POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Charlie Baker takes the hot seat

 

BY MIA MCCARTHY AND KELLY GARRITY With help from Lisa Kashinsky CHAHLIE IN THE HOUSE — Charlie Baker may have closed his campaign bank accounts , but that doesn’t mean the former Republican governor is out of politics entirely. Baker spent his Thursday morning on Capitol Hill, testifying at a “Name, Image and Likeness Playbook” hearing. In his first year as president of the NCAA, Baker has become a familiar face in the halls of Congress. Once one of the nation’s most popular governors, it’s federal lawmakers who now hold Baker in high regard as he pushes for more legislative action on NIL issues. And as NIL discussions have increased , so have Baker’s visits to Congress. Members on both sides of the aisle have introduced different NIL bills, but none have made progress on getting signed into law. “I absolutely believe that we can reach a bipartisan bill — to use the term that several have used previously and I used to use a lot in my old job,” Baker said in his testimony, touching on his past gubernatorial experience in a blue state. This time around, Baker sat in the hot seat as lawmakers used the NIL hearing as a vehicle to air a whole host of frustrations with the NCAA in front of a packed hearing room — a rarity among the daily hearings on Capitol Hill. Charlie Baker, photographed while governor, testified Thursday before a House committee. | Elise Amendola/AP Republicans and Democrats alike expressed concern over travel times for students in conferences that now include East and West Coast schools — especially for those in sports outside of football and basketball. Some members asked Baker about his plans to fix the student athlete transfer portal system. They also asked about a more politically radioactive subject — transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, a staple of the campaign trail these days. Multiple Republican lawmakers wanted Baker to commit to preventing these athletes from competing but the former governor danced around the answer without a commitment. Ever the politician, however, he offered to speak with any disgruntled lawmakers afterwards. “If folks want to have an open conversation about issues associated with college sports and women’s sports, we’ll figure out how to make that happen,” Baker said. Baker wasn’t the only Bay State politician in the room Thursday. Democratic Rep. Lori Trahan, a former Georgetown volleyball player and strong advocate for NIL legislation, also serves on the committee. Trahan, who noted that the NCAA had kept its “head completely in the sand” on the NIL issue for years, highlighted the issue of international students not having the same NIL opportunities as domestic students. She wasn’t impressed by Michigan Republican Rep. Tim Walberg’s question to Baker about whether an increase in international student athletes is preventing American students from playing at colleges. “The hearing took a couple irrelevant turns. Here we are talking about NIL and we have one member who’s saying that international athletes shouldn't be allowed to play college sports because they're taking spots away from American players,” Trahan told Playbook after the hearing. “But Charlie did a good job of keeping it focused on what the hearing was about.” GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . That's enough D.C. coverage. Now back to New Hampshire (If you see us up there this week, say hi!). TODAY — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s annual meeting at 9:15 a.m.; Gov. Maura Healey delivers the keynote address at 9:30 a.m., and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attends. Driscoll speaks at a roundtable at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College at 2 p.m. THE WEEKEND — Wu attends GOTV events for the write-in Joe Biden campaign in Nashua and Manchester Saturday. State Sen. Peter Durant is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais is on NBC10’s “At Issue” on Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Things you want Mia to watch on Capitol Hill? Email us at mmccarthy@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com.   JOIN 1/31 FOR A TALK ON THE RACE TO SOLVE ALZHEIMER’S: Breakthrough drugs and treatments are giving new hope for slowing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. But if that progress slows, the societal and economic cost to the U.S. could be high. Join POLITICO, alongside lawmakers, official and experts, on Jan. 31 to discuss a path forward for better collaboration among health systems, industry and government. REGISTER HERE .     FROM THE DELEGATION SUPPORTING THE STRIKE — Newton schools are closed after 98 percent of the members of the city’s teachers union voted Thursday to begin striking today . The Newton Teachers Association has been negotiating with the school committee for over a year on a new contract the union is hoping will include pay raises and provisions that will require the city to hire more staff and social workers. Now, Rep. Ayanna Pressley is wading into the fight, calling on Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and the school committee to “fully fund the schools Newton deserves.” Newton’s teachers “deserve a contract that reflects both the value of their labor and their humanity,” Pressley said in a statement first shared with Playbook. “I urge Mayor Fuller and the Newton School Committee to immediately come to the table, invest in our educators, and fully fund the schools Newton deserves.” DATELINE BEACON HILL NO TAX HIKES ON THE TABLE — Gov. Maura Healey doesn’t plan to turn to tax hikes or fee increases to cover the cost of the ambitious spending proposals she outlined in her State of the Commonwealth speech Wednesday night, she told reporters Thursday. And the Senate’s top budget writer is optimistic the state can make “needed investments” without raising taxes. “Our economy continues to grow. We are not in a recession. Our GDP continues to grow. Albeit it's growing at a much smaller rate than what we were used to. We can certainly live within our means, make needed investments in education and early education, and health care and mental health and like without tax hikes,” Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues told Playbook. The Legislature shares many of Healey’s goals, Rodrigues said, including education and early education, housing and mental health. “We are going to make investments in those areas, to the point that we can afford to, and as much as we can afford,” he said. — “ Healey advances $4B affordable housing bill, ‘highest priority’ of her administration ,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: “Gov. Maura Healey moved an enormous $4.1 billion bill to tackle a housing shortage decades in the making to a Joint Committee on Housing hearing Thursday morning, doubling down on the urgency of the 'issue of our time' following her State of the Commonwealth speech the night before.” — “ Governor’s budget cuts threaten services for seniors, providers say, ” by Jason Laughlin, The Boston Globe: “Programs for Massachusetts seniors are in dire need of new funding in the wake of the state’s recent round of fiscal belt tightening, say those who provide meals and other services to the elderly.” — “Massachusetts Senate passes cat declawing ban bill sponsored by Springfield Sen. Adam Gomez,” by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican. — “Healey administration lays out the logic behind its 5-year push to reinvent literacy learning,” by Max Larkin, WBUR. WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET — “AG Campbell threatens ‘legal action,’ loss of funding if Milton referendum tanks new zoning plan,” by Jeremy C. Fox, The Boston Globe: “Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell warned Milton officials in a strongly worded letter this week that the town could face ‘legal action’ and lose ‘a wide variety of state funding’ if a referendum vote next month succeeds in nullifying the town’s most ambitious zoning proposal in nearly 100 years.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “MassDOT backs, will study, Palmer stop for east-west rail,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and its consultants will study, select a site and do a conceptual design for a future Palmer stop on the proposed east-west passenger rail. The work, paid for from $4 million in the state’s capital fund set aside in June, is expected to take 18 months, state Rail and Transit Division Administrator Meredith Slesinger told the MassDOT Board of Directors this week.” TRUMPACHUSETTS BALLOT BATTLES, CONTINUED — The fight to bump Donald Trump off the ballot faced its first test Thursday, as lawyers for and against the effort met at a preliminary hearing to discuss the challenge. But a motion to dismiss the challenge filed by Trump’s team on Wednesday held up debate and shifted the hearing’s focus to whether or not the state Ballot Law Commission has the jurisdiction to determine Trump’s eligibility. Trump’s attorney Marc Salinas argued that because Trump got on the ballot by having the state party submit his name — rather than filing nominating papers — the commission doesn’t have the authority to remove him. “There is nothing in the case law or the statutes that the c ommission is required to follow, that says qualification to be on a ballot is a precondition to appear on the ballot,” Salinas said, echoing an argument Secretary of State Bill Galvin made earlier this month. (If the state Democratic party submitted Barack Obama ’s name, Galvin said, he would be required to include it on the ballot, though federal law precludes the former president from seeking another term). Free Speech for People and prominent labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan filed the two nearly identical challenges last week, and Thursday Liss-Riordan argued the commission does have the power under state law to weigh in on “the legality, validity, completeness and accuracy of all nomination papers and actions required by law to give candidates access to the ballot.” Both sides have until the end of the day today to submit any other documents to the commission, but when and how the panel could rule is still unclear. Liss-Riordan hopes the commission “will act quickly,” since state law requires a decision by Jan. 29, she said.   YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS : From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics.      IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “Offshore wind procurement delayed 2 months,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “The Healey administration on Thursday said it is delaying the state’s next procurement of offshore wind by nearly two months to allow more time for the Internal Revenue Service to provide guidance on the availability of new tax credits. The delay pushes back the deadline for submission of bids from January 31 until March 27. More importantly, the two-month delay means final approval of the next offshore wind deals may not come until the end of 2024 or early 2025.” MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Uxbridge to refund more than $1 million to weed shop in impact fees case,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: “The Town of Uxbridge has reached an agreement in Superior Court to largely refund the community impact fees paid by a cannabis store, according to court documents and the law firm representing the store. On Dec. 29, the town entered into an agreement with Caroline's Cannabis to refund the store $1,171,633.60. According to a statement from the law firm MacMillan Law Offices, the refund constitutes 80% of the community impact fees the store paid the town and may be the first known refund of the controversial fees in the state.” FROM THE 413 — “Hadley climate panel balks at toughening energy rules in building code,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette. — “Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti revives his 'One Pittsfield' campaign slogan — this time as a TV program,” by Meg Britton-Mehlisch, The Berkshire Eagle. THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Norfolk DA denies being told he is target of federal investigation,” by Luis Fieldman, MassLive: “ Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey’s Office issued a statement Thursday denying that federal prosecutors named Morrissey or members of his office as targets of a federal probe due to the handling of Karen Read’s murder case.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TRAIL MARKERS — Nikki Haley has a 12-plus-hour day on the campaign trail in New Hampshire today, but that’s been a rarity since the primary pivoted from Iowa. Debates are off. Donald Trump , who's been spending time in court, has an evening rally. Ron DeSantis returns today, but then he’s off to South Carolina for the weekend. Lisa and Natalie Allison have more on the collapse of the first-in-the-nation primary . POLL — “ Trump slightly increases lead over Haley in New Hampshire, new Globe/Suffolk/NBC10 poll shows ,” by Marc Fortier, The Boston Globe   Here’s where the candidates are today: TRUMP — holds a rally in Concord at 7 p.m. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) campaigns for him at the Saddle Up Saloon in Kingston at 4 p.m. HALEY — has GOTV events at 7:20 a.m. in Newfield; 8 a.m. in Hampton; 11:45 a.m. in Amherst; 4 p.m. in Milford and a 6:30 p.m. rally in Manchester. DESANTIS — heads to the Courtyard Marriott Nashua at 4:45 p.m. and Cara Irish Pub in Dover at 7:30 p.m. PHILLIPS — is in Salem at 7:30 a.m. and Concord at 5 p.m. MARIANNE WILLIAMSON — is embarking on a diner tour of Manchester start at 2:45 p.m. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Sen. Julian Cyr, who turns 38 today, and Adam Sege. Happy belated to Kate Dineen, who celebrated Thursday. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Serena McMahon, Liam O’Connor, and your D.C.-based Playbook co-writer , who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Molly Trowbridge, Jeremy Jacobs and Diego Sanchez, a Massachusetts Democratic State Committee member and Barney Frank alum. 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: Shelter money struggles

BY LISA KASHINSKY Presented by ‘DRINKING FROM A FIREHOSE’ — The unexpected arrival of 49 migrants on Martha’s Vineyard last year laid bare immigration issues that are now fueling unprecedented strain on the state’s emergency shelter system and roiling its politics. But warning signs of the shelter crisis were already showing before the Venezuelan asylum-seekers touched down here last September. A week or so earlier, state Sen. Julian Cyr, who co-chairs the Legislature’s public health committee, had toured Boston Medical Center, where dozens of migrants were sleeping in the emergency department each night. (BMC would later stop letting people shelter at the hospital unless they were seeking medical treatment.) Playbook asked Cyr — who, as the senator for the Cape and islands, was also involved in the Vineyard migrant response — if anyone could have predicted that the state would now be scrambling to provide emergency housing and services for more than 6,400 families (more than a third of which are estimated to be migrants). “Yes,” he said. “All of these issues were [already] being talked about. The trends were emerging and have continued in this direction. … The Baker-Polito folks were struggling with it then. The Healey-Driscoll folks have been really trying their best from Day One, but they’re drinking from a firehose.” Now Gov. Maura Healey is asking the Legislature to prop up the strained shelter system — again . Lawmakers have already given Healey $410 million to buoy the shelter system through next year. They're now weighing her request for an additional $250 million, as the governor says the state is burning through some $45 million a month on shelter and services. It’s unclear how quickly they’ll move on it. Healey’s latest ask is part of a $2 billion supplemental budget that remains under review by the House Ways and Means Committee. Representatives haven’t penciled in any formal sessions for this week. Neither have senators. Representatives also want answers to what House Majority Leader Mike Moran described as 11 “extensive” questions on the finances and mechanics of the shelter system — a list chamber leaders sent to Healey last week in response to her administration's recent briefings on the matter. Among their queries: whether homeless individuals and families are being displaced from shelters and emergency housing to make room for migrants, and whether the emergency she declared over the migrant surge supersedes local housing ordinances and bylaws. “It is our hope those questions get addressed in a thorough manner so we can move forward with the $250 million,” Moran told Playbook. "We want a better understanding of the $250 million — and if it's going to be another $250 million in three months." Top House Democrats have already warned that the state can't keep pouring money into the shelter system without more help from the federal government (the Healey administration, for instance, recently secured $2 million from FEMA for shelter services). “The state is bearing a significant cost,” Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch told reporters after one of the Healey administration's shelter briefings. “And at some point, that can have an impact on other services that the state provides.” GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Healey is about to roll out new climate policies just after 8 a.m. at a Clinton Global Initiative "Spotlight Session" on ocean conservation. Watch it here . TODAY — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends the Raffles Boston Hotel & Residences opening at 10:30 a.m. Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com . PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO REDUCE YOUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION - HOW MANY HAVE DONE SO? EXPERTS TELL US THAT THE FIRST EFFORTS CAN SAVE 20% OR 30%. WHY AREN'T WE BEGINNING THERE?    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.   DATELINE BEACON HILL — PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT: Maura Healey is gearing up for her first state Democratic convention as governor by reminding party activists of everything she’s accomplished over eight months in the corner office. Healey’s campaign sent an email to supporters just minutes ago outlining the promises she made on the campaign trail and in her inaugural address that she’s already delivered on. They include appointing a climate chief, making community college free to certain students and hiring new overseers for the MBTA (though she technically blew her self-imposed 60-day deadline for hiring a transportation safety chief). There’s not much riding on off-year conventions like Saturday’s gathering in Lowell. But it's still good for Healey to show she can fire up the Democratic base both for her own benefit and for that of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and President Joe Biden as they head to the 2024 ballot. — “Shannon O’Brien, the state’s top cannabis regulator, suspended from role a year into her appointment,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg suspended Shannon O’Brien as the state’s top cannabis regulator, removing the former treasurer and one-time Democratic nominee for governor only a year after Goldberg tapped O’Brien for the position. O’Brien’s suspension throws into doubt whether she will return to lead the Cannabis Control Commission at a crucial time for the agency."   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.     FROM THE HUB — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Boston Teachers Union is endorsing Enrique Pepén for District 5 city councilor. Pepén faces former police officer Jose Ruiz in November after incumbent Ricardo Arroyo was knocked out in last week’s preliminary election. — FLYNN’S VIEW: Boston City Council President Ed Flynn said on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” that voters' rejection of Arroyo and Councilor Kendra Lara shows they “want us to provide positive, ethical leadership, and to put the city back on track.” Flynn had criticized both of his colleagues ahead of the election and called on Arroyo to resign. He also backed Ruiz against Arroyo in D5. REWIND: CommonWealth Magazine’s Jennifer Smith and I joined GBH’s Katie Lannan on “Talking Politics” to break down the state of play for Boston progressives heading into the general election. THE RACE FOR CITY HALL — ENDORSEMENT CORNER: Springfield City Councilor Justin Hurst has picked up the support of one of his former rivals, psychotherapist David Ciampi , as he attempts to unseat Mayor Domenic Sarno in November. — “In Worcester, political vandalism marks tense election season,” by Sean Cotter, Boston Globe: “Etel Haxhiaj and her family were sitting down for dinner Friday when they heard it: a bang against the side of the house. … Outside, they found a baseball in the shrubs by the porch, and the nine political lawn signs she had, for herself and others, were strewn about the yard. Also at the end of last week, another city councilor, Donna Colorio, a Republican, said her car was egged while it was outside of her home a couple of days after someone scrawled ‘racist’ on one of her signs in front of another house.” Dive deeper with the Worcester Telegram & Gazette .   A message from Choose Who You Use:     PARTY POLITICS GOP LOSERS SOLICITED FOR COMMENT BY THE MEDIA? — HOW SWIFT SEES IT: Former Republican Massachusetts governors Mitt Romney and Jane Swift finally “found something to agree on” — that “both parties need a new generation of leaders,” Swift said on WCVB’s “On the Record” when asked about the Utah U.S. senator’s retirement. "Both parties have lost their minds" if they nominate 80-year-old President Joe Biden and 77-year-old former President Donald Trump as their nominees, Swift said. “Once you hit 70, I don’t think you should be able to run for office again.” Swift also decried federal inaction on immigration: “We have old people in charge at the federal level, but we have no grownups in charge that can come to a solution,” she said. “Until then, it is just emergency after emergency.” And how does Swift think Democratic Gov. Maura Healey is handling that emergency, and others like last week's flash flooding in Leominster? “I think she’s doing a great job,” Swift said. She even texted Healey to say how important it is "that people see you out there" after a disaster — "and she knew it." — “GOP hopeful sues to keep Trump off 2024 Mass. ballot,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “[L]ong-shot Texas Republican presidential candidate [John Anthony Castro] has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to keep former President Donald Trump off next year’s Massachusetts ballot.” Castro filed similar 14th Amendment-based legal challenges in New Hampshire and other states. — “Former Attleboro City Councilor, congressional candidate [Julie Hall] running for seat on Republican state committee,” by George W. Rhodes, The Sun Chronicle. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — "In the dark: RMV records restricted with immigrant driver’s license law," by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: "The state department of transportation will no longer release driving records to the public after the implementation of an immigrant driver’s license law this summer, which has given the agency cover to deny records requests for the documents." WHO IS ASKING WHERE GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER WAS FOR 8 YEARS? — "MBTA was slow to repair or replace standpipe systems used to put out fires," by Laura Crimaldi and Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe.   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 .     MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS SHAUNNA O'CONNELL IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION  — “Taunton mayor fines migrant hotel $1,000 per day for overcapacity amid shelter crisis,” by Kate Wilkinson, WPRI: “Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell is fining the Clarion Hotel for being over capacity with migrants at the same time the state is grappling with a lack of shelter as demand grows.” — “Questions raised about migrant housing at ICC, downtown vitality,” by Melanie Gilbert, Lowell Sun: “The anticipated repurposing of the 252-room UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center into housing for migrant families has business and community leaders worried about the economic future of Downtown Lowell.” — "'We started getting just planes of people': Logan Airport team scrambles to help newly arrived migrants," by Gabrielle Emanuel, WBUR. THE LOCAL ANGLE — “On tony Martha’s Vineyard, a center of Black political power grows,” by Samantha J. Gross and Tal Kopan, Boston Globe: “Martha’s Vineyard’s rich Black history, especially in and around the town of Oak Bluffs on the east shore, has made it a growing center of Black political power. Up-and-coming and established politicians alike travel there to raise money and mingle with influential players from across the country and cultural sectors. That has never been more the case than it was the past few summers.” — “Reckoning looms over ‘home equity theft’,” by Jennifer Smith and Colman M. Herman, CommonWealth Magazine: “In late May, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of 94-year-old Geraldine Tyler, a Minnesota woman who did not get the surplus back after her condo was foreclosed on and sold off for $40,000 — $25,000 more than what she owed. … Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are moving to change the law going forward, to bring the state into compliance with the Supreme Court decision, but there’s also a very real possibility that the people who have had their equity stolen will file suit to reclaim it, which could cost cities and towns across Massachusetts millions of dollars.” — “Cambridge City Council asked to oppose ‘Cop City’ in Atlanta, 1 thousand miles away,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald. — “Uxbridge selectman who criticized superintendent told to stay away from school buildings,” by Jeff A. Chamer, Telegram & Gazette. — “Mass. sees uptick in births during pandemic,” by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times.  BAD LINK - TRY THIS: https://www.eagletribune.com/news/mass-sees-uptick-in-births-during-pandemic/article_e2b5953a-53ae-11ee-b226-c7b6bea14ad9.html REGIONAL ROUNDUP — EYES EMOJI: Rhode Island’s term-limited attorney general, Peter Neronha , appears to be doing some early flirting with running for governor (presumably against fellow Democrat and incumbent Dan McKee ) in 2026, per WPRI’s Ted Nesi. — “Republican presidential candidates mostly overlook New Hampshire in an effort to blunt Trump in Iowa,” by Steve Peoples, The Associated Press. — "In bid to stop Trump, one group is making different pitch to independents and Democrats: Vote GOP," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe.   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 former  Rep. John Tierney , Daily Hampshire Gazette alum Emily Cutts, Jen Migliore, Kathryn Burton, Corey Lewandowski  and Mark Walsh . 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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