 | By Kelly Garrity | ‘START SCREENING BETTER AT THE DOOR’ — The fallout from the arrest of an undocumented immigrant on gun and drug charges at a state-run shelter in Revere — and the revelation of even more instances of violence in the state facilities — is poised to bleed into the looming shelter funding debate. But whether lawmakers will make their approval of the $425 million supplemental budget now before them dependent on updating safety protocols at the family shelters isn’t clear yet. House Speaker Ron Mariano said he wants to see shelter providers “start screening better at the door,” after the man, who wasn’t an official resident in the shelter system (which is reserved for Massachusetts families and migrants with legal status) was caught with an AR-15 and more than $1 million worth of fentanyl, according to police. However, Mariano didn’t say whether the House would make that a prerequisite to approving the latest round of funding for the shelter system, which officials previously predicted would run out of money sometime this month. Still, you can expect debate to turn into new rules in the Senate at least, where some Republicans are already making their opposition to the stop-gap spending bill known. MASS GOP CLOWNS OBSTRUCTING WITHOUT SCRUTINIZING ISSUES! SCOTUS criminalized HOMELESSNESS - that's not a SOLUTION!
TRUMP instructed the MAGA GOP to defeat the BIPARTISAN BORDER BILL - why isn't the MASS GOP addressing this with TRUMP? PETER DURANT'S first act in office was to endorse the FASCIST DESANTIS - too lazy to scrutinize his warped history - this was shortly after DESANTIS appointed JOSEPH LADAPO to protect the health of FLORIDIANS - LADAPO attended events with STELLA IMMANUEL (she was also promoted by TRUMP) who believes that DEMONS enter your body in your sleep. Even worse is the perpetuation of STUPID!
3 MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICANS rushed to endorse DeSantis after this BRAIN DEAD appointment of LAPADA.
Republicans state Sen. Ryan Fattman and state Rep. Kelly Pease & PETER DURANT! DeSantis’ Surgeon General Outdoes Demon Sperm DocMASS GOP got inexperienced, uneducated KELLY DOONER elected, had BLOVIATOR HOWIE CARR do a fundraiser for her - that defines ignorance!
(KELLY DOONER took an ONLINE COURSE to be a PARALEGAL - that's not EDUCATION!)
GOP state Sens. Peter Durant and Kelly Dooner said in a joint press release yesterday they won’t back the bill unless it includes changes to the state’s right-to-shelter law. But Senate Democrats are in wait-and-see mode until the bill makes its way over from the other side of the hall with whatever tweaks House lawmakers settle on. Longtime Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues left the door to updating current regulations wide open — though some residency requirements could raise “constitutional issues,” he said. “We can do anything,” the Westport Democrat told reporters yesterday. “But we need to reach an agreement collectively amongst the senators of what direction we want to go.” GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. As for the other incidents of violence revealed in the recently released “serious incident” reports , Gov. Maura Healey said there was “zero tolerance” for criminal activity in state-run shelters, but downplayed instances of rape, assault and drug arrests as relatively limited compared to the number of people who have passed through the system. "You know, the vast majority of folks are complying with rules, kids are in school, many of them are working, and those who've come through immigration … most of them have received work authorizations and are also working," Healey told reporters. “And so relative to that number, the instances have been very few.” TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey has no public events. Federal offices and agencies are closed today after President Joe Biden declared a national day of mourning to honor former President Jimmy Carter , whose funeral begins this morning. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com .
|  | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| — “Healey signs healthcare bills aimed at hospital oversight, reducing prescription drug costs,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Gov. Maura Healey signed two major healthcare reform bills Wednesday — one that looks to increase hospital oversight in the wake of the Steward Health Care meltdown and another that attempts to tackle prescription drug costs. And it was clear from at least one top Democrat’s remarks that lawmakers who negotiated the two proposals did not think they would have legislation before Healey after a chaotic end to the Legislature’s formal session this summer and wide disagreements between the House and Senate.” PAY WALL FOR THE BOSTON HERALD RAG — “Keenan’s stand for transparency,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Beacon: “That John Keenan isn’t anybody’s idea of a rabble-rousing bomb tosser is, in some ways, exactly the point. … the 60-year-old lawmaker caused a minor stir last week when he was the only Democratic state senator who did not vote to reelect Karen Spilka as Senate president. Keenan voted ‘present’ in the roll call to choose a leader for the new two-year session. In a statement he issued after the vote, Keenan said he held back support for Spilka ‘because changes are needed’ in how the Senate goes about its business.” EYEBROW RAISER — House Speaker Ron Mariano said he will respond to state Auditor Diana DiZoglio ’s latest audit-related entreaties. But whether the House will comply “is a different question,” he told reporters. "I think compliance is in the eye of the beholder," he said, before noting that he was still waiting for his own response from DiZoglio after the House approved an internal rule last year that would allow her to select the auditing firm that would inspect the chamber’s finances. (DiZoglio likened the rule to “slapping voters in the face” when House members approved it in November). Dive deeper with the Boston Globe . — “House Speaker Mariano pushes back against GOP call to expel Cape Cod Democrat under federal investigation,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald. PAY WALL FOR THE BOSTON HERALD RAG — “Massachusetts adopts amendment protecting nurses who provide reproductive care,” by Sharman Sacchetti, WCVB.
| | FROM THE HUB |
| CHINA IS LEADING THE WORLD WITH CHEAP CLEAN ENERGY & THEIR ECONOMY IS PROSPERING! SEE THE ARTICLES ABOUT INSURANCE COMPANIES CANCELLING COVERAGE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE DISASTERS!
