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

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Trump’s insurrection goes global (VIDEO)

 

OD Action is now atAdvocacy!

Today’s Action: Attend a virtual training on running for office!

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Daily Dose of Democracy:

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Far-right insurrection EXPLODES in Brazil
Thousands of supporters of far-right former President Bolsonaro ransacked a number of federal buildings, including the presidential palace, the Supreme Court, and the national Congress in a failed attempt to oust newly inaugurated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva amid baseless claims from Bolsonaro and his followers of a stolen, fraudulent election. Thousand pound elephant in the room here — does any of this sound familiar?

Take Action: Tell the Justice Department: Charge Trump for the dozens of crimes he's committed!

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President Biden condemns "assault on democracy" in Brazil
President Joe Biden on Sunday forcefully condemned "the assault on democracy" in Brazil and said he looked forward to working with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in a tightly contested election last year. Bolsonaro, taking a page straight ouf of Donald Trump's poorly written playbook, refused to accept the results of last fall's election, tirelessly promoted bogus claims of fraud, and declined to attend Lula's inauguration last week, instead relocating to, uh, Florida to continue his assault on Brazil's democracy. It has a familiar ring, doesn't it?

Take Action: Tell Biden and the Senate to fill the courts with Democratic judges!

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Kevin McCarthy's Speaker gamble backfires spectacularly
No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen: Wow.

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Bolsonaro must not be given refuge in Florida, say US lawmakers
Prominent US lawmakers said Sunday that Jair Bolsonaro should not be given safe harbor in Florida after his supporters launched a massive attack on Brazil's main government buildings a week after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was inaugurated and almost two years to the day of Trump's strikingly similar, failed insurrection attempt in Washington, DC. Um, can Bolsonaro, aka "The Trump of the Tropics," take Don with him when he goes?

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Trump says Biden "convinced" Putin to bomb Ukraine in vile, meandering Mar-a-Lago campaign speech
The disgraced ex-president, who called Putin's invasion of Ukraine "genius" last year, falsely claimed in a rambling campaign speech that President Biden approved of Russia taking "some parts" of Ukraine. The twice-impeached, three-time election loser also took a shot at American law enforcement, calling the cops who defended the Capitol during his failed insurrection two years ago "horrible, horrible people."

Take Action: Tell Congress to hold corporations accountable for price-gouging!

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Republican Rep. Tim Burchett accuses "redneck" GOP colleague of drinking after House floor fight
Kevin McCarthy finally, narrowly won the 15th vote late Friday, following four days of in-fighting and general humilation in which Republicans called each other narcissists, losers, and a whole bunch of other insults. Rep. Matt Gaetz called McCarthy an “alligator” (swamp joke?). Rep. Nancy Mace suggested Gaetz was on drugs (probably). McCarthy cussed at everyone. The final night of voting ended with Rep. Mike Rogers — a McCarthy ally — engaging in a heated exchange with Gaetz over his outspoken opposition to McCarthy and having to be restrained. Rep. Tim Burchett, who found himself in the middle of the altercation, had some choice words for Rogers after the vote stating, “People shouldn’t be drinking, especially when you’re a redneck, on the House floor."

Take Action: Investigate Republicans who could be constitutionally disqualified from holding office!

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White sheriff who called colleagues "Black bastards" resigns — again
For the second time in three months a North Carolina sheriff who was caught on tape calling his Black colleagues untrustworthy “Black bastards” and “snakes” has resigned from his law enforcement post. Jody Greene, who stepped down in October, was reelected in November, WINNING 54 PERCENT of the definitely-not-racist-in-any-way vote despite an ongoing criminal probe into the disgusting tape by the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation. Despite his victory, Greene succumbed to the warranted heat, opting to resign again, just before a court hearing to remove him from office was about to begin.

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Wells Fargo fires exec after he's accused of peeing on female Air India flyer
A New Delhi court sent Shankar Mishra to prison for 14 days as police investigate the complaint accusing Mishra of outraging the modesty of a woman during a recent New York-New Delhi flight. Mishra was seen consuming excessive amounts of liquor and talking incoherently on the flight, before eventually relieving himself on a fellow business class passenger. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison. Mishra was subsequently relieved of his duties as a vice president at Wells Fargo.

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Trump takes pathetic bow for Kevin McCarthy's speaker win: "I did the country a big favor!"
It's never not about Don, folks. Ever.

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Man who hurled hard seltzer can at Ted Cruz won’t be charged
Joseph Arcidiacono was initially charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for — not joking — chucking a can of hard seltzer at Cruz's parade vehicle. Arcidiacono's lawyer successfully argued that his client was simply one of many parade-goers tossing drinks to Astros players and parade participants. Thankfully, the grand jury agreed, deciding not to indict the 33-year-old.

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The USA, today

Goldman Sachs to start cutting thousands of jobs this week

"Catfish" cop groomed another teen years before killing California family

7,000 nurses at two New York City hospitals on strike as contract negotiations fail

US farmers win right to repair John Deere equipment

The daily planet

COVID running rampant in China, but experts say travel restrictions are pointless

Russia backs law banning accurate maps, declares them extremist material

Israel orders police to remove Palestine flags from public spaces

Amid unrest, Iran’s hardliners turn their anger to France

Hope...

