POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Your supersized Super Tuesday guide

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY AND KELLY GARRITY MASS-A-CHOOSE-ITS — Welcome to a not-so-Super Tuesday in the Bay State, where the hottest ballot battles are for party committees. Here are six contests we’re keeping an eye on: HALEY’S LAST HOPE — Nikki Haley’s delegate math isn’t mathing. Massachusetts holds some potentially good news for her: More than 15,000 Democrats have switched their voter registration to either unenrolled or Republican since Jan. 1. The percentage of voters who are unenrolled — meaning they can vote in either party’s primary — now stands at nearly 64 percent. Secretary of State Bill Galvin predicts turnout in the GOP primary — which stood at 168,779 on Monday afternoon — will exceed 400,000 today. But he doesn’t expect it’ll reach the record 637,000-plus votes cast in the 2016 GOP primary that Donald Trump won. That could spell trouble for Haley, who needs to expand the electorate if she has any chance of winning here and across the map — especially now that the Supreme Court has ruled states can't bar Trump from primary ballots. A PREFERENCE FOR NO PREFERENCE — An 11th-hour effort to convince Democratic primary voters to select “no preference” on their ballots to rebuke Joe Biden’s support for Israel and to press for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza is unlikely to keep the president from cruising to victory here. Still, organizers sent 21,000 texts to voters in the last three days and are planning to send “tens of thousands more” before polls close today. They don’t have a benchmark for success. But, as organizer Lara Jirmanus told reporters on Monday, Biden needs “to come into line with what the base is demanding” and “if there is any state it should be safe to send a message in the primary, it is Massachusetts.” THE GOP INFIGHTING CONTINUES — Control of the state GOP could again change hands based on the results of today’s Republican State Committee races, where a slate of conservative candidates backed by former state Rep. Geoff Diehl and past party Chair Jim Lyons is attempting to win enough seats to overthrow what they see as the party’s “dysfunctional” current leadership. High turnover and personal grudges have led to a series of downright ugly races in which one candidate’s anti-Semitic views attracted the attention of Rolling Stone and at least two others have seen criminal charges they've faced smeared across social media. At least one possible campaign finance violation was reported to state regulators, according to a person familiar with the complaint. And in promoting competing slates, two key players in conservative circles — Diehl and radio host and Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr — have turned the contests that could decide Amy Carnevale’s future as party chair into a proxy battle in their personal war. Carnevale faces her own challenger today , though she can technically continue serving as party chair even if she loses her committee seat. DEMS' DOWN-BALLOT DRAMA — Democratic State Committee seats are also up for grabs today. But one of the party’s most competitive races is even further down the ballot — for the Framingham Democratic Committee. Fissures among Democratic activists — inflamed by last year’s abortion imbroglio — have led to competing slates of candidates in a contest that’s pitting two of the city’s state representatives and several of its councilors against each other. Leaders of the slate known as “Group 2” — which includes state Rep. Priscila Sousa, City Councilor George King and School Committee Chair Jessica Barnhill — want to bring new leadership to a committee they say has been too insular and inaccessible to newcomers. But members of “Group 1” — which includes the committee’s current co-chairs and other incumbents like state Rep. Jack Lewis and former Mayor Yvonne Spicer — maintain that the rift is more about past politics than fresh faces. HOUSE SPECIAL — Here’s something Republicans can all get behind: The party is on track to win its second straight special legislative election, with Dudley Selectman John Marsi running unopposed for the 6th Worcester seat left open by now-state Sen. Peter Durant. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' — Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley are also facing off today — in California, where they’re backing different candidates in that state’s U.S. Senate primary. Warren is supporting one of her protégés, Rep. Katie Porter, while Pressley is pulling for Rep. Barbara Lee. GOOD SUPER TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Polls close at 8 p.m. Here’s your list of candidates . And we’ll have results from the presidential primaries here . TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey makes a veterans’ housing announcement with Rep. Stephen Lynch , Boston Mayor Michelle Wu , state Sen. Lydia Edwards and other local officials at 1:30 p.m. at the New England Center and Home for Veterans. Wu speaks at the William E. Carter School topping-off ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in the South End and attends the Boston Bruins Heritage Hall ribbon cutting at 2:30 p.m. in the West End. Galvin votes in Brighton at 9:30 a.m. Trump backers will hold a watch party at the Inn at Bay Pointe in Quincy tonight. The state Democratic Party is throwing its shindig at Boston's Bell in Hand Tavern. Send us the results in your state and local committee races: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com .   DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The stakes are high as America's health care community strives to meet the evolving needs of patients and practitioners, adopt new technologies and navigate skeptical public attitudes toward science. Join POLITICO’s annual Health Care Summit on March 13 where we will discuss the future of medicine, including the latest in health tech, new drugs and brain treatments, diagnostics, health equity, workforce strains and more. REGISTER HERE .     FROM THE HUB NEW: COURTING CLERK ROLES — Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy is running for the Suffolk County Supreme Judicial Court clerk seat that Maura Doyle is vacating , she confirmed first to Playbook Monday night. “I feel that my decades as an educator and my time that I've spent [and] will continue to spend this year as a legislator on the Boston City Council has prepared me to take on what will be an important role,” Murphy, who does not have any legal experience, said. The Dorchester native and former Boston Public Schools teacher recently won a second two-year term as an at-large councilor — a seat she could keep while she runs for the county role that pays about $180,000 a year. If she wins, the city’s charter says that when an at-large seat opens up, it must be offered to the next-highest vote-getter in the last election. In this case, that’s Bridget Nee-Walsh . But Murphy is likely to face some stiff competition. Allison Cartwright, a managing director for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, said in a post on X last month that she was “exploring the opportunity to run” for the seat. She has now pulled papers for it, according to a person with direct knowledge of her plans. Cartwright is a public defender with more than 30 years of experience, and an advocate for indigenous people. She previously served as assistant corporation counsel for Boston and was a member of the Police Reform Task Force stood up by then-Mayor Marty Walsh . YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — John Deaton is already attracting the attention of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in his bid against Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren . NRSC Chair Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is headlining a breakfast roundtable with Deaton at 8 a.m. in Boston, according to an invitation obtained by Playbook. There’s no cost to attend, but any donations will be split between Deaton’s campaign, the MassGOP and the NRSC. Unlike state parties, the NRSC is not required to stay neutral in primaries. BY THE NUMBERS — Democrats now make up just 27 percent of registered voters in Massachusetts, Secretary of State Bill Galvin said on Monday. Republicans are down to just 8 percent. And the share of unenrolled voters is nearing 64 percent. “That’s really amazing to me,” Galvin told reporters. “There was a time not that many years ago where 38 percent to 40 percent was more steady on the Democratic side.” Secretary of State Bill Galvin previews Super Tuesday. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO BALLOT BATTLES SCOTUS SAYS — States can’t kick Donald Trump off the ballot, the Supreme Court said Monday in a ruling that effectively ends the Shannon Liss-Riordan and Free Speech For People-led effort to disqualify the former president from the Massachusetts ballot under the 14th Amendment. The justices didn’t actually touch the question of whether Trump engaged in an insurrection. But they said unanimously that it’s Congress, not states, which holds the power to disqualify someone under the Constitution’s so-called insurrection clause. “We are disappointed that the Court would not grapple with the serious constitutional issues raised by Donald Trump's candidacy,” Liss-Riordan said in a statement to Playbook. “We are a nation of laws, and it is very disappointing when courts allow our laws to be ignored.” Marc Salinas, who represented Trump in Massachusetts, cast efforts to strip him from state ballots as "purely politically motivated" in a statement. "When you take politics out of the analysis this was the only correct result," he said. Democrats don't see it that way. Sen. Elizabeth Warren slammed “an extremist Supreme Court that is determined to protect Donald Trump,” while speaking to reporters at an unrelated event in Worcester. “We all know that someone with 91 felony charges *shouldn't* become President,” Rep. Seth Moulton posted on X . “But the best way to reject Trump is to VOTE — and vote decisively so there's never any doubt.” WHAT CITY HALL IS READING — “Wu announces agreement reached with Boston police detectives union,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe: “Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced Monday that a Boston police detectives union has ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with her administration, in a deal that mirrors a previous pact reached with another police labor group that included significant reforms to discipline.” DAY IN COURT — “Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira pleads guilty under a deal that calls for at least 11 years in prison,” by Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press: “Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira pleaded guilty on Monday to leaking highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine and other national security secrets under a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to serve at least 11 years in prison."   On the ground in Albany. Get critical policy news and analysis inside New York State. Track how power brokers are driving change across legislation and budget and impacting lobbying efforts. Learn more .     