POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: State of the State House union effort

 

BY KELLY GARRITY SURVEY SAYS — State House staffers have seen their benefits expanded in recent months, but that isn’t slowing the push for collective bargaining rights from aides who say the changes — while welcome — don’t go far enough. Staffers continue to worry about their pay, benefits and opportunities for career advancement and training, according to a survey of more than 200 House and Senate employees conducted by organizers with the State House Employee Union from Dec. 5 to March 1 and shared first with Playbook. Aides cited salary and compensation as a chief concern and called for a pay equity analysis to make salaries more competitive. They also recommended conducting confidential focus groups to collect staff feedback on training and HR policies. One important caveat: the survey was largely conducted prior to Senate leaders unveiling new salary ranges and benefits for staff in February and before the House announced raises for all staff late last month. Organizers with the State House Employee Union hailed the pay bump from the House as “an important step” in an email to staffers at the time. But they said legislative leaders still have not done enough to address other issues — including around harassment, discrimination and job training. State law currently leaves legislative staff off the list of public employees who can collectively bargain. A pair of bills languishing in the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight would help change that, but they face an uphill battle: A similar effort was shot down late last session by Senate President Karen Spilka, who said then her chamber “does not at this time see a path forward for a traditional employer-union relationship.” The bills wouldn’t immediately turn Beacon Hill aides into union workers. On the House side, staffers have yet to secure majority support from their peers to pursue union recognition from chamber leadership. But their passage could kick-start the process. “I have left jobs in the past for either a better opportunity, or because I hated my job. This will be the first job that I have loved that I will have to leave because of cost-of-living pressures,” one staffer wrote in response to the anonymous survey. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . See you tonight at Carrie Nation! Email us to be added to the waitlist — I hear there may be some swag. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey attends a political fundraiser in Harwich and keynotes the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting at 6:15 p.m. in Harwich Port. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at a groundbreaking at 2:30 p.m. in Mattapan. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on “Java with Jimmy” at 9:30 a.m., attends the Charlestown Age Strong luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and joins the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement’s annual reception at 6:30 p.m. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Drop me a line:  kgarrity@politico.com.   THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists. Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY .     DATELINE BEACON HILL — “For years, mothers were reported to DCF simply for taking addiction medication. Massachusetts lawmakers are seeking to end that,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Massachusetts House leaders are pushing a proposal that would free doctors, hospital officials, and others from requirements to report suspected neglect to child welfare officials solely because a baby is born exposed to drugs, offering a dramatic shift in the state’s approach to child welfare reporting. The measure is expected to pass the House on Thursday as part of a wide-ranging bill intended to address the state’s still-raging opioid epidemic.” — “Beacon Hill Democrats strike deal on ‘revenge porn’ bill with formal sessions nearing end,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Beacon Hill Democrats struck a deal on a policy that would outlaw the circulation of explicit photos of someone without their permission, a move that, if approved, would bring Massachusetts in line with almost every other state. Legislators delivered a compromise bill they argued ensures teenagers are aware of the ‘dire consequences’ of sharing explicit images and providers survivors of so-called revenge porn, deep fakes, and malicious blackmail specific legal protections and recourse for crimes committed against them.” — “More Work May Be Required To Balance State Budget,” by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (paywall): “With one big month left in a rollercoaster year for state tax revenues, Gov. Maura Healey's top budget official warned local officials Tuesday that additional steps may still be needed to balance the fiscal year 2024 budget. … ‘After adjusting for capital gains and surtax, we could still have some work in order to balance FY24. And that's what we're really focused on at this point,’ Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz told the Local Government Advisory Commission on Tuesday.” FROM THE HUB — “‘We do not have the luxury to wait.’ With delayed school closure plan, Mayor Wu draws criticism, sympathy on tough issue,” by Niki Griswold and Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe: “Wu charged into office two and a half years ago promising to make the hard calls. A parent of Boston Public Schools students, she pledged to prioritize education and ensure high-quality instruction for all students — a promise that experts say requires the politically painful step of shuttering beloved but redundant schools so education dollars can be more effectively spent. Now, ahead of an expected bid for a second term in 2025, Wu is pushing a scaled-back plan for the district that, at least in the short term, would only consolidate two schools that already share a campus, and close the district’s last stand-alone middle school. It’s a plan that education experts and advocates fear kicks the can down the road; on the other hand, it may at least temporarily spare the mayor the ire of public school parents furious that their child’s local school has been shut.” — “Mayor Wu says congestion pricing is still an option in Boston,” by Hannah Loss, GBH News: “Congestion pricing has been heralded as a major climate step to reduce air pollution and dependence on cars. Boston City Council has debated the merits of tolling cars during peak traffic hours in order to reduce traffic. New York would have served as a “proof of concept” for cities like Boston, Wu said. Despite the shelving of New York’s plan, [Boston Mayor Michelle] Wu said she still thinks congestion pricing could happen here. ‘I think all tools should be on the table, including congestion pricing,’ she said.” — “Boston will receive nearly $10M for job training in coastal resilience,” by Barbara Moran, WBUR: “Boston will receive nearly $10 million in federal funds to train workers for jobs aimed at helping coastal areas better withstand the effects of climate change. City officials said they expect to train about 1,200 workers in construction, emergency preparedness, water utility management, community outreach and other fields related to what's often called coastal resilience.” YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — State Rep. Russell Holmes is endorsing attorney Allison Cartwright for Suffolk County Supreme Judicial Court clerk, the latest in a long list of Boston-based Beacon Hill backers. WU WATCH — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is still stopping short of officially announcing a reelection bid. “Is this going to be a monthly feature now?” she quipped, when asked about her plans for 2025 during an interview on GBH News’ “Boston Public Radio” Tuesday. "I love my job. We have a lot of important things that we're working on. When the time is right, I'm sure there will be time for announcements and campaigning," she said. — “The most interesting part of your 2024 ballot could deal with this obscure panel,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon: “Few voters can probably name the governor’s councilor who represents their district. But with Massachusetts’s pick for the White House a foregone conclusion, and most State House lawmakers expected to coast to reelection, the race for the obscure post may be the most interesting thing on the ballot for voters in the Governor’s Council district that includes part of Boston’s Back Bay reaches out to suburbs north and west, including Billerica, Marlborough, Wellesley, and Woburn. There, the Democratic primary in September features a rematch two years in the making: Marilyn Petitto Devaney, the incumbent who first won the seat in 1998, is facing off against Mara Dolan, a lawyer and former political aide who lost the 2022 primary to her by just 1,658 votes. ‘I only need 50 more votes per town to win,’ Dolan said this week.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “MBTA is ‘barely treading water’,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon:  “The MBTA’s board of directors has signed off on a $3 billion budget, as well as a capital investment plan, keeping the public transit agency’s flickering lights on in the coming fiscal year starting July 1. The fiscal 2025 budget, which is 11 percent higher than the previous fiscal year, was infused with spending from reserves to close a funding gap and help pay for a hiring spree. But it’s the next fiscal year, 2026 – along with the projects the agency hasn’t been able to invest in – that drew concern from board members as they met Tuesday.”   JOIN US ON 6/13 FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE : As Congress and the White House work to strengthen health care affordability and access, innovative technologies and treatments are increasingly important for patient health and lower costs. What barriers are appearing as new tech emerges? Is the Medicare payment process keeping up with new technologies and procedures? Join us on June 13 as POLITICO convenes a panel of lawmakers, officials and experts to discuss what policy solutions could expand access to innovative therapies and tech. REGISTER HERE .     WARREN REPORT THANK YOU SENATOR WARREN! FORMER SUPPORTERS HAVE CONDEMNED STEWARD CEO RALPH de la TORRE's YACHTS & LAVISH SPENDING! — “Warren seeks consequences for 'corporate crimes' in health care,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News: “U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday she wants to bring new accountability to ‘corporate executives that loot our health care system.’ Warren announced new legislation across the street from St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton. St. Elizabeth’s is one of eight Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts that face uncertain futures after Steward filed for bankruptcy last month.” RELATED — “Steward secures financing to keep hospitals open during bankruptcy,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, WBUR. FROM THE 413 — “Springfield School Committee approves contract for interim superintendent,” by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican: “The School Committee approved the pact that will allow Michelle Balch to serve as interim superintendent until a contract with Sonia Dinnall, who was chosen to be the city’s next school leader can be finalized. The committee voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve the contract for Balch, the chief instructional officer for the schools, who was selected on Friday to serve as interim superintendent after retiring Daniel Warwick abruptly announced his last day would be Friday.” — “Easthampton’s $57.2M budget sails through council,” by Alexa Lewis, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Despite the expiration of pandemic-era funding that has left other municipalities grappling to bridge large gaps, Easthampton is dipping into stabilization funds that have built up over the past several years to balance its budget that calls for no layoffs or pay cuts. In her budget letter, Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said that stabilization funds had reached ‘historical levels.’” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Former first lady of Massachusetts Diane Patrick has joined the board of trustees at the Dorchester-based nonprofit Epiphany School. Daniel Mahoney has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief Counsel of the Children and Family Law Division at the Committee for Public Counsel Services. Katherine Adam is now senior vice president and managing director of Denterlein's public affairs practice. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Tri Tran of Rosie’s Place, Campbell Curry-Ledbetter, Brianna Millor, Allison DeAngelis and Peter Francis. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .   Follow us on Twitter Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Still laboring for a State House union

 

BY KELLY GARRITY , LISA KASHINSKY AND MIA MCCARTHY Presented by STATE OF THE UNION EFFORT — As striking auto workers strain President Joe’s Biden “pro-union” reputation, Beacon Hill legislative leaders are facing a challenge to their own union cred as members of their staff continue to push for collective bargaining rights. Senate President Karen Spilka slammed the door shut on Senate staffers' union effort last year, saying that the chamber didn’t “see a path forward” through state law that carves out legislative staff from the list of public employees who can collectively bargain. A pair of bills in the House and Senate now aim to crack that door back open by adding legislative employees to the list. The bills wouldn’t immediately turn Beacon Hill aides into union workers. On the House side, for instance, staffers have yet to secure majority support from their peers to pursue union recognition from chamber leadership. But their passage could kick-start the process. Gov. Maura Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and other prominent politicians outside the State House support the effort. Now some lawmakers are throwing their support behind the bills by arguing that as Democrats in a blue state with a deep history of organized labor, it’s practically their duty to stand by their staff. “This is really a matter of consistency,” progressive state Rep. Mike Connolly said during a hearing yesterday on the bills. “We are the party that proudly stands with workers.” (There are Republicans supporting the effort, too). Staffers say being able to collectively bargain would help improve everything from diversity in the building to the low pay that’s forced some of them to take second jobs. When staffers are struggling to make ends meet, “most of all, it hurts our constituents,” said Emily Kibbe, a legislative aide in the House. But they're being stymied by the exact culture they’re trying to change, even as outside of the State House public support for labor unions is at a high . While legislative employees have won raises in both chambers, one of the biggest obstacles to their end goal remains the fear of retribution that hangs over staffers and the lawmakers they report to. Several staffers testifying in favor of the bills yesterday no longer work in the Legislature. And many lawmakers refuse to buck leadership lest they lose their committee assignments or worse — consequences that Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who was ostracized as a House staffer and later as a lawmaker, has amplified as she aids the union effort. “Coming into this, we honestly thought this would be one of the easiest organizing campaigns we've ever been involved with,” said Kevin Holland of IBEW 2222, which is working with the staffers. Instead, Holland said that while a “vast majority” of legislators have told organizers that they support the union push, they’re not willing to say it publicly. “They're in a difficult position,” Holland told Playbook. “We understand that they want to be there and back their staff, and at the same time they don't want to cross leadership.” Spilka pledged to "continue our efforts to improve working conditions" when she rejected Senate staffers' request to recognize their union last year. Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano's offices didn't immediately respond to a request for comment yesterday. But unless leadership starts to support the union push, Democratic state Sen. John Keenan, who filed the bill on the Senate side, told Playbook that he’s “not sure” whether the legislation will go anywhere. "It should,” he said. “It's a very common sense bill.” GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Do you work on Beacon Hill? Let us know where you stand on the union effort: kgarrity@politico.com , lkashinsky@politico.com and mmccarthy@politico.com . TODAY — Healey and Driscoll are at The Big E at 9:30 a.m. and celebrate Climate Week at 1 p.m. at the Division of Fish and Wildlife HQ in Westborough. Driscoll speaks at a MAMH dinner at 6:30 p.m. in Boston. Secretary of State Bill Galvin heads to the Big E at 11:30 a.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu participates in the Boston Globe’s 2023 Summit at 9 a.m. at WBUR CitySpace and attends a Bay Village block party at 6:45 p.m.   A message from Choose Who You Use: Last winter, customers of Massachusetts utility companies saw the largest electric rate increases in recent memory. If those customers had contracted with a retail electric provider instead, they would have saved nearly a billion dollars. Now is not the time to give the utilities a bigger monopoly in Massachusetts. Join the Choose Who You Use coalition to protect electricity choice and give Massachusetts ratepayers the ability to choose the most affordable, renewable options for them.   MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Democratic state Sen. Marc Pacheco is leading more than four dozen of his House and Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging federal lawmakers to “repair” the nation’s “outdated, dysfunctional” immigration system to ease the legal process for new arrivals and address workforce shortages. “Our country needs a functional gateway at the border that safeguards our national security from illegal entrants while providing noncitizens seeking lawful entry a practical means of obtaining approval to reside and find gainful employment,” reads the letter, which is addressed to President Joe Biden and congressional leaders. Pacheco and his colleagues will hold a press conference calling for congressional action on immigration at 3 p.m. at the State House. Their push comes as the Biden administration says it will grant temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans already in the country, making them freshly eligible to apply for work permits. The White House is also promising to speed up the work authorization process for other migrants. — “Plymouth County extends its contract with ICE for the only county detention center left in Mass.,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News. BALLOT BATTLES FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The committee led by state Rep. Mike Connolly that's pushing to put local-option rent control on the 2024 ballot has made its first hire. The Rev. Art Gordon will serve as the group’s organizing director. Gordon previously was senior adviser to Rep. Ayanna Pressley and worked on Sen. Ed Markey ’s 2020 reelection campaign. Gordon comes onboard as the ballot campaign kicks into signature-gathering gear ahead of the mid-November deadline to gather nearly 75,000 names — all while facing pushback from some housing advocates and the real-estate industry. DATELINE BEACON HILL NO CAP — Auditor Diana DiZoglio says state tax collections for the last fiscal year stayed well under the cap that would have triggered another round of rebates under Chapter 62F. That means no $3 billion surprises for lawmakers — or checks in the mail for us. — "Secretary: Climate Tech Will Feature In Healey Eco-Dev Bill," by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (paywall): "The Healey administration is working on an economic development bill to file in the new year and 'hit the ground running in 2024,' Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao said Wednesday, forecasting a focus in the legislation on technology related to climate change." — "Holyoke School Committee seeks end to state receivership of school district," by Sophie Hauck, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "The Holyoke School Committee voted unanimously to petition state Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley to release the city’s public schools from state receivership." — “Some veterans discharged under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' can seek Massachusetts benefit,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald. — “ ‘Unprecedented’ coalition pushes state lawmakers to improve health equity ,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News. — “Gov. Healey 'reviewing situation' as UMass prepares to close Leominster maternity unit,” by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette.   GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.     