Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey pauses some hiring

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey pauses some hiring

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MORE FISCAL WARNING SIGNS — Gov. Maura Healey is pausing hiring in portions of the executive branch through the end of the fiscal year in June, in yet another sign of the state’s worsening financial straits.

Healey’s administration insists the move is not a full hiring freeze. Certain positions, including those in public safety and direct care, are exempt. The state will also continue with seasonal hiring, filling positions as mandated by court orders or settlements, returns from leave and any employment offers made before today.

But all other new hiring will need approval from Administration and Finance and will be evaluated based on the importance of the position and time sensitivity, according to a spokesperson for the state’s budget office.

The “hiring controls” are “one tool at our disposal to responsibly manage spending over the next three months,” A&F Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz said in a statement. “These hiring controls, while temporary, will help ensure that the administration can balance the budget at the end of the year and preserve critical funding for core programs and services.”

Administration officials declined to answer questions Tuesday about how many jobs would be affected, what departments the new restrictions would apply to and how much money the state intends to save by tightening hiring. But the A&F spokesperson said there would be “some additional new hiring over the next three months” and that the administration is not considering more budget cuts “at this time.”

Gov. Maura Healey and her chief budget writer, Matthew Gorzkowicz, are temporarily changing the state's hiring processes. | Joshua Qualls/Governor's press office courtesy photo

Healey’s hiring moves, first reported by The Boston Globe , come after tax revenues fell short of projections for eight months straight, and as the administration prepares to release its March revenue report today. The state pulled in $2.2 billion in tax revenue in the first half of the month, according to the mid-March revenue report — 2.7 percent more than the collections during the same time period last year.

But the streak of revenue shortfalls — the longest in decades — has already led the administration to downgrade the amount of tax revenue expected this fiscal year by $1 billion, trim $375 million from the current budget and base the state’s next annual spending plan on little-to-no revenue growth. And the fourth quarter of the fiscal year carries “significant risk to our budgeted revenues,” the A&F spokesperson said.

Healey’s latest attempt at belt-tightening adds to the growing list of fiscal concerns hanging over the upcoming House and Senate budget proposals. Neither House Speaker Ron Mariano nor Senate President Karen Spilka responded to requests for comment Tuesday night.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Is your department being affected by Healey's new hiring rules? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com .

TODAY — Healey makes announcements on the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative in West Barnstable at 10 a.m. and the Innovation Career Pathways program at noon in Carver. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at a higher ed and student housing summit at 9 a.m. in Boston and at the Massachusetts Agricultural Day at 11:15 a.m. at the State House. Driscoll also chairs the Governor’s Council hearing on Healey’s proposed cannabis pardons at noon and a Governor’s Council meeting at 2:30 p.m., both at the State House.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on “Java with Jimmy” at 9:30 a.m. and announces SPACE Grant program awards at 10:30 a.m. in Roxbury. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts a casework clinic at Marlborough Senior Center at 10 a.m. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren participate in Markey’s field hearing on for-profit companies in health care at 11 a.m. at the State House.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

HOUSING HEARING HESITATION — A Monday night email blast from bonding committee co-chair state Sen. Ed Kennedy scared off some housing advocates who had planned to testify at the second hearing on Gov. Maura Healey ’s housing bond bill on Tuesday.

“I am writing to advise you that since you previously testified on January 3rd, 2024 before the Joint Committee on Housing regarding [the Affordable Homes Act]. IT IS UNNECESSARY TO REPEAT YOUR TESTIMONY before the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets tomorrow, April 2nd,” reads the email from Kennedy that was obtained by Playbook.

Some housing advocates interpreted the missive as a warning to stay away . “Regardless of the exact wording of the chair’s email, the message received was that the committee did not care to hear our public opinion on the most important bill before the Legislature, and nobody wants to ignore that message for fear of angering people who have power over whether our priorities are included in the bill,” said one advocate who was granted anonymity to speak freely.

But Kennedy disputed the notion that his note was nefarious. “We weren't trying to curtail testimony at all. We just didn't want a repeat of testimony,” Kennedy told Playbook. “When this was before the Joint Committee on Housing, I guess the hearing went on for 12 hours, so people that gave testimony on that day didn’t really need to repeat it.”

Kennedy also pointed to differences in the matters each committee deals with. Tuesday’s hearing before the bonding committee had “more to do with financial aspects of the bill, rather than policy issues.” Plus, he said, if people really wanted to testify twice, they could. Among those who did testify : Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll , Housing Secretary Ed Augustus and Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz .

A rendering of the proposed soccer stadium in Everett. | The Kraft Group

CLOSER TO THE GOAL — Lawmakers weighing the fate of a bill that would open the door to the development of a new soccer stadium in Everett seemed inclined to support the proposal (or an amended version of it) after hearing hours of testimony Tuesday.

