POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Republicans torn over Trump, again

 

View in browser   BY LISA KASHINSKY TRUMPACHUSETTS — Donald Trump’s indictment is uncharted territory for a former president. But it’s fueling familiar divides among Massachusetts Republicans. Trump backers are rushing to his defense, decrying the indictment over his alleged role in a hush-money payment to a porn actress during the 2016 presidential campaign as part of a “witch hunt” against him. “Democrats are going down a very dangerous path,” former MassGOP Chair Jim Lyons told Playbook. “The party in power is politicizing the legal system, trying to hunt down a leading figure of an out-of-power party. It’s amazing. I think it’s a real, grave danger to our republic.” Others are staking out middle ground — trying to strike a balance between playing to the party’s grassroots and acknowledging the potential criminality of the former president's actions. “This seems politically motivated by a district attorney who, frankly, should be more concerned with crime in New York City than prosecuting a former president,” MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale told Playbook. But Carnevale said any political undertones should not “excuse any bad behavior that took place.” She also declined to say whether Trump should drop out of the presidential race, calling it a “decision that he should make on his own.” (Trump can continue his campaign while facing criminal charges — or even if he’s in jail). Former President Donald Trump | Brandon Bell/Getty Images Then there are Republicans like Anthony Amore, the party’s last auditor nominee, who told Playbook: “Nobody’s guilty until proven guilty in a court of law. But ... I haven’t seen anything to prove it’s politically motivated.” Republicans are showing some unity, however, in their calls to keep the peace amid concerns of a Jan. 6, 2021, redux. Both Carnevale and Lyons last night urged Trump supporters not to resort to violence . “President Trump will be vindicated,” Lyons, who has faced investigations over potential campaign-finance violations, predicted. “We have to be peaceful in speaking out about how outrageous this is.” Democrats are in array on this one. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Reps. Jim McGovern and Lori Trahan were among those issuing statements last night with the same basic message: no one is above the law and don’t interfere with the proceedings. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. One person who's yet to publicly weigh in on Trump's indictment: the guy he endorsed in the governor's race, Geoff Diehl. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at student government day at 9:30 a.m. at the State House, attends the Wonderfund Period Party at 10:45 a.m. at Big Night Live and attends WooSox Opening Day at 3 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu visits Mildred Avenue K-8 School at noon, speaks at a South Boston Neighborhood House fundraiser at 6:40 p.m. at the Seaport Hotel, and speaks at a Mayor's Office of Women Advancement reception at 7:30 p.m. at the Park Plaza. Rep. Jim McGovern visits Uxbridge High at 10:30 a.m., Eskar Dispensary at noon and WooSox Opening Day. Rep. Richard Neal announces federal funding at 1 p.m. at Westfield State. THIS WEEKEND — Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Steve Tolman is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Auditor Diana DiZoglio is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Reactions to Trump's indictment? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .   THE NATIONAL TAKE — “At Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Camp Is Caught Off Guard,” by Maggie Haberman, The New York Times. — "Team Trump preps for a post-indictment frenzy," by Alex Isenstadt and Meridith McGraw, POLITICO. — “Liberal Manhattan DA takes on Trump in perilous legal fight,” by Erica Orden, POLITICO. — “Republican rivals, leaders rally around Donald Trump after indictment,” by Michael Scherer, The Washington Post. — REGIONAL REACTION: New Hampshire GOP Chair Chris Ager decried the indictment as “an attack by Democrats on the rule of law and a disturbing weaponization of the Justice system against [President Joe] Biden’s enemies.” Asked by POLITICO last week whether Trump should bow out of the 2024 presidential race if indicted, GOP Gov. Chris Sununu said “he won’t drop out … he’s just not.” THE LATEST NUMBERS — “Boston’s COVID data continues to fall, Massachusetts virus cases and hospitalizations trending down,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “On Thursday, the state Department of Public Health reported 2,023 virus cases over the last week. The daily average of 289 COVID cases from the last week was a dip from the daily rate of 297 virus infections during the previous week.”   JOIN POLITICO ON 4/5 FOR THE 2023 RECAST POWER LIST: America’s demographics and power dynamics are changing — and POLITICO is recasting how it covers the intersection of race, identity, politics and policy. Join us for a conversation on the themes of the 2023 Recast Power List that will examine America’s decision-making tables, who gets to sit at them, and the challenges that still need to be addressed. REGISTER HERE .     DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Healey made her pitch on taxes last month. Now it’s Speaker Mariano’s turn,” by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “House Speaker Ronald Mariano on Thursday committed to bringing forward a tax reform package this spring, after expressing doubts in recent months that the state could afford one. … He didn’t get into specifics in the speech [to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce], other than to say the package will contain elements that were left on the table last summer, and that several reforms will be phased in over multiple years. … This time around, Mariano isn’t ruling out a capital gains tax cut — another priority for the business community. ‘Everything’s on the table,’ Mariano told reporters when asked about that.” — “Few state tax breaks have sunset dates,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Massachusetts has hundreds of tax breaks on the books, from refundable credits for filming movies and redeveloping vacant lots to sales tax exemptions for cement mixers and aircraft parts, bleeding tens of millions of dollars a year from the state's coffers. And many of them may never go away. That's because most of the state's tax expenditures don't have a sunset date, when they would either need to be re-authorized by the Legislature or scrapped. It's an issue that's come up during a review by a commission tasked with ensuring that the state and its taxpayers are getting the biggest bang for their buck.” — “17-year-olds may soon be able to vote in this Mass. community,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “The Democratic state lawmaker for Southborough said Thursday she will support and soon file a home rule petition approved by the town last week that lowers the voting age in municipal elections from 18 to 17.” TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) — ENDORSEMENT WARS: State Sen. Lydia Edwards and former Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley have formally endorsed Bill MacGregor for 10th Suffolk state representative, his campaign said. Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale members, meanwhile, voted “overwhelmingly” to endorse Robert Orthman in that race, the group told Playbook. The JP Progressives steering committee is also now asking members of its group to back Orthman.     DAY IN COURT — “Top Massachusetts court backs Boston in COVID-19 vaccine mandate fight, throws out lower ruling,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The state’s top court has ruled in favor of the city in the battle over its COVID-19 mandate, throwing out the preliminary injunction against the Wu administration and clearing the way for future versions of such policies. Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Elspeth Cypher wrote the opinion issued Thursday, throwing out an appellate judge’s order not to enforce the vaccine-mandate policy from December 2021 — a policy under which no one’s ever been disciplined.” — “FBI arrests former Boston police officer for alleged Jan. 6 violence at U.S. Capitol,” by Hannah Reale, GBH News: “Joseph Fisher, a former Boston Police officer, was arrested in Plymouth Thursday for allegedly entering the U.S. Capitol Building during the Jan. 6 insurrection and assaulting a Capitol Police officer. … Another regional FBI office directed the Boston FBI office to Fisher because he was wearing a beanie with several Boston sports logos when he entered the Capitol building, according to court filings. His phone also was later traced to the building on the day of the riots, according to the complaint.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Amid multiple crises, MBTA fields pitches for new agency marketing campaign,” by Dan Atkinson, Dig Boston: “After paying a politically-connected consulting firm more than $4 million to come up with slogans like ‘Take the Orange Line. It’s high time for some lo mein,’ the MBTA is once again looking to hire a marketing firm to promote the agency and develop communications plans.” MAHTY MONITOR — “Marty Walsh says his relationship with Bruins owners isn’t in conflict with his NHLPA role,” by Kevin Paul Dupont, Boston Globe: “Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh conducted a 30-minute introductory press conference Thursday morning in Toronto and dismissed any notion that his duties as the new executive director of the NHL Players’ Association could be influenced by his relationship with Bruins ownership.”   GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE:  POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World , will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat .     FROM THE DELEGATION — “Representatives Stephen Lynch and Jim Jordan spar at hearing: ‘This is a mockery and a disgrace’,” by Shannon Larson, Boston Globe: “A hearing led by Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, briefly descended into chaos Thursday after two witnesses were dismissed without being cross-examined by the panel, leading Representative Stephen Lynch, a Democrat from Massachusetts, to spar with Jordan and call the gathering a ‘mockery and a disgrace.’”  ADDED: THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY IN WHICH REPUBLICANS PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES All Hell Breaks Loose In Weaponization Hearing After Democrat Attacks GOP's Witness Testimony At today's House Weaponization of the Federal Government Committee hearing, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) clashed with Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) over the testimony of Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Attorney General Jeff Landry. MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Berkshire Roots employees are negotiating their first contract as a unionized workforce — and the cannabis industry is paying attention,” by Amanda Burke, Berkshire Eagle: “About 25 Berkshire Roots growers and trimmers are in the process of negotiating their first-ever contract with the Pittsfield-based cannabis company. During the early months of the pandemic in 2020, the workers chose to join the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Approaching three years later, the company and the union have not yet settled on contract language.