POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The future of the MassGOP isn't totally Trump

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY SEALING THE DIEHL — “Let’s Go Brandon” T-shirts. Satirical “Adiós Chuckles” candy bars featuring a clown-nosed Gov. Charlie Baker on the wrapper. Impassioned vows to uphold election integrity and take down the “radical left.” This ain’t Baker’s GOP anymore.  The MassGOP convention Saturday offered the first real look at a post-Baker Republican Party. And the immediate future is decidedly more conservative and pro-Trump. Delegates overwhelmingly endorsed conservative, Donald Trump-backed former state Rep. Geoff Diehl for governor and his running mate, former state Rep. Leah Cole Allen, for lieutenant governor. Baker's name was rarely uttered, though candidates took some veiled shots at his policies, particularly his Covid-19 mandates. It was Trump’s name that got a standing ovation. And Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager who’s now advising Diehl, got the celebrity treatment at the MassMutual Center. “The party, now that it’s no longer run by the acolytes of Baker [and former Govs. Bill] Weld and [Paul] Cellucci, is going to become a much more Trump party. And there’s not a problem with that,” Haverhill delegate Alex Veras told reporters. “We’re not going to win overnight,” Veras continued, acknowledging the politics of a blue state that twice produced some of Trump’s worst electoral showings. “But it’s a start.” Still, some Baker allies walked away feeling hopeful about moderates’ future in the party despite their standard-bearer skipping the show. Chris Doughty, who repeatedly branded himself as a conservative but is viewed as more moderate in comparison to Diehl, went to Springfield unsure if he’d clear the 15 percent delegate support needed to make the ballot. He nearly doubled it, earning 29 percent to Diehl’s 71 percent. His running mate, former state Rep. Kate Campanale, garnered 30 percent to Allen’s 70 percent. And that was from roughly 1,200 votes — half those cast at the 2018 convention that Baker won by a similar margin. But conservative messaging ruled the day and, for now, the party. Chair Jim Lyons and anti-abortion activist David Bereit railed against abortion. Former Trump “border czar” Thomas Homan riled up the crowd and Diehl pledged to send Massachusetts National Guard troops to the southern border to “stop the lawlessness.” Candidate after candidate delivered alarmist — and in one particular case, vulgar — takes on the state of schools. Baker’s brand of bipartisanship was buried by talk of “evil” Democrats and their “extreme progressive agenda that will destroy our commonwealth.” The economy offers opportunity for party unity. Nearly every candidate wove soaring prices and digs at Beacon Hill Democrats for not passing tax relief into their speeches. Delegates from across the GOP political spectrum overwhelmingly told Playbook it’s their top issue and the one the party should be wielding to motivate voters. “When I’m out going to the supermarket or the gas station, the No. 1 complaint is inflation,” Worcester delegate Bill McCarthy told Playbook. “Those are common-people issues.” From left: GOP governor hopeful Chris Doughty speaks with a delegate at the MassGOP convention in Springfield on May 21, 2022. GOP governor hopeful Geoff Diehl snaps a selfie with convention attendees. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Rep. Lori Trahan will endorse Maura Healey for governor this afternoon, giving the two-term attorney general her third endorsement from the state’s 11-member congressional delegation in less than two weeks as the Democratic nominating convention looms. Healey will join Trahan for the 1:15 p.m. announcement at the Hamilton Canal Innovation District in Lowell, and the two will then tour UMass Lowell’s Innovation Hub. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attends a ribbon cutting for Pickett Plaza in Worcester at 2:30 p.m. Diehl and Allen host a post-convention media availability at 11 a.m. outside the State House. Tips? Scoops? Comments? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     CAMPAIGN MODE — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo is endorsing former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell for state attorney general at noon outside Revere City Hall as part of Campbell’s Gateway Cities listening tour. — CAMPBELL STRIKES BACK: Democratic state attorney general hopefuls Quentin Palfrey and Shannon Liss-Riordan will sign a “People’s Pledge” to limit third-party spending in their race at 2 p.m. outside the State House. Campbell won’t attend because she’ll be in Revere for her Gateway Cities tour. But at first she wasn’t invited. Palfrey’s campaign alerted members of the media to the event prior to sending Campbell an email invitation Sunday evening, and emphasized to Playbook that her campaign had not responded to any of the Palfrey team’s prior emails or repeated public calls to sign the pledge. That’s because, as Campbell argued on WCVB’s “On the Record,” Sunday, “there is no super PAC money in the AG race.” Palfrey has been trying to get Campbell to disavow the “Better Boston” super PAC that supported her Boston mayoral bid, which remains open but has taken no action in the AG race. But Campbell, without naming Palfrey, accused "my opponent" of "spreading lies" about super PAC involvement, or lack thereof, in the contest. Yet Campbell declined to denounce super PAC spending. She said super PAC money is "not a possibility" in this race, except for the Environmental League of Massachusetts, which endorsed her, has been active in prior elections and "might be" involved in this race. Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited sums, but they cannot coordinate with candidates. Campbell also hit back against Liss-Riordan’s accusation that she “flip-flopped” on supervised drug consumption sites, after supporting the concept as a mayoral candidate but opposing it in a Progressive Massachusetts AG candidate questionnaire earlier this year. “Any municipality that wants to do safe injection sites, I as attorney general would not stand in the way of that,” Campbell said. “But if we’re talking about doing this as a statewide effort, we need to have the difficult conversation and the thoughtful conversation about cost, site location.” All of this is fodder for tonight’s attorney general debate, hosted by Boston Ward 4 and Ward 5 Democrats online at 6:30 p.m. DATELINE BEACON HILL HOW DOES REDUCING THE ESTATE TAX & CAPITAL GAINS TAX HELP LOW WAGE WORKERS? — “Senate budget debate on tap – gas, estate, capital gains tax relief offered,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “The state Senate on Tuesday will begin to dispense with over 1,100 amendments to their version of the state’s fiscal 2023 budget, with nearly $50 billion in appropriations already predicted and more possible. … Not included in the budget, but expected to be debated on Tuesday, are the tax cut proposals [Gov. Charlie] Baker sent to the legislature along with his budget.” — “Lawmakers urged to make prison calls free in wake of SJC ruling,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “State lawmakers are being urged to make phone calls for prisoners free following a Supreme Judicial Court decision that allows county sheriffs to continue charging inmates and their families for the communications." — “South Shore lawmakers want to pay lobstermen during months-long conservation closure,” by Mary Whitfill, Patriot Ledger: “State senators Patrick O'Connor and Bruce Tarr have filed a budget amendment that would allocate $12 million to pay lobstermen $1 per week per trap they are licensed for during time they are not allowed to fish.” — BOOK REPORT: Gov. Charlie Baker’s book, “Results,” co-authored with his former chief of staff, Steve Kadish, is out Tuesday. The Boston Globe published an excerpt. The Pioneer Institute will release “Back to Taxachusetts?” on Wednesday, which will make the case against the so-called millionaires tax on the ballot this November, reports the Boston Herald’s Matthew Medsger. VAX-ACHUSETTS — “Omicron variant caused more deaths in Mass. in shorter period than delta did, new study finds,” by Mark Herz, GBH News: “The omicron variant of SARS-COV-2 caused more ‘excess deaths’ in Massachusetts in eight weeks this year than the delta variant did in 23 weeks when it was the dominant variant. Excess deaths are a measure of how many more deaths occur in a given time period than would normally be predicted for a population.” — WATCH: “‘Faces of COVID’ account serves as reminder of lives lost during pandemic,” by Jon Keller, WBZ. FROM THE HUB — “For the first time this year, Boston city councilors have the power to tear up the mayor’s budget. Will they?” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Armed with broad new power to rewrite Boston’s annual operating budget, the City Council has so far treaded lightly. More than a month after Mayor Michelle Wu proposed a $3.99 billion budget, the council has yet to make any changes to it, and it remains to be seen whether the body will pitch any major shifts at all. That’s in part due to the logistical difficulty of doing so. The council continues to operate under significant limitations even after a successful ballot measure gave the body new budgeting powers.” — “Mass and Cass community groups call for decentralization, Engagement Center closure,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “A group of Mass and Cass-area neighborhood groups is planning to bring the city a list of proposals designed at reining in the issues flaring up in the area, including pushes to permanently close the engagement center, further decentralize services and set an end date for the use of the Roundhouse Hotel services.” — “State has given Boston Public Schools draft report on receivership, progress,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has delivered a draft report to Boston Public Schools about whether the district has made progress over the last few years or whether the state should appoint a ‘receiver’ to take control of it, a city official said — though the contents of the document remain tightly under wraps.” — "Kim Janey to lead nonprofit targeting poverty," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "Decades ago, as a young mother striving to finish her high school education, former acting Boston mayor Kim Janey received support from the Boston-based nonprofit Economic Mobility Pathways. Soon, Janey will lead the organization, EMPath announced Monday." — LISTEN: “Walsh hopes union pushes at Amazon and Starbucks signal 'long term' labor revitalization,” by Zoe Mathews, GBH News.   