Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Dems in disarray over shelter aid

Thursday, November 16, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Dems in disarray over shelter aid

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DEAL OR NO DEAL — A quarter of a billion dollars in sorely needed emergency shelter money remains tied up in the Legislature after top Democrats were unable to strike an 11th-hour deal before ending their formal sessions for the year.

Lawmakers punted the shelter aid — and the larger $2.8 billion spending bill it’s attached to — to a six-member conference committee just before 1 a.m. after holding their respective sessions open for more than a dozen hours as Democratic deputies traded proposals.

After talks collapsed , top House and Senate Democrats hinted in separate appearances that their chambers are still stuck on how Gov. Maura Healey should spend the $250 million she first requested over two months ago.

House Speaker Ron Mariano (left) and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz speak to reporters after talks fell apart early Thursday morning on a $2.8 billion spending bill that includes $250 million for the state's strained shelter program. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

The House is pushing rigid parameters that include mandating the administration open an overflow site within 30 days for families that are being waitlisted for emergency shelter. The Senate is looking to give the governor and her team more leeway.

Case in point: “This whole thing is trying to get the administration to identify where these people are going to go now that there’s a cap,” House Speaker Ron Mariano told reporters.

Minutes later, Michael Rodrigues , the Senate’s Ways and Means chair and chief negotiator, told reporters that he still supports giving the governor flexibility.

That the House is the chamber trying to force Healey’s hand is unsurprising. House Democrats have repeatedly pressed the administration for more information about how the shelter system is being run and at what cost. And they’ve vented their frustrations with the state and federal response to the migrant and shelter crisis far more vocally than their Senate counterparts.

Still, with each day that lawmakers remain at an impasse they inject more uncertainty into an increasingly dire situation. Newly arriving families are effectively being told to come back later. Overnight shelters for the waitlisted that are being funded through a $5 million grant program administered by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay have yet to open. And the weather is growing colder. If lawmakers don’t act quickly, “we’re going to see some very desperate situations,” said Andrea Park of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.

Democratic leaders in both chambers insist they want to settle the spending bill before January, when formal sessions resume and when the shelter system is projected to exhaust its budget. But trying to ram any deal through informal sessions, where one lawmaker’s objection can derail a bill, is risky. And that creates a situation where Republicans — who voted against the overall spending plan in both chambers over concerns about the state’s response to the partially migrant-driven shelter crisis — could hold outsize sway over what happens next.

Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues (left) and Senate President Karen Spilka speak to reporters outside their chamber. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

Rodrigues said he was “confident, at least in the Senate” that a compromise agreement could pass.

But as the clock ticked down with no supp in sight, frustration was palpable on the Republican side — not just over the emergency shelter aid, but also over raises for thousands of state employees that have been held up for weeks or in some cases months .

“We've got collective bargaining agreements that were negotiated in good faith for many, many state employees,” Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr told reporters shortly before lawmakers called it quits. “They deserve better than to have their compensation hanging in the balance.”

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Lawmakers did get some things done yesterday. The House passed long-term care industry reforms. And senators voted through an updated version of their prescription-drug pricing bill. The Boston Herald’s Chris Van Buskirk has more on both .

TODAY — Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have no public events.

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

A message from Conservation Law Foundation:

Conservation Law Foundation is separating fact from fiction when it comes to the role of bioenergy in cutting climate-damaging pollution and transforming our economy to one built on clean energy. The economic, environmental, and public health of our communities and businesses demand that we invest in energy efficiency and clean energy sources – while moving with caution and care on bioenergy resources. Get the full story.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

FITN FINALIZED — New Hampshire’s 2024 presidential primary will be on Jan. 23, as expected. The date firms up Republicans’ nominating calendar and defies national Democrats’ preferred voting order.

President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee wanted South Carolina — a more diverse state that propelled Biden to the nomination in 2020 — to hold the first primary next year, with New Hampshire voting second on a shared date with Nevada. But New Hampshire law says the state must hold its primary a week before any other similar contests, and Republicans who control state government refused to bend to Democrats’ demands.

