| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: AUCHINCLOSS'S HAUL — Rep. Jake Auchincloss raised more than $400,000 last quarter, with more than three-quarters of those contributions coming from Massachusetts donors, according to a spokesperson. Auchincloss raked in more than $2 million during his first year in Congress. And he heads into the election year with over $2.1 million in his war chest as he looks to fend off two Republican challengers — Emily Burns and Julie Hall, who he beat in 2020 — and a potential Democratic primary rematch from progressive Jesse Mermell. Year-end finance reports, which are due to the FEC by the end of the month, will paint a clearer picture of what Auchincloss faces in the money race. Auchincloss also picked up an endorsement over the holidays from the Progressive Turnout Project. The PAC, which works to boost Democratic voter turnout, is also backing Reps. Jim McGovern, Lori Trahan, Seth Moulton, Bill Keating and Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark this cycle. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. From Omicron to the governor’s race, here’s what else you need to know to start the year: COVID CRUSH — Covid case counts are shattering records by the day, the Boston-area coronavirus wastewater tracker is spiking and people are still waiting hours for tests . Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley both got mild breakthrough infections (Warren no longer has symptoms and Pressley is isolating, per spokespeople). The Baker administration dispatched the National Guard to help hospitals, signed contracts to help municipalities bulk-purchase rapid antigen test kits and distributed millions of KN95 masks to schools. But Democratic state lawmakers continue to call for a statewide mask mandate, more rapid and PCR testing, clear vaccination goals and more proactive planning from the administration for what state Rep. Bill Driscoll Jr., who co-chairs the Legislature’s Covid-19 oversight committee, fears will be an “incredibly difficult month.” SURGE PROTECTION — Gov. Charlie Baker is heading to Salem this morning to tout the post-holiday return to school while other districts delay or cancel classes to give students and staff more time to get tested — or because they don't have enough staff. Supply chain woes delayed the delivery of 227,000 rapid tests for districts until the weekend and made it so staff would only get one test each, instead of two as initially planned. But education officials still rejected a call from the state's largest teachers union to keep schools closed Monday for testing. It's not just schools that are bracing for Covid's impact. Many Boston employees will work remotely through at least Jan. 18, Mayor Michelle Wu said over the weekend. And Omicron has upended municipal inaugurations from Boston to Northampton. HEALEY WATCH — State Attorney General Maura Healey still hasn’t said whether she’s running for governor, but she is message testing, per a December poll reported by the Boston Herald, and is telling supporters “this is a moment to bring fundamental change to our state” in a donation-soliciting tweet. Former state Sen. Ben Downing dropped out of the race last week, citing fundraising woes and warning his fellow Democrats that the Republican-incumbent-free election isn’t necessarily a “slam dunk.” Did you miss me? Let's reconnect. Send your tips and scoops to lkashinsky@politico.com. TODAY — Baker attends inaugurations in Haverhill at 10 a.m., Leominster at 6 p.m. and Lawrence at 7:15 p.m. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attends inaugurations in Fall River at 4 p.m. and Taunton at 6 p.m. Wu swears in Boston city councilors at 10 a.m. outside City Hall. | |
| | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Massachusetts’ minimum wage will go up again. The fate of other laws is less certain in 2022,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “For the fourth time in as many years, the minimum wage in Massachusetts will increase, this time from $13.50 per hour to $14.25 per hour. It’s the second-to-last in a series of hikes that will push the state’s wage floor to $15 per hour by 2023. … After Baker ended Massachusetts’ COVID-19 state of emergency, the Legislature struck a deal to keep many of the rules in place temporarily. Now those laws are starting to, or will, dissolve from the books.” – “Scramble to stave off egg, meat shortage over after Charlie Baker signs changes to animal welfare law,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “The scramble to stave off a predicted egg and meat shortage spurred by a new hen and farm animal welfare law is over after Gov. Charlie Baker signed changes that will make adoption of new standards easier for farmers. … But animal-rights advocates say the changes ‘gutting’ the law means animals will continue to suffer.” – “4 statewide ballot question initiatives advance for consideration for 2022 Massachusetts statewide election,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “Proposals to update alcohol licensing limits, redefine worker status and benefits for app-based drivers on platforms like Uber [and Lyft]; and impose spending caps on dental insurers are on track to make the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot." – “Report indicates UI trust fund warnings overstated,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Baker administration released a long-awaited report on New Year’s Eve indicating the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund is in much better shape than expected. After issuing warnings earlier this year about huge deficits that needed to be offset with an infusion of billions of dollars, the report said the actual deficit as of November 30 was $115 million.” – “Commission on police body camera rules to meet after missed deadline,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “A legislative commission studying widespread use of police body cameras meets Tuesday — months after it missed a deadline to file a report called for in the one-year-old reform law that created the study group.” – “Mass. Senate President Reveals She Had a Stroke, Says She's Running for Reelection,” by Alison King, NBC10 Boston. – “Coming to a city or town near you: Projects funded by the state’s $4 billion COVID-19 relief bill,” by John Hilliard, Boston Globe. – “‘Snowbird bill’ aims to keep Massachusetts seniors from leaving