| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY AND KELLY GARRITY | ALL TOGETHER NOW — Democrats are showing they can come together when it counts. Joe Biden and New Hampshire Democrats who spent more than a year feuding over the state’s place in the primary lineup made public amends on Monday, when top Democrats appeared alongside the president for his first visit to the Granite State in nearly two years. Biden lavished praise upon members of the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation in a speech about lowering healthcare costs — and let a couple of them hitch a ride back to Washington on Air Force One. In a private event in a strip-mall campaign office, he profusely thanked the longtime operatives and grassroots volunteers who ran a successful write-in campaign on his behalf after he passed on participating in the state’s Democratic primary over the calendar spat.
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President Joe Biden speaks to supporters at a campaign office in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Monday. | AP | Perhaps most importantly, Biden said he expects that New Hampshire’s delegates will count come this summer’s convention, two people familiar with the remarks made behind closed doors and granted anonymity to speak freely told Playbook — though the president was clear the decision is ultimately up to the Democratic National Committee. It seems somewhat trivial, but seating the delegates would be a major peace offering to New Hampshire Democrats, after the DNC passed rules heading into this cycle that could cost the state half its delegates for breaking with the party’s preferred nominating calendar. The DNC has walked back similar sanctions in the past. But doing so this time would be key for Biden, who doesn’t need New Hampshire’s delegates to secure his party’s nomination — he’s expected to lock that up today — but can’t afford to lose the state’s four electoral votes in what could be a close general-election race. New Hampshire Democrats can’t afford to stay angry, either. Having Biden back on the ballot — and having his campaign invest resources in the state (There are already eight staffers there.) — can likely help the party spur interest in down-ballot races, including the open governor’s seat they’re looking to flip. “This is our perennial sport,” Rep. Annie Kuster told Playbook. “We don’t have a national sports team. We love the New England Patriots and the Red Sox and the Celtics. But for us, running political campaigns is what we do for enjoyment with our families. So, having people be able to turn out and to be engaged … is so important.” Speaking of down-ballot battles, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark was a few dozen miles down I-93 on Monday raising a whopping $1.1 million for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and for the campaigns of so-called frontliners running in battleground districts. Clark drew in more than $1 million alone from her signature WomenLEAD fundraiser at Boston’s Liberty Hotel, which featured House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), according to a spokesperson. Kuster, Rep. Lori Trahan and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) also helped raise money for the event, which spotlighted some of the female representatives running for reelection in competitive districts. Some of Massachusetts’ top female politicians attended the luncheon, including Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Senate President Karen Spilka. The No. 2 House Democrat also raised more than $100,000 directly for female frontliners in a smaller event ahead of the luncheon, her spokesperson said. Raising big money for Democrats’ congressional campaign arm is part of Clark’s job as a high-ranking House member. But her ability to do so is certainly helped by the Bay State’s tendency toward non-competitive elections — so far no one’s filed to run against her this year. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Planning a big political fundraiser? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com . TODAY — Healey speaks at the Massachusetts Building Trades Council union convention at 11:15 a.m. in Springfield and highlights her economic development plan at Western New England University at 12:30 p.m. Driscoll attends Amplify LatinX’s annual Impact Celebration at 7:30 p.m. in Salem. Driscoll and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speak at a groundbreaking for the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology in Roxbury at 10:30 a.m. Wu is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 1 p.m.
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| | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The stakes are high as America's health care community strives to meet the evolving needs of patients and practitioners, adopt new technologies and navigate skeptical public attitudes toward science. Join POLITICO’s annual Health Care Summit on March 13 where we will discuss the future of medicine, including the latest in health tech, new drugs and brain treatments, diagnostics, health equity, workforce strains and more. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| 'MY JOB IS SENATE' — A crew of “Kens” crashed Senate President Karen Spilka ’s rescheduled Galentine’s Day celebration on Monday — and were disappointed to find that the Bay State, where women hold many of the highest-profile offices, is “looking more and more like Barbie Land every day.” State Sens. Julian Cyr and Brendan Crighton and former state Sens. Joe Boncore and Adam Hinds galloped out in hot-pink style to perform a Barbie-themed sketch for the crowd gathered at Boston’s City Winery — including Gov. Maura Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll , Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune . See the epic pics. — “Governor Healey to seek ‘blanket’ pardons of marijuana possession convictions,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey will announce plans this week to seek pardons for those convicted of simple marijuana possession in Massachusetts, four people familiar with her plans told The Globe, in a sweeping move that could see tens of thousands of people statewide forgiven for past crimes. … [T]wo of those briefed on her plans told The Globe that she would seek blanket forgiveness of simple marijuana possession charges dating back years in Massachusetts, where voters in 2016 legalized marijuana.”
