 | By Kelly Garrity | WAIT AND SEE — Maura Healey rode her record of resisting Donald Trump as the state’s attorney general straight to the governor’s office. Now that she’s there — and Trump’s about to be back in executive office himself — the first-term governor is trying a new tactic against an old opponent. “Having been through Trump one, my view is: Let's see what's actually done and attempted and operationalized,” Healey told Playbook in a recent interview from her office. “I don't think it helps me or Massachusetts to be out engaging and fighting hypotheticals.” Aside from an early pledge to “hold the line” against Trump’s threat of mass deportations, Healey has largely avoided full-throated criticism of the former and soon-to-be president since he won reelection. It’s a different course of action than some of her fellow Democratic governors. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special legislative session to bolster his state’s legal defenses days after Trump’s victory, and his administration more recently drafted a plan to assist undocumented immigrants at risk of deportation. And while two former Bay State governors – Deval Patrick and Bill Weld – are on the board of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ new “Governors Safeguarding Democracy” initiative, Healey opted not to join. “All of us are working together as governors to exchange information, to talk about ideas,” Healey said when asked about her decision not to be involved with the group. “But I think different individual governors are going to do their own thing with respect to their involvement in association with organizations and efforts.” The balancing act between condemnation and cooperation with a second Trump administration is likely to get more complicated for Healey (who has a likely reelection campaign looming) once the president-elect officially returns to the White House later this month — particularly when it comes to reconciling her message that Massachusetts is “not a sanctuary state ” with more left-leaning voters’ desire to see strong opposition to Trump’s immigration promises. Here are some other highlights from our conversation, which have been edited for length and clarity. What are your legislative priorities for this session? Housing and transportation. The other thing is lowering costs. That's something that I've been laser-focused on. It's why I did the tax cuts. It's why we're building more housing to drive down housing costs. It's why I funded child care seats, because I want parents to be able to go to work and have access to child care. I'll be staying laser-focused on lowering costs. Anything you want to do or think you can do differently to avoid the bitterness that bubbled up between chambers over the summer in the Legislature? I just look at the end product and what we got, and it's unbelievable – the scope and the breadth of the legislation. At the end of the day, it's about: What are you getting done? And I think that our administration, working with the Legislature, really got a lot of things done. So I can't go back and think of anything that I would do differently. Are you running for reelection? I'm not going to speak to that at this time. It's way too early. I’m just going to stay focused on my job. Do you want to keep doing this job? I love doing this job. It's a great privilege every day. But I’m not making any comments or commitments about a race down the road. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Happy New Year! It’s good to be back in your inbox. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com . TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attend the swearing-in ceremony for the Governor’s Council at 11:45 a.m. at the State House.
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| | You read POLITICO for trusted reporting. Now follow every twist of the lame duck session with Inside Congress . We track the committee meetings, hallway conversations, and leadership signals that show where crucial year-end deals are heading. Subscribe now . | | | | | |  | THE CATCH-UP |
| AIN’T OVER ’TIL IT’S OVER — Lawmakers made good on their promise to keep grinding through negotiations right up until (almost) the last minute. More than 100 bills hit Healey’s desk by Tuesday, including two major health care bills, after a flurry of action in both chambers Monday night. The last-minute push to get the health care bills — one aimed at lowering drug costs, another at regulating private equity in hospitals — marked some of the last big priorities the Legislature had left after working through negotiations on a number of bills that were left in limbo after the the House and Senate end most formal lawmaking over the summer. More on the pharmaceutical costs and hospital oversight legislation from State House News Service. SPEED BUMP — The transportation funding task force, tasked with laying out solutions to the state’s transit funding woes, rolled passed (sic) the Dec. 31 deadline to release the report it was assigned in the executive order Gov. Maura Healey used to create it, per GBH’s Jeremy Siegel. KOCH SOCK PUPPET SCOOTER BROWN WAS DEFEATED BY 2 WOMEN - FIRST TIME IN HISTORY! SCOTT BROWN MAY BE A SEXY CENTERFOLD, BUT AN EMPTY AIR HEAD! LOST IN MASSACHUSETTS BECAUSE INFORMED VOTERS REVIEWED HIS VOTES -
SCOOTER BROWN DID A FUND RAISER FOR STEVE XIARHOS - "R" VOTERS NEVER SCRUTINIZE "R" CANDIDATES! QUALIFIED IMMUNITY? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT IT MEANS? Steve Xiarhos to run for re-election for 5th Barnstable seathttps://middlebororeview2.blogspot.com/2022/05/steve-xiarhos-to-run-for-re-election.html
SCOTT BROWN? The KOCH SOCK PUPPET promoting MONOPOLIES on FOX.
excerpt:
Speaking of Brown: “Former Amb. Scott Brown chairs new group to oppose congressional ‘overreach’ into tech industry,” by Paul Steinhauser, Fox Business: “Former ambassador and senator Scott Brown has a new mission. Brown will chair a newly formed coalition of 15 groups, including business, consumer, and taxpayer advocates, that are teaming up to highlight what they consider misguided congressional attempts to ‘overregulate and harm’ America’s tech sector.”
KOCH SOCK PUPPET returns to do KOCH BIDDING!
REGULATING MONOPOLIES WILL PROTECT CONSUMERS, INCREASE COMPETITION & INNOVATION!
Sponsored by the National Taxpayers Union, the coalition’s founding members include Americans for Prosperity, Center for Freedom and Prosperity, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Consumer Choice Center, Hispanic Leadership Fund, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, James Madison Institute, Market Institute, National Taxpayers Union, Pelican Tech & Innovation Center, R Street Institute, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Young Voices, and The Committee for Justice. MASS FISCAL ALLIANCE is a DARK MONEY organization that has an out of state postal permit, sends out expensive, misleading postcards.
Since they are one of several numerous organizations that rank BEACON HILL votes with the legislation explained at the bottom, it is included below although it's in a category similar to ATR.
https://massfiscalscorecard.org/
QUALIFIED IMMUNITY? DO VOTERS EVEN UNDERSTAND THE SURROUNDING COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUES? THERE ARE MANY MORE ARTICLES THAT EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AS WELL AS PROTECTING POLICE KILLINGS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, BUT HERE ARE JUST A FEW FOR THOSE WHO SEEK EXPLANATIONS:
SENATE WATCH — Former Republican Sen. Scott Brown is eyeing a Senate seat in New Hampshire. A spokesperson for former GOP Gov. Charlie Baker shut down the idea that he was doing the same in Massachusetts, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel . HITTING BACK — After reportedly repeatedly declining interview requests before the story was published, Gov. Maura Healey called the Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigation on state officials’ regulation of Steward Health Care an “unfair hit job .” — “Lawmakers pass bill to allow school bus traffic cams in Massachusetts,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News. — “New Mass. law mandates insurance coverage of Narcan, opioid reversal drugs,” by Hadley Barndollar, MassLive. — “‘Something we were up against’: Efforts to ban competitive suppliers fizzled. A key lawmaker was dating their lobbyist,” by Samantha J. Gross and Sabrina Shankman, The Boston Globe. — “Healey says she would sign bill subjecting her office to public records law, with ‘right exceptions’,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe.
| | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| NEW YEAR, NEW SESSION — And maybe new changes to the legislative calendar, among other reforms Beacon Hill leaders are considering implementing to shift public perception about levels of transparency on Beacon Hill. After easily earning new terms leading their respective chambers, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka laid out their priorities for the new session in New Year’s Day speeches to newly sworn-in legislators. Mariano said the House will consider a "number of rules reforms" later this year, “from potential changes to the legislative calendar, to reforms aimed at bolstering public confidence in the legislative process.” Spilka, meanwhile, laid out more specifics: formalizing a change the Senate made to allow for roll call votes on conference reports, moving up the bill reporting deadline by a year, making joint committee votes and testimony public and opening up initial conference meetings to the public. Intertwined in both speeches were digs at the local press for coverage both leaders hinted (sometimes not-so subtly) they felt was unfair or inaccurate (more on that from the Boston Herald ). On the Republican side, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr won another term leading his small but growing caucus, while House Minority Leader Brad Jones handily fended off a challenge from state Rep. Marc Lombardo. More on Jones’ win from State House News Service. Dive deeper on day one via the Boston Globe . — “Governor Maura Healey orders an 11 percent increase to lawmakers’ base salary, hiking top Democrats’ pay to $224,000 in 2025,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey on Tuesday ordered an 11 percent increase in the base salaries of Massachusetts lawmakers, pushing the total annual pay for the Legislature’s top Democrats to $224,000 a year beginning Wednesday. ... For many lawmakers, this will be the second raise they’ve notched in roughly a week.” RELATED — “Fiscal watchdog calls on Massachusetts lawmakers to accept an audit before they take a pay raise,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald. — “$12 million state initiative aims to help students pursue behavioral health careers,” by Zeninjor Enwemeka, WBUR: “Despite a growing need for mental health care in Massachusetts, a shortage of service providers has long posed a challenge, experts say. A state trust fund aims to bridge that gap by providing financial support to students who pursue careers in behavioral health fields to help boost the pipeline of trained behavioral health workers.”
| | FROM THE HUB |
| — “Allison Cartwright, victor of Boston’s hottest race, sworn in as $190K Suffolk SJC clerk,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Progressive attorney Allison Cartwright was sworn in as clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County, marking a first for the court as she became the first person of color to hold the six-figure administrative role. Cartwright, 62, took the oath of office Wednesday at the John Adams Courthouse in Boston. The oath was administered by Chief Justice Kimberly Budd, the first Black woman to hold the role of chief justice, after a ceremony that focused heavily on the latest barrier-breaking milestone for the court.”
| | FROM THE 413 |
| — “Springfield City Council reelects president, selects new vice president in preliminary vote,” by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican: “In a preliminary vote, the City Council agreed to reelect Michael Fenton as its president in 2025 but will switch vice presidents. The council voted in December to support Tracye Whitfield as its new vice president, replacing longtime Ward 3 City Councilor Melvin Edwards, who has served in the role since 2022.” — “Hampden County Presses for Tradition—and an Appeals Court Seat,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight.
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| — “Veterans housing or rec fields? Fight over future of old Taunton Nursing Home heats up,” by Daniel Schemer, Taunton Daily Gazette. — “Mayor on the move,” by Grace Ferguson, The New Bedford Light: “[New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell] traveled farther, more frequently, and at a higher expense that year than any other Massachusetts mayor outside Boston, a New Bedford Light analysis found. The Light analyzed calendar and expense records for the 53 people in Massachusetts who held the title of “mayor” outside the state’s capital from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The analysis only included travel outside New England on official business, excluding day trips to nearby states and personal vacations. Mitchell spent 27 full business days on business trips, equivalent to more than five working weeks spent out of town.” — “$1M lawsuit: 'Humiliation' over firing led to New Bedford fire chief's breakdown, shooting,” by Frank Mulligan, The Standard-Times: “A lawsuit alleges that the city's actions related to Deputy Fire Chief Paul Coderre Jr.'s firing led to a ‘psychotic episode’ and his death in a gun battle with police one year ago, filed on behalf of his widow and seeking more than $1 million in damages.” — “Lawrence petition could have impact on Southbridge schools exit from receivership,” by Jesse Collings, Telegram & Gazette: “A home rule petition in the State House that would allow the City of Lawrence to change the construction of its School Committee could provide a different plan for Southbridge to eventually exit state receivership of its schools. … Under the new rule, the Lawrence City Council would be allowed to appoint three members to the School Committee, with three additional members being elected by city voters, and the mayor chairing the committee.” — “St. Vincent nurses’ union says poor staffing, equipment are putting patients at risk,” by Marilyn Schairer, GBH News: “Nurses at St. Vincent’s Hospital and the Massachusetts Nurses Association have lodged a new round of allegations against Tenet Healthcare, the for-profit owner of the Worcester hospital, alleging dangerous patient care conditions. The complaint highlights safety concerns related to inadequate staffing, equipment not being properly sterilized, and restrictions on use of IV fluids. The nurses allege these issues resulted in two patient deaths in critical care units.”
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| | POLITICO Pro's unique analysis combines exclusive transition intelligence and data visualization to help you understand not just what's changing, but why it matters for your organization. Explore how POLITICO Pro will make a difference for you. | | | | | | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| WEDDING BELLS — State Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley is now Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid. The Boston Democrat married her partner, Omar Reid, a real estate consultant of Dorchester in a private ceremony on New Year’s Eve officiated by her mother, Rev. Brenda A. Fluker esq., a former Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association president as well as former board member of the Boston branch of the NAACP and United Way of Massachusetts Bay. TRANSITIONS — State Sen. Robyn Kennedy and state Rep. Christine Barber are the new co-chairs of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators; Sen. Joan Lovely and Rep. Hannah Kane will serve as vice chairs, and Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid will continue to serve as treasurer. Reps. Carole Fiola, Vanna Howard, Priscila Sousa, Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Lindsay Sabadosa and Jessica Giannino and Sen. Becca Rausch will serve as at-large board members. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Dana Hanson of Rep. Jake Auchincloss’ office. Happy belated to Jamie Klufts and Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia, who celebrated Wednesday. 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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