Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Massachusetts runs on DunQueens

Monday, March 18, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Massachusetts runs on DunQueens

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The 'DunQueens' | Joshua Qualls/Courtesy photo, Massachusetts Governor's Office

FAMILY FEUDS — With Republicans holding high-level offices becoming a distant memory in Massachusetts, the state’s top Democrats had only one place left to plant their punches during state Sen. Nick Collins’ annual ~~smackdown~~ St. Patrick’s Day breakfast:

On each other.

Sure, there were some swipes at John Deaton , the crypto advocate and attorney who recently relocated from Rhode Island to mount a Republican challenge against Sen. Elizabeth Warren. And Warren took some shots at former Gov. Charlie Baker and Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson.

But for the most part, the jabs were Democrat-on-Democrat. And no one, not even those who couldn’t make the event, was safe. The supposedly good-natured ribbing laid bare not only the real points of tension between certain Democrats, but the higher-office ambitions a few of them are harboring — and weren’t doing a great job hiding, anyway. And because not every politician has a great poker face, we saw some tells about who’s spooked by the idea of a little intraparty competition.

Collins opened with a song encouraging Rep. Stephen Lynch to run for Sen. Ed Markey’s seat when the state’s junior senator eventually steps aside. Why would he want Lynch to try again for a seat he’s already lost? Norfolk County Treasurer Michael Bellotti hit the nail on the head when he took the mic about an hour later: “Nick, we know you’re running for Congress. But ‘Yes, Madam President’ isn’t a platform.”

Some actual boxing gloves came out — and several pols onstage squirmed — when Rep. Ayanna Pressley stepped up to the podium to announce a (faux) campaign for Senate. State Senate, that is — and specifically for Collins’ Southie seat. (She even asked Lisa to moderate a debate between the two of them, and, while we know you’re joking, she totally would.) Collins was quick to point out Pressley lives in a different district. A little too quick. And Warren’s pursed lips were a picture worth a thousand words.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took the brunt of the barbs — over prohibiting most outdoor dining in the North End (some of the neighborhood's restaurateurs protested her from outside the breakfast ), over the annual electeds of color party and for promoting bike and bus lanes. Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who didn’t attend the breakfast, was the butt of multiple jokes about Milton, the town she recently sued for non-compliance with the MBTA Communities law.

Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll dragged themselves over the Milton zoning mess and got knocked over the migrant crisis: “If a mayor sees the governor and lieutenant governor at an event in your town, that means six more days until your community gets a new migrant shelter,” Wu quipped.

But it was Senate President Karen Spilka who took the biggest swings — roasting Wu, Healey, Driscoll and Deaton, as well as Auditor Diana DiZoglio. Spilka suggested that “instead of wasting taxpayer money” on attempting to audit the Legislature, DiZoglio should investigate what’s up with Kate Middleton. “All of us here chipped in to buy you a plane ticket to London to find out what’s happened,” Spilka said. “However, there [weren't] enough donations, so it’s a one-way ticket.” DiZoglio took it in stride: “That was good,” she mouthed from a few seats down the dais.

Political skirmishes aside, one act stole the show: Healey and Driscoll’s grand entrance as the “DunQueens.” The governing duo were decked out in full Dunkin’ tracksuits, complete with pink fuzzy bucket hats, iced coffees with munchkin skewers and fake Boston accents. The spoof of the Ben Affleck/Matt Damon Super Bowl commercial wasn’t complete without their version of Tom Brady — played by the first woman to serve as the state's governor, Jane Swift, who “flew” in from out west to the sounds of a chopper. What a good sport.

Will they whip out the tracksuits for other official events? “Absolutely,” Healey said. “This may be our new routine every place we go,” Driscoll added.

The 'DunQueens': Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll (left), former Acting Gov. Jane Swift (center) and Gov. Maura Healey. | Joshua Qualls/Courtesy photo, Massachusetts Governor's Office

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Dunkin’, if you’re reading this, please ship our tracksuits.

