Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey and Wu's Roman not-holiday

Monday, April 22, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey and Wu's Roman not-holiday

WHEN IN ROME — Gov. Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu are jetting to Rome next month to speak at a climate summit that Pope Francis is presiding over at the Vatican.

Healey is set to discuss “Governing in the Age of Climate Change,” according to a press release, while Wu will talk about “Governance, Health and Energy.” Healey’s climate chief, Melissa Hoffer, is also scheduled to speak during the May 15-17 confab on climate resiliency and human health that’s being organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences under the leadership of UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco and renowned climate scientist Ram Ramanathan.

It’s Wu’s first trip abroad as mayor , and Healey’s third international excursion as governor (she briefly went to Canada along with her trade mission to Ireland last year).

The governor called it an “immense honor" to be invited to speak at the summit. She also said in her statement that she’s “deeply grateful” to the pontiff — who released a landmark encyclical in 2015 calling to combat climate change and has since added urgency to his advocacy — for bringing the international community together to address the issue.

Wu is also “thrilled,” she said in a statement, to be able to “share Boston’s progress on climate action and learn from other mayors and leaders taking needed action for our brightest future.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Gov. Maura Healey (right) are aligned in the fight against climate change. | Isabel Leon/Boston mayor's office courtesy photo

As with any international voyage by prominent politicians, there are optics to consider.

Healey and Wu stand to benefit politically from taking their climate advocacy to the world stage, and from doing so together — two politicians who don’t always see eye to eye on policy establishing a united front on an issue that’s central to both of their administrations. They’ll also likely learn new strategies and forge new connections that can bolster their efforts back home.

But such a trip also comes with costs — and not just to the taxpayers who are footing both Catholic Democrats' bills. Healey’s office said it expects her portion of the trip to be covered by the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund, which funnels money to the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership. Wu’s office said the city will cover the mayor’s hotel and airfare.

Neither provided a cost estimate. But Healey’s trade trip to Ireland last year cost roughly $84,000 for the governor and the staffers and administration officials who accompanied her abroad. Some of those expenses were covered through private funds . And it’s likely outside organizations could pick up at least some of the tab this time around.

But Healey and Wu are still racking up receipts at a time when the state is grappling with lackluster revenues, budget cuts and a hiring pause, and the city is facing its own fiscal headwinds. And while the costs of this climate junket will amount to little more than rounding errors in the state and city budgets, the sojourn is still likely to draw scrutiny from the media and from critics of both politicians.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The state’s fiscal strain also isn’t stopping Senate President Karen Spilka from trying to follow through on her pledge to make community college free for all.

Spilka will pitch the program that could cost an estimated $115 million to $365 million per year during her speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce later this morning, according to her office.

But the state’s fiscal fortunes have turned since Spilka started this push last budget cycle. Healey and House Democratic leaders both included $24 million for another year of Healey’s MassReconnect program — which makes community college free for those over age 25 who lack such degrees — in their budget proposals. But neither sought to broaden the program.

Spilka will also unveil details of the public-private partnership proposed in the Senate’s EARLY ED Act that would create more childcare seats by matching up to half of the cost of each new childcare seat that an employer creates — a program that will also be fully funded in the Senate’s budget. And she’ll throw her weight behind a Boston Celtics-backed bill that proposes prosecuting 18-to-20 year olds as juveniles instead of adults.

Senate President Karen Spilka is gearing up for a big workforce speech. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

TODAY — is Earth Day. Healey swears in Appellate Court Judge Gabrielle Wolohojian , her former partner, to the SJC at 10 a.m. and Mark Ames as Hampshire County register of probate at 11 a.m. in the Governor’s Ceremonial Office. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll chairs a STEM Advisory Council meeting at 9 a.m. in Westborough. Wu is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m. and speaks at an Earth Day celebration at 1:45 p.m. at City Hall Plaza. Spilka addresses the GBCOC at 9:45 a.m. in the Seaport.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley tout federal funding for BECMA at 10:30 a.m. in Nubian Square. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark celebrates federal funding at 1:30 p.m. in Woburn. Rep. Richard Neal meets with MassDOT’s West-East Rail director and hosts a media availability after at 3 p.m. at Springfield’s Union Station.

Tips? Scoops? Planning any international trips? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com .

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

SURVEY SAYS — Maura Healey is the 14th most popular governor in the country, according to new Morning Consult ratings out today. Her approval rating stands at 59 percent, while 28 percent disapprove of her job performance and 13 percent either don’t know or don’t have an opinion.

She’s outranked by three of her neighbors: Vermont Republican Phil Scott , who’s in first place with a whopping 81 percent approval rating; New Hampshire Republican Chris Sununu , who's in third place with 66 percent approval; and Connecticut Democrat Ned Lamont , whose 62 percent approval rating is good for ninth place in the rankings. (This is the survey former Gov. Charlie Baker used to lead.)

Meanwhile, Ed Markey is the 13th most popular senator in the country and Elizabeth Warren isn’t far behind at No. 18. Both have a 53 percent job-approval rating. But 36 percent disapprove of Warren’s job performance compared to 27 percent for Markey.

MONEY TALKS — Lawmakers are returning from school vacation week without a deal on the supplemental spending plan that would shovel more money toward the state’s emergency assistance program for migrant and homeless families.

Representatives are also gearing up for their budget debate that starts Wednesday. And Republicans are facing calls from former MassGOP leader Jim Lyons ’ new Massachusetts Freedom Fighters group to vote against it. Meanwhile, GOP state Sen. Peter Durant said on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” that Healey and House Democrats’ budget priorities are “a bit misplaced.”

