Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey tries to put out a transportation fire

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey tries to put out a transportation fire

A SIGHT TO BEHOLD WHEN REPUBLICANS GET THEIR

PANTIES IN A WAD!

PUMPING THE BRAKES — It’s not often that a governor has to publicly denounce one of her Cabinet members.

But Maura Healey delivered a forceful rebuke of Monica Tibbits-Nutt on Monday, after the transportation secretary's suggestion that the state could take tolls at its borders inflamed regional tensions and sparked backlash from across the political spectrum.

The secretary’s comments “do not represent the views of this administration,” Healey said in a sternly worded statement. “To be clear,” she added, “I am not proposing tolls at any border.”

Healey said she conveyed as much to Tibbits-Nutt and she retains “confidence” in the leadership of her second transportation secretary.

Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt doesn't always speak for the Healey administration. | Joshua Qualls/Governor's press office courtesy photo

It was an about-face from last week, when a MassDOT spokesperson told the CommonWealth Beacon — which first reported the remarks Tibbits-Nutt made during a Walk Massachusetts event — that a transportation funding task force was reviewing possible revenue sources such as “tolling at all Massachusetts borders.”

But it did little to quell the furor — in part because it’s not just tolls that have people in a tizzy.

In a flurry of statements throughout the afternoon, Republican lawmakers and conservative groups raised alarms about Tibbits-Nutt also saying she would “basically [go] after everybody who has money.”

The state Senate’s GOP caucus issued a joint statement warning that Tibbits-Nutt’s approach “has the very real potential to inflict serious damage to our competitiveness.” Even after Healey tried to walk back her secretary’s remarks, the four Republicans said they “take the threats posed by her comments seriously.”

Some of their House counterparts piled on . The MassGOP slammed the secretary’s speech as “an abhorrent display of bad policy.” The conservative Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance called for Healey to fire Tibbits-Nutt just five months after the governor appointed her as Gina Fiandaca’s permanent replacement.

To the north, the transportation conflagration provided even more kindling for those running against Healey-backed Democrat Joyce Craig to be New Hampshire’s next governor.

Former GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte didn’t miss the opportunity to dunk on Healey for another day — posting a picture of her husband’s truck in a taunting response to Tibbits-Nutt disparaging pickup-truck drivers and calling to hike excise taxes on them.

Even Democrat Cinde Warmington trashed the border tolls as “one of the worst ideas I’ve heard in a long time.” And the executive councilor didn’t stop there, blasting what she called an “outrageous plan to squeeze more money out of hardworking families.”

Tibbits-Nutt may have found some backup in Bay State Senate President Karen Spilka, who said that Metro West motorists have spent years paying tolls without fully reaping the benefits of the projects they’re funding.

“I've said this publicly — if tolls are such a great idea for the Turnpike, we should look at them for funding for other areas of the state,” Spilka told reporters at an unrelated event.

But even though Tibbits-Nutt said in her talk that Healey “likes fights,” it’s clear this is one the governor is walking away from.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Send your tips, scoops and private conversations to kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com.

TODAY — Healey is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll has no public events. Attorney General Andrea Campbell opens the National Cyber Crime Conference at 8:15 a.m. in Norwood and speaks at the 2024 Victim Rights Month Awards Ceremony at 1 p.m. at the State House. Rep. Jake Auchincloss keynotes a New England Council event at 1 p.m. at the Seaport Hotel.

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YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

JOHN DEATON VOTED 3 TIMES IN 20 YEARS NO TIES TO MASSACHUSETTS - CARPETBAGGER

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — A super PAC is forming to boost Republican John Deaton against Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren .

Commonwealth Unity Fund is launching “because extreme politicians like Elizabeth Warren have made Washington a dysfunctional mess,” Brittany Yanick , a spokesperson for the PAC, said in a statement to Playbook. “John Deaton is a Marine, a political outsider, and a tireless voice for the voiceless. He's the Senator Massachusetts needs to break the partisan gridlock in [D.C.] and bring us together.”