FROM THE DELEGATION STATE OF THE GUEST LIST — Fresh off the Alabama court ruling jeopardizing access to in vitro fertilization, Rep. Lori Trahan is bringing Dr. Pietro Bortoletto , the director of reproductive surgery at Boston IVF, as her guest to Thursday’s State of the Union address. Trahan underwent treatment at the fertility clinic to become pregnant with her two daughters. — “Mass. to receive $350 million to replace Cape Cod bridges through federal appropriations bill, officials say,” by Nick Stoico, The Boston Globe. IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN KEEP CALM AND KERRY ON — John Kerry is stepping down as special climate envoy on Wednesday, capping off a four-decade run in public service. Kerry insisted to our colleague Sara Schonhardt that he’s not retiring, but is simply taking his efforts outside of government. Schonhardt at E&E and The Washington Post’s Maxine Joselow unpack what the former Massachusetts senator and past secretary of state’s exit from his current role means for the global climate fight. — “National Grid says Biden-backed transmission line ‘not viable’,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon. NATIONAL GRID and Citizens Energy are pulling the plug on a proposed $2 billion two-way transmission line linking New England and Quebec that had received financial backing from the Biden administration. A source familiar with the situation said National Grid and Citizens Energy were unable to line up buyers for the transmission line’s power even though the US Department of Energy had committed to purchasing a large chunk of the project’s electricity output. In a statement, National Grid said it was grateful for the support of the US Department of Energy. “Unfortunately, National Grid has determined that the project is not viable at this time,” the statement said. “National Grid thanks the dozens of route communities and regional partners who engaged with us and supported this project. We will continue to pursue paths to building much-needed transmission capacity for the region and for our customers and communities.” Joe Kennedy III, the president of Citizens Energy, said in a statement that he respected National Grid’s decision. “We’re grateful for the Biden administration’s leadership in advancing renewable power and green transmission, and will continue to seek opportunities where green infrastructure development can help meet the urgent need to help marginalized communities and build a cleaner grid,” he said. A spokesperson for Hydro-Quebec, the provincial utility of Quebec, was not aware of National Grid’s decision. The spokesperson noted no agreement was in place on the “export neutral project.” The Twin States Clean Energy Link was considered a novel transmission line because it sought to transmit electricity in both directions – energy going from New England to Quebec when the region had a surplus and electricity flowing to New England when Quebec had a surplus. The Biden administration made a financial commitment to the project last year along with two other two-way transmission line initiatives – one linking Nevada and Utah and the other linking New Mexico and Arizona. The awards, totaling $1.3 billion, came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s transmission facilitation program. The federal funding represented an upfront commitment to purchase power from the projects if buyers for all of the power could not be found. Even with that support, apparently not enough buyers could be found to make the Twin States project viable. The decision by National Grid leaves New England with only one transmission line to Quebec under construction. That project, called New England Clean Energy Connect, is being financed by Massachusetts electric ratepayers. It has encountered enormous hurdles, including passage of a law blocking the project, but is now back on track in the wake of a Maine Supreme Court decision. Unlike the above-ground New England Clean Energy Connect, the Twin States transmission line was going to run mostly underground. The transmission line was planned to cross the Quebec border into Vermont at Canaan, travel 75 miles south underground along the Connecticut River, then go underneath the river into New Hampshire near Dalton. From there it was slated to travel 26 miles underground to Monroe, where it would join an existing above-ground right-of-way to Londonderry. Citizens Energy planned to put up 10 percent of the capital for the Twin States project and use the estimated $100 million in profits it was expecting over 30 years to help communities along the route decarbonize. Citizens Energy and National Grid said they planned a total of $260 million in investments in the communities along the route. “We really think that this can become a model for how transmission infrastructure can be built,” Kennedy told CommonWealth Beacon in October. WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING — “B.J. Novak ‘officially pardoned’ by MFA over 1997 high school prank,” by Henry Bova, The Boston Globe. — “The Patriot Ledger is the latest New England outlet without a physical newsroom,” by Aidan Ryan, The Boston Globe. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH SPOTTED — Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune onstage with Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy on Saturday at the TD Garden. She declared March 2 as a ceremonial “Burna Boy Day” in Boston. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Kim Kargman , deputy political director SEIU Local 509. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (AGAIN) — to Lowell City Manager Thomas Golden, Josh Arnold, Sharon Block , former Gov. Charlie Baker’s ’18 campaign manager Brian Wynne, Chris Joyce, Chris Lane, Justin Backal Balik, Adam Boyajy, Tavo True-Alcalá and Tamsin True-Alcalá . Sorry, we got a day ahead of ourselves! HAPPY BELATED — to Jonathan Kraft, Rene Fielding, Henry Barrett, Deborah Ziskind and Bera Dunau , 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 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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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The clash over crisis pregnancy centers is just beginning

 

