legislative leaders have now gone more than six months without delivering their new governor much of anything that’s on her agenda, save for dollars to expand the state’s overrun emergency shelter system and to temporarily extend other social safety-net programs. The Big Three hardly meet anymore — their last publicly advertised leadership meeting was over a month ago. And what other correspondences they do have are shielded by public records law.

From left: Gov. Maura Healey, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka after their leadership meeting on Feb. 27, 2023. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

Healey seems content to stay the course. Beyond issuing another call for lawmakers to pass tax breaks , she’s publicly said little about the Legislature’s lethargy. A spokesperson wouldn't say Sunday whether Healey would file another interim budget in case negotiations stretch into August, only that the "administration looks forward to receiving a budget that makes Massachusetts more affordable, competitive and equitable."

Whether that remains the case will “depend on [Healey's] political fortunes," Hecht said. "If she feels that people are getting frustrated because she's not delivering on what she's promised, she may feel she has to put on more pressure."

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. One thing that is likely to motivate these slow-moving lawmakers? August break. No one wants to see their summer vacation truncated by a(n even) late(r) budget.

TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll mark the 75th anniversary of the desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces at 2:30 p.m. at the State House. Driscoll attends the NAACP Boston Branch Day of Action & Service at 9:30 a.m. at the Neponset River Greenway and a Boston While Black event at 12:30 p.m. in South Boston. Senate President Karen Spilka proposes funding for flood relief at 1:30 p.m. in Hatfield.

Rep. Lori Trahan announces federal funding at 10:30 a.m. in Marlborough. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark announces federal funding for flood mitigation at noon at Natick High School. Sen. Elizabeth Warren announces federal funding at 2 p.m. at The Kennedy Center in Charlestown. Rep. Richard Neal surveys flood damage at 3:30 p.m. at North Adams City Hall.

Tips? Scoops? Conference committee tea? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com .

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Religious exemptions from required child vaccinations under debate in Mass. legislature,” by Jason Laughlin, Boston Globe: “Religion would no longer be an accepted reason to exempt a child from mandatory vaccinations in Massachusetts, under legislation seeking to tighten current law. Such exemptions are rare, but the number of parents seeking waivers for religious reasons has grown over the past 20 years and accounts for the majority of unvaccinated children reported in the Commonwealth.”

— “Mass. Jobless Rate Sinks To Record Low 2.6 Percent,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall).

— “State farm caucus spells out priorities: Bevy of legislation focuses on food access, farmland and economic development,” by Maddie Fabian, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

— "State lawmakers weighing bill to cover first responders exposed to needles at Boston’s Mass and Cass," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald.

WHAT CITY HALL IS READING

— FAILURE TO LAUNCH: Saturday’s big-name fundraiser for Boston City Council President Ed Flynn didn’t turn out to be the launchpad for a campaign to “Save Our City” from the “ultra-progressive policies” of Mayor Michelle Wu and the current City Council after all, according to attendees.

The gathering at public relations executive George Regan’s Cape Cod estate was billed as a fundraiser for Flynn and a birthday celebration for his father, the former mayor and ambassador. That is, until the Dorchester Reporter's Gintautas Dumcius reported late last week that an email from Regan’s PR firm sought to recast the event as the start of a “3-year mission to save the City of Boston” spearheaded led by “political, business, and civic leaders.”

City politicians said they were unaware of the campaign and quickly distanced themselves from the event. Regan told the Reporter “there is no group” and blamed the email on a secretary. The Boston political class buzzed with conspiracy theories about the event — and about who might challenge Wu in the next mayoral race.

Flynn didn't directly address "Save Our City" in a statement that noted he spent Saturday celebrating his dad's birthday and fundraising for his reelection campaign. "I hope to continue to work hard on behalf of my constituents and all Boston residents, collaborating with Mayor Wu, my colleagues both in government and the private sector to help move Boston forward," he said.

— “Fellow city councilor calls for Kendra Lara's resignation over car crash,” by NBC10 Boston: “Boston City Councilor-at-Large Michael Flaherty is calling for embattled colleague Kendra Lara to resign after Lara's crash last month in Jamaica Plain, for which she's been charged.”