State Sen. Barry Finegold , who co-chairs the economic development committee, told reporters that advocates made “a strong case” to move the bill forward. And his House co-chair, state Rep. Jerry Parisella , acknowledged supporters offer “some compelling arguments about what would happen to this site otherwise if we don’t allow a stadium to be built.”

The bill doesn’t automatically green-light a proposal from the Kraft Group to build a sprawling new home for the New England Revolution. But it would allow the 43-acre Mystic River power plant site to shed a designation that limits what can be built there.

Some officials from Boston reiterated concerns about how the project would impact neighboring communities, and an attorney from the Conservation Law Foundation cautioned that the bill could constitute “spot zoning.” But, underlying supporters’ arguments was the idea that few, besides Kraft and co., would be willing to shell out to clean up the blighted site. Dive deeper with CommonWealth Beacon’s Gintautas Dumcius .

HEARING THEM OUT — Sen. Ed Markey ’s field hearing on how for-profit forces impact access to health care will go on today without Steward Health Care’s Ralph de la Torre . The embattled chief executive declined Markey’s invitation to testify, prompting scorn from the senator, who called de la Torre’s refusal both “no surprise” and a “clear reflection for how Steward has failed to show up for the communities they promised to serve.” Markey kicks off the hearing, which Sen. Elizabeth Warren is also slated to attend, at 11 a.m. in the State House’s Gardner Auditorium.

Access New York bill updates and Congressional activity in areas that matter to you, and use our exclusive insights to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more .

FROM THE HUB

— “Mayor Wu signs ordinance creating first city-run planning department in 70 years,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: “Mayor Michelle Wu signed off on an ordinance Wednesday reinstating a planning department run by the city for the first time in 70 years during a ceremony in the West End on Tuesday, a big step for her plans to reshape development in the city. … The ordinance, which was filed by the mayor in January and passed by the City Council last Wednesday, would create a Planning Department, operational as of July 1.”

— “Two more Boston office buildings to be converted into housing,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “The Boston Planning and Development Agency has received two more applications for a tax break to convert an office building into housing, this time in the South End and Bulfinch Triangle. The latest submissions, both from Boston developer Greg McCarthy, bring the total received through the program to six. Combined, all of the projects would create 216 housing units. The deadline for applications is in June.”

— “Boston city councilors press for action after BPS leaves varsity baseball team without transportation,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Two Boston city councilors are planning to demand a hearing with public school officials after an “unacceptable” situation involving a varsity baseball team that was left stranded without district transportation to its first game of the season.”

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FROM THE DELEGATION

ALL SYSTEMS GO — Rep. Ayanna Pressley is formally kicking off her reelection bid today with a two-plus-minute “Love Letter to the MA-07” video and a campaign rally on Thursday evening.

And, in a sign she’s not sweating potential resistance from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee or a possible challenger funded by its powerful PAC, the video includes footage of her calling for a “cease-fire now” in Gaza. “Our movement is strong,” Pressley says in the video. “And our work continues.”

— “As Pressley launches reelection campaign, she finds herself in a party that has moved closer to her progressive vision,” by Lissandra Villa de Petrzelka, The Boston Globe.

— “Rep. Richard Neal awaits details on aid to Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal reiterated Tuesday his support for a negotiated, bilateral cease-fire in Gaza, adding he is awaiting details of an aid package that would provide funds not just for Israel but for Taiwan and Ukraine also.”

— “Lori Trahan delivers more funding to 3rd District projects,” by Melanie Gilbert, The Lowell Sun: “The congresswoman visited the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell to announce nearly $1.2 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to the independent state agency.”

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WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING

IN MEMORIAM — “Larry Lucchino, Red Sox president when team won three world championships, dies at 78,” by John Powers, The Boston Globe.

— “New Bedford mayor’s take on offshore wind bids,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon.

— “Looming staffing cuts vex Northampton school board, students,” by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

— “Meet the three candidates running for two Lenox Select Board seats,” by Clarence Fanto, The Berkshire Eagle.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— “Top Biden aide considering moving back to New Hampshire to run for Congress. The race could attract international attention,” by James Pindell, The Boston Globe: “Representative Ann Kuster’s surprise announcement that she would retire at the end of her term immediately attracted several candidates vying to replace the New Hampshire Democrat, but none have the political pedigree of Maggie Goodlander.”

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HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Alex Powell of Gov. Maura Healey’s office; Ed Cash, founder and president of Frontier Security Strategies; UMass Journalism’s Karen List, Niall Murphy, Juan Jaramillo, Greg Honan, Mark Lannigan and Molly Thomas . Happy belated to MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale , who celebrated Tuesday.

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