HAPPENING WEDNESDAY—A WOMEN RULE TALK ON THE MIDTERMS : Join POLITICO’S Women Rule for a conversation with the women running the midterm campaigns and how they are shaping messaging and strategy for their candidates. The program will look into what a win for either party could mean for access to reproductive health care, economic advancement of women, and how the final stages of the Covid-19 pandemic are managed. REGISTER HERE.     HEALEY WATCH — LISTEN: “Healey calls on Everett city councilor to resign over racist comments,” by Hannah Reale, GBH News. — More from Healey’s GBH interview: “Healey says rent control is not ‘the solution’ to state’s housing crisis,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Attorney General Maura Healey said Friday in a radio interview she does not support reestablishing rent control as a ‘solution’ for the high housing costs in Massachusetts, where progressive Democrats, including Boston’s mayor, have pushed for forms of it. But almost immediately, Healey’s gubernatorial campaign sought to refashion the meaning of her comments, saying she doesn’t support ‘requiring’ rent control statewide but is open to allowing individual towns and cities to pursue their own policies.” — Related: “Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz calls for an end to the state’s ban on rent control,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz called for an end to the state’s ban on rent control Friday afternoon, hours after competitor Attorney General Maura Healey said she would not support a statewide policy requiring rent control.” ON THE STUMP — DATELINE SPRINGFIELD: Republican Party activists delivered a pair of GOP primaries and also endorsed Anthony Amore for auditor, Rayla Campbell for secretary of state and Jay McMahon for attorney general. Here’s what the gubernatorial candidates had to say about what’s next: DOUGHTY’S SURPRISE ENDING — Halfway through the convention, Chris Doughty told Playbook in between pitching delegates that he still wasn’t sure if he’d secured the 15 percent support to get on the ballot. “I’m shocked and delighted,” Doughty told reporters after winning 29 percent. “We called every delegate multiple times. And so many of them told me that’s what made the difference. … We just moved to the next step, which is the primary. And we’ll do what we just did, which is work.” That “absolutely” will include appeals to independents, who make up 57 percent of voters in Massachusetts. And it could include investing more of his own money in his campaign, he said, depending on how fundraising goes. LET'S MAKE A DIEHL — Geoff Diehl also said he plans to pitch independents. “We've got an economy that's coming out of the pandemic, but a massive inflation, huge gas costs and nobody on Beacon Hill seems to be willing to try to give some relief to the average folks who are just trying to make a living here in the state,” Diehl said. “We cannot afford to keep bleeding out all these great people who are trying to make it here in Massachusetts. So we're gonna give them a better future.” FROM THE DELEGATION — TRAVEL BAN: The Massachusetts delegation won’t be traveling to Russia anytime soon. The Russian Foreign Ministry has updated its list of sanctioned Americans, barring Sen. Ed Markey and Reps. Katherine Clark, Lori Trahan, Ayanna Pressley, Bill Keating, Stephen Lynch, Richard Neal, Jim McGovern, Seth Moulton and Jake Auchincloss from entering the country. “If Vladimir Putin thinks permanently banning me from Russia is going to change my support for Ukraine, I’ve got bad news for him. It’s not,” Trahan tweeted . “The United States stands with Ukraine.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — "National Grid spars with nearby officials and activists on the banks of the Malden River," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "Political leaders and advocacy groups who represent the cities of Everett, Malden, and Medford are upset with the utility because of something the company won’t build: a half-mile 'riverwalk' along 28 acres it owns overlooking the Malden River." THE LOWELL CONNECTOR — “In storied New England mill city, Cambodian Americans make political history,” by Don Lee, Los Angeles Times: “At a time when Asian Americans are facing hostility in many parts of the country, Lowell’s Cambodian community is up and coming — thanks in large part to its perseverance, help from public interest attorneys from Boston and painstaking alliance-building with Lowell residents and other disenfranchised groups, who now are also benefiting from the city’s dramatic changes.” FROM THE 413 — “Faces of the Northampton VA: Veterans share their stories, fears of what they will lose if the hospital is shut down,” by Will Katcher, MassLive: “There are more than 20,000 patients of the VA spread across the region who rely on the medical center in Northampton’s Leeds village. They fought in Normandy, Khe Sanh and Kandahar; trained and served at Fort Leavenworth, Camp Pendleton and Naval Air Station Pensacola; and settled in Western Massachusetts nearby a nationally-known veterans hospital. These are the stories of just eight of them.” — “No Dems step up to challenge Rep. Neal in primary,” by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “During the past two election cycles, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal has been the target of progressive challengers looking to oust the Springfield Democrat. As campaigns for Congress take shape this year, however, no other Democrats appear to be mounting campaigns to challenge Neal." THE LOCAL ANGLE — “The last abortion clinic in Mississippi only employs out-of-state doctors. Two are from Massachusetts,” by Hanna Krueger, Boston Globe: “The Jackson Women’s Health Organization, known colloquially as the Pink House for its flamingo-colored stucco exterior, is the only abortion clinic in the state of Mississippi. It will almost certainly be the last. ... [For now] the Pink House remains open, kept afloat by countless volunteers, dedicated staff, and seven out-of-state doctors, who perform the abortions that local doctors refuse, often for fear of harassment or the loss of local job opportunities. Two are obstetrician gynecologists from Massachusetts. Once a month, they set off from Logan Airport and land 1,255 miles away in Mississippi’s capital…” — “‘Giving care to caregivers’: Mass. Planned Parenthood employees look to unionize,” by Abby Patkin, MetroWest Daily News: “Workers at Planned Parenthood clinics in Marlborough, Boston, Worcester and Springfield are looking to unionize, citing the need for better recruitment and retention in the face of ongoing challenges to reproductive rights and abortion access nationwide.” — “A 'Jaws' actor is named police chief in the town where the iconic movie was filmed,” by Rina Torchinsky, GBH News: “Former Jaws actor Jonathan Searle is set to become the next police chief of Oak Bluffs in Martha's Vineyard — the same town in which the iconic movie was filmed.” — “The Mass. job market weakened in April,” by Larry Edelman, Boston Globe. — “As affirmative action decision looms, colleges look for alternative ways to achieve diversity,” by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe. CONGRATS — to my Massachusetts Playbook predecessor, the supremely talented Stephanie Murray, who capped off her incredible four-year run at POLITICO with a final edition of Morning Score on Friday. Can’t wait to see what you do next! TRANSITIONS — Kim Corbin is joining Pioneer Public Affairs as a partner. She most recently was senior adviser to Rep. Jim McGovern. — Boston Business Journal’s Steph Solis is now the second reporter for Axios Boston, which launches June 13. — The Boston Globe’s Laura Krantz is joining The Chronicle of Higher Education as subscriber products editor. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Gerald James Holton, who is 100; Andrew M. Cable, state Rep. Jim O’Day, Stephanie Slysz and Dorchester Reporter editor and publisher Bill Forry. Happy belated to Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy, who celebrated Friday, and to Peter Weissenstein and Arthur Brooks, who celebrated over the weekend. 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   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: 5 things to watch at the MassGOP convention

 

View in browser   BY LISA KASHINSKY Presented by ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM — No Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito, no problem. Republicans will gather to anoint their new standard bearers at Saturday’s MassGOP convention at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Here’s what to look for: DONE DIEHL — Donald Trump-endorsed former state Rep. Geoff Diehl will likely walk away with his party’s endorsement for governor. But whether that's by a landslide or a smaller margin will show his strength with the GOP base beyond polls. BALLOT BATTLE — Candidates need 15 percent support from delegates to get on the primary ballot. Diehl’s rival, Chris Doughty, isn’t exuding confidence about his prospects. “We’re on the edge,” Doughty said on Bloomberg Baystate Business yesterday. “We have some commitments from folks, certainly. But a lot of them, you know, show up to the convention and vote how they feel. … I’m calling up until the last minute asking to