POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Baker's big last-call agenda

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY CLASSIC CHARLIE — Gov. Charlie Baker hewed close to his Republican roots in his final State of the Commonwealth address, rolling out a raft of proposed tax breaks for low-income workers and others struggling with the high costs of housing and living. Baker is pitching tax breaks for families, renters and seniors as part of the budget he’s expected to submit to lawmakers today. He also called to “eliminate income taxes for the lowest paid 230,000 taxpayers” in Massachusetts. The governor urged the Legislature to get moving on bills he recently refiled that would reform criminal dangerousness and criminalize “revenge porn.” He also called to do more to expand access to mental health services, a shared priority with Senate President Karen Spilka. Baker's working to avoid the lame-duck label in his last year in office.  But it’s unclear how willing the Democratic-run Legislature is to push the Republican's goals across the finish line. Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano were noncommittal about Baker’s yet-to-be-filed budget proposal when speaking to reporters after his speech last night, with Mariano saying the "devil is always in the details." A couple of eagle-eyed reporters noticed Mariano and Spilka both remained seated when Baker received a standing ovation for saying his criminal justice aims “deserve a vote ... this session.” Instead of further needling the Legislature, Baker held up his history of working with lawmakers across the aisle as an example of the bipartisan collaboration necessary to get things done in an era of political divisiveness. “We should continue to focus on building and maintaining positive, collaborative relationships,” he said, “because they work for the people we serve, and it’s what most voters expect from us.” Mariano, for his part, described a "pleasant" working relationship with the governor. While Baker’s not running for reelection, the four major candidates for governor still weighed in on his remarks. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz and Harvard political theorist Danielle Allen called for more urgency in tackling cost-of-living issues and the state’s pandemic response. Republican former state Rep. Geoff Diehl offered a video rebuttal . State Attorney General Maura Healey, who attended last night’s event alongside other state constitutional officers, kept up her streak of declining to jab Baker by praising his “message of collaboration and resilience.” GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Scroll down for more coverage of Baker’s big speech, because we’ve got something else to tackle: Voting reforms are on the move once more on Beacon Hill, but same-day voter-registration could be a sticking point. The House will likely release its version of the voting reform bill that passed the Senate last October today. Like the Senate bill, the House version is expected to include expanded mail-in voting and early in-person voting. But whether it includes same-day voter registration, a major component of the Senate legislation, is less clear. House lawmakers  overwhelmingly rejected same-day registration  as an amendment to voting reforms in a supplemental budget last June. And Mariano was among the nays. Asked earlier this week whether he still feels the same, Mariano said, “I’ll listen to the debate and see if someone changes my mind.” TODAY — Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito make a FY ‘23 budget announcement at 2 p.m. at the State House. Polito chairs a Governor’s council meeting at noon. State Auditor Suzanne Bump testifies before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security at 11 a.m. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts a Facebook Live with Dr. Ashish Jha at 3:30 p.m. Rep. Seth Moulton is on GBH's "Greater Boston" at 7 p.m. Tips? Scoops? Email me:  lkashinsky@politico.com. Also, we're aware that some links may be missing from Playbook when we publish. Our engineers are working on it. DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Baker pushes tax breaks, trust,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “In his final state of the Commonwealth speech, Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday night tried to encapsulate his political philosophy, extolling the fiscal discipline that enabled him to propose five new tax cuts and the trust he has built up over the last seven years with voters, lawmakers, and municipal officials that has allowed his administration to deal with snowmageddon in 2015, Lawrence gas explosions in 2018, and the coronavirus pandemic over the last two years. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who took a bow, introduced Baker as a different type of leader who isn’t interested in scoring political points but instead is focused on working hard and paying attention to detail.” — “Gov. Charlie Baker pushes for mental health reform, sexual violence protections in final State of the Commonwealth address,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Despite advances in legalizing tele-health medicine, there are gaping holes in the state’s mental health infrastructure that must be remedied after 22 brutal months of enduring COVID-19, Baker said as he stressed his priorities for the remainder of the legislative session.” — “Read Charlie Baker’s full State of the Commonwealth speech,” via the Boston Globe. Here are some other highlights from the Hynes Convention Center: — Polito compared Baker to Brady: “We may have lost Tom Brady to Tampa,” Polito said with a knowing nod in the direction of where Patriots owner Robert Kraft was sitting. “But when it comes to governing, we still have our GOAT.” — The governor returned the praise: “There’s a reason a lot of people are running to serve as the next lieutenant governor. They’ve seen the way she’s done the job, and they believe that they can follow in her very large footsteps,” Baker said of his No. 2. “They can try, but they’ll be wrong. She broke the mold and the new one belongs to her.” — The bromance between Baker and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh continues: Baker seated Walsh, the former Boston mayor, front row center. In an off-script introduction, Baker gazed at Walsh and said, “I miss you, man.” Walsh later told me “we've been through a lot together” and that what Baker said “about working together, that's as much for Democrats as Republicans.” Gov. Charlie Baker delivers his final State of the Commonwealth address. | Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via AP — “State board votes to phase out two of four science MCAS exams,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “The board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday decided — some members reluctantly — to phase out two of the four MCAS high school science exams currently offered to students who want to meet competency requirements for graduation.” — “State health care watchdog censures Mass General Brigham for high spending,” by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Globe: “The state’s health care watchdog has criticized Mass General Brigham for pushing health care spending above acceptable levels and will require the health system to clamp down on costs or face financial consequences. The decision by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission is the first time the agency has held a health system accountable for its spending in the six years it has reviewed market transactions.” — “Bill to give driver’s licenses to undocumented immgrants gains steam among law enforcement,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “A bill has circulated for at least two decades in Massachusetts, aiming to give undocumented immigrants the ability to earn a state driver’s license. Now, it’s picked up more steam than ever before, bolstered by the likes of Attorney General Maura Healey and 55 heads of Massachusetts law enforcement agencies.” ON THE STUMP — “Deb Goldberg to seek third term as Massachusetts state treasurer,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, a former businesswoman who has embraced mixing public and private funding in bids to expand the office’s reach, said she will run for a third term, which could make her one of the office’s longest-serving incumbents.” — THAT’S A WRAP: With Goldberg’s widely-expected decision, we now know the 2022 intentions of each of the state’s six constitutional officers. To recap: Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and state Auditor Suzanne Bump are out. Goldberg and Secretary of State Bill Galvin are in. And state Attorney General Maura Healey is running for governor, creating a fourth open seat. — "Moderate Republican to enter governor’s race," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "Chris Doughty, a Republican businessman from Wrentham, plans to announce that he’s running for governor on Wednesday, joining a field of candidates vying to succeed Governor Charlie Baker. A self-described moderate, Doughty will be competing for his party’s nomination against Geoff Diehl, a conservative former state lawmaker who has been endorsed by former president Donald Trump." — TAKE A BOW: Doughty's entrance also means Taunton Mayor Shaunna O'Connell , who'd been considering her own bid, is not running for governor, per GOP strategist Holly Robichaud, who's working with Doughty and had worked with O'Connell. — “Healey's bid for governor launches with backing from business leaders,” by Steph Solis, Boston Business Journal: “In the days after Gov. Charlie Baker announced he wasn’t seeking reelection, the donations poured in. Real estate insiders, health insurance executives and law firm partners opened their checkbooks for one of the state's foremost politicians — even though she hadn’t even entered the governor's race yet.” — “Liss-Riordan formally launches campaign for Mass. attorney general,” by Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: “‘The people need a champion,’ [Shannon] Liss-Riordan said at her campaign announcement Tuesday, standing outside the South Boston union hall of Ironworkers Local 7, which endorsed her. ‘We need someone to push our legal system to be better, to enforce and reform our laws.’”  — “Attleboro resident Julie Hall to kick off campaign for Congress,” by George W. Rhodes, The Sun Chronicle: “Julie Hall, a former Attleboro city councilor, is kicking off her second run for the 4th District Congressional seat on Thursday. Hall, a Republican and Air Force veteran, will hold a fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Dublin Rose, 940 Fall River Ave., Seekonk.” — Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler, 84, will discuss the "future of her career in public service" at a 9:45 a.m. press conference at Worcester City Hall. — Boston state Rep. Nika Elugardo will formally launch her campaign for the Second Suffolk state Senate seat at noon in Nubian Square with former Boston acting mayor Kim Janey and state Rep. Russell Holmes. Elugardo said in December she was running for the state Senate seat being vacated by governor hopeful Sonia Chang-Díaz. Elugardo faces fellow Democratic state Rep. Liz Miranda. THE LATEST NUMBERS — “Massachusetts reports 7,120 new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations keep dropping,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The 7,120 new cases reported on Tuesday was a 60% plunge from the 17,802 daily cases reported two Tuesdays ago. The state’s positive test average has been declining, too. It now stands at 11.40% after peaking at 23% in early January. The daily positive test rate for Tuesday’s report was 9.81%.” VAX-ACHUSETTS — “Charts show hospitalizations edging down in Mass. as Omicron weakens, but deaths are still rising,” by Martin Finucane and Ryan Huddle, Boston Globe: “COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, which lag behind case numbers because of the time it takes for people’s condition to worsen, haven’t seen the same decreases. Hospitalizations in the state have only fallen slightly, while deaths are actually ticking up.” — “UMass Lowell working to freeze-dry COVID-19 vaccines for easier transport,” by Trea Lavery, Lowell Sun: “Scientists at UMass Lowell are researching a process that would freeze-dry messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccines so they can be transported and stored at room temperature.” FROM THE HUB — “Who Is Dianne Wilkerson?” by Catherine Elton, Boston Magazine: “Just her considering a run [for her old state Senate seat] has been enough for Wilkerson’s past to become present again. Virginia Morrison, the executive director of the Grove Hall Neighborhood Development Corporation and a Wilkerson ally, says she doesn’t understand why people don’t just move on and focus on all the good that Wilkerson has done and not her arrest and jail time.” — “Wu: No Boston businesses fined over coronavirus vaccine mandate,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Mayor Michelle Wu said no Boston businesses have been fined yet over the vaccine mandate, and she suggested a continued downward trend in cases could mean