— “Cyr confident about funding for new Sagamore Bridge, concerned about replacing Bourne Bridge,” by Ed Harding and Sharman Sacchetti, WCVB.

FROM THE HUB

THE RUNAROUND — City Councilor Ed Flynn 's latest gripe: the 26.TRUE marathon, held entirely within city limits the Saturday before the Boston Marathon and heralded by organizers as a more diverse and inclusive alternative to the historic race.

Flynn called the race “seriously unsafe” given that the route wound through an area of the city that had previously faced pedestrian safety issues. And he told the Boston Herald it went off without a permit from the city.

But a subsequent Boston Globe report found that wasn’t the case. Documents from the city showed “officials from several departments, including police and transportation, signed off on the event application, and 26.TRUE organizers obtained all necessary permits…” the paper wrote.

Flynn later posted the response he received from the city’s Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge when he first flagged his concerns. The city “informed me [a] permit was not required. Whether [South Boston] St Patrick's Day or any event- I will always address public safety issues,” he wrote on X .

— “The shadowy think tank fighting Boston City Hall,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon: “The Boston Policy Institute, launched in December by two 37-year-old Democratic insiders, says its goal is to shine a light on the city budgeting process, development policy, and other top issues. But the organization’s refusal to make public its sources of funding — coupled with the not altogether happy history one of its founders shares with Wu — has prompted whispers of grudge-settling and rumors of who could be behind an effort to bring fresh scrutiny of City Hall as Wu readies for a 2025 reelection campaign.”

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

Massachusetts' neighbors aren't amused by the idea of the state collecting tolls at its borders. | Elise Amendola/AP

TAKING A TOLL — Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt probably didn’t expect to start an interstate squabble when she delivered an “unfiltered” speech to an advocacy group at an under-the-radar event earlier this month. But Massachusetts’ neighbors aren’t reacting well to her idea of taking tolls at the state's borders.

“I’m going to talk about charging [transportation network companies] more. I’m going to talk about potentially charging more for package deliveries, charging more for payroll tax — basically going after everybody who has money. And when I’m talking tolling, I’m talking at the borders,” Tibbits-Nutt said in remarks first reported by CommonWealth Beacon .

NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS CLOG MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAYS FOR BETTER PAYING JOBS THAT FAILED NH LACKS!

MAYBE SUNUNU & AYOTTE SHOULD FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT!

“Looks like Massachusetts has found yet another way to unnecessarily take your money,” Sununu, the Granite State's GOP governor, told the Boston Herald . Former Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte , whose campaign to replace Sununu has leaned heavily on bashing the Bay State, also weighed in: “More tolls, raising excise taxes and going after hardworking pickup truck owners — Massachusetts in a nut shell!” she wrote on X .

Democratic Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee ’s administration also shot down the suggestion. “We haven’t heard all the details, but the governor is absolutely not in support of such toll fees being inflicted on Rhode Island passenger vehicles,” a spokesperson for the governor told WPRI’s Ted Nesi .

Criticism came from inside the state’s borders, too. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio , who lives in border-city Methuen, warned that such tolls could have “devastating” impacts on communities all along the state line.

DAY IN COURT

— “Massachusetts commits $1 billion to move thousands out of nursing homes in wake of lawsuit settlement ,” by Jason Laughlin, The Boston Globe.

— “Fight over admission to Boston’s exam schools heads to US Supreme Court,” by James Vaznis, The Boston Globe.

— “Judge finds 'equity theft' law unconstitutional, pressuring Massachusetts lawmakers to act,” by Karen Anderson and Gail Waterhouse, WCVB.

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FROM THE DELEGATION

AIDING ISRAEL — Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Jim McGovern were the only two of the state’s nine-member U.S. House delegation to vote against legislation that would provide $26.3 billion in assistance to Israel and against a bill that would attempt to force the sale of TikTok . All nine voted in favor of more aid for Ukraine and for the Indo-Pacific.

House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark argued on the House floor that while the bills “are not perfect,” they “are a critical step forward.”

But Pressley called it “unconscionable that Congress would consider sending more offensive weapons and funding to the Israeli military” in a statement .

And McGovern said in a statement that while "I strongly support the humanitarian aid component of this bill, I cannot support providing more unconditional offensive military assistance.”

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING

— “Boston police failed to arrest 'serial rapist' for years despite DNA evidence,” by Walter Wuthmann, WBUR: “A DNA test identified the suspect as Alvin Campbell Jr., a burly 43-year-old with a long criminal history and a prominent relative. Campbell is the brother of Andrea Campbell, then a Boston city councilor and now the state’s attorney general. Despite the DNA evidence, Alvin Campbell was never arrested or charged in connection with the encounter. And police never alerted the public. Over the next two years, a WBUR investigation found three more women shared similar stories with police about a man who assaulted them after offering them rides at Boston bars. In each case, DNA and other evidence pointed to Alvin Campbell, according to an application for a search warrant obtained by WBUR. And each time, authorities decided not to detain him or seek criminal charges.”

— “Public records review: Ex-DA Rachael Rollins spent lavishly on food using taxpayer-paid credit card,” by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald.

— “‘If I go back there, I’m a dead man’: Fleeing Haitians pin their hopes on the asylum process,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

SPOTTED — Sen. Amy Klobuchar campaigning for President Joe Biden in New Hampshire on Saturday. The Minnesotan finished third in the state’s 2020 Democratic presidential primary; Biden finished fifth.

— “Top Biden official's wife could face scrutiny over residency if she jumps into [NH-02] race,” by Aubrie Spady and Andrew Murray, Fox News.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Drew O’Brien, Yasmina Vinci and Evan Dobelle.

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