— “City councillors float strategies to shield Boston’s climate gains from Trump,” by Erin Douglas, The Boston Globe: “Under President Biden, Boston received more than $100 million for climate, clean energy, and transportation projects, which have included installing electric vehicle charging stations, putting up solar panels, and purchasing dozens of electric school busses. Now, with Donald Trump about to take office and that tap of federal money almost certain to get shut off, city councillors are brainstorming how Boston might buoy its aggressive climate goals and policy work through the next administration.” — “As she gears up for reelection, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wades back into painful politics of school closures,” by Emma Platoff and Christopher Huffaker, The Boston Globe: “With her first major policy announcement of this reelection year, Mayor Michelle Wu jumped directly into one of Boston’s greatest political controversies: closing public schools. It’s a painful necessity in the city, where enrollment has been in sharp decline for more than a decade. But the proposal to close three schools and consolidate two others also makes for thorny politics, particularly as Wu seeks a second term this fall. No family wants to bid adieu to a beloved neighborhood school, even though many education experts and city leaders agree that closures are necessary to ensure a fair distribution of resources.”
| | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| — “This Chicopee at-large councilor announced he’s not running for reelection,” by Namu Sampath, The Springfield Republican: “Tim Wagner, an at-large city councilor, announced he’s not running for reelection at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. His statement, which ran longer than the allotted three minutes during public input, acknowledged the challenges of being a councilor.”
| | PARTY POLITICS |
| REPUBLICAN REBUTTAL — GOP state Rep. Marcus Vaughn will deliver the Republican rebuttal to Gov. Maura Healey’s State of the Commonwealth speech on Jan. 16.
| | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| — “Healey task force prepares to release transportation funding report,” by Jeremy Siegel, GBH News: “A panel appointed by Gov. Maura Healey to come up with solutions to the state’s transportation funding problems is set to release its recommendations in the coming days. The Transportation Funding Task Force held its final meeting with Healey and Lt. Gov Kim Driscoll on Tuesday. Members are currently reviewing a 100-plus page final draft of their recommendations and are expected to submit final edits to the document by the end of the day.”
| | DAY IN COURT |
| BACK ON TRACK — Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell got some good news yesterday: The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the MBTA Communities Act is constitutional, and that Campbell does have the authority to enforce it. One slight hiccup: As of right now, the housing guidelines themselves are “unenforceable” since the state’s office of Housing and Livable Communities failed to follow state law when creating them. Healey said her administration would create new regulations in line with the law by the end of the week. More from CommonWealth Beacon. THE FALLOUT — “Ruling on MBTA zoning law could force Holden, Millbury into compliance,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette. — “Fired Quincy official spent public funds on self portrait and steak tips, indictment says,” by Peter Blandino, The Patriot Ledger: “Thomas Clasby, the city's fired director of Elder Services, has been indicted in federal court on charges of embezzling public funds, according to the U.S. District Attorney for Massachusetts, Joshua Levy. He pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Boston on Wednesday. When asked about the charges after the court hearing, he said ‘no comment.’ Clasby spent stolen money on a framed self-portrait, 153 pounds of bourbon steak tips, a music studio recording and a Toyota Prius, said Levy, who announced his plans to retire on Jan. 17 earlier this week.” — “Rollins ethical fallout was ‘one of the hardest’ times in outgoing US attorney’s career, he says,” by Phillip Martin, GBH News.
| | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| — “Massport drastically cut its initial plan to reduce cruise ship emissions,” by Chris Burrell, GBH News: “Politicians and business leaders have praised Massport’s $60 million project to build electric shore power, reducing dangerous emissions from its growing cruise ship business. But just months before announcing that plan, the quasi-governmental agency had painted a vastly more expensive and complex project. In its unsuccessful application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Massport said $196.9 million was the “minimum feasible” cost to accommodate up to two ships at Flynn Cruiseport, according to records obtained by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting.”
| | FROM THE 413 |
| — “Wondolowski becomes Greenfield City Council president; Garrett named VP,” by Anthony Cammalleri, Greenfield Recorder: “City Councilors Lora Wondolowski and John Garrett were both voted into leadership roles Tuesday night, with the council voting unanimously to appoint Wondolowski president and Garrett vice president.” — “Pittsfield is providing free naloxone kits to residents. Here's what you need to know,” by Maryjane Williams, The Berkshire Eagle.
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| — “'Not in the purview': Worcester councilors blasted for inaction on Gaza ceasefire petition,” by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: “After a two-hour stretch of public comments, the City Council declined Tuesday to take direct action on a petition calling for the city to urge the U.S. government to ‘facilitate and demand’ a Gaza ceasefire. Voting 6-5, councilors filed the petition, thus scrapping it, a move that immediately spurred words of frustration from a tightly-packed chamber. Some labeled councilors ‘cowards,’ while others shouted ‘shame’ in the council's direction.” — “South Coast towns confront PFAS contamination in drinking water,” by Adam Goldstein, The New Bedford Light: “This past spring, the Environmental Protection Agency announced new national drinking water standards to limit “forever chemicals” linked to birth defects and cancers. In 2025, nine public water systems in Westport, Dartmouth, and parts of Wareham will be looking into addressing PFAS contamination in their water. Testing shows levels of those chemicals — which can be found in myriad products like nonstick pans and mascara — may be above the new EPA standards.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| TRANSITIONS — Matt Corridoni is now VP of comms at VoteVets. He previously was a national spokesperson on the Harris campaign’s rapid response team and previously served as communications director for Rep. Jake Auchincloss. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former Rep. Mike Capuano, state House Minority Leader Brad Jones, Boston state Rep. Christopher Worrell, Carlos Garcia of Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office, Dan Black, Amy Mahler of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government, Sasha Goodfriend, Shanice Wallace, Kevin Walther, Gustavo Quiroga, American Institute for Economic Research’s William Ruger, Linda Greenhouse and Josh Seidel . 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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