Restaurant owner cries tears of joy after TikToker saves his business

World’s 1st vaccine for declining honeybees approved by the US for conditional use

146 new species of animals and plants were added in 2022

Single-use plastic cutlery and plates to be banned in England

Want more hope? Subscribe to our favorite good news newsletter FREE.

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Today’s Action: Attend a virtual training on running for office!

Our democracy is strongest when grassroots organizing is thriving. As we learned this past year, every election is critical in maintaining and advancing progressive values — all the way down to local government. We’ve all met someone that we thought would make an excellent public servant — some of us may even think that about ourselves. But how do you take that thought and turn it into action? There’s no doubt that politics has historically been an insular, good-old-boy network, but the tides are shifting, and challenging career politicians has never been easier. You can be a part of that change.

If you’ve ever thought “I could do something about that” in your community, you might be the perfect fit to step up and serve. The National Democratic Training Committee is hosting a free, virtual training on running for office TODAY from 1-2 pm EST and next Thursday from 6-7 pm EST. Just an hour of your time could teach you the necessary steps to getting people you trust, or even yourself, elected for office.

We need REAL people in office — people that intimately know the challenges the American public faces — not politicians wasting time until their next uncontested election. You can be the change. Consider attending a training today!

PS — Please don't forget to sign the petition demanding an investigation into Rudy Giuliani for allegations of sexual predation, and be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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With McCarthy, the Trump coalition of MAGAs and oligarchs lives on

It remains the most powerful force in the GOP

ROBERT REICH JAN 9

Friends,

The real battle for America isn’t between the left and right, or even between Republicans and Democrats. It’s between the oligarchy — corporate and Wall Street monied interests — and everybody else.

The oligarchy doesn’t want to destroy government. It needs government subsidies, loan guarantees, bailouts, and contracts. It just wants lower taxes (which requires less government spending) and fewer regulations.

Most basically, it wants to continue to siphon off more of the economy’s total gains. To do so, it needs the MAGA cultural warriors to keep America divided over non-economic issues (abortion, gay rights, immigration, voting rights, religious freedom) so most Americans won’t look up and see where all the money has gone.

This was the coalition and the strategy Trump relied on. The oligarchy financed Trump Republicans. In return, the oligarchs got lower taxes and regulatory rollbacks, while Trump and his MAGAs distracted the public with culture wars and warriors.

Even though Trump is no longer president and Kevin McCarthy has been installed as Speaker, it’s remarkable how little has changed. The Trump coalition is still aiming to siphon off the economy’s gains for the oligarchy while disguising its effort with culture wars that keep Americans angry and divided. The MAGAs, meanwhile, feed off oligarchic campaign money.

Yes, the congressional Republican Party is factious. But don’t mistake it for a civil war. In reality, the MAGAs and oligarchs are jockeying for positions in the lead-up to the 2024 election. Each group is testing the other’s power, making small compromises and adaptations where necessary.

Look, for example, at the critical role played last week by two oligarchic SuperPACs bankrolled by billionaires — the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) and the Club for Growth. The Club for Growth describes itself as a "leading free-enterprise advocacy group" that promotes tax cuts and deregulation — pure oligarchy. CLF spent nearly $260 million during the 2022 election cycle, helping McCarthy and his allies win the House. Its top donors are billionaires — banking scion Timothy Mellon, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, and Citadel CEO Kenneth Griffin, as well as the Koch network.

To win the House for Republicans in the midterms, these SuperPACs quietly swung primaries away from controversial candidates such as Madison Cawthorn in North Carolina and Joe Kent in Washington. This caused some anxiety among the MAGAs. So during negotiations for making McCarthy Speaker, the two SuperPACs agreed not to spend money in future open-seat primaries in safe Republican districts. A small concession.

To cinch the deal, McCarthy also promised to hold a vote on a budget that will balance the deficit in a decade and cap discretionary spending levels at fiscal 2022. This will require major spending cuts — thereby opening the way for more tax cuts and bigger tax loopholes. The oligarchs couldn’t be happier.

The fiscal deadlines looming this year over spending bills and an increase in the debt ceiling also favor the oligarch’s economic conservatism because they too may lead to reduced spending and create opportunities for tax cuts.

But they also pose a potential problem for the billionaires. If the deadlines result in government shutdowns or the serious threat of a default on the nation’s debt, the oligarchy could lose a boatload of money. So expect backroom negotiations between the oligarchs who don’t want economic chaos and the extreme MAGAs who would be happy with it. This bargaining will be a central drama inside the congressional Republican Party.

The House MAGAs will spend most of their energies on fiery culture war investigations — of Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, the FBI, the IRS, other Democrats, and alleged socialists and pedophiles. The fireworks will conveniently distract the public’s attention from the oligarch’s economic looting.

Trump continues to be the central force pulling together this coalition of economic oligarchs and MAGA culture warriors. Speaking to reporters after he became Speaker, McCarthy was effusive in thanking Trump, who backed him for Speaker after McCarthy helped rescue Trump by visiting him at Mar-a-Lago after the attack on the Capitol. “I don’t think anybody should doubt his influence,” McCarthy said. “I was just talking to him tonight, helping get those final votes.”