get on the ballot.” SPLIT TICKET — Diehl and Doughty both have running mates in former state Reps. Leah Cole Allen and Kate Campanale, respectively. But delegates could shake up those pairs by, for instance, endorsing Campanale for lieutenant governor and Diehl for governor. THE FOUR I’s — " Inflation, immigration, indoctrination [in schools] and infanticide." Those are Chair Jim Lyons’ top issues heading into the convention. Speakers Thomas Homan, a former ICE acting director and Trump “border czar,” and anti-abortion advocate David Bereit are primed to hit on at least two of those topics. And Lyons told Playbook that Beacon Hill Democrats’ stalling on tax relief is “the reason that we’re going to have some traction in November.” Republicans can rally behind tax relief. But social issues — particularly abortion — could prove divisive in an already fractious party prone to public infighting. RIGHT FOOT FORWARD — Speaking of division, the MassGOP has for years been split between conservative Lyons and moderate Baker. Without Baker as a moderate anchor and Trump repudiator, look to see whether candidates and delegates shift right and embrace (or further embrace) the former president. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. A top Democrat from Massachusetts is calling for tax relief before the end of June. Problem is, he’s the governor of New Jersey. Garden State residents “should expect a historic level of property tax relief and reduction” with that state’s tax revenue forecast to surge, Baker’s Needham High and Harvard classmate Phil Murphy told reporters while in Boston yesterday for a National Governors Association event. Baker is still waiting for that same level of commitment from Democrats here. Though both House and Senate leaders have expressed interest in tax relief, details have yet to emerge, leaving the Republican saying: “I really do hope that between now and the time the session ends in July, I have a chance to sign a tax relief package.” Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker speaks at a National Governors Association event in Boston on May 19, 2022. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO TODAY — Baker speaks at a housing development groundbreaking at 9:30 a.m. in Mattapan and delivers the Quincy College commencement address at 11 a.m. Polito is the New England Law commencement speaker at 11 a.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends an EPA press conference on zero-emission school bus rebates at 8 a.m. and holds a West Roxbury coffee hour at 9:30 a.m. AG Maura Healey is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 11 a.m.; Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is on at noon. Rep. Jake Auchincloss hosts U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona at Milford High School at 9:45 a.m. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts Cardona at 1:30 p.m. at Lowell High School. THIS WEEKEND — Walsh is the Endicott College commencement speaker on Saturday. Faces of COVID creator and 90 West founder Alex Goldstein is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. AG hopeful Andrea Campbell is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com. And go Celtics!   A message from PhRMA: Thousands of scientists in Massachusetts are creating ground-breaking treatments to fight everything from the common cold to cancer. Gov. Charlie Baker’s bill would let the government set prices on medications, limiting the amount of research scientists can do to create cures. More importantly, it might make some medications harder to get. Gov. Baker: let the scientists do their jobs, don’t discriminate against patients, and stop threatening access to medications. Go to SupportMassCures.com to learn more.   CAMPAIGN MODE — ENDORSEMENT ALERTS: Speaking of conventions, endorsements are flying ahead of the Democrats’ gathering in June. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO endorsed state attorney general Maura Healey for governor, Shannon Liss-Riordan for attorney general, Bill Galvin for reelection as secretary of state and state Sen. Diana DiZoglio for auditor. Healey also won the support of EMILY’s List. But the nod from the prominent abortion rights group that spends big to elect Democratic women prompted rebuke from state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz and her supporters. “In this historic all-women race where both candidates have strong pro-choice records, it’s frustrating to see another establishment organization discount the only woman of color in their endorsement process,” Chang-Díaz spokeswoman Kaitlyn Solares said in a statement. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins has been endorsed for reelection by state Sens. Nick Collins, Will Brownsberger, Sal DiDomenico and Lydia Edwards; state Reps. Ed Coppinger, Kevin Honan, Rob Consalvo, Nika Elugardo, Dan Ryan, Mike Moran, Adrian Madaro, Dan Hunt and Chynah Tyler; Boston City Council President Ed Flynn and Councilors Frank Baker, Erin Murphy and Gabriela Coletta; Register of Probate Felix Arroyo; former councilors Sal LaMattina and Mark Ciommo, and former Suffolk DA Dan Conley. — "Second Suffolk senate hopefuls make case at progressive forum," by Jennifer Smith, Dorchester Reporter: "Four candidates jostling for the recently redrawn Second Suffolk state senate seat participated in a largely congenial forum this week that drew out only slight differences between them on policy and left the distinctions largely to their backgrounds. Roxbury pastor and lawyer Rev. Miniard Culpepper, state representatives Nika Elugardo and Liz Miranda, and former state senator Dianne Wilkerson made their cases in the Thursday night forum." — “Finegold has a Republican opponent in November,” by Dave Rogers, Eagle-Tribune: “Coffee chain owner and former Navy SEAL Sal DeFranco announced last week he will be challenging state Sen. Barry Finegold, D-Andover, for the Second Essex and Middlesex District seat this fall.” MUST READ! — “GOP candidate for Congress hurls racial slurs at Brockton activist in text exchange,” by Chris Helms, Brockton Enterprise: “A Congressional candidate called a well-known Brockton activist racial slurs in a private text exchange. Ollie Spears and Hamilton Rodrigues are both men of color. Spears, a Democrat, shared with The Enterprise a long text thread between him and Rodrigues, a Republican aiming to unseat U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, a Democrat representing the Eighth District.” THE LATEST NUMBERS — “Boston reports ‘significant increase’ in COVID cases, hospitalizations; Massachusetts reports nearly 5,000 new cases,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The 4,957 daily virus cases in Massachusetts was down from 5,576 reported cases last Thursday, but testing dropped 19.5% from last week.” — “Mass. reports 14,878 new coronavirus cases among public school students and 4,090 among staff,” by Adria Watson, Boston Globe: “The 18,968 total cases were 1,545 more, or about 9 percent more, than those reported last week, according to data published by the state.” — “Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts,” by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe.   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     DATELINE BEACON HILL — "New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says Massachusetts should legalize sports betting: ‘I’d do it’," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday enthusiastically endorsed Massachusetts lawmakers seeking to legalize sports betting in the commonwealth, as a long-awaited wagering bill is now in a conference committee for House and Senate members to hash out conflicting provisions." — “Casino trade group’s verdict on effort to exclude college games from Mass. sports betting bill: 🐬” by Michael Silverman, Boston Globe: “The casino gaming industry’s national trade group urged Massachusetts legislators to include three components in any sports betting bill: permitting betting on college sports, allowing for less restrictive advertising, and adopting reasonable tax rates. The three areas of concern cited by the American Gaming Association stem from the Senate bill passed last month, a version that differs markedly from what passed last summer in the House at roughly half the tax rate and with college sports betting included.” — “Negotiators Strike Quick Compromise On License Bill,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “Only a few hours after Senate leaders made their picks for a conference committee to iron out a final bill with the House, the panel submitted a final proposal that would make Massachusetts one of more than a dozen states where legal status is not a factor in authorization to drive.” — “POST Commission again delays release of police complaint records,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “The state agency charged with setting up certification standards for officers and investigating abuse claims is again putting off the release of 4,500 disciplinary records from over 300 police departments. The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission is worried that the data includes redundant or missing names and complaints, with multiple entries for officers who moved from department to department, according to interviews and a Thursday commission meeting.” — “State poised to repeal 'war on drugs' tax law,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Beacon Hill leaders are quietly moving to do away with one of the last vestiges of the War on Drugs by repealing a seldom-used tax on illegal sales of marijuana and other substances that went up in smoke several decades ago.” — “COVID relief payments: Massachusetts will send $500 payments to 330,000 residents, essential workers next month,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Some 330,000 Massachusetts residents should expect to receive $500 payments in June, the Baker administration said Thursday as it announced the second round of the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program.”   