Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Migrant funding’s a marathon, not a sprint

Monday, April 15, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Migrant funding’s a marathon, not a sprint

RACING FOR SHELTER FUNDS — Nearly $7 million in long-awaited federal aid for sheltering migrants will soon be flowing Massachusetts’ way.

And yet, the much-needed money will hardly make a dent in the state’s soaring shelter costs.

The state got a $6.99 million cut of the first $300 million being distributed through the Shelter and Services Program — a FEMA-run program that helps states, municipalities and nonprofits aiding migrants — since President Joe Biden signed off on long overdue federal appropriations bills. It’s a sizable increase from the $2 million the state got last year and a win for both Gov. Maura Healey and federal delegation members who had lobbied for the funding and for it to be released quickly .

The Healey administration didn’t get into specifics on Sunday about how they’ll use the money. Healey spokesperson Karissa Hand said in a statement to Playbook that the funding will “help provide shelter services to families experiencing homelessness.”

But the governor’s team was clear that Massachusetts needs "significantly" more money — and that future funding needs to be "distributed equitably, including to interior states,” Hand said. “This is a federal problem, and Congress needs to act to finally start fixing our broken immigration system.”

The state has until the end of the month to submit the paperwork to secure this round of funding, and until mid-June to apply for a slice of the rest of the $341 million in SSP funding being made available through the end of the federal fiscal year in September.

The money can't come soon enough . Massachusetts is poised to run out of funding for its emergency shelter program any day now. (One prominent state lawmaker pegged that day as today , though the Healey administration has declined to publicly say anything other than “mid-April.” House Speaker Ron Mariano said on WCVB’s “On the Record” over the weekend that “we never got a date from the governor as to when it’s going to run out.”)

Meanwhile, legislative negotiators have yet to strike a deal on a supplemental budget that’s set to include at least the $224 million the state needs to keep the program running through the end of June and potentially cover some of the nearly $1 billion tab the system is expected to run up over the next fiscal year. (Healey’s finance secretary told Playbook last week he’s not too stressed about it because the administration has other buckets of funding to pull from if lawmakers drag things out.)

So while it seems like $7 million won’t do much — the shelter system costs the state $75 million a month — this is a situation where every dollar counts. Plus, it’ll help restore some faith in the feds from Massachusetts officials who’d all but given up on getting any more migrant aid from Washington.

“The problem was created in Washington. They have to fix it,” Mariano said on WCVB — though he also acknowledged the uncertainty that comes with the presidential election year. “We don’t know who’s going to win,” he said. “We don’t know how they’re going to deal with this problem.”

Also uncertain for Mariano: how much longer the state can keep its emergency assistance program going. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next year, if we get a bill that’s going to be close to a billion [dollars],” Mariano said. “It may [continue]. It may not. I think a lot of it is going to depend on what controls we can make work for this program.”

GOOD MARATHON MONDAY, MASSACHUSETTS . A giant good luck to everyone running today, including Playbookers Joe Rull of Shawmut Strategies Group, who’s running for the Why Not Devin Foundation; Healey administration Labor and Workforce Development Chief of Staff Kate Kelly and COO Paul Franzese; and MassDOT’s Doug Johnson, Paula Fallon, Erica Baker, Patrick Yuk-Leung Yum and Nicole Eldridge.

TODAY — Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu lay wreaths at memorial sites on Boylston Street at 8 a.m. and head to the finish line later in the morning. Wu speaks at the Patriots Day parade at 9 a.m. at City Hall Plaza.

Tips? Scoops? Marathon pics? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com .

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

HOSPITAL BILL PENDING — House Speaker Ron Mariano says state lawmakers are looking to “make changes to take control” of situations like the Steward Health Care crisis, which he said “smacks of a ponzi scheme of the highest order.”. Mariano told WCVB that lawmakers are mulling how to “take the flexibility away from not just capital [management] companies, but hospitals even to sell the land from underneath them.”

Asked if for-profit companies belong in health care, Mariano took a long pause. “Some do, some don’t,” he finally said. “I do think the Steward situation is unique.”

But Mariano made clear he’s not handing over his gavel until he’s passed more health care regulations, including rules around how hospitals can expand. “I think this opportunity with Steward to change our health care system, I really am interested in trying to do. The relocation of service points in the state needs to be done. We need a census of beds to make sure we have enough beds in different areas of the commonwealth,” Mariano said. He also said he wants to “fix” problems with the 2012 legislation that created the state’s Health Policy Commission.

MORE — “'Increasingly urgent': Mass. ratchets up preparation for possible Steward closures,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, WBUR: “[This] week, the administration will kick off a series of regional meetings with hospitals and community health centers in areas where Steward operates to discuss how to help patients in the event Steward cuts back on care or closes facilities.”

AND MORE — “As Steward’s financial woes mount, patients wait nervously for answers,” by Will Katcher and John L. Micek, MassLive.