Biden skipped putting his name on the primary ballot in New Hampshire in anticipation that the state would hold a rogue nominating contest. His allies are now running a write-in campaign on his behalf as longshot candidates like Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and Marianne Williamson , who did file for the ballot, campaign in the state. New Hampshire Democrats could also now lose half their convention delegates. More from Lisa in Concord .

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Healey unveils $62 million funding boost for public college students,” by Dustin Luca, Salem News: “Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, joined by education leaders across the state, packed the recital hall at Salem State University's Bertolon School of Business Wednesday morning to announce a $62 million investment to boost access to public higher education for low- and middle-income students.”

— “2 reports urge better access to maternal care and other medical services in Mass.,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, WBUR: “Massachusetts health officials are pledging to invest in new programs and rewrite regulations to expand access to maternal health care."

PETER DURANT ENDORSED DESANTIS!

MASS GOP statement:

And the MassGOP’s ability to help Durant may be limited by its still-dire financial straits — even though a win in this race is exactly what the party needs to start turning its fortunes around.

“If we didn’t have the debt, certainly we would be able to do more in this race,” Carnevale said. “But we certainly are confident in our chances.”

PETER DURANT IS A CLOWN FOR ENDORSING DESANTIS, THE BOOK BANNER, RE-WRITES HISTORY, DON'T SAY GAY DIM WIT!

That's before defining the ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION in FLORIDA or the numerous other issues...homeowners insurance? radioactive roads? DEAD MANATEES?

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook:

DESANTISLAND — One of GOP state Rep. Peter Durant ’s first big actions as state senator-elect: endorsing Ron DeSantis for president, per the Florida governor's campaign.

THIS IS THE CLOWN THAT PETER DURANT ENDORSED:

NOTE: GREAT BARRINGTON DECLARATION is a DIRTY ENERGY KOCH funded think tank - it's a SCAM!

Ron DeSantis' New Surgeon General Appeared in 'Demon Sperm' Doctor's COVID Conspiracy Video

excerpt:

One of the video's main speakers, Dr. Stella Immanuel, is a physician who operates a medical clinic in a Texas strip mall next to her church, Firepower Ministries. In the video, she called hydroxychloroquine a "cure" and said, "You don't need a mask" to prevent the virus' spread.

Immanuel has claimed that ovarian cysts and endometriosis are caused by "demonic seed." Demons insert sperm into sleeping individuals when they have sex in their dreams, Immanuel claimed in articles on her church's website.

Ladapo has also promoted the anti-parasite medication ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 symptoms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has advised against using ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.

In October 2020, Ladapo signed the Great Barrington Declaration, a statement that called for developing societal herd immunity to COVID-19 through natural infection.

https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-new-surgeon-general...

— “Rep. Peter Durant to be sworn-in as state senator on Nov. 29, officials confirm,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald.

NOT SIGNED, SEALED, NOR DELIVERED — Yesterday we touched on the lackluster results of the yearslong effort to change the state seal and motto. Now one of the members of the panel tasked with coming up with the changes — and that's now recommending that a new panel under the secretary of state take this up instead — is calling it a “colossal failure,” the Boston Globe’s Matt Stout writes .

DUKAKIS DEEP-DIVE — CommonWealth Beacon’s Michael Jonas sat down with former Gov. Mike Dukakis , who recently turned 90, for a wide-ranging conversation that spanned his decades in public service to his views on today’s politics and public transit. One notable exchange: The Bay State’s public transit system “ought to be one of the best in the country,” Dukakis said. Asked what went wrong, he replied: “You’ll have to ask Charlie Baker .”

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.

PARTY POLITICS

LET IT BE RESOLVED — Top Democrats on Beacon Hill don’t support Auditor Diana DiZoglio ’s quest to audit the Legislature. But party activists do.

Democratic State Committee members voted unanimously at their meeting last night to approve a slate of resolutions calling to support audits of the Legislature, a State House staff union, single-payer health care and hybrid party conventions.

The resolutions are mostly non-binding. But the vote still sends a message to Democratic leaders on Beacon Hill who’ve blocked DiZoglio’s audit and staffers’ unionization efforts that they’re out of step with party activists on both issues. And it builds off the activist support DiZoglio saw for her probe at September’s state party convention.

WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET

NEW THIS MORNING — While gun legislation won’t start moving on Beacon Hill again until January, Attorney General Andrea Campbell is launching her new Gun Violence Prevention Unit today.

Christine Doktor , who previously served as managing attorney for Everytown for Gun Safety’s legal arm, will head up the unit. Ryan Mingo will serve as deputy director, after working as assistant district attorney and chief of the Major Felony Bureau at the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office. Doktor and Mingo will lead a unit focused on enforcing the state’s existing gun laws, advocating for stronger regulations and defending them from potential legal challenges. They'll also work on community-based violence prevention.

Meanwhile, Campbell is on the second day of hosting a Democratic Attorneys General Association policy conference in Boston. Yesterday, the group of attorneys general met with labor leaders from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades DC 35 to discuss wage theft and worker exploitation.

And Campbell just awarded $780,000 to 13 organizations across the state to provide legal services to immigrants.

A message from Conservation Law Foundation:

FROM THE HUB

— “Boston City Council weighing voting rights for immigrants with ‘legal status’,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Boston City Council is considering a measure that would grant immigrants with ‘legal status’ but without full citizenship the right to vote in local elections. Councilor Kendra Lara, a proponent, put forward a hearing order Wednesday on the matter, which drew support from several of her colleagues, but was met with legal concerns from Councilor-at-Large Michael Flaherty.”

— “Boston police must now track and report on seized firearms,” by WBUR.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “Tibbits-Nutt Outlines Thinking On Transportation Fixes,” by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): “Monica Tibbits-Nutt laid out her vision Wednesday for a unified transportation system that helps address some of Massachusetts' biggest problems, previewed a ‘hard, hard discussion’ about more state money for the MBTA, and shared the frustrations of her own commute into Boston."

GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK : Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.. SUBSCRIBE NOW .

DATELINE D.C.

— “Top House Democrats evacuated from DNC headquarters as police clash with protesters calling for Gaza ceasefire,” by Sam Fossum and Morgan Rimmer, CNN: “Law enforcement clashed with protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war outside of the Washington headquarters of the Democratic National Committee Wednesday night. … According to a person familiar with the matter, the Democratic leaders — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, the No. 3 Democrat — were inside as the clash between protesters and police erupted.”

— "Senate passes stopgap spending bill, sending to Biden with time to spare," by Ursula Perano and Caitlin Emma, POLITICO.

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING

— “Migrant families in Massachusetts sit in limbo while politicians debate shelter solutions,” by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: “For three months, Nixon Blais’s family has been living in a roadside hotel, waiting for paperwork to clear so the young father can get a construction job. … The family’s life offers a window into the life of migrants in Massachusetts, often fleeing violence in their home countries, who are caught in the middle of a game of a political football between Beacon Hill and Washington, D.C., over the state’s overburdened shelter system.”

— “Shelter crisis rises in Worcester as winter closes in,” by Jeff A. Chamer, Telegram & Gazette: “With the number of people experiencing homelessness continuing to increase as space at shelters in the city becomes scarcer, city leaders and advocacy groups are scrambling to get ahead of the arriving snow and freezing temperatures in the region and find people housing.“

A message from Conservation Law Foundation:

Conservation Law Foundation is working to fight climate change and secure a livable and healthy future for all New Englanders. We know New England needs to end its reliance on fossil fuels, and that presents a pressing question: What role will bioenergy play in the region’s energy system as we move toward 2050? The fossil fuel industry is leaning hard on selling biofuels such as renewable natural gas as viable options to meet state mandates for cutting climate-damaging emissions. But what’s beneath the surface is more of the same climate-damaging fuels. We don’t have time or resources to waste on costly and ineffective solutions. Conservation Law Foundation is sorting fact from fiction. Bioenergy’s role in New England’s clean energy future is a limited and targeted one. Get the full story.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Nora Bent, executive director of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, Brad Wyatt, Stephanie Harris, Jonathan Ng, Josh Gee and Minda Conroe, managing director for J Strategies Inc.

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: (THE PARENTS THINK) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT — Hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela talk through new MassINC education polling. The Boston Globe’s Catherine Carlock joins to discuss the latest in the rent-control debate. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and SoundCloud .

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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