Beyond Yanick’s involvement, it’s not immediately clear who’s behind the PAC. The group filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission earlier this month that only lists David Satterfield , a senior associate at Virginia-based compliance firm Huckaby Davis Lisker, as treasurer. And its apparent website has no other identifying information.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

CLIMATE BILL INCOMING — Add comprehensive climate legislation to the Senate’s to-do list. In addition to unveiling the Senate’s top budget priorities (fully funding free community college and creating more child care seats), Senate President Karen Spilka said her chamber plans to address the climate crisis “in earnest” by moving a “comprehensive” climate bill before session ends. Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem and state Sen. Michael Barrett , co-chair of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, are taking the lead on crafting the legislation.

NO SUPP IN SIGHT — With the state set to run out of money to cover emergency shelter costs any day, it’s still unclear when lawmakers will emerge from their closed-door negotiations with a deal to keep the funding flowing — one that will almost certainly include some level of restrictions on how long people can stay in the beleaguered shelter system.

“We are literally in communication constantly, all weekend. It's going well. We're having good conversations,” Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues said of the members of the conference committee tasked with negotiating the bill. But he didn’t offer more details about what might be holding things up, or when a deal might emerge.

— “Bill takes aim at retail energy suppliers,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “The state Senate is poised to take up a proposal to ban retail energy suppliers, but supporters of the burgeoning industry say the move will deprive consumers of choice and allow the state's major utilities to create monopolies."

MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “Some migrants flown by DeSantis to Martha’s Vineyard qualify for victim visas, feds say,” by Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald: “Some of the 49 migrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard by the state of Florida are now able to legally work in the United States and have temporary protections from deportation — because they are considered victims of a potential crime, their attorney says. The migrants are eligible for these protections because they applied for a special kind of visa meant for crime victims who are helping law enforcement.” More from GBH’s Sarah Betancourt .

— “Feds approve Mass. request to use Medicaid funds for shelter crisis,” by Hadley Barndollar, MassLive: “The approval will inject $190 million this year and a total of $647.5 million through 2027 into a system with quickly waning funding.”

FROM THE HUB

NOT AGREEING TO DISAGREE — Days after members of a city commission tasked with overseeing historic preservation in Boston sent a letter accusing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’s administration of “disregard” for their procedures, the leader of the 16-member volunteer panel was fired, The Dorchester Reporter reported . Rosanne Foley led the Boston Landmarks Commission since 2015, according to the Reporter, but was dismissed from the role earlier this month, after she and the other members voiced issues with city projects including Wu’s hotly debated plan to renovate White Stadium.

— “Mayor Michelle Wu has clinched some wins with Boston unions, but with bumps along the way,” by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: “More than halfway through Wu’s first term as mayor, her administration has negotiated contracts with all but three of the unions, and — she says — won some major victories along the way. Twenty-two have active contracts. Another 19 unions negotiated contracts with her administration that expired during the second half of 2023. Only three unions whose contracts were expired when Wu took office have never successfully negotiated a new contract with her administration, according to city officials.”

— “Wu spoke with police leaders after report on alleged serial rapist,” by Roberto Scalese, Tiziana Dearing and Amanda Beland, WBUR: “Mayor Michelle Wu said she has spoken with Boston police leadership following a new WBUR investigation about a suspected serial rapist [Alvin Campbell, AG Andrea Campbell’s brother] who evaded arrest for years despite DNA evidence in some cases”

excerpt:

Pressed on whether the police should have done more sooner, Wu instead said there is "tension" between being transparent and a state law that keeps reports of sexual assault out of the public record.

Wu said the law is intended to protect the victims of sexual assault, but that sometimes can prevent the public from being informed. Critics have said that law, written in an attempt to protect victims of rape and sexual assault, has instead served to obscure sex crimes and even shield perpetrators, making it harder to protect future victims.

— “Climate activists block traffic on Moakley Bridge during Earth Day demonstration,” by Lila Hempel-Edgers and Nick Stoico, The Boston Globe.

— “Felix G. Arroyo sexual harassment case returns to court ahead of May trial,” by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

A sign outside Harvard Yard warns that only those with Harvard IDs can enter. | Steve LeBlanc/AP

— “Harvard Yard closed until Friday in anticipation of pro-Palestine protests,” by Michelle N. Amponsah and Joyce E. Kim, The Harvard Crimson.

MORE — “Harvard suspends pro-Palestinian student group,” by Hilary Burns, The Boston Globe: “The group, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, set off a series of cascading crises for the university when it posted a controversial statement on Oct. 7 that many around the world read as justifying the Hamas-led attack on Israel that left more than 1,200 dead and about 250 others kidnapped.”

AND MORE — "Fetterman backs call for Romney to be Harvard’s next president," by Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill: "[Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.)] is citing concerns in recent months about the elite school’s response to antisemitism on its campus."

— “Patriots owner Robert Kraft pulls support for Columbia amid ‘virulent hate’ on campus,” by Kelly Garrity, POLITICO.

— “Emerson, MIT, Tufts students camp out in solidarity with Columbia pro-Palestinian protest,” by Daniel Kool, Maddie Khaw and Hilary Burns, The Boston Globe.

BALLOT BATTLES

STRIKE THREE — There’s officially no appetite among Beacon Hill’s Big Three for nixing the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement — at least not without a plan in place to replace the test.

“I cannot support totally getting rid of MCAS as a requirement without some reasonable alternative,” Spilka said during a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event Monday.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association , which is backing the ballot question, argues that districts could use existing state standards to measure student achievement. But the Big Three don’t seem to be buying it.

TEAMING UP — Teamsters Local 25 have thrown support behind a pair of ballot questions that would let app-based drivers organize and classify them as employees. The Legislature has until the first Wednesday in May to act on initiative petitions or let them keep proceeding toward the November ballot.

FROM THE DELEGATION

— “Rep. Neal looks back on $95B Ukraine foreign aid package, ahead to more GOP rancor,” by Jim Kinney, The Springfield Republican: “U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal is feeling gratified that a $95 billion foreign aid package ... passed in the House over the weekend. But he fears the Republican Party will make it hard, if not impossible, to pass any more major legislation between now and the November election.”

SIGN THEM UP — Warren and Reps. Stephen Lynch, Ayanna Pressley, Jake Auchincloss, Lori Trahan, Bill Keating, Jim McGovern and Seth Moulton signed onto a letter demanding President Joe Biden provide insurance coverage for in-vitro fertilization to all federal employees, our colleagues report .

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FROM THE 413

— “Springfield school superintendent search stagnates; member calls for it to be scrapped, restarted,” by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: “The School Committee has advertised nationally to replace Daniel Warwick, who announced in January that he would retire after 12 years at the helm of the schools. Since the start, the process has been contentious, with members disagreeing on how to conduct the search and some saying it has been forced and rushed.”

— “Jonathan Sylbert resigns as Sandisfield town manager with one day's notice,” by Jane Kaufman, The Berkshire Eagle: “Jonathan Sylbert has resigned from his post as town manager. Sylbert’s one-line resignation email reads as follows: 'Steve, I’ve had enough from you. I am resigning as Town Manager effective Monday at noon. Jon.'”

— “Rep. Neal, MassDOT reaffirm commitment to West/East rail,” by Devin Bates, Spectrum News.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

SPOTTED — An aviator-wearing Sen. Ed Markey hanging with Green New Deal co-author Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and President Joe Biden for Earth Day .

SPOTTED at the Bruins game — former Biden climate envoy John Kerry and his daughter, Vanessa .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — state Rep. Brian Ashe, 90 West founder and CEO Alex Goldstein, Taylor Pederson, Terrence Clark, Kerry Talbot, former GOP gubernatorial nominee Geoff Diehl and former Massport Police Chief Joe Lawless.

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