Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: How Mass. Dems helped stop the shutdown

Monday, October 2, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: How Mass. Dems helped stop the shutdown

Presented by

With help from Lisa Kashinsky

DO YOUR JOB — Massachusetts Democrats may be out of power in the U.S. House. But they proved instrumental in staving off a federal government shutdown over the weekend.

And it all hinged on some Bill Belichickian clock management. Let’s review Saturday's tape (all times are approximate):

11:26 a.m. — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy brings forward a “clean” stopgap spending bill — one without the spending cuts conservative hardliners wanted and without the Ukraine aid that Democrats wanted, but with the $16 billion in federal disaster relief that the White House sought.

McCarthy wants to move to a vote immediately, but Democrats want 90 minutes to read the bill. The Democrats' request is denied.

11:59 a.m. — Democratic Whip Katherine Clark makes her play to give Democrats time to read the 71-page bill: calling for the House to adjourn. Clark isn't trying to send lawmakers home; she's trying to stall to give her caucus time to see if the bill really is “clean” — citing “serious trust issues” with GOP lawmakers.

Clark’s call puts 15 minutes on the clock. Democrats end up buying themselves over an hour by filing their votes manually, rather than electronically, and by casting them one at a time. Rep. Jim McGovern, an expert in parliamentary procedure as the ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, proposed the idea and then stood on the floor telling members to take their time writing their votes as if they were “in penmanship class.” Clark’s motion fails, but has the desired effect.

1:15 p.m. — Democrats make their next play: a nearly hour-long speech from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to buy even more time to scrub the bill.

2:25 p.m. — Voting begins on the stopgap spending plan. All nine Massachusetts representatives vote in favor of the bill, joining their Democratic colleagues in pushing it through to the Senate. The upper chamber later passes it 88-9, with Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey among the majority in the "yes" column. President Joe Biden signs the short-term spending bill that night.

“Democrats came to the rescue,” Clark declared during a press conference after the vote. “Speaker McCarthy admitted defeat.”

Other Massachusetts Democrats were similarly celebratory. “I'm leaving the Capitol today with a little bounce in my step because I think this is actually a good day for us,” McGovern said.

But their victory lap won’t last long. Lawmakers only bought themselves 45 more days to fund the government — or again face a shutdown. And Democrats are already being dragged into McCarthy’s battle to keep his gavel, with right-wing Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) likely to trigger a conservative-led effort to oust the California Republican as speaker this week.

U.S. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) speaks to reporters at a press conference on government funding in the U.S. Capitol on September 29, 2023 in Washington, DC. | Getty Images

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. At least one bill won this weekend (and we don’t mean Belichick). Markey told Playbook last week that the Patriots are definitely going to make the playoffs. Might have to check in with him again after yesterday.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey has no public events. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speak at an Italian American Heritage Month celebration at 6 p.m. at the State House. Wu testifies in support of more liquor licenses for Boston at 1 p.m. at the State House. AG Andrea Campbell announces her reproductive justice unit director at 3:15 p.m. at One Ashburton Place.

Tips? Scoops? Email us: mmccarthy@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com .

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

SUNDAY SHOWDOWN — Auditor Diana DiZoglio and Senate President Karen Spilka sparred over the former’s proposed audit of the Legislature in dueling appearances on Sunday’s political shows.

DiZoglio on WCVB’s “On the Record” said she finds it “incredibly unfortunate” that Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano are “pushing back on this audit.” She also slammed MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan for calling out Republican-aligned donors who are funding her ballot question , given that one of them, auto-sales magnate Ernie Boch Jr. , has also donated to Spilka over the years, per OCPF.

Meanwhile, on NBC10’s “At Issue,” Spilka was defending her decision not to comply with DiZoglio’s probe. The Senate president again argued her former colleague "does not have the authority" given the "separation of powers" statute. And while she does "agree with the auditor ... on transparency and accountability," Spilka said the Senate is already subject to an annual, third-party audit.

TL;DR: DiZoglio and Spilka (and Mariano) remain at an impasse. What happens next will depend on whether Attorney General Andrea Campbell says the auditor can sue lawmakers and whether DiZoglio can get enough signatures to advance in the ballot-question process. — Lisa Kashinsky

— “Dean Tran, former state senator, accused of using Senate staff for campaign work,” by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: “Former state senator Dean A. Tran was indicted Friday for allegedly violating the state ethics law by using members of his legislative staff to campaign for him during his 2018 and 2020 reelection campaigns. The Fitchburg Republican faces two counts of using his official position ‘to secure an unwarranted privilege,’ according to Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who is a Democrat.”

FROM THE HUB

— “ Concerns raised over O’Bryant School move, ” by Lance Reynolds: “The Boston School Committee will be voting on whether to relocate the highly rated O’Bryant School to the vacant West Roxbury Education Complex, one way or the other, despite opposition from parents and the community at large.”

