POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Warren, Markey to again vote against border bill

 

BY KELLY GARRITY AND LISA KASHINSKY Presented by  IMMIGRATION IMBROGLIO — Elizabeth Warren is about to give her political opponents fresh fodder. The U.S. Senate is set to vote today on a bipartisan border bill that would tighten immigration laws while delivering more than $1 billion to local governments and groups sheltering migrants. Warren is planning to vote against it. “If we are going to do work in the immigration area, we need both border security and a pathway to citizenship for people who are working hard for the United States of America,” Warren told our colleague Mia McCarthy at the Capitol earlier this week. So is Sen. Ed Markey, according to a spokesperson. It’s not the first time they’ve done so. The senators took a procedural vote against the border deal the last time around, when it came up as part of a foreign aid package. This time it’s a standalone bill. But that’s not changing their calculus. Also like last time, their “no” votes won’t be the bill’s fatal blow. It’s already hemorrhaging Senate support on both the right and the left . And it’s still a non-starter in the Republican-controlled House. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren. | Winslow Townson/AP CARPET BAGGER JOHN DEATON VOTED 3 TIMES IN 20 YEARS REGURGITATES RIGHT WING PROPAGANDA & IGNORES THAT tRUMP SABOTAGED THE BILL IN THE MAGA GOP HOUSE....PUT THE BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS! LOTS OF DISINFORMATION FROM JOHNNY COME LATELY DEATON! But Warren’s dissension will widen an attack lane that her Republican Senate opponents have already carved out against her. Attorney and Marine veteran John Deaton has taken to social media to bash Warren for her initial vote. And he turned his recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border into a campaign ad in which he blames “the failed policies and partisanship of career politicians like Elizabeth Warren” for turning every state into “a border state.”  Quincy City Council President FLIP FLOPPER Ian Cain has similarly blamed Warren for Massachusetts’ migrant crisis, writing on social media that she “keeps Washington paralyzed and prevents comprehensive reform to solve illegal immigration.” And he’s already trying to turn her likely vote today against her. “For years, politicians in Washington, including Elizabeth Warren, have done a lot of talking and posturing, but our border continues to be a problem and is only getting worse because they refuse to do what’s necessary,” Cain said in a statement to Playbook. Warren is less likely to face blowback on Democratic-controlled Beacon Hill, where the Big Three are almost exclusively blaming congressional Republicans who tanked the original deal for the federal government's inaction on immigration. Gov. Maura Healey, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka all publicly lobbied for the initial bill’s passage, issuing a joint statement just before the February vote warning that “missing this opportunity for true bipartisan reform” would “have negative ripple effects on states … for decades to come.” But Mariano has since been the only one of the three to publicly acknowledge that the state’s two senators were against the deal — and even then, he still blamed Republicans for its demise. Spilka on Wednesday publicly called on Warren and Markey to back the bill this time around. “I’m hoping they support it,” she told reporters at the State House. “We need their help.” GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Stay cool today! TODAY — Healey delivers the Bunker Hill Community College commencement address at 11 a.m. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll delivers the UMass Boston commencement address at 9:30 a.m., attends a Gavin Foundation gala at 5:30 p.m. in the Seaport and a Community Teamwork celebration at 7:30 p.m. in Dracut. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a coffee hour at 9:30 a.m. in Dorchester, speaks at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Boston Common at 11 a.m. and attends Ethos' annual senior prom at 12:30 p.m. in West Roxbury. Rep. Ayanna Pressley introduces a resolution for equitable access to reproductive health care for people with disabilities at 2 p.m. at the Capitol. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com.   A message from NextEra Energy: With a presence in 49 states, NextEra Energy is one of the nation’s largest capital investors in infrastructure, creating thousands of jobs and generating millions of dollars in new tax revenue for communities across the U.S. We generate more electricity from the wind and sun than anyone in the world as we work toward securing America’s energy independence and security with clean and emission-free low-cost energy.   