changes to the policy.” — “Mayor Wu commits $40 million to affordable housing projects, including building hundreds of new units,” by Danny McDonald and Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: “In her latest move to chip away at the city’s housing crisis, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is committing $40 million to create or preserve 718 affordable units across the city, she announced during a news conference Tuesday morning.” — “Boston rent prices could soon surpass San Francisco’s as second-most expensive in U.S.,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “San Francisco is known for having some of the most expensive rental prices in the country. A new report from housing rental website Zumper found that the Bay Area has a new, and expensive, competitor: Boston.” THE OPINION PAGES — “Charlie Baker won’t call it a clawback. But the state still wants unemployment money returned,” by Shirley Leung and Larry Edelman, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker, the compassionate technocrat, was all technocrat and no compassion on Monday as he attempted to downplay the state’s efforts to recoup billions of dollars in jobless benefits it has mistakenly paid since the start of the pandemic.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Bridge linking East Boston and Chelsea goes up with vehicle on it,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Two employees working for a MassDOT contractor were fired after the Chelsea Street Bridge connecting Chelsea and East Boston started being raised Friday while a vehicle was on it, officials said Tuesday.” FROM THE DELEGATION — “Long COVID patients: Ayanna Pressley urges CDC to report data on long haulers,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is pushing the CDC to reveal how many Americans are suffering from Long COVID as millions reportedly face lingering coronavirus symptoms. Pressley on Tuesday wrote to the CDC as Boston-area researchers recruit long haulers for studies on the debilitating condition.” — “Massachusetts restaurant owners call on Congress to add emergency funding through omicron surge,” by Meghan Ottolini, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts restaurant owners continuing to struggle during the omicron surge lobbied Sen. Elizabeth Warren to push for additional funding to help survive another pandemic winter.” KENNEDY COMPOUND — “RFK Jr. apologizes after condemnation for Anne Frank comment,” by Michelle R. Smith, Associated Press: “Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. apologized Tuesday for suggesting things are worse for people today than they were for Anne Frank, the teenager who died in a Nazi concentration camp after hiding with her family in a secret annex in an Amsterdam house for two years.” FROM THE 413 — “Belchertown voters reject recall effort for 2 School Committee members,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Both School Committee incumbents retained their seats Monday as voters resoundingly rejected an effort to recall them at a special election. … The recall was triggered by residents angry that [Michael] Knapp and [Diane] Brown supported a policy that would have required students 16 and over participating in extracurricular activities, including sports, to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, once fully FDA-approved for their age groups.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — PATRICK'S NEW GIG: Former Gov. Deval Patrick is joining Harvard Kennedy School next month as a professor of the practice of public leadership and as co-director of the school’s Center for Public Leadership. "With the scale and scope of the challenges facing humankind, the world needs conscientious, dedicated leaders at every level in every sector, people willing to spend their ‘political’ capital, not just accumulate it. I am looking forward to working alongside and encouraging leaders like that at the Kennedy School," Patrick said in a statement. — "Slugger David Ortiz, Red Sox legend and three-time World Series champ, elected to Baseball Hall of Fame," by Peter Abraham, Boston Globe: "David Ortiz, the ebullient slugger who carried the Red Sox and their fans to unimagined heights, is the newest member of baseball’s Hall of Fame. The news only a few players ever receive came Tuesday night in a call that traveled from Cooperstown, N.Y., to the Dominican Republic. Ortiz was in with 77.9 percent of the votes cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America." — “WPI student death is 7th in last 6 months,” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “The death of a Worcester Polytechnic Institute student was under investigation on Tuesday after the individual was found dead in an off-campus apartment, according to a school spokesperson.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — “N.H. was supposed to be the GOP’s best chance for a Senate pickup in 2022. After a few Republican false starts, it’s unclear where things stand,” by James Pindell, Boston Globe: “Nevertheless, while Republicans have committed a number of self-inflicted wounds the last few months of this race, they should hardly be counted out. [Democratic Sen. Maggie] Hassan is still very unpopular even though she has spent millions in ads this fall trying to turn that around.” SPOTTED — at Gov. Charlie Baker’s SOTC address: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins, former House speaker Bob DeLeo; UMass President Marty Meehan; Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Reps. Lori Trahan, Jake Auchincloss and Richard Neal; Boston Mayor Michelle Wu; former Boston acting mayor Kim Janey; Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll; Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson; Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders; various lawmakers including state Sens. Diana DiZoglio and Lydia Edwards; former Boston city councilor Annissa Essaibi George; MassDevelopment chief Dan Rivera; Massachusetts Competitive Partnership's Jay Ash; and sheriffs Steve Tompkins, Tom Hodgson, James Cummings and Peter Koutoujian. TRANSITIONS — Enrique Pepén is director of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office of Neighborhood Services; John Romano is deputy director; and Nathalia Benitez, Chulan Huang and Ciara D'Amico are neighborhood liaisons. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Sen. John Velis. 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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Highly-popular MA Gov. Charlie Baker won't seek re-election in 2022. Here's what it means.