TODAY — Healey joins a “Strategies for Children” call at 9:30 a.m., attends the Juan Pablo Duarte bust unveiling at 10:10 a.m. and announces her administration’s new state workforce agenda at 11 a.m. at the State House. Driscoll, Wu, Pressley and Warren attend the JJ Carroll 2Life ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in Brighton. Warren participates in a student debt roundtable with AFT President Randi Weingarten at 2:30 p.m. at the AFT Massachusetts office.

Tips? Scoops? Jokes that didn't make it out of the drafts? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com .

A message from the Service Employees International Union:

Uber and Lyft are planning to spend big on a ballot initiative to buy their way around respecting the rights of Massachusetts’ rideshare drivers. But rideshare drivers in our state have a different vision: one that works better for consumers and gives drivers a voice on the job. Drivers can’t get there alone — we're calling on the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions to convene drivers and rideshare companies and steer us down a better road.

PARTY POLITICS

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — One thing Gov. Maura Healey ’s not joking around about: the $1 billion in tax breaks she shepherded into law last year. Her campaign is out this morning with a new digital ad and email blast promoting the cuts, credits and cap changes for residents and businesses ahead of April’s tax-filing deadline.

“This tax season, everybody’s gonna benefit from the Healey tax cuts, saving money for seniors, families and businesses,” a male narrator intones in the 30-second spot airing across Hulu, YouTube and on social media platforms. Healey’s campaign declined to disclose the cost.

Healey says much the same in an email that also touts free school meals and community college, and reducing housing costs. “I know that we have a lot more to do,” the governor writes. “We’re going to keep working to lower costs, build more housing, and make sure that Massachusetts is a place you can always call home.”

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Massachusetts launches program to help turn office buildings into housing,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News: “The initiative will help cities and towns identify good candidate properties for commercial-to-housing conversions, conduct floor plan and feasibility analyses for those buildings, and reduce regulatory barriers along the way. MassHousing is seeding the program with $1 million that will be available for technical assistance funding.”

— “Healey left Massachusetts for four days last month. Aides refuse to say where the governor went,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey‘s aides on Friday refused to say where the Democrat traveled last month when she spent four days out of state on a ‘personal trip,’ a stretch in which Healey’s powers constitutionally shifted to the Massachusetts secretary of state. Healey’s office months ago stopped publicly divulging her out-of-state travel plans ahead of time. But this is the first instance in which her office has shielded her whereabouts even after the fact, despite promising to include travel records in documents it releases upon request.”

— “Senate to take up revenge porn bill,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “The state Senate plans to take up a bill that would make it a crime to post sexually explicit images on the internet to harass or embarrass another person. The legislation, teed up for a vote in the Senate on Thursday, would create a new felony offense for people charged with distributing a sexually explicit image ‘for purposes of revenge or embarrassment,’ and give judges the authority to ensure explicit images are destroyed. Violators could face up to five years in prison and fines of $10,000.”

— “‘Drinks-to-go’ could become permanent, but liquor stores are pushing back,” by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe.

FROM THE HUB

— “Boston Mayor Wu says migrant crisis will impact city budget,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Mayor Michelle Wu, who may propose her budget to the City Council next month, did not get into specifics about how the crisis would impact spending in fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1. She did note, however, the extensive impact it is having on city services, and said staffing levels may need to increase to meet the unyielding need. … ‘On schools, we are registering and making sure that young people who are even in a temporary overflow shelter have access to education right away. So, we are providing our city services that way.’”

— “‘They are assets, they are not liabilities’: Haitian-American pastor’s leadership shines amid migrant crisis,” by Niki Griswold , The Boston Globe.

A message from the Service Employees International Union:

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

WARREN REPORTS FOR DUTY — President Joe Biden ’s campaign marshaled Sen. Elizabeth Warren to respond to former President Donald Trump ’s remarks on Fox that he’ll decide “pretty soon” whether to support a national abortion ban.