A message from PhRMA:     VAX-ACHUSETTS — “Amid new surge, Gov. Charlie Baker resists mask mandate call, says COVID is ‘akin to the flu’,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Gov. Charlie Baker touted Massachusetts’ high vaccination rate — including among vulnerable residents at greater risk of developing serious coronavirus-related complications — as he again resisted calls Thursday to reinstate COVID-19 safeguards to tamp down the commonwealth’s rising caseload.” — “With COVID-19 cases on the rise, Boston health officials urge residents to take precautions,” by Martin Finucane, Boston Globe. FROM THE HUB — “Michelle Wu was asked about Patrick Rose’s internal affairs file. Her answer raises more questions,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “It was an admission that raised more questions: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, speaking on a local news show last weekend, implied she was prevented from accessing the full, unredacted internal affairs report of Patrick M. Rose, the former Boston police officer and union president, who last month pleaded guilty to molesting half a dozen children over several decades. … Since then, her administration has declined to answer questions from the Globe about why she could not read the unredacted report. It’s a notable departure for a politician who rode to the corner office in City Hall on pledges of transparency and good government, and promises to overhaul Boston’s troubled Police Department. ... Moreover, several experts say they can see no legal reason why Wu wouldn’t be able to see the full report.” — “Crime, arrests up on Mass and Cass this year, police say,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “[Lt. Peter] Messina, head of the outreach unit and general police response in the the area known for its open-air drug market, laid out the numbers in a call to community members on Thursday — showing ‘violent crime’ up 26% and arrests jumping 77%.” — “Governors meet in Boston on importance of STEM education,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “Seven state governors met in Boston Thursday to hear from a panel of experts and educators on the importance of STEM education for their states and our nation’s future. ‘It’s a national security issue for our country. Whether you are looking at the need for cybersecurity protection or you are looking at supply chain shortages, we have to have those that have a background in computer science coming out of our high schools that are looking for solutions for America,’ [NGA Chair and] Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson told reporters after hearing from the panel.” — “Mayor Wu announces members of Black Men and Boys Commission,” by Marta Hill, Boston.com. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “All new Orange Line trains taken out of service,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “One of the MBTA’s new Orange Line trains became disabled when it experienced a problem with one of its braking units on Thursday, prompting the transit authority to remove all other new Orange Line trains from service until the cause of the problem is determined.” DAY IN COURT — “Suspect in Whitey Bulger murder has been in solitary ever since,” by Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe: “More than 3½ years after notorious gangster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger was beaten to death by inmates within hours of his arrival at a federal prison in West Virginia, no one has been charged with his murder and federal authorities have not released any information about the investigation. But ever since the Oct. 30, 2018, slaying at US Penitentiary Hazelton, one inmate eyed as a suspect has been held in solitary confinement, locked up for 23 hours a day in conditions that his son and lawyer contend are inhumane and punitive.” — “US Attorney Rachael Rollins reveals why she's recused from the Shelley Joseph case,” by Alexi Cohan, GBH News: “In 2019, Newton District Court Judge Shelley Joseph was indicted for helping an undocumented immigrant sneak out of a courthouse to avoid being detained. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins is recused from the case, and she told Jim Braude on Greater Boston that it all boils down to litigation she initiated when she was Suffolk County District Attorney.” — “Holyoke City Councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota returned to Rhode Island to face forgery, obstruction, child porn charges,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “Ward 2 City Councilor Wilmer E. Puello-Mota will be arraigned Friday in Warwick, Rhode Island, on charges of forgery and obstruction of the judicial system stemming from his arrest last year on charges of possession of child pornography.”   