DATELINE BEACON HILL — “‘HERO Act’ veterans services bill approved by state House,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald. — “Beacon Hill weighing how to prevent campaign-season AI deepfakes,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News. — “Gov. Healey spreads the word about mental health care availability in New Bedford visit,” by Frank Mulligan, The Standard-Times. FROM THE HUB — “Two people enter Boston City Hall with gun, City Council meeting disrupted,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “A person with a gun attempted to enter Boston City Hall on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a police investigation and briefly disrupting a City Council meeting. Sgt. Det. John Boyle, chief spokesman for Boston Police, said a man and a woman, one of whom ‘was in possession of a firearm,’ tried to gain entry to the building at noon. The armed individual did not make it past the security checkpoint." — “‘We have to learn from the past’: BPS backs off short-term plans to close schools,” by Deanna Pan and Christopher Huffaker, The Boston Globe: “Boston Public Schools has scaled back immediate plans for sweeping school closures despite warning for months about the hard decisions necessary to contend with dwindling enrollment and persistent inequities in student experiences. The district instead is proposing consolidating two schools that already share a campus and closing its last standalone middle school, which was already announced in January.”   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 .     WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET — “AG Campbell stops ‘predatory’ lender EasyPay from operating in Mass,” by Susannah Sudborough, MassLive: “As part of EasyPay’s agreement with the attorney general’s office, the company agreed to pay $625,000 in restitution to its former Massachusetts customers, according to Campbell’s office. Additionally, the lender agreed to cease collection efforts targeting those customers.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “It’s been four years since the pandemic shutdowns. Riders in Boston are still waiting extra long for the train,” by Taylor Dolven, The Boston Globe: “The MBTA’s weekday bus and subway service is about 13 percent to 14 percent less this spring than it was in Spring 2019, before the pandemic, according to data provided by the MBTA.” — “Tolls at the Mass. border: Worcester senator calls on governor to explore idea,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette: “Sen. Robyn Kennedy, D-Worcester, filed an amendment to the Senate's proposed budget for the next fiscal year that would address the question of what she has called equity in tolling. FROM THE DELEGATION THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN MCGOVERN!  MAGA GOP CENSORING CRITICISM OF tRUMP!  OUTRAGEOUS! OUT OF ORDER — Things got heated on the House floor Wednesday after Rep. Jim McGovern ran through the list of charges former President Donald Trump is currently facing, including, as McGovern put it, “sending [a] hush money payment to a porn star to avoid a sex scandal during his 2016 campaign.” House business ground to a halt, as Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) tried to get McGovern’s remarks struck from the record. Eventually, Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) did just that, barring McGovern from speaking on the House floor for the rest of the day. “Apparently, Republicans are allowed to say that Trump's trial is a sham, and the judge is corrupt and the jury is rigged. But it's against the rules for me to even acknowledge that the trials exist,” McGovern wrote on X after the spat. By the evening, he was fundraising off the incident . CONTRACEPTION PROTECTION — The U.S. Senate plans to take up a bill led by Sen. Ed Markey that would codify contraception as "a fundamental right" next month, our D.C. colleague Anthony Adragna reports . The legislation is on the move after Trump briefly opened the door to restrictions on birth control access before trying to slam it shut.   A message from NextEra Energy:     ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR AUCHINCLOSS IGNORING GAZA GENOCIDE & GAZA STARVATION! — “Auchincloss threatens funding to colleges over antisemitism claims,” by Tiziana Dearing, Anthony Brooks, Rob Lane and Roberto Scalese, WBUR: “Speaking on WBUR's Radio Boston, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss said universities that fail to protect Jewish students from harassment are violating federal law and could lose federal funding. … But when asked, Auchincloss declined to offer a ‘line’ Israel could cross in its treatment of civilians that would change how he feels about U.S. support." — “Harvard’s governing board overrules faculty, bars 13 students who participated in pro-Palestinian encampment from receiving degrees,” by Hilary Burns, The Boston Globe. IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “Vineyard Wind 1 trying to pick up pace with good weather,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “The slow pace of construction isn’t a major problem in the long run, but it suggests building a wind farm off the coast, particularly during the winter months when winds are unusually strong, is not easy.” MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Legal weed outfits sue feds over US law that they