— “Gov. Healey eyeing changes to State Police promotion process as agency faces lawsuits,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Gov. Maura Healey and top House Democrats are backing an effort this year to rework the promotional exam process for noncommissioned officers, lieutenants, and captains in the state police as the agency faces multiple lawsuits alleging the procedure is discriminatory."

— “Anti-gender transition demonstration at Massachusetts State House gets counter-protest,” by Flint McColgan and Stuart Cahill, Boston Herald: “The event appeared to be part of a demonstration at state houses in all 50 states called ‘Call to the Capitols’ organized by a group called ‘Don’t Mess With Our Kids.’ … In response, the Boston chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, which was at least one group composing the anti-demonstrators, called followers to action on its Instagram page with the message ‘Support Trans Kids.’”

FROM THE HUB

— “Boston's Chamber of Commerce CEO says raising taxes for businesses will hurt city,” by Jon Keller, WBZ: “Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's plan to address potential city revenue shortfalls by raising the commercial property tax rate was panned by Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Rooney in an interview with WBZ. ‘It's the golden goose,’ said Rooney of the city's commercial property tax, which provides a large percentage of the city's annual revenue.”

— “Mayor Wu disappoints development industry by shelving tax break talks,” by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

ESCALATING TENSIONS — Iran’s weekend drone strikes on Israel are exacerbating fissures within the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation over how the United States should be responding to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark laid out the party line in a post on X , calling on Republicans who control the lower chamber to “immediately” pass a stalled Senate foreign aid bill that includes $95 billion for Israel, Ukraine and other U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific.

Reps. Richard Neal, Lori Trahan, Seth Moulton and Jake Auchincloss , the delegation’s staunchest support of Israel, were also among those adding to the bipartisan pressure on Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to quickly advance the bill. Johnson said the House would take up Israel aid this week .

Democrats’ renewed rallying behind Israel comes as many in the party — including members of the delegation — have been upping their criticism of the country’s prolonged and increasingly deadly incursion into Gaza. Moulton, for instance, paired his call for aid with a warning that “it is critical that [Israel] remains focused on finishing its operations in Gaza and achieving a ceasefire-for-hostages deal — not on starting a new war while still having no endgame for their first.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren — who has grown increasingly critical of Benjamin Netanyahu ’s administration and has gone so far as to say she believes Israel’s military campaign in Gaza could legally constitute genocide — posted on X that the “U.S. supports the Israeli people during this difficult moment and Israel’s right to defend itself against this dangerous aggression.” But, she added, “We need an urgent deescalation and a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent a wider regional conflict.”

Rep. Ayanna Pressley , who has spent months calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, posted on X : “I condemn Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel. This escalation is dangerous. The US and the world should be focused on saving lives in the region, securing a ceasefire, releasing the hostages, and surging humanitarian aid to Gaza.”

MORE FROM OUR TEAM — “US to Israel: Don’t do something you’ll regret,” by Nahal Toosi and Alexander Ward, POLITICO.

CONGRESS INSIDER: Congress has always been the cornerstone of POLITICO’s Washington coverage, and now we’re doubling down to ensure you have a complete picture of everything happening under the Capitol Dome, 24/7. Begin your day with Playbook AM , recharge at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report, and empower your evening convos with Huddle . Also, stay continuously updated with buzzy, real-time updates throughout the day via our new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here .

WARREN REPORT

CALL ON ME — Warren is hitting the road for Joe Biden 's campaign. The state's senior senator visited Michigan on Friday to encourage voters in the battleground state to reelect the president to protect reproductive rights. She's becoming a go-to surrogate for the campaign on the issue .

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING

— “Black-led running group files discrimination lawsuit against BAA, Newton,” by Haley Lerner, GBH News: “Following a racially fraught incident at the 2023 Boston Marathon, a Black-led running crew on Thursday filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Boston Athletic Association and the city of Newton.”

— “Cambridge bike lane construction deadline could be delayed by 18 months to protect businesses,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “Some city councilors are looking to tap the brakes on construction of 25 miles of separated bike lanes across Cambridge by 2026 in order to fully understand whether businesses will thrive or falter.”

— “A promised bridge over the Mystic River would be a missing link for Somerville and Everett. So where is it?” by Spencer Buell, The Boston Globe.

— “Philly Transit Agency Drops CRRC As Future Railcar Work Dwindles,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass. Politics and Insight.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

GRANITE STATE OF PLAY — Democrats now have a race to replace Rep. Annie Kuster in NH-02. State Sen. Becky Whitley launched her campaign over the weekend. She’s vying against Kuster-endorsed Colin Van Ostern. More from WMUR and The Boston Globe .

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Newsha Ghaeli of Biobot, Asher MacDonald and Andrés Garcia . Happy belated to Courtney Lewis , who celebrated Saturday, and to Tom Werner , who celebrated Friday.

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