HAPPENING WEDNESDAY—A WOMEN RULE TALK ON THE MIDTERMS : Join POLITICO’S Women Rule for a conversation with the women running the midterm campaigns and how they are shaping messaging and strategy for their candidates. The program will look into what a win for either party could mean for access to reproductive health care, economic advancement of women, and how the final stages of the Covid-19 pandemic are managed. REGISTER HERE.     WARREN REPORT — “Klobuchar, Warren introduce bill to provide $20 billion for election administration,” by Alexander Bolton, The Hill: “Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Wednesday introduced a bill to provide $20 billion in federal funding to help states and localities to administer elections, train poll workers and eliminate barriers to voting.” CENSUS CHRONICLES — OOPSIES: The 2020 census overcounted people in eight states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and undercounted people in six states, according to a new report . Turns out the 7,029,917 Bay Staters tallied in 2020 were overcounted by more than 2 percent. But the new data won’t change states’ representation in Congress or in the Electoral College. FROM THE 413 — “‘This is not who we are’: Greenfield residents denounce city’s response to racial discrimination verdict,” by Mary Byrne, Greenfield Recorder: “A significant portion of public comments at the City Council meeting Wednesday evening centered on a recent verdict that found the Greenfield Police Department racially discriminated against a former police officer." THE LOCAL ANGLE — “On campus, the next generation of antiabortion activists is optimistic about what’s to come,” by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: “For student activists such as [Katelyn] Regan, advocating against abortion on campuses in New England can be a lonely calling. She and others said they feel stigmatized, misunderstood, and even hated. … Yet the leaked decision, and the prospect of significant change after almost a half-century of protest, has also provided a rush of momentum and excitement for the antiabortion movement.” — “Hospital profits pick up in 2021, mostly on asset values,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “A preliminary report by the Center for Health Information and Analysis on fiscal 2021, released Thursday, finds that overall hospital profitability in the state was 6 percent – meaning hospitals’ revenue was 6 percent higher than their expenses – an increase of 2.9 percentage points over last year.”   A message from PhRMA: Massachusetts is a booming biotech ecosystem. Its scientists and researchers are developing ground-breaking treatments to fight everything from the common cold to cancer. Gov. Charlie Baker’s bill imposes government prices on medications, which would then limit the amount of research scientists can do to create lifesaving treatments. By setting medication prices, it also means politicians decide which patients and diseases are more important than others. State bureaucrats should not be playing doctor. When the government imposes artificial prices from the top-down, some patients can lose access to their medications. Seniors, the disabled, and the chronically ill are most vulnerable to these policies. Gov. Baker: let the scientists and doctors do their jobs, don’t discriminate against patients, and stop threatening access to medications. Go to SupportMassCures.com to learn more.   MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — “National GOP committee pulls NH ad critical of Hassan,” by Josie Albertson-Grove, Union Leader: "An ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee slamming Sen. Maggie Hassan's record on the gas tax was pulled from local cable stations Thursday, over a misstatement about the impact Hassan's policy had on prices." HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to UMass Journalism's Kathy Roberts Forde, CTP Boston's Corey Welford, HUD regional administrator and former state Rep. Juana Matias, Allison Goldberg, Kathy Giles, Matt Solberg, Charlotte Zanecchia, Bill Broadway and Joe Schatz (father of his namesake and POLITICO executive editor in D.C.). Happy belated to State House News Service scribe Katie Lannan. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Seth Klarman, Edelman’s Amy Larkin Long, Beth Dozoretz, and Lacey Rose, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Kristen Orthman, Methuen state Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, Noah Feldman, CommonWealth Magazine’s Shira Schoenberg, Casey Pease, Juli Hanscom, Mary Dooe, Christina Prignano Deering of the Boston Globe, Oren Cass and former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: THE DEAL ON THE BUS — MBTA bus network redesign project manager Caroline Vanasse joins hosts Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky to map out the new and improved routes. South Shore Health infectious diseases director and chief of medicine Dr. Todd Ellerin dives into the latest Covid-19 data. 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.   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   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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