View in browser   BY SOPHIE GARDNER AND KELLY GARRITY PROPAGANDA!  NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY CAPITAL MARKETS WON'T FINANCE KNOWN FOR COST OVERRUNS RADIOACTIVE WASTE?  Presented by With help from Lisa Kashinsky CONFLICTING AIMS — There’s a new battle brewing over crisis pregnancy centers. Gov. Maura Healey seems likely to sign off on a $1 million public education campaign meant to warn about patterns of misleading advertising sometimes employed by the centers, places that seek to dissuade people from getting abortions. Both the House and Senate earmarked money for the campaign in recently approved spending plans. But the chambers will have to reconcile other differences between their bills before legislation heads to Healey’s desk. Beacon Hill Democrats aren’t the only ones planning a campaign, though. The Pregnancy Care Alliance of Massachusetts, a coalition of nonprofit, anti-abortion organizations, is starting to gather testimonials from people who’ve had positive care experiences at the crisis centers. And the group is aiming to raise money to launch an ad campaign that could include radio spots and billboards. “We believe we'll have hundreds of testimonies,” Teresa Larkin, the executive director of the Your Options medical clinic in Revere, told Playbook. “We recognize that we haven't done a good job of educating the public about who we really are and what we really do.” But the centers are also meeting resistance from some municipalities. A handful of liberal-leaning communities have approved or are working on legislation to regulate or spread awareness about the centers — efforts that have ramped up since Roe v. Wade was overturned. “I've long believed that there's a lot we could do at the city level , on the ground, to protect reproductive rights and abortion access and to preserve bodily autonomy,” Somerville City Councilor Kristen Strezo, who led one such effort in her city, told Playbook. Somerville was the first to pass an ordinance targeting false or deceptive advertising by providers of pregnancy-related services — a measure aimed at crisis pregnancy centers without outright banning them. Violating the ordinance triggers a $300 fine. Cambridge soon followed suit with a similar plan. But other communities’ attempts at similar ordinances have either been retooled or abandoned amid concerns about inviting costly legal battles. Some cited as an example the First Amendment challenge to Connecticut’s law prohibiting deceptive advertising by crisis pregnancy centers. “These are three small cities,” Easthampton City Councilor Owen Zaret said of Amherst, Northampton and Easthampton, at least two of which had considered but moved away from fines for deceptive advertising. “It was more of a cost-risk benefit assessment.” Officials in all three cities are now moving forward in other ways. Zaret has a new ordinance aimed at educating residents about crisis pregnancy centers and the state’s complaint process moving through the municipal process. Northampton is working on a similar ordinance that City Councilor Rachel Maiore hopes to have finalized by the one-year anniversary of Roe ’s demise in June. And Amherst Town Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier told Playbook that she’s working on “two possible bylaws that would protect access to reproductive health care and gender-affirming health care.” Framingham recently passed a proclamation raising awareness about the centers — though not without a controversy that pushed the city’s Democratic committee chair to step down. And the Worcester City Council voted last summer to direct the city manager and solicitor to draft an ordinance, though that hasn’t yet happened, according to a spokesperson for the city manager. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Happy St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day! TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll swear in a judge at the governor's ceremonial office at 9:30 a.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the annual Evacuation Day Historical Exercises in Southie at 10 a.m. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark highlights a climate resiliency project in Revere at 9 a.m., visits the Woburn Senior Center at 10:15 a.m., Melrose Senior Center at 12:45 p.m. and Stoneham Senior Center at 1:30 p.m. THIS WEEKEND — The MassGOP holds a "unity event" at 2 p.m. Saturday at Off The Rails in Worcester. Healey, Driscoll, Wu, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey , Reps. Stephen Lynch and Ayanna Pressley , state Senate President Karen Spilka and AG Andrea Campbell are among the guests at the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast hosted by state Sen. Nick Collins at 9 a.m. at the Ironworkers Local 7 Hall in Southie. SUNDAY SHOWS — Collins is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Driscoll is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Reach your guests hosts at sgardner@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com . Send your tips and scoops for Monday to lkashinsky@politico.com . PROPAGANDA!  NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY CAPITAL MARKETS WON'T FINANCE KNOWN FOR COST OVERRUNS RADIOACTIVE WASTE?  A message from NextEra Energy: Seabrook Station nuclear power plant generates safe, clean, emissions-free energy that has helped power New England for decades. A long-term power purchase agreement with Seabrook would help Massachusetts meet climate emissions goals and lower energy bills at a substantial value to consumers. An agreement that locks in prices over several decades would – even estimated against fluctuating natural gas prices – lower electricity bills, saving Massachusetts’ consumers between $890 million to $2.62 billion on energy costs  over a 10-year period.   DATELINE BEACON HILL — “State auditor readying probe into use of nondisclosure agreements across state government,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “In another move that could buck Beacon Hill norms, state Auditor Diana DiZoglio says she will investigate the use of nondisclosure agreements in settlements across state government to determine how much taxpayer money has been spent to hide harassment and other misconduct.” — “State to launch nine new early college programs,” by Adria Watson, Boston Globe: “Following a unanimous vote on Wednesday by the state’s Early College Joint Committee, Massachusetts will expand early college programs with nine new partnerships this fall. Early college programs allow high school students to earn college credits while attaining their high school diploma, and some students earn enough to earn an associate degree.” — “Faith leaders call for Gov. Healey, lawmakers to tackle housing crisis,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News: “ With its members clad in blue T-shirts, playing trombones, and holding signs with slogans like ‘Praying with Our Feet,’ GBIO launched a new housing justice campaign. The campaign pushes for greater state investment in public housing, zoning reforms to encourage multifamily housing in suburbs, and housing support for formerly incarcerated people.” — “Are you and your kids overwhelmed by Mass. sports betting ads? You’re not alone,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “Seldom can someone turn on a TV or scroll through a social media app in the past month without seeing a celebrity promoting the use of one of the many sportsbooks operating within Massachusetts’ brand-new mobile and retail betting industry. And the stream of promotional bets and advertisements has drawn concerns from lawyers in the state’s attorney general’s office and responsible gambling advocates only days into the launch of mobile betting, which kicked off on March 10.” FROM THE HUB — “Wu Pushes for Boston to Join New Energy Code,” by Steve Adams, Banker & Tradesman: “Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will seek adoption of the state’s new opt-in stretch energy code, requiring electric-ready designs for new buildings and renovations. If approved by the Boston City Council, projects would have to conform to the new requirements beginning in January.” — “One councillor thinks it’s time to rethink Main Streets model,” by Seth Daniel, Dorchester Reporter: “Tania Fernandes Anderson, who chairs the City Council’s Ways & Means Committee, told members of the Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council (GMNC) early this month that the city bureaucracy moves too slowly in distributing funds and the Main Streets model does not work in Black and Brown communities. She suggested that some other type of program replace the model in communities like Mattapan and Dorchester.”   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 .     PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Ceiling debris falls onto MBTA commuter rail platform,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “A piece of ceiling debris fell on the Forest Hills commuter rail platform, two weeks after a 25-pound ceiling panel nearly hit a rider at a Red Line station. In this instance, the debris was not concrete and weighed less than a pound, according to MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo.” — “Close call at Logan not due to a lack of technology, experts say,” by Bob Seay, GBH. DAY IN COURT — “ State Police do not have to give back pay to trooper suspended while facing criminal charge, SJC says,” by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts State Police is a unique law enforcement agency that does not have to compensate troopers who are suspended without pay while facing criminal charges, even when they are acquitted or the charges are dropped, the state’s highest court ruled Thursday.” — “Firefighter union sues Mass. group over toxic chemicals in protective gear,” by Gabrielle Emanuel, WBUR: “The union contends that the National Fire Protection Association colluded with industry to set its guidelines so that gear has to contain toxic PFAS chemicals to meet the voluntary standards.” — “Grubhub accused with overcharging restaurants during COVID-19,” by Amy Phillips, WWLP: “Massachusetts Superior Court has ruled that Grubhub violated the statutory fee cap in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said that the online food delivery service Grubhub Holdings Inc. illegally overcharged fees to Massachusetts restaurants.” PROPAGANDA!  NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY CAPITAL MARKETS WON'T FINANCE KNOWN FOR COST OVERRUNS RADIOACTIVE WASTE?    