POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The people have spoken on teacher strikes

 

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BY LISA KASHINSKY

PROPAGANDA!
THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY 
KNOWN FOR COST OVERRUNS 
RADIOACTIVE WASTE? 

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STRIKING CONTRAST — Gov. Maura Healey thinks teachers shouldn’t be allowed to strike. Her constituents say otherwise.

Two-thirds of likely voters support letting public school teachers strike for higher wages and better working conditions, according to newly released data from a Change Research poll for Northwind Strategies.

— Of that 67-percent majority, 45 percent “strongly support” legalizing the practice and 21 percent “somewhat support" it. Twenty-nine percent of respondents opposed it.

Support is even higher among Healey’s political base: 82 percent of Biden voters and 85 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents support teacher strikes.

— By contrast, just 34 percent of Trump voters and 39 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents support the idea. The survey of 711 likely 2024 voters was conducted in late February and has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.

The poll is good news for the state's two big teachers unions, which are pushing revamped bills on Beacon Hill that would allow some public employees to strike after six months of contract negotiations.

But Healey remains a hindrance. The governor went against the unions that backed her campaign when she said last month that she's “not a fan” of legalizing teacher strikes . A Healey spokesperson told Playbook that while the governor "is a strong supporter of unions and the right to collectively bargain," her "focus is on keeping kids in school" and she "does not believe right to strike legislation is the solution."

Yet public pressure is building on Beacon Hill to act. Educators have walked off the job in Woburn, Haverhill, Brookline and Malden over the past year as their contract negotiations stalled, in some cases incurring hefty fines to stay on the picket lines. Melrose teachers also authorized a strike, but were able to broker a deal before it happened.

Districts are bracing for more unrest. In the past week, teachers in Wellesley and Quincy voted no confidence in their municipal leaders over contract impasses.

“Educators never want to go on strike,” Max Page, the Massachusetts Teachers Association president, told Playbook. But, drained by the pandemic and facing escalating inflation, they've been exercising that “last resort” as they fight for higher salaries, better working conditions and better benefits.

More contract disputes = more headlines = more thorny questions for the state's top pols that could help unions force the issue on Beacon Hill.

"There hasn't been this level of conversation about it before," AFT Massachusetts President Beth Kontos said.

But public opinion doesn't always matter on Beacon Hill. "I'm not terribly hopeful that we'll move them," Kontos said of Healey and Democratic legislative leaders. "We just have to keep engaging."

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Taken as a whole, the Change Research poll shows broad support for a swath of progressive policies, including rent control and a $20 minimum wage , that aim to put more money in people's pockets.

“It’s a reflection of the current economic environment we’re in right now, where people are nervous about dealing with inflation and the high cost of housing. And that has led to stronger support for these issues,” Northwind Strategies founder Doug Rubin told Playbook. "It’s incumbent on the Legislature and our elected statewide officials to try and respond to that.”

TODAY — Rep. Richard Neal hosts a press availability on the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq at 1:30 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield. Sen. Ed Markey hosts a virtual press conference on the New Deal for New Americans Act at 10:40 a.m.

Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

PROPAGANDA!
THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY 
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

— PALFREY’S NEW GIG: Former AG hopeful Quentin Palfrey is now Gov. Maura Healey’ s director of federal funds and infrastructure, a new position in which he’ll coordinate her interagency efforts to better compete for money for infrastructure, climate and economic development projects. The $160,000-a-year gig gives Palfrey, who was also the Democrats’ 2018 nominee for LG, a chance to flex his federal connections from stints in the Obama and Biden administrations.

— “Healey's tax plan will disproportionately benefit wealthier households, new report says,” by Meera Raman, Boston Business Journal: “The progressive-leaning Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center released a report last week criticizing Healey’s proposal, stating that it disproportionately benefits the Commonwealth’s wealthiest residents by focusing on the short-term capital gains tax and estate tax. … Cutting the short-term capital gains tax would also have an impact on racial wealth disparities in the Bay State, according to the report. Nationally, 92% of tax breaks on capital gains go to white families, compared to 3% to Hispanic and 2% to Black families.”

— “Healey seeks funding for victim services,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Tucked into a supplemental budget filed by Healey is $20 million in ‘bridge’ funding to stabilize victim service programs and ‘ensure continued access to trauma-informed services’ funded by the federal Victims of Crime Act.”

— "Eviction Prevention Policy Set To Expire March 31," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "More than one hundred organizations endorsed a call Monday for lawmakers to extend a pandemic-era eviction prevention policy, warning that the looming March 31 expiration will displace Bay Staters and stymie other efforts to keep people in their homes. A section of state law known as 'Chapter 257' requires eviction cases to be paused when a tenant has an application pending for rental aid, such as through the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program."

