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GOOD WHILE IT LASTED — Farewell, hope of an on-time budget.
The Legislature seems to be on track to maintain its tradition of ringing in the new fiscal year without an annual spending plan in place. Gov. Maura Healey filed a bill Thursday night to float the state’s finances through the end of July — a sign that negotiators are likely still too far apart to get a compromise bill to her desk before July 1.
House Speaker Ron Mariano sounded a note of optimism when asked earlier this week about the state of the budget deliberations, saying talks between chambers “seem to be very advanced” and that negotiators had even traded proposals on a weekend. : the committee tasked with trading proposals for the spending bill had been connecting over the weekend.
"Usually, it's a little bit more under the gun before they start working Saturdays," Mariano told reporters on Monday.
But the Senate’s top budget negotiator, Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, hinted on Thursday that weekend dealing wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.
“That's not unusual, by the way,” he said when asked about the weekend work. “I don't have a job. It's a way of life. ... Nights, weekends, holidays are all workdays for us.”
Hours later, Healey’s interim budget emerged, throwing more cold water on the possibility that this could be the year lawmakers break their now 14-year tradition of blowing past the deadline.
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The Senate, meanwhile, tried to check a different item off its to-do list on Thursday. Lawmakers started the day with plans to pass a climate bill that would expedite siting and permitting for clean energy projects. But Republican state Sen. Ryan Fattman blocked debate on the bill, using a parliamentary procedure to delay discussion. The Senate is set to give it another go 1 p.m. putting a damper on any plans legislators may have had to spend the afternoon celebrating the Celtics’ victory.
Fattman told the Boston Herald he's prepared to delay debate again today. If that’s the case, Senate Democrats may call lawmakers in for a weekend session in order to get the bill through their chamber by Monday — before they take up their version of Healey’s housing bond bill, which Spilka said her chamber will move on before the end of the month.
And with less than six weeks left of session, everyone’s getting just a little antsy. Earlier Thursday, at the signing ceremony for legislation criminalizing so-called revenge porn, Senate President Karen Spilka started by saying she’s “looking forward to having many more bill signings in the coming weeks.”
“Hear, hear,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said, snapping her fingers as Healey nodded along emphatically. “Hear, hear.”
GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! The Boston Globe has what to know if you're going to today's Celtics parade.
TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll join a Celtics parade kickoff event at 10 a.m. at TD Garden. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on CNN at 9:40 a.m., attends a breakfast hosted by the Celtics at the Garden at 9 a.m. and watches the parade with fans at 11 a.m. at City Hall. Sen. Ed Markey attends groundbreaking for Roxbury Community College's Center for Economic and Social Justice at 9 a.m. in Roxbury. The duck boats start rolling down Causeway St. for the Boston Celtics’ victory parade at 11 a.m.
THE WEEKEND — Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. MassGOP chair Amy Carnevale is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. GBH News’ Katie Lannan and CommonWealth Beacon’s Gin Dumcius are on NBC10 Boston’s “At Issue” at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email me: kgarrity@politico.com.
HUDDLE UP — Gov. Maura Healey was able to watch almost all of the Celtics playoffs games on TV as the team made a run at Banner 18. Her favorite part? When Derrick White hopped back in the game like nothing happened after he smashed his face on the parquet and chipped a tooth while going for a loose ball, she told the Boston Sports Journal’s John Karalis during an interview on the “Locked On Celtics” podcast. Watch.
— “Mass. Gov. Healey doles out $227M to support affordable housing statewide,” by John L. Micek, MassLive: “Communities across Massachusetts, including Springfield and Worcester, are set to share in $227 million in state grant money aimed at encouraging the development of affordable housing. Gov. Maura Healey, joined by state Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, announced the awards during an event in Danvers on Thursday. The money, a mix of state and federal tax credits, and subsidies, will support the construction or preservation of 1,874 rental units across the state.”
— “Report warns of wealth flight over millionaires' tax,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “The flight of wealthy individuals leaving Massachusetts is accelerating, according to a new report, which calls on state policymakers to take steps to stem the departures. The report by the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, released on Thursday, suggests the state is seeing an exodus of top earners in response to the voter-approved ‘millionaires tax,’ which set a new 4% surtax on individuals with incomes above $1 million a year.”
DOLLAR SIGNS — Tax collections are up so far this month compared to the same time last year, per the Department of Revenue. The state pulled in more than $2 billion during the first two weeks of June, $483 million more year over year.
PARTY POLITICS
NEW PARTY ON THE BLOCK — A new political party is looking build a base in Massachusetts. The Forward Party, originally founded by former presidential hopeful Andrew Yang, filed with Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office Thursday. Former Republican Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey pitched the group as a home for those who aren’t happy with their options in either political party.
“We believe that we won't be a third party in Massachusetts. We believe that in another four years, we're going to be the second party in Massachusetts,” Healey (no relation to the current governor) said during a rally on the State House steps Thursday. More from the Boston Herald's Matthew Medsger.