Matt Murphy

State House News Service

Published Dec 1, 2021 

Gov. Charlie Baker, a two-term Republican who at his peak was one of the most popular governors in the country, will not seek a third term, throwing wide open the 2022 race for the state's top political office after close to two years of managing through a global pandemic.

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who was widely considered to be the heir to the Baker political legacy, has also decided against a run for governor in 2022, dramatically reshaping the contest on the Republican side and, perhaps, clearing a path for Attorney General Maura Healey to enter the race on the Democratic side.

"After several months of discussion with our families, we have decided not to seek re-election in 2022. This was an extremely difficult decision for us. We love the work, and we especially respect and admire the people of this wonderful Commonwealth. Serving as Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts has been the most challenging and fulfilling jobs we've ever had. We will forever be grateful to the people of this state for giving us this great honor," Baker and Polito said in a joint statement.

Baker began telling friends and allies of his decision over the past 24 hours, and informed his Cabinet during a meeting Wednesday morning. The governor and lieutenant governor, in their statement, cited the need to focus on building an economic recovery as Massachusetts emerges from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have a great deal of work to do to put the pandemic behind us, keep our kids in school, and keep our communities and economy moving forward. That work cannot and should not be about politics and the next election. If we were to run, it would be a distraction that would potentially get in the way of many of the things we should be working on for everyone in Massachusetts. We want to focus on recovery, not on the grudge matches political campaigns can devolve into," Baker and Polito said.

Who is running for MA Governor in Election 2022 

Republican Geoff Diehl, a former state lawmaker, has already entered the race for his party's nomination with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, and three Democrats -- Harvard professor Danielle Allen, former state Sen. Ben Downing, and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz -- are also running.