 

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FROM THE HUB

— “Arroyo wants to ban sale of ‘nips’ in Boston,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: “Fed up with thousands of tiny booze bottles littering his district, and concerned about the public health impact of a product that seems tailor-made to feed alcohol addiction, Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo is calling for a hearing to consider a ban on the sale of ‘nips’ in retail liquor stores in the city. … Since 2018, five Massachusetts communities have banned nip sales. But a no-nip proposal in the state’s largest city will reverberate loudly, elevating the stakes of the debate and attention it is likely to generate.”

— LOOK WHO’S NOT LAUGHING NOW: One of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’s jokes from last year’s St. Patrick’s Day political breakfast is being used against her in a lawsuit . This year, the Boston Herald’s Joe Dwinell reports that a transit advocate is not amused by Wu’s wisecrack about the Harvard station ceiling panel that fell and nearly hit a woman earlier this month.

— “Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden pushes for stricter gun buying regulations to stop illegal guns coming from other states,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald.

 PROPAGANDA!

THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY 
KNOWN FOR COST OVERRUNS 
RADIOACTIVE WASTE? 

A message from NextEra Energy:

 

 

FROM THE DELEGATION

— “‘Donald Trump Deserves No Sympathy': Mass. Lawmakers Slam Ex-President's Rhetoric,” by Marc Fortier, NBC10 Boston: “Several Democratic Massachusetts lawmakers are criticizing former Republican President Donald Trump's statement over the weekend calling for protests if he is indicted this week. … ‘My hope is that the criminal justice process as it works in New York City does not elicit a response from Trump supporters as it did on January 6th in the Capitol of Washington, D.C.,’ [Sen. Ed Markey said].”

— LONGSHOT BID: “Athol resident Louis Marino launches Senate campaign,” by Max Bowen, Athol Daily News: “Louis Marino, a lifelong Republican turned Libertarian, is hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the next election.”

 

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

— “A place for burning wood in state’s green energy future?” by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Proponents of modern wood heating systems, fueled by either wood pellets or dried wood chips depending on the size and operation of the heating system, claim they can provide a non-fossil-fuel source of energy and, once properly installed, yield a marked reduction in heating costs. … But using wood as an energy source has its share of critics as well.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Bay State College to lose accreditation after appeal fails,” by Hilary Burns, Boston Globe: “Regulators said Monday they had denied an appeal by Bay State College to retain its accreditation, a setback that could force the struggling Back Bay school to close.”

PROPAGANDA!
THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY 
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

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Cate Martel, national political reporter at The Hill, and Danny Vinik, legislative aide for Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and a POLITICO alum, last week welcomed a baby boy named Riley. Pic

TRANSITIONS — SKDK is launching its New England practice led by SKDK Political President Pia Carusone , who cut her teeth in New Hampshire, and EVP Alex Bloom , a Warren Tolman and Katherine Clark campaign alum who also advised Marty Walsh.

— Baker-Polito campaign manager and senior political adviser Brian Wynne has launched polling, data analytics and market research firm Opinion Diagnostics.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY —  to UMass Lowell’s John Cluverius, Ryanne Olsen and Shane Dunn.

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how:  jshapiro@politico.com .

 

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Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky

 

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook:

 