state for lower estate taxes,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald. | | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “Schools, businesses brace for chaotic return from winter break amid Omicron spike,” by Gal Tziperman Lotan and Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “At least a dozen Massachusetts schools or districts have modified their return plans in recent days. Many businesses are short-staffed as they try to stay afloat while people retreat from in-person shopping.” – “988 Massachusetts State Employees Have Left Jobs Over Vaccine Mandate,” by CBS Boston: “There were 656 involuntary resignations and 332 voluntary resignations. The involuntary resignation numbers include 160 part time contractors from the Municipal Police Training Committee.” – “Massachusetts State Police trooper speaks out about losing job over vaccine mandate: ‘It was humiliating’,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Timothy Barry, 29, said he’s still ‘in disbelief’ after he was yanked out of a State Police training class in late October and stripped of his police gear in front of about 40 fellow troopers.” – “Hospitals: Please don't come to ER for COVID tests,” by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: “Hospitals say many patients with only minor illnesses — or no symptoms at all — are coming in for COVID tests because they can't get tested elsewhere.” – “Gov. Charlie Baker won’t mandate masks statewide — but can he? Here’s what legal experts say,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “While Gov. Charlie Baker may be resolute in his resistance to implementing an indoor mask mandate, he unequivocally has the emergency power to do so, public health legal experts told MassLive.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Firefighters, police unions sue to block Boston’s vaccination mandate for city workers,” by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: “Boston public safety workers are amplifying their opposition to Mayor Michelle Wu’s planned vaccination mandate for city employees, with unions trying to block the policy in Superior Court. At the same time, a workers’ rights group is advocating for its members to overwhelm the city with last-minute exemption requests.” – “Racist, misogynist vitriol continues against Wu after vaccination policy announcement,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Mayor Michelle Wu showed up at the B-3 police station in Mattapan shortly before the 7:30 a.m. roll call Thursday with the aim of greeting officers and wishing them happy holidays. Awaiting her outside the station was a protest against her recent COVID-19 vaccination mandate.” – “City faces racial and age discrimination lawsuits from former gang intervention workers,” by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: “Since November, three former employees, and a fourth on unpaid medical leave, have filed retaliation lawsuits against the city and managers of SOAR Boston, the city’s gang intervention program, alleging unfair and dangerous working conditions.” – “What’s coming up in Boston politics in 2022,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Boston has elected a mayor who has vowed large-scale progressive action on a range of issues, from climate to transportation to housing. Now the rubber hits the increasingly bus-lane-covered road in Boston, and we’ll see what [Michelle] Wu can get done — and if it works.” | | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| – “With Edwards’ exit, a possible scramble for a Boston council seat,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “The District 1 council post will be vacated by Lydia Edwards, who is poised to become a state senator in the coming weeks … At least two people have announced they are running for the council seat, and several are considering it, while other names are being floated in political circles.” | | HEALEY WATCH |
| – “Maura Healey has prosecuted dozens for public wrongdoing. The results have been mixed,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “During her seven years as Massachusetts’ chief law enforcement officer, she has won more than 20 convictions in public malfeasance or corruption cases. Nearly just as often, cases quietly end without guilty verdicts, or are dropped or dismissed, according to court records.” | | FEELING '22 |
| – “ACLU's Rahsaan Hall eyes run for Plymouth Co. district attorney,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Rahsaan Hall, director of ACLU Massachusetts' racial justice program, is weighing a run for Plymouth County district attorney, according to paperwork filed with the state's campaign finance oversight agency.” – “It was once called a ‘useless job.’ Now, lieutenant governor may be the hottest race in Massachusetts politics,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts’ lieutenant governor has very little formal responsibility beyond leading an obscure eight-person council. A gubernatorial candidate once dismissed it as a ‘useless job.’ The title doesn’t exist in some states. It also may be the most sought-after seat in Massachusetts politics right now.” – More: “Driscoll listening as others pitch state bid,” by Dustin Luca, Salem News: “Kim Driscoll is taking a ‘serious look’ at a bid for Massachusetts lieutenant governor, the Salem mayor said." | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| – "Boston, MBTA, FTA to meet on fare-free test," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Boston, MBTA and federal transportation officials plan to meet later this month to see if they can resolve regulatory roadblocks preventing the city and the T from moving ahead with a two-year test of fare-free buses on three routes." – “Still no improved Mattapan trolleys nearly five years after $7.9m MBTA investment announced,” by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “Citing a long list of unanticipated obstacles, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the MBTA now estimates the first refurbished Mattapan trolley car will be in service by the end of this winter. The first one was originally supposed to start operating in August 2019.” | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Supreme Judicial Court pauses jury trials across Mass. amid winter surge in COVID-19 cases,” by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: “The court’s order pauses all jury trials until Jan. 31, but courthouses will remain open for other in-person business ‘with a continued emphasis on conducting matters remotely whenever possible,’ the SJC said in a statement.” – “CleanSlate to pay $4.5 million to settle allegations it charged MassHealth for unnecessary drug tests,” by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: “A substance abuse treatment company has agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle allegations in federal court that it wrongly charged MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program, millions of dollars for unnecessary urine tests, officials said.” | | MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