say stunts business growth in Mass.,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “Three local plaintiffs involved in legal cannabis businesses under state law are suing U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, attempting to convince a federal judge that the Controlled Substances Act is unconstitutional with regard to cannabis industries.” THE LOCAL ANGLE EYES EMOJI — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed while guest-hosting “The Sean Hannity Show” podcast on Wednesday that while in Fort Myers in March for a Red Sox spring training game, he was stopped at a restaurant by people with “Red Sox stuff” who told him to “send more illegals to Martha’s Vineyard.” He told the story in a pretty poor Boston accent for someone who went to Harvard. — “Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch asks city council for nearly 80 percent raise,” by Peter Blandino, The Patriot Ledger: “About three weeks after consultants recommended raising Mayor Thomas Koch's salary, the mayor has formally requested a $285,000 salary from city council — a 79% increase. The consultants recommended a pay raise from his $159,141 to as much as $370,000. The mayor coupled the request with a proposal to boost the councilors' own compensation from just under $30,000 to $47,500 each.”    DON’T MISS POLITICO’S ENERGY SUMMIT : The future of energy faces a crossroads in 2024 as policymakers and industry leaders shape new rules, investments and technologies. Join POLITICO’s Energy Summit on June 5 as we convene top voices to examine the shifting global policy environment in a year of major elections in the U.S. and around the world. POLITICO will examine how governments are writing and rewriting new rules for the energy future and America’s own role as a major exporter. REGISTER HERE .     MEDIA MATTERS — “GBH cuts staff and programming,” by Liz Neisloss, GBH News: “GBH announced layoffs of 31 staff members on Wednesday, representing 4 percent of its overall workforce. ... The most dramatic cuts are to programming in GBH’s News division. Goldberg announced that local television programs in that department Greater Boston, Talking Politics and Basic Black will cease production immediately.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS CLOG MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAYS FOR GOOD PAYING JOBS....MAYBE KELLY AYOTTE SHOULD DO MORE FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE! SURVEY SAYS — Former Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte has built her gubernatorial campaign around warning that New Hampshire is “one election away from turning into” its southern neighbor. A new survey of likely New Hampshire voters from UMass Lowell and YouGov shows that message is resonating with the Republican base — but not so much outside of it in this semi-open primary state. Less than a third of respondents, 30 percent, think the Granite State is at “great risk” of becoming too much like the Bay State over the next decade, while 34 percent say there’s “somewhat” of a risk and 36 percent say there’s no “risk at all.” Among Republicans: 49 percent say there’s a “great risk,” while 32 percent say there’s “somewhat” of a risk and 20 percent see no risk at all.   A message from NextEra Energy: Leading America with safe, reliable and affordable clean energy The need for reliable, low-cost clean energy in America has never been greater – and NextEra Energy is ready to deliver it. Millions of Americans depend on us to power their lives in good weather and bad. By investing in resilient, storm-tested infrastructure and harnessing innovative technology, we’re keeping reliability high and bills low. We are also working toward securing America’s energy independence and security with clean and emission-free low-cost energy. We’ve virtually eliminated foreign oil from our power plants and, today, generate more electricity from the wind and sun than anyone in the world – while continuing lead in battery storage technology.   HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH WEDDING BELLS — Eliza Wiant , campaign manager for Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Mackenzie Thomas , senior manager for responsible AI at Google, were married by Mayor Denise Simmons at Cambridge City Hall. Pic and pic . TRANSITIONS — Randolph Bell is now VP of government and regulatory affairs at JERA Americas. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Gerald James Holton, Andrew M. Cable, state Rep. Jim O’Day, Stephanie Slysz and Dorchester Reporter editor and publisher Bill Forry. Happy belated to Michael Schell, retired federal judge Nancy Gertner and Alex Friedman, who celebrated Wednesday. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: RIGHT ON RESCHEDULE — Shaleen Title of the Parabola Center joins hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela to discuss a survey on what Americans think marijuana legalization should look like. Plus, how BPS parents feel about the new facilities plan and Koczela’s takeaways from the national pollsters conference. 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 Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey tries to put out a transportation fire

 

BY KELLY GARRITY AND LISA KASHINSKY A SIGHT TO BEHOLD WHEN REPUBLICANS GET THEIR   PANTIES IN A WAD! PUMPING THE BRAKES — It’s not often that a governor has to publicly denounce one of her Cabinet members. But Maura Healey delivered a forceful rebuke of Monica Tibbits-Nutt on Monday, after the transportation secretary's suggestion that the state could take tolls at its borders inflamed regional tensions and sparked backlash from across the political spectrum. The secretary’s comments “do not represent the views of this administration,” Healey said in a sternly worded statement. “To be clear,” she added, “I am not proposing tolls at any border.” Healey said she conveyed as much to Tibbits-Nutt and she retains “confidence” in the leadership of her second transportation secretary. Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt doesn't always speak for the Healey administration. | Joshua Qualls/Governor's press office courtesy photo It was an about-face from last week, when a MassDOT spokesperson told the CommonWealth Beacon — which first reported the remarks Tibbits-Nutt made during a Walk Massachusetts event — that a transportation funding task force was reviewing possible revenue sources such as “tolling at all Massachusetts borders.” But it did little to quell the furor — in part because it’s not just tolls that have people in a tizzy. In a flurry of statements throughout the afternoon, Republican lawmakers and conservative groups raised alarms about Tibbits-Nutt also saying she would “basically [go] after everybody who has money.” The state Senate’s GOP caucus issued a joint statement warning that Tibbits-Nutt’s approach “has the very real potential to inflict serious damage to our competitiveness.” Even after Healey tried to walk back her secretary’s remarks, the four Republicans said they “take the threats posed by her comments seriously.” Some of their House counterparts piled on . The MassGOP slammed the secretary’s speech as “an abhorrent display of bad policy.” The conservative Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance called for Healey to fire Tibbits-Nutt just five months after the governor appointed her as Gina Fiandaca’s permanent replacement. To the north, the transportation conflagration provided even more kindling for those running against Healey-backed Democrat Joyce Craig to be New Hampshire’s next governor. Former GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte didn’t miss the opportunity to dunk on Healey for another day — posting a picture of her husband’s truck in a taunting response to Tibbits-Nutt disparaging pickup-truck drivers and calling to hike excise taxes on them. Even Democrat Cinde Warmington trashed the border tolls as “one of the worst ideas I’ve heard in a long time.” And the executive councilor didn’t stop there, blasting what she called an “outrageous plan to squeeze more money out of hardworking families.” Tibbits-Nutt may have found some backup in Bay State Senate President Karen Spilka, who said that Metro West motorists have spent years paying tolls without fully reaping the benefits of the projects they’re funding. “I've said this publicly — if tolls are such a great idea for the Turnpike, we should look at them for funding for other areas of the state,” Spilka told reporters at an unrelated event. But even though Tibbits-Nutt said in her talk that Healey “likes fights,” it’s clear this is one the governor is walking away from. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Send your tips, scoops and private conversations to kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com. TODAY — Healey is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll has no public events. Attorney General Andrea Campbell opens the National Cyber Crime Conference at 8:15 a.m. in Norwood and speaks at the 2024 Victim Rights Month Awards Ceremony at 1 p.m. at the State House. Rep. Jake Auchincloss keynotes a New England Council event at 1 p.m. at the Seaport Hotel.   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 .     YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS JOHN DEATON VOTED 3 TIMES IN 20 YEARS                       NO TIES TO MASSACHUSETTS - CARPETBAGGER   FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — A super PAC is forming to boost Republican John Deaton against Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren . Commonwealth Unity Fund is launching “because extreme politicians like Elizabeth Warren have made Washington a dysfunctional mess,” Brittany Yanick , a spokesperson for the PAC, said in a statement to Playbook. “John Deaton is a Marine, a political outsider, and a tireless voice for the voiceless. He's the Senator Massachusetts needs to break the partisan gridlock in [D.C.] and bring us together.” Beyond Yanick’s involvement, it’s not immediately clear who’s behind the PAC. The group filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission earlier this month that only lists David Satterfield , a senior associate at Virginia-based compliance firm Huckaby Davis Lisker, as treasurer. And its apparent website has no other identifying information. DATELINE BEACON HILL CLIMATE BILL INCOMING — Add comprehensive climate legislation to the Senate’s to-do list. In addition to unveiling the Senate’s top budget priorities (fully funding free community college and creating more child care seats), Senate President Karen Spilka said her chamber plans to address the climate crisis “in earnest” by moving a “comprehensive” climate bill before session ends. Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem and state Sen. Michael Barrett , co-chair of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, are taking the lead on crafting the legislation. NO SUPP IN SIGHT — With the state set to run out of money to cover emergency shelter costs any day, it’s still unclear when lawmakers will emerge from their closed-door negotiations with a deal to keep the funding flowing — one that will almost certainly include some level of restrictions on how long people can stay in the beleaguered shelter system. “We are literally in communication constantly, all weekend. It's going well. We're having good conversations,” Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues said of the members of the conference committee tasked with negotiating the bill. But he didn’t offer more details about what might be holding things up, or when a deal might emerge. — “Bill takes aim at retail energy suppliers,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “The state Senate is poised to take up a proposal to ban retail energy suppliers, but supporters of the burgeoning industry say the move will deprive consumers of choice and allow the state's major utilities to create monopolies." MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Some migrants flown by DeSantis to Martha’s Vineyard qualify for victim visas, feds say,” by Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald: “Some of the 49 migrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard by the state of Florida are now able to legally work in the United States and have temporary protections from deportation — because they are considered victims of a potential crime, their attorney says. The migrants are eligible for these protections because they applied for a special kind of visa meant for crime victims who are helping law enforcement.” More from GBH’s Sarah Betancourt . — “Feds approve Mass. request to use Medicaid funds for shelter crisis,” by Hadley Barndollar, MassLive: “The approval will inject $190 million this year and a total of $647.5 million through 2027 into a system with quickly waning funding.” FROM THE HUB NOT AGREEING TO DISAGREE — Days after members of a city commission tasked with overseeing historic preservation in Boston sent a letter accusing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’s administration of “disregard” for their procedures, the leader of the 16-member volunteer panel was fired, The Dorchester Reporter reported . Rosanne Foley led the Boston Landmarks Commission since 2015, according to the Reporter, but was dismissed from the role earlier this month, after she and the other members voiced issues with city projects including Wu’s hotly debated plan to renovate White Stadium. — “Mayor Michelle Wu has clinched some wins with Boston unions, but with bumps along the way,” by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: “More than halfway through Wu’s first term as mayor, her administration has negotiated contracts with all but three of the unions, and — she says — won some major victories along the way. Twenty-two have active contracts. Another 19 unions negotiated contracts with her administration that expired during the second half of 2023. Only three unions whose contracts were expired when Wu took office have never successfully negotiated a new contract with her administration, according to city officials.” — “Wu spoke with police leaders after report on alleged serial rapist,” by Roberto Scalese, Tiziana Dearing and Amanda Beland, WBUR: “Mayor Michelle Wu said she has spoken with Boston police leadership following a new WBUR investigation about a suspected serial rapist [Alvin Campbell, AG Andrea Campbell’s brother] who evaded arrest for years despite DNA evidence in some cases” excerpt:  Pressed on whether the police should have done more sooner, Wu instead said there is "tension" between being transparent and a state law that keeps reports of sexual assault out of the public record. Wu said the law is intended to protect the victims of sexual assault, but that sometimes can prevent the public from being informed. Critics have said that law, written in an attempt to protect victims of rape and sexual assault, has instead served to obscure sex crimes and even shield perpetrators, making it harder to protect future victims. — “Climate activists block traffic on Moakley Bridge during Earth Day demonstration,” by Lila Hempel-Edgers and Nick Stoico, The Boston Globe. — “Felix G. Arroyo sexual harassment case returns to court ahead of May trial,” by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe. ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR A sign outside Harvard Yard warns that only those with Harvard IDs can enter. | Steve LeBlanc/AP — “Harvard Yard closed until Friday in anticipation of pro-Palestine protests,” by Michelle N. Amponsah and Joyce E. Kim, The Harvard Crimson. MORE — “Harvard suspends pro-Palestinian student group,” by Hilary Burns, The Boston Globe: “The group, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, set off a series of cascading crises for the university when it posted a controversial statement on Oct. 7 that many around the world read as justifying the Hamas-led attack on Israel that left more than 1,200 dead and about 250 others kidnapped.” AND MORE — "Fetterman backs call for Romney to be Harvard’s next president," by Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill: "[Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.)] is citing concerns in recent months about the elite school’s response to antisemitism on its campus." — “Patriots owner Robert Kraft pulls support for Columbia amid ‘virulent hate’ on campus,” by Kelly Garrity, POLITICO. — “Emerson, MIT, Tufts students camp out in solidarity with Columbia pro-Palestinian protest,” by Daniel Kool, Maddie Khaw and Hilary Burns, The Boston Globe.  BALLOT BATTLES STRIKE THREE — There’s officially no appetite among Beacon Hill’s Big Three for nixing the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement — at least not without a plan in place to replace the test. “I cannot support totally getting rid of MCAS as a requirement without some reasonable alternative,” Spilka said during a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event Monday. The Massachusetts Teachers Association , which is backing the ballot question, argues that districts could use existing state standards to measure student achievement. But the Big Three don’t seem to be buying it. TEAMING UP — Teamsters Local 25 have thrown support behind a pair of ballot questions that would let app-based drivers organize and classify them as employees. The Legislature has until the first Wednesday in May to act on initiative petitions or let them keep proceeding toward the November ballot. FROM THE DELEGATION — “Rep. Neal looks back on $95B Ukraine foreign aid package, ahead to more GOP rancor,” by Jim Kinney, The Springfield Republican: “U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal is feeling gratified that a $95 billion foreign aid package ... passed in the House over the weekend. But he fears the Republican Party will make it hard, if not impossible, to pass any more major legislation between now and the November election.” SIGN THEM UP — Warren and Reps. Stephen Lynch, Ayanna Pressley, Jake Auchincloss, Lori Trahan, Bill Keating, Jim McGovern and Seth Moulton signed onto a letter demanding President Joe Biden provide insurance coverage for in-vitro fertilization to all federal employees, our colleagues report .   POLITICO IS BACK AT THE 2024 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO will again be your eyes and ears at the 27th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles from May 5-8 with exclusive, daily, reporting in our Global Playbook newsletter. Suzanne Lynch will be on the ground covering the biggest moments, behind-the-scenes buzz and on-stage insights from global leaders in health, finance, tech, philanthropy and beyond. Get a front-row seat to where the most interesting minds and top global leaders confront the world’s most pressing and complex challenges — subscribe today .     FROM THE 413 — “Springfield school superintendent search stagnates; member calls for it to be scrapped, restarted,” by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: “The School Committee has advertised nationally to replace Daniel Warwick, who announced in January that he would retire after 12 years at the helm of the schools. Since the start, the process has been contentious, with members disagreeing on how to conduct the search and some saying it has been forced and rushed.” — “Jonathan Sylbert resigns as Sandisfield town manager with one day's notice,” by Jane Kaufman, The Berkshire Eagle: “Jonathan Sylbert has resigned from his post as town manager. Sylbert’s one-line resignation email reads as follows: 'Steve, I’ve had enough from you. I am resigning as Town Manager effective Monday at noon. Jon.'” — “Rep. Neal, MassDOT reaffirm commitment to West/East rail,” by Devin Bates, Spectrum News. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH SPOTTED — An aviator-wearing Sen. Ed Markey hanging with Green New Deal co-author Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and President Joe Biden for Earth Day . SPOTTED at the Bruins game — former Biden climate envoy John Kerry and his daughter, Vanessa . HAPPY BIRTHDAY — state Rep. Brian Ashe, 90 West founder and CEO Alex Goldstein, Taylor Pederson, Terrence Clark, Kerry Talbot, former GOP gubernatorial nominee Geoff Diehl and former Massport Police Chief Joe Lawless. 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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