WORTH READING TO REVIEW PROGRAMS THAT
ARE AVAILABLE TO REDUCE YOUR COSTS! — “Healey $1m ad campaign seeks to boost climate efforts,” by Bhaamati Borkhetaria, CommonWealth Beacon.
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS |
| SOUTH SHORE SHUFFLE — State Sen. Walter Timilty ’s decision to pursue the county court clerk seat his father is giving up is having an electoral ripple effect through the South Shore. Democrat Kathleen Crogan-Camara had already launched another bid for Timilty’s seat after losing to him in 2022. Rob McLaughlin is mulling a bid, as we reported Monday. Milton state Rep. Bill Driscoll Jr. told Playbook on Monday that he’s received an “outpouring of support and encouragement” to run for Timilty’s seat and will “have more to say” in coming days — after taking time to honor Timilty’s two-plus decades serving in the Legislature. As Driscoll weighs his options, another Milton Democrat, Tony King, has filed paperwork to run for his House seat and is “strongly considering” going through with it, he told Playbook. MEANWHILE, IN WESTERN MASS. — “Lenox Select Board member, Marybeth Mitts, joins the race for Pignatelli’s State House seat,” by Clarence Fanto, The Berkshire Eagle.
| | ROLLINS REPORT |
| — “Rachael Rollins lands job at Roxbury Community College,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon: “Rachael Rollins, who resigned last year as US attorney after federal watchdogs found she lied to investigators and attempted to meddle in a local election, has taken a part-time job at Roxbury Community College. Rollins started the job, which comes with an annual salary of $96,000, earlier this year. Reached on her cell phone, Rollins said she did not want to be contacted and hung up. Rollins is working on a new program geared towards formerly incarcerated people, with a focus on women of color.”
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| | JOIN US ON 3/21 FOR A TALK ON FINANCIAL LITERACY: Americans from all communities should be able to save, build wealth, and escape generational poverty, but doing so requires financial literacy. How can government and industry ensure access to digital financial tools to help all Americans achieve this? Join POLITICO on March 21 as we explore how Congress, regulators, financial institutions and nonprofits are working to improve financial literacy education for all. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| MILLIONS FOR PIKE PROJECT — The Biden administration awarded $335 million to the state for its massive $1.9 billion I-90 Allston project. It’s a big win for the Bay State after some previous requests for federal assistance for the project were rejected by Washington.
| | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| TIKTOK ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK — The House appears poised to approve a bipartisan bill that would effectively ban TikTok in the U.S., but it could face a tougher challenge in the Senate. “We need to put curbs in place on social media across the board. This shouldn't be about pulling out one particular social media outlet,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren told our colleagues in D.C. “We have rules of the road for television , we have rules of the road for newspapers, we need some rules of the road for social media,” she told WWLP. — “Markey staffers begin collective bargaining, a win for union organizers,” by Jim Saksa, Roll Call.
| | FROM THE 413 |
| — “MGM Dealers Now All-in with UNITE HERE after Narrow Union Vote,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass. Politics & Insight: “A touch under 300 employees at MGM Springfield have voted to join a union in an election the National Labor Relations Board held last week."
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| — “‘Lightning rod of attention’: Migrant crisis in Mass. highlights anti-immigrant sentiments, need for security,” by Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe. — “Massachusetts police officers push for Mass State Police review amid ‘crisis of confidence’,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “A local law enforcement group is again pushing for a state review of Mass State Police following a series of brutal headlines for the embattled agency facing a ‘crisis of confidence.’ The Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement (MAPLE) is proposing a ‘Blue Ribbon’ commission to take a close look at Mass State Police after a long string of scandals.” — “Hospitals bleeding $24M a day from cyberattack,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “The hack of United Health’s Change Healthcare payment system in February affected payments to hospitals, physicians, pharmacists and other health care providers. Change Healthcare processes more than 15 billion health care transactions annually and is involved in one in every three patient records. In Massachusetts, fallout from the unprecedented attack is costing hospitals collectively more than $24 million a day, according to a new survey by the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association.” — “Steward hospitals are on the brink of financial disaster. Health care executives say it’s just the tip of the iceberg,” by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe: “While Steward’s for-profit ownership structure put its hospitals at a disadvantage, many health care executives say the state’s entire network of hospitals is approaching a capacity shortage not seen since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| SPOTTED — Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn , Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons , Cambridge Vice Mayor Marc McGovern , former Waltham City Councilor Jonathan Paz and Revere City Councilor Juan Jaramillo at the National League of Cities conference in D.C. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former Massachusetts governor and current Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, Chase Delano, Michael Gallant, Colleen Aber Tlagae and Andrew Carden . 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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