| – “Legal and scientific experts sharply question proposed crackdown on drugged driving,” by Dan Adams, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker is putting new pressure on the Massachusetts Legislature to finally pass his proposed crackdown on drugged driving. … But as state legislators chew on their testimony, prominent experts are stepping forward to warn the plan is fundamentally flawed.” – “Cannabis companies seek records after Springfield rejects their applications,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “[Boston Bud Factory Inc.’s] request, filed under the state public records law, comes after an internal audit of the city’s selection process found some scoring errors and said key documents were missing.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Judge orders Springfield to enforce employee residency requirement,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “After decades of failing to do so, the city must enforce an employee residency requirement, a judge has ruled.” – “Civil rights group criticizes Holyoke rule barring city employees from serving in elected office,” by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A prominent legal organization that works to combat discrimination has issued an opinion that calls into question a Holyoke ordinance barring city employees from serving simultaneously as city councilors.” – “'Get me out of here.' Inside the staffing crisis at Berkshire nursing homes,” by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: “Every time Melissa Gigliotti visits her father at a Pittsfield nursing home, she hears people down the hall screaming for help.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Striking nurses at St. Vincent Hospital to vote on new contract Monday,” by Worcester Telegram & Gazette staff: “Nurses at St. Vincent Hospital are set to vote on a new contract Monday, potentially ending a labor strike that began March 8.” – “‘Let’s get to work together;’ New mayors take office in Gloucester, Framingham, and North Adams,” by Caroline Enos and Sofia Saric, Boston Globe: “Amid a surge in cases statewide, communities have had to adjust plans by limiting attendance and requiring masks, moving ceremonies outdoors, or holding them remotely.” – More: “Jennifer Macksey outlines her goals as North Adams' first woman mayor,” by Amanda Burke, Berkshire Eagle. “Verga seeks tone reset in [Gloucester] City Hall,” and "Romeo Theken looks back at 7 years as Gloucester's outspoken mayor," by Ethan Forman, Gloucester Daily Times. – “Experts see 'bright spots' for the Massachusetts economy in 2022, despite uncertainty,” by Yasmin Amer, WBUR: “Employers are continuing to hire, investments in the commonwealth's high-tech and biotech sectors are breaking records, and the state has billions of dollars in federal money.” IN MEMORIAM – “‘She tried to uplift people always’: Springfield mourns death of longtime community activist Sophia Jeffery,” by Patrick Johnson, Springfield Republican. – “Mary Richardson, legendary Boston broadcaster and longtime Chronicle co-anchor on WCVB Channel 5, dies at 76,” by WCVB. – “Chuck Hunt, state’s first ‘first husband,’ dies at 67,” by Bryan Marquard, Boston Globe. – "Longtime columnist Barbara McDonough has died at age 86," by Dorchester Reporter staff. | | IN CASE YOU MISSED IT |
| – “Labor Secretary Marty Walsh talks about new vaccine rule, labor activism and threat of omicron,” by Eli Rosenberg, Washington Post. – “Federal marshals won’t provide a security detail for confirmed US Attorney Rachael Rollins despite recent threats against her life,” by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe. – "Hundreds of children go missing from Massachusetts DCF custody each year, records show," by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald. – “Guild & Gazette Ink a Contract Three Tumultuous Years after Union Formed,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight. – "Political Harmony: Singing Mass. Politicians Share Their Naughty and Nice Lists," by Alison King, NBC10 Boston. TRANSITIONS – State House Majority Leader Claire Cronin has been confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Ireland. Sam Mintz is joining RTO Insider after stints at Boston Business Journal and POLITICO. Chris McLaughlin joins MassLive as a social media producer. MassLive alum Melissa Hanson heads to Clark University as a content specialist. Jessicah Pierre is now communications chief for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. Former Wu interim comms chief Sarah Anders has joined the Streets Cabinet as director of strategic initiatives. Alex Ponte-Capellan, My’Kel McMillen, Nora McManus Vincent, Stephanie Serrata and Dillon Tedesco join incoming Boston City Councilor Kendra Hicks' office. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Amy Derjue and the Dorchester Reporter’s Gintautas Dumcius welcomed Emily Derjue Dumcius at 1:11 a.m. Dec. 19, 2021, at South Shore Hospital. “Mom and Emily are doing well. Dad is a nervous wreck who, while trying to send a baby photo to his mother, dropped his phone and accidentally called an elected official just hours into parenthood,” Dumcius writes in. Pic… another pic… ENGAGED — Mike Bloomberg, founder of Groundwork Data, recently proposed to Tamar Katz, a second-year law student at Columbia. The couple met on the Alex Morse campaign. Pic ... Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former MA3 candidate and former state Sen. Barbara L’Italien, Ralph R. Isberg, Taylor Bolton and Ana Victoria Morales. Happy belated to Dana Hanson of Rep. Jake Auchincloss’s office and Jamie Klufts. 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. | |
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