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Mass. losing residents to other states, census data shows,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “The county-level data, released Thursday, shows that nine of the state’s 14 counties saw declines in their populations between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022 after factoring births, deaths and new residents against those leaving the state.” — “Eastern Fisheries cuts temp agency, laying off New Bedford workers amid labor probe,” by Will Sennott, New Bedford Light. — “Mass. pedestrian deaths spiked in 2022,” by Irina Matchavariani and Vanessa Ochavillo, WBUR.  — “Police: Clark Grant, indicted on federal fraud charges with wife Monica Cannon-Grant, died in motorcycle crash,” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald. MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — “NH Senate unanimously backs push to enshrine presidential primary in state constitution,” by Josh Rogers, NHPR: “For almost 50 years, state law has dictated that New Hampshire hold the first presidential primary in the country. But under a proposal backed unanimously by the state Senate Thursday, voters in 2024 could be asked to take it a step further and enshrine New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation status in the state constitution.”   HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Boston Herald reporter Sean Philip Cotter is joining the Boston Globe next month. — David Storto is now senior health care executive adviser for Tandem Solutions. He was previous executive VP and chief strategy and growth officer at Tufts Medicine. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former Rep. Barney Frank , Rep. Stephen Lynch , former state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz , Mikko Zager , Maureen Williams and Ed Dombroski. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Veterans Secretary Jon Santiago , Matt Szafranski of Western Mass Politics & Insight, photog Dan Little ; Dan Lothian, founder of Little Park Media and a CNN alum; and Jacob Spiering , who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers state Rep. Frank Moran , Billy Jaffe and Pete D’Agostino , partner at Tenax Strategies. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT:  SECRETARIAT —  State House News Service reporter Sam Drysdale  joins hosts Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky to discuss how Gov. Maura Healey ’s plan for a standalone housing secretariat is being received by lawmakers. Koczela and Kashinsky chat about Sen. Elizabeth Warren ‘s reelection bid. 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

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The Big 3 huddle up

 

View in browser   BY LISA KASHINSKY Presented by LEADING THE WAY — Today’s first leadership meeting between Gov. Maura Healey, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano will offer an early look at the dynamic between the Democrats who run Beacon Hill.  MASS GOP has spent the last several years creating divisive issues and offering nothing constructive. Their numbers are so inconsequential, BRAVO TO GOVERNOR HEALEY for excluding them! But it won’t include at least one top Republican. House Minority Leader Brad Jones told Playbook through an aide that he wasn’t invited to the closed-door portion of the confab, as was customary under GOP Gov. Charlie Baker. A Healey aide wouldn’t comment on the invites. A spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr didn’t respond. The Democrats will huddle at 2 p.m. in the executive suite before emerging to address reporters. Don’t expect any earth-shattering revelations at this early stage. But do look for hints as to where there might be some give and take as the new Big Three pursue agendas that overlap in some areas — housing, early education and child care, public transportation — and diverge in others. Spilka offered a preview as she made the rounds on the pre-taped Sunday politics shows. The Senate leader, who is pushing to make community college tuition- and fee-free, told WBZ’s Jon Keller that she's waiting to hear why Healey is limiting her free community college proposal to those ages 25 and older without college degrees. But Spilka said their shared interest in the issue "makes it more likely that it's doable." There’s also the question of how Democrats will pay for what’s shaping up to be an ambitious agenda. Spilka said revenues from the millionaires tax — projected to be upwards of $1.2 billion a year — will help fund her estimated $50 million community college plan. But Democrats have yet to attach price tags to their other priorities. “Certainly this will take a lot of discussion, negotiation and working through these issues, and probably some prioritizing,” Spilka said. “It will continue to be a balancing act to ensure that we continue to do the programs and the services that our people want and deserve, but also remain fiscally responsible.” They’ll also have to factor in raises for the state’s top elected officials . Spilka told WCVB’s “On the Record” that she’s taking the nearly $25,000 pay increase that would push her and Mariano’s salaries over $200,000. The governor’s pay is also set to swell over $200,000. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Pour one out for the Pats. TODAY — Baker speaks at Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden’s inauguration at 4:30 p.m. at Roxbury Community College; Baker appointed Hayden to fill out former Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins’ term when she became U.S. attorney. Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com . PROPAGANDA:  A message from NextEra Energy: NextEra Energy is the first company in history committed to moving past net zero all the way to Real Zero™, leveraging low-cost renewables to drive energy affordability for customers.   DATELINE BEACON HILL — BUILDING HER CABINET: Gov. Maura Healey issued the executive order to make her Cabinet-level climate chief official on Friday. She also reappointed Terrence Reidy as public safety secretary, reprising the role he served under now-former Gov. Charlie Baker.  Healey also unveiled more acting secretaries as she either searches for permanent picks for those roles or waits for her selections to wrap up their work elsewhere: — Mike Doheny , a general counsel and undersecretary of labor, is serving as acting labor and workforce secretary. — Jennifer Maddox, an undersecretary at the Department of Housing and Community Development under Baker, is serving as acting secretary for housing and economic development until Yvonne Hao is sworn in on Jan. 17. — Transportation Secretary Jamey Tesler continues in that role until Gina Fiandaca is sworn in later this month. — Matthew Moran, an assistant secretary of technology services and security, will be acting secretary until Jason Snyder joins the administration later this month. — STRIKING A BALANCE: The state’s largest teachers union wants to change state law so educators can strike. But Senate President Karen Spilka seemed cool to the idea on WCVB’s “On the Record.” While she said she’s open to discussions on it, “our first and foremost priority should be, has to be, keeping our kids in school.” — RETURN OF THE MASK: Chelsea Public Schools and UMass Boston are the latest schools to require or suggest students and staff mask up as Covid-19 cases rise. Spilka said on OTR she'd be open to reinstating masking at the State House. — “Democrats call for swearing-in Kassner,” by Christian M. Wade, Salem News: “Members of [the Georgetown Democratic Town] Committee are calling on House Speaker Ron Mariano to seat Kristin Kassner in the 2nd Essex district, calling the delay in swearing her into office a ‘blow to democracy.’ Kassner, a South Hamilton Democrat, won a recount by only one vote against incumbent Rep. Lenny Mirra, R-Georgetown, the outcome of which was affirmed by several court rulings. But Mariano postponed her swearing-in on Wednesday, pending the results of a ‘thorough’ legislative review of the race and recount.” — “UMass schools soar over rest of state when it comes to pay,” by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: “The UMass system had 4,447 employees who earned $100,000 and up, records show. That includes three million-dollar earners plus three who pulled down $800,000 or more; seven who made at least $600,000; nine at $500,000-plus; 25 at $400,000 and beyond; and 102 who topped $300,000.” — “Can a Green Bank Offset the ‘Brown Discount’?” by Steve Adams, Banker and Tradesman: “Massachusetts’ landmark 2021 climate roadmap law committed the state to attaining net-zero building standards by 2050 through decarbonization policies. And for her part, Gov. Maura Healey has outlined more plans to expand and reshape the state’s investment in climate projects, including in her inauguration speech last week. The idea: Replace the existing Mass Save program and its dozens of clean energy incentive programs with a climate project clearinghouse and statewide green bank run by the quasi-public Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).” — “State foster parents get bill of rights: New law expands training, resources for parents,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette.   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today .     HEALEY WATCH — From the opinion pages: “‘I feel really, really lucky.’ Meet Maura Healey’s partner,” by Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe: “For almost two years, Healey has been in a relationship with Joanna Lydgate, an attorney and her former deputy in the attorney general’s office, who now heads a Washington nonprofit trying to safeguard our endangered democracy.” FROM THE HUB — “Boston city councilors call for police in schools after Young Achievers beating,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Four city councilors sent a letter to the mayor calling for cops and metal detectors in Boston schools. … The four councilors — the more centrist block at the generally progressive council’s right flank, politically, who also made up the four votes against the current redistricting map — signed onto the letter that also talked about the incident this week at the Young Achievers Science And Math Pilot School in Mattapan that left a teacher and student in the hospital after a group of other students jumped them.” — “Boston’s new ad campaign debuts in New York, Philly and D.C.,” by Grant Welker, Boston Business Journal: “Boston is taking its new marketing tagline — ‘Boston Never Gets Old’ — to major cities in the Northeast Corridor.”   PROPAGANDA:  A message from NextEra Energy:     DAY IN COURT — “With Boston vaccine-mandate case before SJC, what’s next?” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The state’s top court seemed highly skeptical of the decision against the city’s vaccine mandate — but as for what throwing it out would mean for the city’s unvaccinated workers, opinions differed and the administration wouldn’t say what comes next. The lawsuit filed by multiple of the city’s public-safety unions against Boston and Mayor Michelle Wu came before the Supreme Judicial Court on Friday morning, and the high court is now mulling whether to uphold a lower court’s injunction against the administration.” DATELINE D.C. — REPUBLICANS HAVE SPOKEN: Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) won the speaker's gavel after days of contention and gridlock that members of Massachusetts’ all-Democratic U.S. House delegation derided as a “troubling sign” of what’s to come under Republican rule. Rep. Jim McGovern even used a censored expletive to express his disgust at the McCarthy era. Republicans took to the Sunday shows to defend the dysfunction. MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Lantern closure shakes marijuana delivery market,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Lantern, a website where consumers can go to order legal cannabis delivered from a local dispensary, announced Wednesday that it will shut down by the end of January, citing regulatory hurdles in other states. … Lantern facilitates more than half of cannabis deliveries in Massachusetts.”   JOIN NEXT TUESDAY TO HEAR FROM MAYORS AROUND AMERICA: 2022 brought in a new class of mayors leading “majority minority” cities, reshaping who is at the nation’s power tables and what their priorities are. Join POLITICO to hear from local leaders on how they’re responding to being tested by unequal Covid-19 outcomes, upticks in hate crimes, homelessness, lack of affordable housing, inflation and a potential recession. REGISTER HERE.     THE LOCAL ANGLE — “This suburban gynecologist treated the downtrodden. US prosecutors say she punched a Capitol officer on Jan. 6,” by Hanna Krueger and Spencer Buell, Boston Globe: “In town, people knew her as Jackie, the 68-year-old who drove a sleek convertible, adored ballroom dance, advocated for safer sidewalks, and recruited parents to staff the refreshments booth at a school fund-raiser. Professionally, colleagues knew the longtime gynecologist as the president of the Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine, consultant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and a double board-certified attending physician at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. And yet now, she’s the latest insurrectionist to face federal criminal charges of assault on a police officer.” — “Power plants face millions in penalties after failure during Christmas Eve storm,” by Hadley Barndollar, USA Today/Telegram & Gazette: “Some power plants scheduled to feed the region's electric grid during peak demand on Christmas Eve failed to do so, grid operator ISO New England said this week, resulting in a shortage of operating reserves. Those energy generators now face $39 million in penalties for not performing when needed as per agreement with ISO-New England, which declared a capacity deficiency on Christmas Eve, meaning the region’s supply of electricity was insufficient to meet required operating reserves, in addition to satisfying consumer demand.” — “New inmate suicide points to ‘blind spot’ in procedures, sheriff says,” by Arthur Hirsch, New Bedford Light: “Bristol County’s new sheriff said an apparent inmate suicide at the Jail and House of Correction in North Dartmouth Thursday evening likely reveals a ‘blind spot’ in his department’s procedures, and he said he intends to find out what it is and fix it. … The death is a very early test for [Sheriff Paul] Heroux, who emphasized inmate suicide as an issue in his campaign against the 25-year incumbent, Thomas M. Hodgson, who consistently defended his department’s practices in the face of the relatively high incidence of suicide among inmates in county custody.” — “Cat attempts to enter Attleboro mayor's race,” by The Sun Chronicle: “The cat, who is named Spooky and is the mascot for Spooky Games, arrived at city hall on Friday to pull papers for mayor. He was unable to enter the race because he doesn’t meet two requirements — Spooky isn’t a registered voter and isn’t 18 years old.” PROPAGANDA:  A message from NextEra Energy: NextEra Energy is the first company committed to reaching Real Zero™, as in 100% clean energy. We’re not just offsetting carbon emissions — we’re eliminating them.   HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Kathryn Kougias is interim executive director of the Massachusetts State Retirement Board after Nicola “Nick” Favorito’s departure to be executive director of the North Atlantic States Carpenters Benefits Fund. — Steven Cunningham Jr. and Spencer Stone are now partners at Sullivan & Worcester in Boston. — Stu Loeser & Co. Strategy has promoted Will Chabot to managing director, media strategy; Jeane MacIntosh to managing director, research; Robert Familiar and Tim Perry to VP, media strategy; and Madeline Saunders and María Navarro Gallegos to senior media strategist. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former Rep. Mike Capuano , state House Minority Leader Brad Jones, Dan Black, Amy Mahler, Sasha Goodfriend, Shanice Wallace, Kevin Walther, Gustavo Quiroga, Marjorie Nesin, American Institute for Economic Research’s William Ruger, Linda Greenhouse, Josh Seidel and Boston state Rep. Christopher Worrell. 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

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA