POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: New year, same shelter headaches for Healey

 

By Kelly Garrity MORE MONEY & MORE PROBLEMS — The state’s migrant and shelter crisis overshadowed much of Gov. Maura Healey’s first two years in office. Now it's clearly poised to play a major role in year three , as lawmakers weigh the latest suite of changes her administration is seeking tied to a request for another $425 million to keep the shelter system running. But this time Healey is approaching the issue under changed circumstances, with her decisions now being viewed through the lens of a potential reelection bid as she crosses the two-year mark in office, and under the threat of President-elect Donald Trump’s promised immigration crackdown. And she appears to be changing with them. Healey on Monday ordered an inspection of all state shelters and a “full review” of the state’s intake process, after an undocumented migrant who was staying at a Revere motel that was serving as a shelter site was arrested on gun and drug charges last week. “It’s outrageous that this individual took advantage of our shelter system to engage in criminal activity,” Healey said in a statement Monday, calling for federal action “to prevent criminals from entering our communities.” It’s a markedly stronger response from the governor compared to the one that followed an incident last year in a Rockland shelter, when a Haitian man, who officials said entered the country through a federal program, was charged with raping a teenager. Healey also officially rolled out her latest slate of policies aimed at cutting the still steep cost of the shelter system, hitching plans to phase out the use of hotels and slash the time limits for longer-term stays for families from nine months to six — changes officials hope will bring the total cost for the system down to close-to-normal levels — to the supplemental budget she filed. An earlier proposal to bump up the HomeBASE rental stipend families would be eligible for from $15,000 a year to $25,000 a year didn’t make the cut. Those changes, along with the $425 million she wants to pull from a reserve account to plug the budget gap lawmakers left in shelter funding, will need legislative approval. Whether legislators, who aren’t operating under quite the same level of political pressure as the first-term governor, get on board remains to be seen. A spokesperson for House Speaker Ron Mariano said the House “looks forward to reviewing the Governor’s proposal in a manner consistent with our continued focus on ensuring that [the] shelter system can remain financially viable in the long-term,” while the Senate is waiting to review the spending bill until it makes its way to the chamber, according to a spokesperson for the Senate president. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Republicans, meanwhile, still want to see the state's right to shelter law amended. The Boston Herald Rag continues their warped coverage, echoing MAGA DISINFORMATION, ignoring FACTS.  It's time to STOP REGURGITATING MAGA LIES & DISINFORMATION!  Logan Trupiano is just a BLOVIATOR in the mold of Bloviator Carr who needs FACT CHECKS!  At one time, when statistics were published, it was reported that + 60% of those in shelters were Massachusetts residents. Several years ago, Brockton Schools did a survey & determined + 20,000 students were homeless. It's a problem that has long since been ignored!  The issue is the failure of Congress to pass the BIPARTISAN BORDER BILL....put the blame where it belongs! The Orange Turd instructed the MAGA GOP to defeat the BILL because he wanted it to be a campaign issue. You got your campaign issue, now where are the SOLUTIONS? MAGA GOP are incapable of governance. Included in the BIPARTISAN BORDER BILL was funding for DRUG DETECTING TECHNOLOGY which would reveal concealed DRUGS.  Don't expect the DO NOTHING MAGAS to solve problems because they never have! Gov. Maura Healey asks for $425M more to pay for emergency shelters housing migrants BOSTON HERALD Gov. Healey orders inspection of state-run shelters following migrant arrested with fentanyl, AR-15 at a Revere hotel BOSTON HERALD "The only real path forward to ending the migrant crisis," said Logan Trupiano, a spokesperson for the MassGOP, "is through amending the right to shelter law to include residency requirements to qualify for emergency shelter." TODAY — Healey is on GBH’s Boston Public Radio at 11 a.m. 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 AUDIT BATTLE GETTING UNDERWAY — Days after the ballot question went into effect and in response to a letter from state Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office, the Senate on Monday moved to create a new subcommittee tasked with taking on the audit effort. The new panel, led by state Sen. Cynthia Creem , will “focus exclusively on the Auditor’s letter of January 3, 2025 and Chapter 250 of the Acts of 2024, and the serious constitutional questions raised thereby,” according to a letter Senate President Karen Spilka sent the Senate clerk. DiZoglio meanwhile started the countdown toward a likely legal battle, submitting requests for specific records from the House and the Senate, for which she’s looking for a response within 72 hours from Monday. “Hopefully, House and Senate leadership will choose to respond [to] our office in a timely manner with responsive records,” DiZolglio said via text. “Right now it seems legislative leaders are instead conspiring to violate the law that nearly 72% of voters passed via ballot initiative.” — “Audit faults agency for lack of Steward oversight,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “Massachusetts hospitals are not being properly monitored by the independent state agency responsible for oversight of their fiscal health, according to a new audit. The report by state Auditor Diana DiZoglio found that the Center for Health Information and Analysis failed to collect audited financial statements from 10 acute care hospitals including bankrupt Steward health Care System, during a two-year period and didn't assess more than $1.6 million in fines from the hospitals for not filing the reports.” PAY WALL — “MassGOP calls on Cape Cod Democrat Rep. Chris Flanagan to resign amid federal probe,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald.  — “Massachusetts State Police Capt. smashes OT ceiling with $584K total pay,” by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald. FROM THE HUB — “Chinatown residents fear displacement as a 25-story building proposal moves forward,” by Magdiela Matta, GBH News: “The Asian population of Chinatown has been in decline. In 2000, the neighborhood was 69% Asian, according to U.S. Census data. By 2020, the Asian population had dropped to 56%. [Bingxiang] Ma, a native of Taishan, China, has seen that population shift while living in Chinatown over the past decade. He says a proposal for a 25-story hotel in the heart of the neighborhood is going to push even more longtime residents out.” — “ BPS recommending closure of Excel School in South Boston,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: “The Excel High School in South Boston is being eyed to shut down next year, according to a notification BPS sent out to the school community Monday night. … The school closure may only be one of several impending. [Superintendent Mary] Skipper said the announcement is part of a “package of proposals that includes a number of school closures, a merger, and plans for grade reconfigurations, which, if approved, would go into effect for the 2026-2027 school year.” BOSTON HERALD RAG indicates that these were CIVIL COMPLAINTS - NOT CRIMINAL!  IT'S TIME TO THINK & NOT MAKE WILD ACCUSATIONS THAT ICE HAS NOT DEFINED! — “Boston police refused to act on 15 detainer requests from ICE last year,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said the department refused to act on all 15 civil immigration detainer requests submitted by federal authorities last year, citing a city law that shields noncitizens from deportation under certain circumstances. Cox, in a letter to the city clerk filed Monday with the City Council, said the 15 requests were ‘not acted upon per the Boston Trust Act,’ which prohibits BPD and other city departments from cooperating with the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), when it comes to detaining immigrants on civil warrants.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Transportation funding task force nears finish line,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “A week after missing its deadline, the governor’s task force on transportation funding is scheduled to hold its final meeting on Tuesday with both Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in attendance. … It’s unclear whether task force members will take a vote on the report or merely provide feedback. Administration officials have been meeting with some members regularly to refine the language and the scheduled meeting suggests a consensus is forming.” DAY IN COURT — “ Jan 6. rioters could look forward to pardons with new Trump administration,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “Extremists who took part in protesting President Donald Trump’s election loss on January 6, 2021, may get an olive branch when the 45th president returns to power. ... Some of those getting a second chance could include more than 40 people in New England arrested in connection to the siege.” — “New rules aim to protect low-income people in Mass. small claims courts ,” by Jenifer B. McKim, GBH News: “Tens of thousands of people facing lawsuits from debt collectors in small claims courts in Massachusetts will soon have more protections to assure they aren’t being forced to spend money they can’t afford. New regulations, which go into effect on Feb. 3, require courts to hold payment hearings to make sure low-income people aren’t tapping into legally protected income like disability payments or social security to pay their creditors.” — “Mass. court orders three insurers owned by UnitedHealthcare to pay $165 million over deceptive practices,” by Dana Gerber, The Boston Globe: “Suffolk Superior Court Justice Hélène Kazanjian ruled on Dec. 31 that the companies, HealthMarkets Inc., and two subsidiaries, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company and HealthMarkets Insurance Agency, must pay $50 million in restitution for Massachusetts consumers and $115 million in civil penalties to the state. The charges are a result of violations to a previous settlement agreement and Massachusetts law.” FROM THE DELEGATION — “‘They get to applaud. We had to evacuate.’ Jake Auchincloss reflects on two very different Jan. 6s,” by Jim Puzzanghera, The Boston Globe: “The certification of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential victory proceeded routinely Monday in the House chamber, a methodical announcement of each state’s electoral votes so unexciting that Representative Jake Auchincloss leaned back in his seat at one point and appeared to nod off. ‘Dignified and boring,’ the Newton Democrat said after the 30-minute exercise before a joint session of Congress presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris. ‘Just like it should be.’” MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WEEDS — Travis Ahern, the new executive director of the embattled Cannabis Control Commission, spoke with Chris Farone, editor in chief of Talking Joints Memo, about social consumption, lab testing, his view on the role within the commission’s hierarchy and more. Link.   — “South Shore marijuana dispensary sues town over contested fees. What the seller claims,” by Peter Blandino, The Patriot Ledger: “A medical marijuana dispensary is suing Hanover, claiming the town improperly collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in "community impact fees" without identifying specific impacts or documenting how it spent the money, as required under state regulations.” FROM THE 413 — “Springfield School Committee discusses adding asst. Superintendent,” by Jeanette DeForge, MassLive. — “Christopher J. Donelan announces retirement as Franklin County sheriff,” by Domenic Poli, The Greenfield Recorder: “There’s about to be a new sheriff in town. Christopher J. Donelan has announced he will retire at the end of the month, ending a 14-year tenure that saw the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction transform from a typical facility focused on incarceration to one with a trauma-informed treatment model.” — “We may be seeing 'a lot of little snowstorms,' but they're still eating up Berkshire snow removal budgets,” by Jane Kaufman, The Berkshire Eagle. THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Gaza ceasefire petition on Tuesday's Worcester City Council agenda,” by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: “A petition calling for a Gaza ceasefire will be on the City Council agenda Tuesday, about a month after the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts sent city officials a letter expressing concern that council rules had been unlawfully applied to keep the petition off the agenda in October.” WORTH READING! — “Fishermen may not like offshore wind, but some work for it,” by Anastasia E. Lennon, The New Bedford Light: “A fishing boat named Saints and Angels sat docked at Leonard’s Wharf after a recent fishing trip. Ice covered some of the deck as a man cut into the boat’s steel side to create a door for scientific buoy deployment. Nearby vessels were being worked on, some with anti-offshore-wind flags whipping in the wind. Just the American flag flew on the Saints as Tony Alvernaz climbed up to the wheelhouse.” ****STEWARD'S IMPACT! ***** — “Fire chiefs: EMS response in N. Central Mass. 'on verge of collapse' after hospital closing,” by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette: “Calling the situation a crisis, fire chiefs in the Nashoba Valley area of northern Worcester County are calling on Gov. Maura T. Healey to lend a helping hand. They want Healey's administration to include $9.6 million in the state’s forthcoming supplemental budget to help pay for emergency medical response stretched thin since the Aug. 31 closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center.” — “Salem reevaluates crowd safety measures in wake of New Orleans terror attack,” by Michael McHugh, The Salem News.  HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — ​​Matt Chilliak is joining state Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office as an external affairs officer. He previously served as campaign manager for Rep. Seth Moulton and director of Moulton’s Serve America PAC. — Susan Elsbree has been promoted to executive vice president of public relations and Brian Domoretsky was elevated to executive vice president of public affairs at Benchmark Strategies. — Former Boston School Committee member Mary Tamer , who most recently served as executive director of Democrats for Education Reform MA, has launched a new education policy and advocacy organization dubbed MassPotential. She’s serving as the group’s executive director. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Yohannes Abraham and Jeff Gulko. Happy belated to Ashley Bittner, who celebrated Monday.  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 .   Follow us on Twitter Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters Follow us

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey: Show me the shelter money

 

BY KELLY GARRITY With help from Lisa Kashinsky ‘WE NEED FUNDING’ — Gov. Maura Healey didn’t mince words when asked in a new interview about the Legislature’s 11th-hour impasse over a supplemental budget that would infuse the state’s maxed-out emergency shelter system with much-needed cash and deliver long-awaited raises to state employees. “We certainly need funding. We need funding for emergency shelter. We need funding to pay state employees. So we need to get that done,” she told NBC10’s “At Issue” during an interview in her office. It’s been 11 days since the state’s shelter system exceeded the Healey administration’s 7,500-family capacity limit. There were 92 families on the waitlist as of Thursday night, according to the state’s most recently available count. On Sunday, the Healey administration said it had been able to find shelter for some of them through community partners. As the shelter crisis worsens, Healey continues to prod the federal government — and less so the Legislature, at least publicly — for help. The first-year governor has taken a largely hands-off approach to the Legislature (again, publicly) on several big bills as she learns how to navigate the politics of one-party rule — and of inter-chamber drama — on Beacon Hill. Healey said she’s “confident” that Democratic state legislative leaders will work something out quickly. “We all understand the urgency that we're in right now in terms of making sure that people have housing in particular,” she said. Meanwhile, she told WBTS-TV, "we need Congress to act. And I'm going to continue to call on Congress to act, and also for help from the Biden administration to help a state like Massachusetts that's really bearing a lot of the burden." The Biden administration did lend a hand last week, helping the state shepherd more than 1,000 migrants through a clinic to more quickly obtain work authorizations. But Healey is looking for more, and is working with a bipartisan group of governors through the National Governors Association “on a plan for Congress to act” on immigration. She’s not alone in prodding the federal government on the issue — state and local leaders in New York and Illinois have been ramping up the pressure on Biden and Congress, especially as the colder winter months move in. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Healey and the House don’t appear to be on the same page about how the $250 million in shelter funding she requested should be used. Healey said she asked for “money to help us continue to operate existing emergency shelter through the course of the year.” But the House wants her to use $50 million of it for overflow sites so those on the waitlist have a place to go — a provision backed by some housing and homeless-prevention advocates. TODAY — Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and state Attorney General Andrea Campbell make an announcement on addressing hate crimes at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. Healey and Driscoll speak at a Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month event at 11:15 a.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu talks turkey distribution for families in need at 9 a.m. at CommonWealth Kitchen, attends a Kiddies Corner event at 2:30 p.m. and the North End trellis lighting at 5:30 p.m. at Christopher Columbus Park. Rep. Jim McGovern kicks off the annual March for the Food Bank starting at 6:30 a.m. in Springfield. PROGRAMMING NOTE: It's a three-day week here at Massachusetts Playbook: We'll be in your inboxes through Wednesday, then off Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. Tips? Scoops? Email us:  kgarrity@politico.com  and  lkashinsky@politico.com DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Former state senator Dean Tran arrested for alleged COVID unemployment fraud,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Former state senator Dean Tran was arrested Friday morning on federal charges that he fraudulently collected jobless benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic and failed to report rental income to the IRS, prosecutors said. Tran, 48, was charged with 25 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing false tax returns and is slated to make an initial appearance in US District Court in Boston at 1:30 p.m., Acting US Attorney Joshua S. Levy’s office said.” — “Massachusetts becomes fifth state in nation to make prison calls free,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News. MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Shelter workers, faith leaders overwhelmed and frustrated amid stalled state aid for shelters,” by Rachel Armany, GBH News. — “For Haitian teen and her family, Mass. shelter represents hope for the future,” by Juliet Schulman-Hall, MassLive. — “Advocates plan vigil at State House to call for overflow site for migrants, homeless,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald. REWIND — Lisa joined GBH’s Katie Lannan , Axios Boston’s Steph Solis and State House News Service’s Chris Lisinski on GBH’s “Talking Politics” to break down the breakdown of the supplemental budget negotiations and what did make it through before the end of formal sessions last week. FROM THE HUB — “Three months after council approval, a retired Boston firefighter’s pension boost still waiting for Wu,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “More than three months after the Boston City Council passed a home rule petition that would boost the pension of a retired Black firefighter who said his career was cut short in the early 1980s by racism, Mayor Michelle Wu has yet to sign off on the proposal, a necessary step to move the measure forward.” — “Superintendent Skipper says exam school admissions changes are being ‘actively looked at’,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: “After months of back and forth between parents, BPS officials and school committee members, Superintendent Mary Skipper said the district is actively looking into ‘incremental’ changes to alter the controversial policy at Wednesday night’s school committee meeting."   GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.     THE RACE FOR CITY HALL RECOUNT IN REVERE — Former Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo isn’t done trying to get his old job back. The city councilor has filed for a recount of ballots cast in the city’s mayoral race after finishing 367 votes behind Acting Mayor Patrick Keefe , according to official results from the city . Rizzo wrote on Facebook that “it is important to me and our committee that everyone that took advantage of these additional ways to vote, as opposed to on election day, had their votes counted.” Keefe posted on X that it’s “disheartening, but not surprising” that Rizzo, who also requested a recount in the 2015 mayor’s race he lost to Brian Arrigo , is pursuing “an unnecessary and costly recount.” Keefe pledged to move forward with transition and inauguration planning and has already updated the city’s website to say he’s mayor-elect. BALLOT BATTLES — “DiZoglio all in on ballot bid ,” by Bruce Mohl and Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon: “State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has drained her campaign account to pay for the signature-gathering effort to put a proposed law on the ballot allowing her office to audit the Legislature.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Eng says $24 billion for MBTA is a ‘planning tool,’ not immediate need,” by Daniel Kool, Boston Globe: “MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said in a television interview Sunday that the $24.5 billion price tag announced last week to fix the T’s infrastructure is a “planning tool” for future work and does not represent the agency’s immediate needs. That sum includes repairing and replacing tracks, station amenities, trains, signals, and more, to bring the neglected system back to a state of good repair. But “that’s not looking to say we need $24.5 billion today,” Eng said on WCVB-TV’s “On The Record” Sunday morning.” WARREN REPORT Protesters hold signs Sunday outside Sen. Elizabeth Warren's house in Cambridge. | AP THE CALLS ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE — Roughly four dozen pro-Palestinian protesters staged a sit-in on a side street outside of Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’s Cambridge home on Sunday and unfurled a banner in front of it urging the senator to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. Warren has repeatedly called for humanitarian pauses in the region. But groups of far-left activists, medical professionals and a few hundred former staffers from her 2020 presidential campaign have implored her to go further, demonstrating outside of her offices and sending her open letters asking her to call for a permanent cease-fire and to end U.S. aid to Israel. “She is a national progressive standard-bearer — or she would like to be,” one of the Cambridge protesters, Isaiah Newman , told Playbook. “We’ve seen her language shift over the past month and a half and we’ve seen her call for humanitarian pauses. And part of why we’re here is because that’s not enough.” A spokesperson for Warren declined comment. The Boston Globe’s Sean Cotter has more. DATELINE D.C. EYES EMOJI — “'Same thing, it's just bigger.' Is President Biden expected on Nantucket for Thanksgiving?” by Walker Armstrong, Cape Cod Times: “...There is no official word from the White House. But Nantucket Memorial Airport public information officer Cameron Woods said the Air Traffic Management System Operations Security team issued a temporary flight restriction Friday, indicating Biden and his family will likely arrive within the week.” IN MEMORIAM — “Former first lady Rosalynn Carter dies at 96,” by David Cohen, POLITICO.   GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK : Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.. SUBSCRIBE NOW .     FROM THE 413 — "Title IX report slams Amherst’s response to harassment of LGBTQ+ students," by Jackson Cote, MassLive: "An investigation report released to the public Friday determined Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools (ARPS) failed to effectively address claims of harassment and misconduct by middle school staff against LGBTQ+ students." — “Arrests in Holyoke mayor’s street crime crackdown lead to gridlocked courts,” by Aprell May Munford, Springfield Republican: “Mayor Joshua A. Garcia’s crackdown on street crime, after a child’s tragic death, is producing both a mountain of arrests and near gridlock in local courts. Since Nov. 8, under a program called Operation Safe Streets 2, Holyoke saw 97 arrests, 55 criminal summonses and 475 traffic stops in two sweeps, according to a Holyoke Police Department Facebook post.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Brockton councilors reject $500K revolving fund as city works to put its finances in order,” by Chris Helms, Brockton Enterprise: “City councilors shot down a half-million-dollar ‘revolving fund’ as fallout from the school overspending scandal continues. With voters paying closer attention to city finance since the revelation Brockton Public Schools overspent by $14.4M in fiscal 2023, councilors balked at creating a fund to support economic development and planning. The ‘Economic Revolving Fund’ would have allowed the planning department to spend up to $500,000 with approval from the city's chief financial officer.” — “Worcester city manager: Police oversight not a priority for Human Rights Commission,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “City Manager Eric D. Batista is declining to give the city's Human Rights Commission documents it requested regarding the Police Department's response to hate crimes and officer misconduct.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Rep. Jim McGovern , state Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis , Samuel M. Gebru , Rebecca Hart Holder , executive director of Reproductive Equity Now; Erika Scibelli and Valerie Frias . 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 .   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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