MASK-ACHUSETTS — “Already marred by fatal COVID outbreak, former Soldiers Home reports 11% of vets ill,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “Ten residents at the Veterans Home in Holyoke have tested positive for COVID-19 since Saturday, prompting the home to return to universal masking and daily testing for exposed staff members.” — “Biden administration announces $600M to produce COVID tests and will reopen website to order them,” by Will Weissert, The Associated Press. FROM THE HUB FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune , who’s running for reelection in the at-large race, has endorsed Enrique Pepén to be District 5’s next councilor, his campaign said. — “ Wu seeks funding for Boston police unit she pledged to dismantle, ” by Walter Wuthmann, WBUR: “ Criminal justice advocates are criticizing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for pushing for millions of dollars in extra funding for the intelligence-gathering arm of the Boston Police Department. The move is an about-face for Wu, who campaigned on dismantling the Boston Regional Intelligence Center's controversial gang database and abolishing the center in its entirety.” — “Progressive majority at risk in Council races ,” by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: “[W]ith two of the body’s most left-leaning members having lost their seats in preliminary balloting ... some are questioning whether the Council’s progressive streak will continue into the next term with a body that could no longer have a majority of people of color."   A message from Choose Who You Use:     THE RACE FOR CITY HALL ENDORSEMENT CORNER — State Sen. Adam Gomez is the latest Springfield politician to line up behind City Councilor Justin Hurst as he tries to unseat longtime Mayor Domenic Sarno in November. — “Inclement weather dampens candidates' efforts to reach Attleboro voters in person leading up to Nov. 7 election,” by Jim Hand, The Sun Chronicle: “Candidates said the deluges bringing several inches of rain has cut into their work of knocking on the doors of voters to seek their support while rain and wind has scattered and damaged their lawn signs.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “After Latest Near Misses, Healey Met With Top Fed Official,” by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): “With even more incidents in which MBTA trains nearly missed workers on the tracks coming to light, Gov. Maura Healey said she met Tuesday with the head of the Federal Transit Administration to assure the agency that just last week scolded the T for repeated worker safety lapses that her administration is taking the matter seriously." More from Healey's WBUR interview. — “Tobin Bridge’s future up in the air; MassDOT to study potential replacement,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald. IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), flanked by other Democratic lawmakers and advocates, speaks during a press conference held to celebrate President Biden's establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps - now known as the American Climate Corps - outside the U.S. Capitol Sept. 20, 2023. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images) | AP MARKEY GETS A CLIMATE WIN — Sen. Ed Markey finally has his long-sought civilian climate corps, after pressuring President Joe Biden to create such a program. Biden on Wednesday unveiled the American Climate Corps , a federal program that aims to put more than 20,000 young people to work in jobs geared toward combating climate change and advancing clean energy. It’s modeled on the Great Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps. It’s also backed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Jim McGovern . Markey told Mia at the Capitol that he predicts Bay Staters will be “at the front of the line” to sign up for the program — especially younger residents who have been clamoring for a climate corps. “This is the AmeriCorps of [their] generation,” Markey said. “But they want to focus on climate.”   Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here .     CHARLIE ON THE NCAA — “At Globe Summit, NCAA president Charlie Baker discusses his role and the state of collegiate athletics,” by Amin Touri, Boston Globe: “Baker made clear the organization’s understanding of its place in the social media age, when young people can build a brand and an influence online. He takes no issue with that; the concern is how Name-Image-Likeness rules have been implemented.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE DROPPING DESANTIS — Ron DeSantis hasn’t been to New Hampshire in a month. Now a new CNN/University of New Hampshire poll shows support for the Florida governor plummeting to 10 percent among likely GOP presidential primary voters in the Granite State — putting him in a statistical tie for second with three other candidates, all of whom are far behind former President Donald Trump . “He needs to get his ass up to New Hampshire,” said one DeSantis endorser in the state, granted anonymity to speak candidly about the situation. Dive deeper into DeSantis’ struggles with Lisa, Kelly and Sally Goldenberg .   A message from Choose Who You Use: Last winter, customers of Massachusetts utility companies saw the largest electric rate increases in recent memory. If those customers had contracted with a retail electric provider instead, they would have saved close to a billion dollars. Competition means more choices for consumers. Now is not the moment to give the utility companies a bigger monopoly. Join the Choose Who You Use coalition to protect electricity choice and give Massachusetts ratepayers the ability to choose the most affordable, renewable options for them.   HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Samantha Power, Cass Sunstein, Mia Appelbaum, Deborah A. Weinberger and The Messenger’s Christopher Gavin , a Boston.com alum. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: ICE SPICE BABY — Hosts Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky talk municipal elections, home equity theft and Dunkin's latest sugary creation. 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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