 | BY KELLY GARRITY AND LISA KASHINSKY | WE HAVE A DEAL — House and Senate negotiators struck an accord Wednesday on a supplemental spending bill that would pour up to $426 million into the state's emergency shelter system and limit how long many migrant and homeless families can stay in it to nine months. At first blush, the compromise agreement appears to hew most closely to how the House wants to handle the shelter system's strain on the state's resources. Lawmakers would let the Healey administration take $251 million from a transitional escrow account to help fund the shelter system through the end of June. Another $175 million would be available in the next fiscal year that starts July 1, taking a provision the House was pushing in its fiscal year 2025 budget and applying it to the smaller spending plan (that language will now be removed from the House budget). After reaching nine months in the shelter system, people would be eligible to apply for up to two 90-day extensions, so long as they’re employed or enrolled in an authorized training program. Exceptions would also be made for veterans, women who are pregnant or who recently gave birth, people with certain medical conditions or disabilities and their caretakers and those who could face harm from domestic violence. Gov. Maura Healey’s housing secretary would also have the power to decide whether families can stay even longer through the “hardship waiver” lawmakers are seeking to establish and for which the administration would decide the criteria. “We wanted to give the administration a little bit of flexibility on certain folks that were in there that may need a little extra time for certain reasons,” House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz told reporters at the State House. But, he added, “This is supposed to be a transitional program.” Even though senators had wanted to give Healey access to more money — and meter the drawdown through the next fiscal year — Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues said in a statement that the compromise agreement strikes “an appropriate balance” and establishes a “fiscal glide path."
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House and Senate negotiators have struck a deal to provide more funding for the state's emergency shelter system and limit how long many people can stay in it. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO | One of the biggest surprises of the supplemental spending accord has nothing to do with emergency shelter. The deal makes permanent to-go alcohol sales — but only for cocktails. That’s a big compromise for the Senate: Rodrigues was vocally opposed to reauthorizing the pandemic-era provision that lawmakers let lapse. Expanded outdoor dining would also be made permanent under the agreement the House plans to take up today as representatives wade through Day 2 of their budget deliberations. The chamber made it through dozens of amendments in marathon nine-plus hour session on Wednesday. And lawmakers return at 11 a.m. to start in on amendments covering public safety and the judiciary. After months of faltering revenues that have only briefly reversed course, Michlewitz acknowledged “the past budget cycle has been one of our more challenging ones we have seen in recent years” during his opening remarks on Wednesday. But he offered a reminder that it’s not all bad news — the state still has a healthy bond rating, plus plenty of cash stashed away in its rainy day fund. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. We'll keep tabs on the budget debate so you don't have to. TODAY — Healey and Rep. Lori Trahan attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Electric Hydrogen’s new facility at 11 a.m. in Devens. Healey visits Triton Anchor in Chelmsford at 12:45 p.m., keynotes a conversation on gender and politics at Harvard at 4 p.m. and speaks at the New England Women in Energy and Environment Gala at 7 p.m. at the Westin Copley Place. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a coffee hour in Roslindale at 9:30 a.m. and celebrates the renovation of the BCYF Mattahunt Community Center at 11 a.m. Rep. Stephen Lynch celebrates federal funding at UMass Boston at 10 a.m. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com.
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| — “Milton asking state to restore its grant funding,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “The Milton Select Board voted 3-2 Tuesday night to send letters to Gov. Maura Healey and other officials asking them to reverse course and restore state grants that were cut off because of the municipality’s noncompliance. At least one seawall grant for $140,800 was pulled back by the state and the town has also been denied access to MassWorks and HousingWorks grants and is expected to have a tougher time winning an assortment of other state funds.” — “State officials are bracing for Steward Health Care to possibly file for bankruptcy and change top management,” by Robert Weisman, The Boston Globe: “Massachusetts officials are bracing for a potential bankruptcy filing by Steward Health Care as the cash-strapped hospital system nears a deadline to repay a consortium of lenders. Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh said Wednesday that she is going ‘to bankruptcy school’ with outside experts to prepare for what could be a major turn in the long-running struggle of the for-profit chain — one that could lead to new ownership and leadership for its eight hospitals in Massachusetts.” — “'Flexibility is important': Employment status issue in rideshare ballot question with millions in state taxes on line,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette.
| | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS |
| — “Massachusetts residents blame federal government, not state leaders, for strained shelter system, poll shows,” by Emma Platoff and Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: “In a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll of 500 Massachusetts voters likely to participate in the 2024 presidential election, 25 percent of respondents considered President Biden most responsible for the situation, and 31 percent pointed the finger at Congress, while a much smaller share of voters, just 10 percent, looked to Governor Maura Healey, and 7 percent blamed the migrants themselves.” — “Migrants staying at Yarmouth motel move off Cape Cod, blindsiding Massachusetts town,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “After residing in Yarmouth since last September , roughly 39 migrant families have started to clear out of the popular summer vacation beach town, with some being moved to Kingston and Boston, and others to additional shelter sites across the Bay State."
| | FROM THE HUB |
| POWER PLAYERS — More than half a dozen Boston-area politicians made it onto Boston Magazine’s roundup of the “150 Most Influential Bostonians ” this year. Gov. Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu topped the list, coming in at No. 1 and 2 respectively, followed by House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (8), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (11), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (16) and Attorney General Andrea Campbell (22). House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz was the only member of the Legislature to make it onto the list this year, coming in at No. 62. And at the municipal level, Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune (75) and at-large Councilor Julia Mejia (140) both made the cut.
| | ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR |
| — “Pro-Palestine protesters begin encampment in Harvard Yard,” by The Harvard Crimson staff: “Pro-Palestine organizers began an encampment in Harvard Yard on Wednesday to protest the Monday suspension of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and demand the University divest from Israel’s war in Gaza. The encampment marks the largest protest on Harvard’s campus since former University President Claudine Gay resigned in early January .” — “Boston police warn law enforcement action ‘imminent’ at Emerson College, where students protest war in Gaza,” by Maddie Khaw, The Boston Globe.
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS |
| CAIN’S FIRST DAY — Quincy City Council President Ian Cain kicked off his Republican U.S. Senate campaign with a private event in his hometown hosted by Quincy Mayor Tom Koch , who was previously a Democrat and is now unenrolled, CommonWealth Beacon’s Gintautas Dumcius reports . Cain is following Republican rival John Deaton in accepting campaign contributions in crypto , according to his website.
| | DAY IN COURT |
| — “Jury selection complete in Karen Read trial, with openings expected on Monday,” by Sean Cotter and Travis Andersen, The Boston Globe: “It took less time to select a jury for the ongoing trial of former president Donald J. Trump, but the court now has enough jurors seated to move ahead with the high-profile murder case against Karen Read. The trial of Read, 44, will begin in earnest next week at Norfolk Superior Court after five days of jury selection that were complicated by the length of the upcoming trial, expected to take up to two months, and the media circus that has surrounded the deeply controversial case.”
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| | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S ENERGY SUMMIT : The future of energy faces a crossroads in 2024 as policymakers and industry leaders shape new rules, investments and technologies. Join POLITICO’s Energy Summit on June 5 as we convene top voices to examine the shifting global policy environment in a year of major elections in the U.S. and around the world. POLITICO will examine how governments are writing and rewriting new rules for the energy future and America’s own role as a major exporter. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | | | MEDIA MATTERS |
| — “WBUR cuts up to 14 percent of staff, including buyouts and layoffs,” by Todd Wallack, WBUR: “WBUR, one of the nation’s largest NPR affiliates, announced plans Wednesday to cut as much as 14 percent of its staff through a combination of buyouts and layoffs over the next two months. The Boston public radio station said the job cuts are part of an effort to reduce expenses by $4 million, about 10 percent of its annual budget, to help offset a steep decline in on-air sponsorships, also known as underwriting.”
| | MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
| SEEING GREEN — Adult-use marijuana retailers saw a record-breaking $8.5 million sales day on, you guessed it, 4/20. More from Eric Casey in the Worcester Business Journal .
| | WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING |
| — “UMass Amherst joins ranks of universities under federal scrutiny for discrimination,” by Hilary Burns, The Boston Globe: “The University of Massachusetts Amherst has been added to the list of public and private colleges under investigation by the US Department of Education for discrimination in the wake of campus unrest over the Israel-Hamas war.” — “Living next to a Dunkin’ can boost property values, but don’t glaze over the downside,” by Megan Johnson, The Boston Globe.
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| TRANSITIONS — Ellen Fleming is now senior account executive at Melwood Global. She previously was a State House reporter for WWLP 22News. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Rep. Paul Frost , former Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, Garrett Quinn, Tom Springer, Mariah Philips and Dimara Coulouras . NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: MAKE WAY FOR DUNKIN' — Coming later today, a very special 300th episode of our beloved pod, featuring hosts Jennifer Smith , Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky sampling the best (or maybe the worst) of #mapoli Dunkin’ orders and a little (talk of) THC. Plus, reminiscing with our past producers and hosts. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud . Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com . | |
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