A message from NextEra Energy:     MOULTON MATTERS — “Russian fighter jet dumps fuel on US drone before hitting propeller, Pentagon video shows; Seth Moulton calls it ‘reckless’ behavior from Putin’s military,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “A Russian fighter jet dumped fuel on a U.S. drone before hitting its propeller in international airspace over the Black Sea, according to a new declassified video released by the Pentagon, as tensions continue to rise between Washington and Moscow … ’By targeting an unarmed, unmanned U.S. plane in international airspace, Putin’s military knowingly and deliberately violated the law,’ Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton said in a statement.” THE LATEST NUMBERS — “Gathering for St. Patrick’s Day? Boston health officials recommend wearing a mask as COVID cases go down,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “On Thursday, the state Department of Public Health reported 2,612 virus cases over the last week. The daily average of 373 COVID cases from the last week was a 3% dip from the daily rate of 386 virus infections during the previous week.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “Offshore wind projects face uncertainty with existing contracts. Cape Codders respond.” by Heather McCarron, Cape Cod Times: “As the state readies to review another round of offshore wind development bids, Avangrid Renewables reports it is staying on course to end its current contract and take its chances with seeking a new one — the best route, the company says, to navigate a maelstrom of economic challenges that make the present agreement untenable. The move makes uncertain the company's 1,200-megawatt Commonwealth Wind project."   DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID .     THE LOCAL ANGLE — “National Grid proposes big electric rate decrease in Mass.” by Miriam Wasser, WBUR: “In a filing with the Department of Public Utilities this week, the company proposed decreasing the basic supply rate — the raw cost of the electricity you use — by 58% beginning May 1.” — “Worcester committee pushes for lower income threshold in affordable housing rule,” by Kiernan Dunlop, MassLive: “A Worcester committee has sided with an affordable housing coalition on a change to a proposed zoning ordinance that it says will meet the needs of the residents in the city who are struggling — against the recommendation of some city leaders. The ordinance still needs support from two-thirds of the City Council.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — "Pence on whether Trump should bow out if indicted: It’s up to him," by Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: "'Look, it’s a free country. Everybody can make their own decisions,' Trump’s former No. 2 told reporters in New Hampshire." — “On the trail: Is a 2024 gubernatorial run next for Joyce Craig?” by Paul Steinhauser, Concord Monitor: “Sources close to the Democratic mayor, who’s currently serving her third two-year term steering the Granite State’s largest city, tell the Monitor that Craig is seriously looking at a potential run for governor in 2024.” — “N.H. Senate passes bill that would force teachers to ‘out’ transgender kids to their parents,” by Steven Porter, Boston Globe. PROPAGANDA!  NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY CAPITAL MARKETS WON'T FINANCE KNOWN FOR COST OVERRUNS RADIOACTIVE WASTE?  A message from NextEra Energy: Continued operation of the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant reduces electricity costs and boosts the state’s economy. A long-term power purchase agreement with Seabrook would contribute approximately $3 billion to the Massachusetts economy through utility bill savings, reduced energy costs and job creation/support. Seabrook has generated safe, reliable, low-cost, and emissions-free energy for more than 30 years. Seabrook’s operation will continue to provide baseload energy, with price stability, while Massachusetts scales up its renewable energy sources. Operating Seabrook would avoid nearly 50 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over a 10-year period and contribute to Massachusetts meeting its clean air goals. A long-term PPA will help Massachusetts meet its clean energy standard. Nuclear energy is carbon emissions-free and Massachusetts’ most cost-effective tool to combat climate change. The procurement of additional energy from Seabrook going forward would help the Massachusetts affordably and reliably meet its clean energy needs.   HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Former Baker administration HHS Secretary Marylou Sudders joins Point32Health Foundation’s board of directors. — Former Gov. Charlie Baker press secretary Terry MacCormack is now director of editorial strategy and campaigns and internal communications for Mass General Brigham. — Jennifer Smith is now a staff reporter for CommonWealth Magazine . She was previously at the Dorchester Reporter. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, former MassGOP Chair Jim Lyons, Daniel Bellow, Cam Charbonnier, Amber Jamanka and Jeremy Comeau. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Wilnelia Rivera of Rivera Consulting; Jesse Mermell, Jill Abramson, Abigail Webber and Seth Rogovoy, who celebrate Sunday. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: CALLING AN AUDITABLE — Auditor Diana DiZoglio joins hosts Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky to talk about her office's 70-plus probes, including of the Legislature. 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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