FROM THE HUB
— “Boston Hospitality Lawyer Fired after Falsifying Liquor License to Allston/Brighton Food Hall,” by Michele McPhee, Boston Magazine.
excerpt:
Lesley Delaney Hawkins was “terminated,” according to one of the firm’s partners, Thomas Elcock, after she sent a doctored liquor license with a fake number in the name of her client, Craft Food Halls, which was opening a tenth location in Allston/Brighton. “The firm recently had learned that one of our partners had allegedly falsified documents in connection with a liquor licensing process in Boston,” Elcock said. “We were contacted by the client when he discovered that the liquor license was not valid and had not been obtained through the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commissions licensing process. After an internal investigation, we terminated the partner immediately.”
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
— “T funding crisis solutions abound, study shows. Political will, not so much,” by Taylor Dolven, The Boston Globe: “The MBTA got a list of desperately needed possible solutions on Thursday to its most pressing problem: how to fill its $700 million operations funding gap by next summer. Increasing the excise tax in areas with T service and areas next to those with T service could raise as much as $570 million per year. Charging drivers to use busy roads at peak times could raise $440 million. And increasing the T’s share of the state sales tax could bring in $335 million.”
— “SRTA bus service extends its free ride program to 'Try Transit'” by Dan Medeiros, The Herald News: “The free ride from SRTA isn't over yet. Last year, thanks to a grant from the Department of Transportation, the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority made its fixed route and on-demand service free at the point-of-service from Jan. 1 to June 30. That Try Transit program has been extended until Aug. 31.”
YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS
— “SJC clerk candidate steps into MBTA Communities fight that’s now before the court,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon: “The controversy over the MBTA Communities rezoning law, which has now landed before the state’s highest court, is colliding with a campaign for a little-known job tied to that same court. … While it’s unclear where the SJC justices will come down on the question, a candidate running for the elected clerk’s position that helps run the court seemed to show her hand earlier this month. Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy, one of two candidates running for the open SJC Clerk for Suffolk County seat in the September Democratic primary, appeared recently at a roadside rally against the MBTA law, something that a retired judge said shows ‘poor judgment’ on Murphy’s part.”
ENDORSEMENT CORNER — Progress Massachusetts’ first round of picks is in for the legislative races this fall. The organization is backing a handful of newcomers running for open seats, including Arielle Faria in the Barnstable Dukes & Nantucket district, Leigh Davis in the 3rd Berkshire and Bill Humphrey in the 12th Middlesex.
And it’s supporting incumbent state Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven in the 27th Middlesex — and challengers Evan MacKay in the 25th Middlesex and Heather May in the 9th Middlesex. In the Senate, Erin Bradley, who is running for the open Norfolk, Plymouth & Bristol seat, also earned the group’s support.
FROM THE DELEGATION
COMMITTEE MOVES — Rep. Jake Auchincloss is now the co-chair of the House Select Committee on China's new Fentanyl Policy Working group, a seven-member group focused on combating China's role in the fentanyl epidemic.
FROM THE 413
— “Western Mass mayors discuss challenges, solutions to housing crisis,” by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican: “Five area mayors joined with state Housing Secretary Edward M. Augustus to talk about solutions to the housing crisis which is increasing homelessness, pushing young professionals out of state where homebuying is more affordable and leaving senior citizens with no ability to downsize. Mayors said they are all facing a housing crisis but it is multi-faceted and solutions that work in one community do not necessarily fit in another.”
— “Will Great Barrington schools ban cell phones and other devices during the school day?,” by Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle.
— “Union rally planned amid Northampton vote over school budget, job cuts,” by Liesel Nygard and Michael Carolan, The Springfield Republican.
— “And the Holyoke School Committee Appointee at a Critical Moment Is…Devin Sheehan,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight.
THE LOCAL ANGLE
— “Budget clash as Brockton schools plead for 97 'critically needed' staff. If city says no?,” by Christopher Butler and Chris Helms, The Brockton Enterprise: “While city departments tighten their belts, Brockton Public Schools haven't. That's the picture city councilors sought to paint as they clashed with school administrators about spending during a four-hour-and-forty-minute budget hearing on Tuesday. BPS leaders are seeking $232 million for the fiscal year that starts on July 1. That's $6 million more than Mayor Robert F. Sullivan has proposed in a budget that the Brockton City Council must pass by June 30, and that he brought before state officials to dodge receivership.”
— “Attleboro City Council distributes last of $1.5M in federal Rescue Plan Act money,” by George W. Rhodes, The Sun Chronicle.
HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former state Rep. James Dwyer and Mason Reynolds.
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is 75; state Rep. Tram Nguyen, state Rep. Kay Khan, Matt Sheaff, senior communications adviser to Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, and Brendan Concannon, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Samuel O. Thier and Naomi Alson.
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS — Tuesday's Playbook said the Celtics' win ended Boston's five-year championship drought. But the drought was only for the city's men's teams; Boston's women's tackle football team, the Boston Renegades, and the (now disbanded) women's hockey team, the Boston Pride, each won titles in recent years, a Playbook reader pointed out.
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