Healey, the popular Democratic prosecutor, is also weighing a bid and could be more inclined to enter the fray with Baker out of the running. She has previously said she hoped to make a decision about her political future this fall.

Karyn Polito:From Shrewsbury town meeting member to lieutenant governor

In addition to the polarized political environment, both Baker and Polito said the pandemic helped them realize the importance of taking time for family and friends after the grind of eight years leading the state.

"Done right, these jobs require an extraordinary amount of time and attention, and we love doing them. But we both want to be there with Lauren and Steve and our children for the moments, big and small, that our families will experience going forward," the pair said.

Baker's Republican support weaker than Geoff Diehl's

Recent polling has suggested that Baker could fair well in hypothetical matchups against the Democrats running or thinking about running, but he would also face a potentially bruising Republican primary as his relationship with the base of his party has frayed in the Trump era.

Baker did not support Trump during either of the former president's runs for the White House, and Baker's approval ratings are stronger among Democrats and independents than with voters in his own party.

Though it has been suggested in some political circles that Baker could run as an independent in 2022, the governor has brushed that notion aside, professing a belief in his brand of Republicanism molded under his political mentors former Govs. Bill Weld and Paul Cellucci.

Approval ratings:Where do you think Charlie Baker ranks among governors nationally? Poll results are in.

"We are determined to continue to put aside the partisan playbook that dominates so much of our political landscape – to form governing partnerships with our colleagues in local government, the Legislature, and the Congressional delegation. That bipartisan approach, where we listen as much as we talk, where we focus our energies on finding areas of agreement and not disagreement, and where we avoid the public sniping and grandstanding that defines much of our political discourse, allows us to make meaningful progress on many important issues," Baker and Polito said.

Baker would have been the first governor in recent memory to run for three terms. The last governor to serve three four-year terms was Democrat Michael Dukakis, though his terms were non-consecutive.

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Out of office, but still in the game