View in browser   BY LISA KASHINSKY Presented by COST CONTROL — Shannon Liss-Riordan signed a “People’s Pledge” to limit third-party spending in the state attorney general race. But it didn’t say anything about self-funding. Now the labor attorney who poured $3 million into her failed campaign against Sen. Ed Markey in 2020 and $500,000 into her current bid for attorney general says she could spend up to $12 million in the Democratic primary, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Liss-Riordan was required to declare a spending maximum after one of her Democratic rivals, Quentin Palfrey, last week opted into the state’s public financing program, in which candidates agree to limit their expenditures in exchange for getting taxpayer money to fund their runs. If all the Democrats had joined the program, spending in their primary would have been capped at $625,000 per person. But because they didn’t, Andrea Campbell, the polling and fundraising leader, set her max spend at $3 million. Liss-Riordan took it even further. Her $12 million cap blows past both the $4.3 million Maura Healey, Warren Tolman and Republican John Miller spent in the open-seat 2014 attorney general race and the $11 million GOP Gov. Charlie Baker spent on his 2018 reelection campaign. The $12 million “will far exceed what we will spend in the race,” Liss-Riordan’s campaign manager, Jordan Meehan, said in a statement to Playbook. But her opponents remain wary. “Shannon Liss-Riordan continues to demonstrate a clear pattern of attempting to buy her way into political office,” Campbell’s campaign manager, Will Stockton, told Playbook in a statement. Palfrey called out both Liss-Riordan and Campbell, who he's been hammering for weeks for not signing the People's Pledge, in a statement and interview. “Voters deserve to choose the next people’s lawyer based on the candidates’ experience, vision and policies,” Palfrey said, “not based on outside spending by super PACs and millions of dollars in self-financing.” Yet, when asked by Playbook whether he would call to limit self-funding in the race like he did super PAC spending, Palfrey, who’s struck up an unofficial alliance of sorts with Liss-Riordan against Campbell, said: “I don’t have a comment on that.” GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Chris Doughty, who's loaned his campaign more than $750,000 already, set the spending cap in the GOP primary for governor at $6 million. His running mate, former state Rep. Kate Campanale, set it at $1.5 million for the Republican lieutenant governor primary. On the Democratic side, state Sen. Eric Lesser, who leads fundraising in the LG race, set a $5 million limit. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attend the rededication of the Kearsarge Memorial at South Boston’s Marine Park at 11:30 a.m. Baker participates in a FORWARD event at 3 p.m. in Springfield. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito speaks at the IACP Women's Leadership Initiative at 9:30 a.m. in Somerville and attends a virtual Local Government Advisory Committee meeting at 1 p.m. Baker and Polito speak at Mercy Medical Center at 4:30 p.m. and Former Treasury Sec. Lawrence Summers will be on GBH’s “Greater Boston” at 7 p.m. Tips? Scoops? Hoping for a Celtics comeback? Let’s chat: lkashinsky@politico.com.   A message from PhRMA: Did you know more than half of every dollar spent on medicines goes to someone who doesn’t make them? There’s a long line of middlemen, like PBMs and insurers, collecting a significant portion of what you pay for medicine. The share of total spending for brand medicines received by the supply chain and other stakeholders increased from 33% in 2013 to 50.5% in 2020. Learn more.   BALLOT BATTLES Senate President Karen Spilka (left) and House Speaker Ron Mariano sign Gov. Charlie Baker's veto parchment of the Work and Family Mobility Act on Monday, June 13, 2022, at the State House. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO — BALLOT WAR BREWING: “Driver’s licenses for residents without legal status just became law. Now, the GOP wants Mass. voters to repeal it,” by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts Republicans are backing a long-shot effort to undo a new law that allows residents without legal immigration status to get driver’s licenses. Supported by the state party chairman and a leading GOP candidate for governor, a state committee member Monday morning filed paperwork to begin the process of putting a question on November’s ballot that would ask voters to repeal the measure. Milford resident Maureen Maloney, whose son was killed a decade ago by a drunk driver in the US without legal status, is chairing the new committee called Fair And Secure Massachusetts. But with 21 weeks until Election Day and the state Republican Party strapped for cash and volunteers, some say the effort is far-fetched.” Collecting the 40,000-plus signatures needed to get a question on the ballot can be challenging even for those with financial means. But MassGOP Chair Jim Lyons told Playbook he believes those mobilizing against the new law — including the party’s gubernatorial and lieutenant governor hopefuls — have voters on their side. A Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll from late April showed 47 percent of Massachusetts residents opposed the Work and Family Mobility Act, compared to 46 percent who approved of it and 7 percent who were undecided. Opposition to the law has also spanned the deeply divided state GOP. Moderate Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed the bill, forcing a legislative override. His endorsed candidate for auditor, Anthony Amore, has also opposed the law, along with conservative governor hopeful and former state Rep. Geoff Diehl. “The radical Democrats and the special interest groups supporting this are out of touch with mainstream voters in Massachusetts,” Lyons said. Top Democratic lawmakers expressed “concern” about the burgeoning opposition effort. But 32BJ SEIU Vice President Roxana Rivera , who led advocates pushing to pass the bill, told Playbook that the coalition is ready to defend the hard-won law. “The 270 organizations from business, labor, from law enforcement — everybody that put their strength behind this bill — I think will be united in regards to upholding” it, Rivera said. — “SJC lets liquor license question head to ballot,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “A question reforming the state’s liquor license system will continue on to the November ballot, after the Supreme Judicial Court on Monday upheld the attorney general’s decision that the question is constitutional.” THE LATEST NUMBERS — “Massachusetts COVID cases drop 21% over the weekend, more than 2 million rapid tests to be distributed,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The state Department of Public Health reported a daily average of 1,334 COVID cases over the weekend, which was down 21% from the daily rate of 1,687 infections last weekend.” — “State sending 2 million rapid at-home COVID-19 tests to cities and towns across Mass.,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “The Baker administration this week will start sending over 2 million rapid at-home COVID-19 tests to cities and towns for use by their residents, the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services said Monday."   