But the council president continues to stop short of calling for Lara to resign , saying in a statement to the Boston Globe on Sunday only that Lara and Councilor Ricardo Arroyo "do not demonstrate the maturity, ethics or professionalism to be an effective leader."

FROM THE HUB

— “For local leaders, the NAACP’s return to Boston is an opportunity to change the city’s image,” by Mike Damiano, Tiana Woodard and Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “When the NAACP last convened in Boston in 1982, busing riots were still a recent memory and a string of hate crimes against Black Bostonians was in the news. Now, more than 40 years later, the country’s oldest civil rights organization is set to return to Boston for its annual convention at a time when local leaders are still trying to repair the city’s image and lay the foundation for a more equitable future.”

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “RMV hired 52 employees after driver’s license law took effect on July 1,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald.

— “Would you take the MBTA if you could drive more easily? Nor would almost anyone else. That’s bad news for the climate,” by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe.

— “In step forward for aging Cape Cod bridges, Senate proposes $350 million for replacement,” by Tal Kopan and Matt Stout, Boston Globe.

— “Warren calls for input on Cape Cod bridges as need for more funding remains,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald.

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BIDEN TIME

— FLOTUS FLY-IN: First lady Jill Biden played up her husband’s legislative accomplishments and his support for the LGBTQ community at a 300-person Provincetown fundraiser on Friday hosted by event planner Bryan Rafanelli and his husband, Mark Walsh , and women’s and LGBTQ rights activist Alix Ritchie and her spouse, Marty Davis.

“These wins are your wins. But we know there is so much more work to do,” Biden said to a crowd that included state Sens. Julian Cyr and Susan Moran , state Rep. Sarah Peake and Provincetown Town Manager Alex Morse .

“We know what’s in store if these MAGA Republicans win,” she continued to boos. “We’ve already lived it. Right? The safety of LGBTQ Americans even more at risk. U.S. policy being dictated by late-night tweets. A constant assault on our most sacred institutions, our democracy and our freedoms. ... But we aren’t going to let that happen.”

Biden continued her fundraising swing on Saturday at the Nantucket home of Andrew and Jessica Nigrelli , where she spoke to about 67 people. More from the Cape Cod Times’ Rachael Devaney and Graham Krewinghaus.

FROM THE 413

— “Mayor Joshua Garcia: Holyoke is prepared for migrant influx, but state must ‘up its game’,” by Dennis Hohenberger, Springfield Republican: “Garcia noted Holyoke’s compassion for people, pledging to balance the needs of migrants with the city’s own well-being. He warned that failing to do so could endanger Holyoke’s sustainability. … Garcia stressed the need for increased state support."

— “Candidates may be allowed to run for multiple offices in Westfield election,” by Amy Porter, Westfield News.

— “Longtime Holyoke city councilor, Joseph M. McGiverin, will leave 44-year legacy,” by Dennis Hohenberger, Springfield Republican.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “ Drag queen story hours: pulling back the sequined curtain,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Magazine: “Drag story hours first surfaced about a decade ago, but it’s only fairly recently that they have become a flashpoint in the country’s culture wars. Supporters see the story hours as an entertaining way to expose children to gender and sexual diversity; opponents see them as an inappropriate effort to promote nontraditional gender identities. For many, the story hours simply raise a lot of questions.”

MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND

— “‘We were victim to someone we trusted,’ Matos said of suspect nomination signatures,” by Alexa Gagosz and Steph Machado, Boston Globe: “Days after the news broke that signatures on her campaign’s nomination forms had been forged, Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos finally broke her silence on Friday, alleging it was a vendor — Harmony Solutions — that had attempted to 'defraud' her bid for Congress.”

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— “Sununu: Most New Hampshire voters are ‘not with Trump’” by Andrew Zhang, POLITICO: “New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu insisted Republican presidential candidates can take down frontrunner Donald Trump in the state’s ever-important early primary — but they have to be willing to criticize the former president.”

— "Ayotte launches campaign for New Hampshire governor with broad base of GOP support," by Adam Sexton, WMUR.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Stacey Monahan .

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