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY SPLIT SCREEN — Two developments over the weekend highlighted two very different political storylines for former Rep. Joe Kennedy III. The Federal Election Commission slapped Kennedy’s campaign committee with a $35,000 fine for improperly spending $1.5 million in donations intended for the general election during the final weeks of his failed Democratic primary challenge to Sen. Ed Markey. “We appreciate working with the FEC to reach an agreement. The fine has been paid, and we are grateful to close this unfortunate chapter,” Kennedy spokesperson Emily Kaufman told me. Details of the fine were reported Friday by Insider's Dave Levinthal. Commissioner Sean Cooksey argued the FEC should have dismissed the case because Kennedy's team self-reported the violation to the FEC last fall and Kennedy paid donors back with his own money. “[The Kennedy] Committee had already faced sufficient consequences,” Cooksey wrote in a “statement of reasons” last week. “I believe a discretionary dismissal would have encouraged other candidates to take similar steps to ameliorate their campaigns’ mistakes.” While the FEC fine adds insult to the injury that put a pin in Kennedy’s political career, another story that emerged over the weekend shows his enduring influence in Washington. Seeking a deal on President Joe Biden’s sweeping social policy bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opened a backchannel to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) through none other than Kennedy, according to the New York Times, which noted he's a friend of Sinema. But Kennedy also remains close to Pelosi , who tapped him to deliver the response to then-President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech in 2018 and endorsed him against Markey in 2020 (though the latter move prompted significant backlash). Pelosi and Kennedy did a joint fundraiser in September for his Groundwork Project and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee at his family’s Cape Cod compound. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Programming note: Massachusetts Playbook is taking a little Thanksgiving break later this week. I'll be back in your inbox on Monday, Nov. 29. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and administration officials join the Retailers Association of Massachusetts to highlight local holiday shopping at 10 a.m. at Michelson’s Shoes in Needham. Markey and Boston Medical Center leaders host a press conference on extending the Child Tax Credit at 10:15 a.m. at BMC in Boston. Markey tours Cristo Rey High School at noon. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signs an ordinance that would divest city funds from the fossil fuel industry at 11:30 a.m. at City Hall with Councilors Lydia Edwards and Matt O’Malley. Wu attends the North End Trellis Holiday Lighting at 5 p.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com.   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.     TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito have endorsed fellow Republican Robert “Bob” Snow in his campaign for the vacant 4th Essex District state representative seat, per his campaign . “A Marine Corps veteran who put himself through college while working to provide for his family, Bob knows the value of hard work and service,” Baker said in a statement praising Snow's "commitment to fiscal responsibility, and dedication to his community.” Snow, a Rowley selectman, is running against Democrat Jamie Belsito of Topsfield in the Nov. 30 special election. DATELINE BEACON HILL – "Somerville and Boston want rent control, but Beacon Hill could get in the way," by Simón Rios, WBUR: "Progressive lawmakers from Boston and Somerville have filed several bills in recent years to overturn the statewide ban and give local leaders more options. But none have passed, and some lawmakers have reservations on the unintended consequences of capping rents. That includes state Sen. John Keenan, from Quincy, who co-chairs the Joint Housing Committee and said he owns 14 rental units in his district." – “Road-safety advocates push Massachusetts lawmakers to pass road safety bills as fatalities pile up,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “Road safety advocates remembered the 2,500 lives lost in fatal roadway crashes since 2015 blanketing the State House steps yellow roses and asking lawmakers to act to on a slate of bills designed reduce the ‘human toll of traffic crashes.’” – “Cannabis oversight board to lobby legislators for greater industry equity,” by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Business Journal: “In a change from its past approach, the state's Cannabis Control Commission says it plans to take a more active role in lobbying the state Legislature for changes that will ensure greater equity across the industry.” – “Students didn’t return to public schools this year,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Newly released enrollment figures for the 2021-2022 school year show that enrollment remained flat this year, with 911,529 students attending public schools, an increase of just 65 students compared to last year. Attendance among the youngest students has rebounded, though it is still below 2019 levels. ... But that means there are fewer students in many of the older grades.” – “State mulls changes to veterans homes nearly 2 years after deadly COVID outbreak,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “On Friday, lawmakers held the second in an ongoing series of hearings on two identical bills proposing changes to the homes — including renaming the buildings, shifts in governance and other core issues that may affect the futures of the homes." – “Massachusetts economy nearly doubles monthly job gains,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “The Massachusetts economy added 25,000 jobs in October, according to a preliminary estimate published Friday, its third-highest monthly total this year. … The state’s unemployment rate rose to 5.3% in October, from 5.2% the previous month. The national jobless rate is still lower than it is in Massachusetts, at 4.6%.