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 — KEEPING HIS CARDS CLOSE: Last summer, House Speaker Ron Mariano said leaving college sports out of a sports-betting bill “probably would be” a dealbreaker. Asked on Monday if that remained the case, Mariano told reporters gathered at the State House that he’s “not going to prejudge a negotiation” that’s only “just begun.” The House authorized collegiate sports betting in its version of the bill now in conference committee; the Senate did not. — “House Speaker Ronald Mariano says representatives will take up a mental health care bill Thursday,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “The House plans to take up a mental health care bill during a formal session Thursday, House Speaker Ronald Mariano said, but the specifics of the legislation are still not clear and Mariano did not elaborate further during a press conference Monday afternoon. … Any bill in the House tackling mental health would also run up against mental health care legislation the Senate passed last fall, and a proposal from Gov. Charlie Baker introduced this spring.” — “Leaders Mum On Additional Sales Tax Relief,” by Katie Lannan, State House News Service (paywall): “State lawmakers agreed Monday to set Aug. 13 and 14 as the dates for this year's annual sales tax holiday, but legislative leaders wouldn't say whether any sort of reduction in or expanded break from the 6.25 percent sales tax will feature into their relief plans.” WHAT CITY HALL IS READING — “Mayor Michelle Wu rejects $10 million police overtime cut proposed by City Council, calling it a ‘false reduction’,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Mayor Michelle Wu rejected a $10 million cut to police overtime spending proposed by the City Council, admonishing the body in a letter Monday for a ‘false reduction to the budget that would create unpredictability elsewhere.’ The council flexed its new budgetary powers last week by cutting the perennially controversial overtime budget and directing more funding to other priorities, such as youth jobs programs. … Wu’s response to the council came Monday, when she chided councilors that, ‘as we are all aware,’ state law requires the city to pay all public safety overtime hours worked, meaning cutting the overtime budget now would simply mean paying the bill later.” — “Councilor proposes Boston apologize for its role in slavery,” by The Associated Press: “The city of Boston would acknowledge and apologize for its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, under a resolution to be formally introduced later this week. The proposal by City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson listed on Wednesday’s council agenda would also call for the city to commit to repairing slavery’s harm.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — ‘EXTREMELY CONCERNED’: More emphasis on rail yard safety, adequate staff at the operations control center, better track maintenance and ensuring no employee certifications have lapsed. Those are the four areas the Federal Transit Administration told the MBTA to address immediately as the feds wrap up their inspection of the beleaguered agency, the Boston Globe’s Taylor Dolven reports. — “MBTA officials say train derailments trending downward,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “MBTA officials said on Monday that the number of derailments has been trending downward over the last few years, falling by more than 50 percent since 2019.” — More: “Investigator says Green Line train did not stop at red signal before crash,” by CBS Boston/AP.   A message from PhRMA:     CAMPAIGN MODE — “Kate Donaghue channels years of political advocacy in race for state House in Westborough,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: “Since launching her campaign for state representative in a new seat that includes her longtime home of Westborough, Kate Donaghue said she has become a ‘full-time candidate’ and has waged a relentless door-knocking campaign. … Donaghue, 67, is a familiar name in state Democratic campaigning.” — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Ironworkers Local 7 has endorsed Sydney Levin-Epstein for Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester state senator. — STAFFING UP: Matthew Gifford is now field director for Chris Dempsey’s campaign for auditor, and Mike Cusher is policy and communications director. DATELINE D.C. — “Walensky’s secret coach,” by Alex Thomspon, Adam Cancryn and Max Tani, POLITICO: “Rochelle Walensky needed some help. In January 2021, the physician and longtime academic was taking over the public health agency responsible for leading the fight against a once-in-a-century pandemic. With high stakes and little experience in the federal government, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began quietly consulting with an executive coach, Tim Sullivan, founder of the Boston-area Wellesley Partners.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “‘Seize the moment’: Advocates push state to use pandemic relief funds for climate action,” by Dharna Noor, Boston Globe: “Climate advocates, environmental justice organizers, labor union officials, and clean energy business representatives gathered outside the State House on Monday morning to demand the state use money from ARPA to speed the renewable energy transition.” MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Berkshire County’s recreational cannabis industry pulls in about $200 million a year. One company accounts for a quarter of that,” by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle: “Three years after Theory Wellness opened as the first retail cannabis outlet in Berkshire County, 24 licensed recreational-use companies in the Berkshires pull in roughly $200 million in yearly sales. One company, Theory Wellness, accounts for more than a quarter of that, according to estimates The Eagle derived through public records requests.”   