“Donald Trump is proud that he overturned Roe v. Wade … and if he regains power, he will go even further and try to ban abortion nationwide,” Warren, a member of the Biden campaign’s national advisory board, warned in a statement released by his campaign.

NO GO — Rob McLaughlin , the senior director of government affairs for the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, told Playbook he’s decided against running for the seat that state Sen. Walter Timilty III is leaving open to run for Norfolk Superior Court clerk. State Rep. Bill Driscoll Jr. filed paperwork last week to run for the seat, joining Randolph Democrat Kathleen Crogan-Camara .

CHARLIE ON THE NCAA

GRADING YEAR ONE — Former Gov. Charlie Baker would give himself an “incomplete” grade for his first year running the NCAA. “More often than not, especially if you’re involved in big organizations, there’s an arc to the work,” Baker said in an interview with Athletic Director U . He cited as an example the six-million-plus NCAA fan database that he wants to grow to 25 million in the next couple of years.

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FROM THE DELEGATION

— “Lawmaker overseeing nation’s defense dumps Boeing investments amid aircraft safety crisis,” by Dave Levinthal, Raw Story: “Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA), a member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, dumped up to $65,000 worth of investments in defense contractor Boeing at a time when the company faces federal scrutiny over its aircraft safety protocols and manufacturing quality. … A spokesperson for Keating told Raw Story that Keating uses a ‘third-party manager’ to execute his financial trades and 'first learned of the February sale as he was preparing his disclosure filing.’”

AUCHINCLOSS ON SCHUMER — Staunch Israel supporter Rep. Jake Auchincloss was asked on WCVB’s “On the Record” about comments from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer , the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., calling for elections in Israel.

“If I were a member of the Knesset in Israel, I would be breaking from the Netanyahu coalition and trying to force elections,” Auchincloss said. “I’m not. I’m a member of Congress. And the United States and the Israeli people share a bond of democracy and the core of democracy is that people decide for themselves when elections are necessary.”

— “Pressley calls for US to end deportations to Haiti,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News.

A message from the Service Employees International Union:

Massachusetts is facing a choice between two paths for the future of the gig economy:

Allow billion-dollar rideshare companies to pursue a deceptive, anti-worker ballot initiative that locks drivers into independent contractor status, depriving them of their basic rights and a meaningful voice on the job.
Empower our state’s 55,000 rideshare drivers with a voice through a union and give them the ability to bargain with rideshare companies to improve pay, safety, and working conditions.

Rideshare drivers have a roadmap for a better gig economy for Massachusetts, and it starts with legislative leadership convening all stakeholders to eliminate confusion on the ballot and reach a resolution. The Massachusetts legislature is at a critical crossroads. We urge them to choose a better path for drivers and consumers. Learn more here.

KENNEDY COMPOUND

MESSAGE RECEIVED — In case it wasn’t already clear that the bulk of the Kennedy clan isn’t supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ’s independent presidential bid, a St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House with President Joe Biden showed where many of the family members’ loyalties lie.

“President Biden, you make the world better. Happy St. Patrick’s Day,” Kerry Kennedy , RFK Jr.’s sister, posted on X Sunday evening, along with a photo of roughly 50 members of the Kennedy clan including former representative and Biden administration Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III .

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS — Former ambassador and past Sen. Scott Brown told NH Journal that he turned down RFK Jr.'s offer to be his running mate.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “A major cyberattack has caused a Pittsfield medical practice to run out of money. Staff are continuing to treat patients,” by Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle: “A cyberattack last month that crippled a clearinghouse for electronic health care insurance billing has left one city medical practice spending its last dime this week for lack of payments.”

Related — “Worcester health care industry feeling pain from cyberattack that paralyzed payment system,” by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette.

— “Milton special counsel steps down; MBTA alleged conflict,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “A high-powered attorney representing Milton in its legal fight against Attorney General Andrea Campbell over zoning withdrew from the case after just two days on the job when two state agencies alleged his involvement represented a conflict of interest.”

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