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “More than 100 Massachusetts prison guards suspended after refusing COVID vaccine over the past month,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “At least 150 unvaccinated Massachusetts Department of Correction employees have been suspended since Oct. 17, when Gov. Charlie Baker’s strict mandate took effect requiring more than 40,000 workers and contractors to be fully inoculated against COVID-19. … But some of those 150 employees, grappling with the loss of their livelihood and pension benefits, ultimately received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the first dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, MassLive has learned.” – “As teacher COVID-19 rates rise, unions support in-person learning but push for stronger mitigation measures,” by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: “Amid rising COVID-19 infections among school staff members in Massachusetts, local and statewide teachers union leaders said Friday they continue to support in-person learning, but urged state leaders to strengthen mitigation measures.” – “Hospitals are busier than ever — but not because of COVID,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: “Little of this surge is driven by COVID infections, even as cases rise across the state. Instead, patients are flooding hospitals with every kind of problem — heart attacks, strokes, drug overdoses, suicidal thoughts, broken bones, infections, and COVID. … As much as hospital leaders had strategized and prepared for the pandemic, they didn’t foresee this.” WU TRAIN – “Boston’s first gentleman is also a first,” by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “Conor Pewarski was a 23-year-old aspiring film producer when he set that dream aside, packed up a U-Haul, and moved halfway across the country to help his girlfriend, Michelle Wu, through a family crisis. … Thirteen years and two children later, Pewarski is still by Wu’s side, her staunchest supporter. And since her inauguration last week as the mayor, he is now the first gentleman of Boston — a ceremonial title that he doesn’t think he needs but that greatly amuses his friends. While it’s unclear what exactly the role will entail for him, it already means leaving his job temporarily to focus on the family.” FROM THE HUB – “Boston is paying out at least $4.2M to end lawsuits this year; $18.4M since 2016,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Boston has to shell out more than $4 million in settlements and judgments to resolve at least 42 lawsuits against the city this year alone — and racked up a $14 million bill over the previous five years to close the books on cases that range from stiffing contractors to discrimination suits to an allegation of wrongful death.” – "After St. Guillen reverses course, Murphy to take City Council at-large seat a month early," by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: "Alejandra St. Guillen has decided against stepping in to fill the City Council at-large seat left vacant by Mayor Michelle Wu. ... That means Dorchester’s Erin Murphy, who came in behind St. Guillen in 2019, is now able to take the job. Murphy ran at-large for a second time this year, and won one of the four at-large slots, so she takes office in January anyway. St. Guillen’s decision frees Murphy up to start the job early." – “Boston’s Sean O’Brien is new Teamsters national boss,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “The head of a Boston local of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has been elected the union’s president, making him one of the most influential labor leaders in the nation.” – "The special court session created to help address Boston's tent encampment has ended," by Deborah Becker, WBUR: "Less than three weeks after it started, a controversial court session inside the Suffolk County jail has stopped operating. The Trial Court has rescinded the order creating the court effective as of Friday [citing low case volume]." THE OPINION PAGES – “An epic failure on Beacon Hill,” by the Boston Globe Editorial Board: “When Massachusetts lawmakers wrested control over a $5 billion pot of federal money from the governor last summer, they also accepted the responsibility for getting that money out of state coffers and into programs, projects, and communities where it was intended to do good — and to do so reasonably quickly. … they failed to live up to that responsibility.” – “Ayanna Pressley is trying to build a very big Squad,” by Perry Bacon Jr., Washington Post: “Ayanna Pressley has successfully pushed politics in Boston and Massachusetts in her direction ... Now, the big question is how much the second-term Democratic congresswoman and the broader movement of multiracial progressivism can push the national Democratic Party and America toward their goals." FEELING '22 – “Geoff Diehl takes a page from Glenn Youngkin’s playbook on education,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “GOP governor hopeful Geoff Diehl announced an initiative this week that may have given some deja vu: ‘Parents for Diehl,’ a move seemingly straight out of Virginia Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin’s playbook.” FROM THE DELEGATION – “US Rep Richard Neal hails passage of Build Back Better Act after a ‘pretty remarkable week’ in Washington,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “Fresh from a long night of managing debate and securing passage of the $2 trillion Build Back Better Act, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal explained Friday afternoon the impact of what he called once-in-a-lifetime legislation.” – WATCH: Rep. Lori Trahan on WBZ’s “Keller at Large” talking about when Massachusetts will get its federal infrastructure money. MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER – NOT MINCING WORDS: Secretary of State Bill Galvin slammed the new state House and Senate maps as “incumbent protection” plans that “cannibalized” surrounding communities in certain districts and “shattered precincts” in others during his Sunday interview on WCVB’s “On the Record.” He pointed to Cambridge, where one precinct would have three state representatives, two state senators and two members of Congress. “This does not treat the voters in many communities fairly,” Galvin said, adding that managing precinct splits are no cakewalk for elections administrators either. Galvin had less to say about the hotly debated congressional redistricting map. It's “reasonable people could disagree” with separating Fall River and New Bedford, he said, but the redrawn map, currently on the governor’s desk, is “certainly defensible.” He was mum on whether he’ll seek another term in 2022 . “I’ve been pretty candid that I enjoy what I do,” Galvin said, leading co-host Janet Wu to say it sounds like he’s running. “You might think that,” Galvin replied. “But I couldn’t possibly say it.