DON'T MISS DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED:  Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today.     FROM THE 413 — “Greenfield Police Officer of nearly 24 years takes unpaid leave of absence amidst department budget cuts,” by Tristan Smith, MassLive: “The officer said she hopes her leave will help prevent some of the newer officers from being furloughed amidst the recent budget cut. … Greenfield City Councilors voted to reduce the city police’s budget on May 19, weeks after a Hampshire County jury found that the Greenfield Police Department discriminated against a former officer, who is Black.” — “Pittsfield was considering a ban on 'nip' bottles. A group of local package store owners got together to push back,” by Meg Britton-Mehlisch, Berkshire Eagle: “Local package store owners say that a proposed ban on the sale of small liquor bottles — known as nips — would unfairly target their businesses by going after their most popular products under the guise of combating pollution.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Boston-area Jewish groups condemn ‘antisemitic attack’ from the Mapping Project; FBI tracking the website,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Boston-area Jewish groups are sounding the alarm about a ‘truly vile perpetration of hate against the Jewish community’ as a new pro-Palestine website puts a bullseye on local Jewish organizations, schools and others.” — “More than 150 rally to keep North Shore Birth Center open,” by Paul Leighton, Salem News: “Chanting ‘Save Our Birth Center, Save Our Choice,’ and ‘Beverly Hospital, Do Better,’ the crowd urged [Beverly Hospital] officials to reverse their decision to close the North Shore Birth Center. The protestors got a boost from several politicians who spoke at the rally, including Congressman Seth Moulton, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, state Sen. Joan Lovely, and state Reps. Jamie Belsito, of Topsfield, and Paul Tucker, of Salem.” — "AG OKs Dighton ban on LGBTQ, other flags at Town Hall — but only Town Hall," by Michael J. DeCicco, Taunton Daily Gazette: "Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has approved the bylaw the November 2021 Dighton town meeting endorsed restricting the type of flags that can fly at town hall — but struck down a portion that extended the ban to other town-owned properties." WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING — “Bernie Sanders, Lindsey Graham pull no punches in spirited debate,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “It started with a handshake, but U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Lindsey Graham wasted very little time when their debate devolved into the same disagreements they would have had if they stayed in D.C. … Sanders and Graham met in Boston for the first of a series of debates hosted by a coalition of political foundations — the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate — aimed at showcasing the potential for those of differing beliefs to still come together for civil discourse.” — “Advocates for safe consumption sites in Mass. find hope in shifting political winds as overdose deaths soar,” by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: “Shifting political winds here and around the country have bolstered advocates’ optimism, even as last week’s stunning news of a surge in opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts intensifies their sense of urgency.” — "They're due $100M in Mass. tax breaks. But they haven't delivered the jobs," by Greg Ryan, Lucia Maffei and Benjamin Kail, Boston Business Journal: "More than half of businesses failed to create the number of jobs they promised last year as part of a state tax-break program, according to a Business Journal analysis. The list includes major employers like MassMutual, the recipient of the program’s largest tax incentive: a $46 million award approved in 2018." — “Hospitals report over 1,000 patients awaiting discharges with nowhere to go,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “A survey released Monday by the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association found that at any given time there are approximately 1,000 hospital patients who are ready to be discharged, but cannot be because there is nowhere for them to get follow-up care."   A message from PhRMA: Did you know that PBMs, insurers, hospitals, the government, and others received a larger share of total spending on medicines than biopharmaceutical companies? That’s right, more than half of spending on brand medicines goes to someone who doesn’t make them. Let’s fix the system the right way and ensure more of the savings go to patients, not middlemen. Learn more.   SPOTTED — at Abundant Housing MA’s summer social: Boston City Councilor Kenzie Bok, Brookline Select Board Vice Chair and state representative candidate Raul Fernandez, Jamaica Plain state representative candidate Sam Montano and Abundant Housing MA’s Executive Director Jesse Kanson-Beneov, who spoke, per an attendee. TRANSITIONS — The Boston Globe’s D.C. bureau is adding Lissandra Villa as a national political reporter covering the midterms and Tal Kopan as deputy bureau chief. Villa was a national politics reporter at BuzzFeed and is a Time alum. Kopan currently is a Washington correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle. — Alex Lawrence is now Boston's chief people officer and Ashley Groffenberger is chief financial officer as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu splits the Administration and Finance Cabinet into two. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Hannah Rehm and Danny Gaynor. Happy belated to Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe, 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   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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