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

— “ In Boston’s council election, Mayor Michelle Wu tries to flex her influence, ” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “ Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is not on November’s municipal ballot, but Election Day nonetheless offers an opportunity to expand her influence with three close allies vying for a spot on the City Council. Victories by the three candidates would offer Wu the chance to work with a council that would likely feel friendlier to her administration’s aims, a welcome change for the city’s executive, who has faced opposition from both progressives and moderates at different times during the last two years.”

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “MBTA asks for more time to complete corrective actions, cites track work, personnel shift,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “The MBTA petitioned federal transit regulators Friday for more time to complete a list of corrective actions — including an agency-wide staffing analysis — they are taking in the wake of an investigation into the Massachusetts agency that was prompted by a string of safety failures.”

— “Lobbying by Worcester officials fails to halt change in train schedule,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: “Despite pleas for a pause from Worcester officials, early-morning train commuters from Worcester to Boston are set for a longer train ride Monday, with four new stops being added to what is currently an express train.”

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

TRUMPACHUSETTS

BALLOT BATTLE — The MassGOP is responding to legal challenges seeking to bar Donald Trump from the ballot in 2024 by submitting the former president’s name to Secretary of State Bill Galvin to add to next year's primary ballot. MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale said she expects to “submit additional nominations in the weeks ahead,” according to a copy of the letter shared with Playbook. — Lisa Kashinsky

Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of new episodes – click here .

DATELINE D.C.

— “ ‘All we achieved on Saturday was averting a crisis:’ Following crucial vote, Mass. Democrats call for Ukraine funding, ” by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: “ Following Saturday’s last-minute passage of a stopgap budget bill that will keep the federal government open for little more than a month, the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation raised concerns that the measure doesn’t include more funding for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion — and that the country may well be back in the same sticky position in weeks.”

Meanwhile, back home in Massachusetts, Don Cox, the president and CEO of the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, told the Cape Cod Times' Zane Razzaq he's still bracing for the worst . His organization, which stockpiled trailers of food ahead of Sunday's deadline, is now going to use the next 45 days to, well, keep preparing for a shutdown.

FROM THE 413

— “John Krol's records show more payments from the Animal Dreams account,” by Meg Britton-Mehlisch, Berkshire Eagle: “Mayoral candidate John Krol's records have revealed that the bank account for Animal Dreams was used as early as 2016 in five more of his business transactions than previously reported. … Krol has maintained that he had no ‘malintent’ through this financial period in his life. He has characterized these and other instances as ‘mistakes.’”

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THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “A third of Massachusetts cities, towns have had change in top election official since 2020,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “More than a third of all Massachusetts municipalities have had a change in their chief election official or town clerk since the 2020 presidential election, a transition rate that has left the secretary of state concerned as an increasingly intense 2024 election barrels closer. The turnover means many officials will likely take on a presidential election for the first time as the top boss in charge of administering ballots, polls, and counting votes. The apparent brain drain is not isolated to Massachusetts — national statistics have shown an exodus of clerks or chief election officers.”

— “Everett newspaper editor admits to fabrications in Everett mayor defamation suit,” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald: “The editor and publisher of a newspaper at the center of a defamation lawsuit filed by Everett’s mayor said under oath that he had invented stories to attack the mayor.”

— “ As need for emergency shelters in Mass. spikes, so do costs, ” by Gabrielle Emanuel, WBUR: “The number of households in Massachusetts’ family shelter system has risen dramatically this year. And so has the price tag. In the state budget passed this summer, lawmakers allocated a record $325 million to the system, and Gov. Maura Healey has already asked for more.”

— “Western Mass. Republicans say party will miss Mitt Romney’s ‘big tent’ belief,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican.

— “Methuen leaders applaud charges against former police chief, officer,” by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— “N.H. Democrats look ahead to 2024 with pro-Biden pep rally,” by Steven Porter, Boston Globe: “The room erupted in applause when Senator Jeanne Shaheen said Democrats would ensure President Biden’s victory in the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary ‘no matter what.’ … Speaker after speaker pledged support to aid Biden’s reelection, even if that means casting a write-in ballot during the primary in January, when the incumbent could keep his distance to avoid competing in a rogue contest.”

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

IN MEMORIAM — "Tim Wakefield, former Red Sox knuckleballer who won two World Series, dies at 57," by Peter Abraham, Boston Globe.

TRANSITIONS — Todd Taylor and Kristen Arute have joined the Fiscal Alliance Foundation’s Board of Directors.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Robin Goldberg , former mayor and Cambridge City Councilor E. Denise Simmons, Rosie Quick and Marlena Abdinoor (Baldacci).

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .

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