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – “3 a.m. negotiations and an affogato: Inside John Kerry’s deal making at the Glasgow climate conference,” by Jess Bidgood, Boston Globe: “GLASGOW — John Kerry was in a passenger van, hurtling under bridges and past the clock towers of this gloomy Scottish city, waiting for Washington to wake up. The night before, President Biden’s top international climate envoy had been up until 3 a.m. negotiating with Chinese diplomats in a hotel conference room, parsing technical words and grinding down the differences between two countries that are almost always at odds.” – “Rhode Island makes it trifecta on TCI,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont dropped out on Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts called it quits on Thursday, and now Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is pulling his state out of the transportation climate initiative. ... McKee said in a statement [that] ‘Recent events in Connecticut and Massachusetts, however, have made clear that at least for the time being, Rhode Island must explore other options in clean transportation.’” – “Construction temporarily halted on $1B transmission line,” by David Sharp, Associated Press: “The developer of a $1 billion electric transmission line is suspending construction at the request of Maine’s governor after she certified election results Friday in which residents firmly opposed the project. … Funded by Massachusetts ratepayers, the project would supply up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid.” HEALEY WATCH – “AG gets fed money to target fentanyl trafficking,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “Attorney General Maura Healey’s office said it has received a $3.8 million federal grant for the New England Fentanyl Strike Force to expand efforts to combat the opioid crisis and dismantle drug trafficking networks throughout the region.” FROM THE 413 – “Small town police departments prep for financial burden of reform bill,” by Chris Larabee and Bera Dunau, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The state’s police reform bill that was signed into law last year and went into effect in July could have long-lasting consequences on the finances and staffing of small-town police departments, according to local chiefs.” – “Disabled Vietnam veteran Eugene Brice finds service to country doesn’t shield him from racism,” by Ron Chimelis, Springfield Republican: “Eugene L. Brice survived the Vietnam War, the 1968 Tet Offensive and 29 years in the U.S. Army, but he is struggling to emotionally survive a recent trip to the grocery store." – “Northampton, Amherst restaurants press state for continued outdoor dining as COVID rules set to expire,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican. – “Where did all the Berkshire County workers go?” by Lawrence Parnass, Berkshire Eagle. THE LOCAL ANGLE – "County commissioners, Assembly spar over ARPA spending process, court action possible," by Jeannette Hinkle, Cape Cod Times: "Last week, two law firms gave each of Barnstable County's two branches of government completely different opinions on the process the county should follow to distribute more than $41 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding." – “Carlo DeMaria of Everett is Massachusetts’ highest-paid mayor, but he faces blowback over his $40,000 ‘longevity bonus’,” by Andrea Estes and Jeremiah Manion, Boston Globe: “The mayor of Everett, a city with fewer than 50,000 residents, has become the highest-paid city leader in Massachusetts thanks to a controversial ‘longevity bonus’ that one political rival denounced as 'asinine' and the city clerk reported to the FBI as possibly illegal. Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria was paid $236,647 in 2020, which is more even than then-Mayor Martin J. Walsh earned for overseeing Boston, a city 15 times larger." – “From coronavirus to civil unrest: The Massachusetts National Guard has done it all,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Lt. Col. Bryan Pillai, a military police officer, in one moment found himself commanding security at coronavirus treatment facilities such as the Boston Hope Medical Center, and in another walking through downtown Boston in May 2020 to handle civil unrest where the destruction was ‘unfathomable.’” – “Here's how much Mayor Paul Coogan spent in his bid for the city's top job,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “Buoyed by an infusion of funds from a super PAC, Mayor Paul Coogan's campaign spent more then $103,000 in the mayoral election. It was nearly twice as much as Cliff Ponte's campaign spent on his bid for the mayor's seat.” – “Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict: MA Politicians Say Justice Failed,” by Mike Carraggi, Patch. – “‘We’ve had the Kardashians visit’: Nantucket unfazed ahead of President Biden’s vacation on the island,” by Hanna Krueger, Boston Globe. MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE – TESTING THE WATERS: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and former Vice President Mike Pence are both due back in the Granite State next month to appear at major fundraisers for their respective parties, per WMUR, as potential 2024 presidential hopefuls keep up appearances in the early states. – “Washington 'is screwed up,' New Hampshire governor laments,” by Catherine Kim, POLITICO. MEDIA MATTERS – “Boston Globe union ratifies contract after nearly 3-year battle,” by Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal: “The Boston Newspaper Guild, which has more than 300 members, announced Friday evening that a majority of members voted to support the new contract, which covers staffers at The Boston Globe, Boston.com, and STAT News." TRANSITIONS – David Todisco joins state Auditor Suzanne Bump’s office as deputy communications director. Jon Latino joins the Boston Public Health Commission as media relations manager; Latino was previously communications officer for Reproductive Equity Now. SPOTTED – Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh prepping Thanksgiving baskets at Shirley’s Pantry on Saturday ( Wu’s tweet). 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.   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.       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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