POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: ​​Healey’s big day ends with a big haul

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY With help from Anne Brandes SETTING THE PACE — State Attorney General Maura Healey raised $207,000 in the first 24 hours of her campaign for governor, continuing her early fundraising dominance by raking in half her December take in a day and eclipsing her rivals’ largest monthly hauls to date. She’s also setting herself on a different path out of the gate. In a race where other candidates are running more to their party’s flanks — GOP former state Rep. Geoff Diehl is a former President Donald Trump-backed conservative; state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz and Harvard political theorist Danielle Allen are progressives — Healey is striking a more moderate tone. She’s focusing less on her liberal-prosecutor past and more on pocketbook issues like the high cost of living. She eschewed being labeled an “uber-progressive” and said she'd leave it to "others to characterize my record." And, unlike her rivals, she declined opportunities to hit moderate GOP Gov. Charlie Baker over his pandemic policies. Healey’s playing the long game here. Her less ideological, more jobs-and-recovery-focused pitch plays more toward the middle and, critically, to independent voters who've helped propel candidates from both parties into the governor's office for decades. It’s already resonating with unions. Teamsters Local 25 endorsed Healey hours after her launch. Her face was soon plastered across the iconic IBEW Local 103 billboard on I-93, though union business manager Lou Antonellis said it’s not yet a formal endorsement. Healey also picked up endorsements yesterday from the Democratic Attorneys General Association and Barbara Lee of the Barbara Lee Political Office. Yet Healey will likely run into some friction from progressive activists who’ve already started poking holes in her record as attorney general and her stances on criminal justice issues. She’ll face her first big progressive policy test this weekend, when she and other candidates for governor and lieutenant governor are interviewed at Progressive Massachusetts’ virtual annual meeting. Despite her advantages, Healey brushed off the notion she’s the frontrunner. She told reporters “this is going to be a hard race” and that she intends to “work my tail off.” And she’s backing that up with her recent campaign hires, including organizing advisor Anthony Davis Jr., an alum of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s campaigns, and organizing strategist Steve McKenna, who got his start on Steve Grossman’s gubernatorial bid. They led a 350-person volunteer organizing Zoom last night. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey speaks with the media during a campaign stop at the Maverick Square T station on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Boston. | Michael Dwyer/AP Photo GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh says he’s “not running for governor.” The former Boston mayor told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that “it was an honor to be mentioned as a governor. I love Massachusetts. I love my city of Boston. But I’m serving the people of the United States of America right now.” Add Andrea Campbell to the list of those eyeing the attorney general’s seat. The former Boston city councilor and mayoral hopeful is “seriously considering” a bid, people familiar with her thinking tell Playbook. Campbell was a former deputy legal counsel to Gov. Deval Patrick. New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell has also had “discussions” about running for the seat and is “not ruling anything out,” per a statement. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan is building out her team ahead of her expected run for attorney general, adding Jane Rayburn of EMC Research as pollster and adviser; Aran Hamilton-Grenham as organizing director; and Meredith Lerner Moghimi, principal of MLM Strategies, as finance consultant. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito virtually addresses the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s annual meeting at 10:30 a.m. Sen. Ed Markey joins “Mask Nerd” Aaron Collins for a 10:30 a.m. livestream and holds more local virtual LIHEAP roundtables. Wu hosts an Instagram Live with meteorologist Dave Epstein at 11 a.m. and attends the USS Constitution Change of Command ceremony at noon. THIS WEEKEND — Markey, Warren and Baker speak at the MMA’s annual business meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Allen discusses the governor’s race on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. UMass President Marty Meehan is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com   JOIN NEXT FRIDAY TO HEAR FROM GOVERNORS ACROSS AMERICA : As we head into the third year of the pandemic, state governors are taking varying approaches to public health measures including vaccine and mask mandates. "The Fifty: America's Governors" is a series of live conversations featuring various governors on the unique challenges they face as they take the lead and command the national spotlight in historic ways. Learn what is working and what is not from the governors on the front lines, REGISTER HERE.     THE LATEST NUMBERS — “Massachusetts COVID cases: 51% hospitalized because of virus, 49% test positive while getting other treatment,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The Department of Public Health reported that 51 percent of statewide COVID hospitalizations — 1,624 patients — are currently being hospitalized because of COVID, and 49 percent — 1,563 — test positive for COVID while hospitalized for other reasons. … Thursday’s daily count of 14,384 new virus cases was significantly down from last Thursday’s report of 18,721 infections.” — “32,909 new coronavirus cases reported in Massachusetts schools in past week,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The total of 32,909 staff and students testing positive is a 32 percent drop from 48,414 positive K-12 tests in the previous week.” — “Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts,” by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe. DATELINE BEACON HILL — DEPARTURES: State Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) is leaving the House after President Joe Biden appointed her as FEMA’s regional administrator in New England. She wrote in a blog post that she “could not be more thrilled to get started” on Jan. 31. — ARRIVALS: “Now a state senator, Edwards’ plans to leave Boston City Council are unclear,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “East Boston Sen. Lydia Edwards has bucked Beacon Hill tradition by not immediately resigning her municipal post after joining the Legislature. A spokesperson for the now-senator said Edwards has ‘no comment’ on whether she will resign from the City Council ‘but is happy to talk about it in the future.’” — “Marijuana regulators support updates to drugged driving laws,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Overall, all five members of the Cannabis Control Commission voiced support for urging the Legislature to update state laws on operating under the influence to better account for drug-impaired driving. But they shied away from supporting specific legislative provisions, noting the lack of available technology to detect marijuana impairment and the dangers of racially biased enforcement of driving laws. Lawmakers will likely insist on resolving those issues before they move forward with a bill.” VAX-ACHUSETTS — “COVID-19 cases have peaked in Massachusetts,” by Felice J. Freyer, Kay Lazar and Martin Finucane, Boston Globe: “The latest wave of COVID-19 in Massachusetts has crested, with the number of new cases dropping precipitously since last week, prompting even the most wary prognosticators to see a flicker at the end of the tunnel. … Hospitalizations seem to be leveling off, but Steve Walsh, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, said hospitals remain ‘very much in the midst of a COVID-19 peak.’” — “Massachusetts Nurses Association calls on Gov. Charlie Baker to declare state of emergency, take steps to address COVID surge,” by Michael Bonner, MassLive: “In a letter sent to Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday, the Massachusetts Nurses Association called for another state of emergency to be issued along with 14 other recommendations to better help healthcare workers during the latest COVID-19 surge. In the four-page letter addressed to Baker, the MNA calls for the state of emergency that was declared in March of 2020 to be reactivated through March of 2022.” — “Long COVID study: Boston researchers recruiting long haulers who are having trouble concentrating, experiencing strong fatigue,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Hub scientists are recruiting adults who had acute COVID-19 more than two months ago and are still experiencing symptoms, such as trouble concentrating and abnormally strong fatigue.” — “Arlington mother creates website to help track down at-home COVID test kits,” by Julianne Lima, Boston 25 News: “Her face is likely familiar — Boston 25 News first introduced you to software developer Olivia Adams last year when she launched a website to help people find COVID-19 vaccine appointments back in the early days when they were filling up fast. Now, the Arlington mother-of-two has launched another website to help people find over-the-counter rapid COVID-19 tests: CovidTestCollab.com.” — “Vaccine mandate in Somerville is defeated, 2-1,” by Shira Laucharoen, Cambridge Day: “A vaccine mandate for certain indoor businesses was defeated 2-1 by Somerville’s Board of Health on Thursday, after an earlier meeting was ‘bombed’ by a group led by an Internet personality from Peabody and her supporters.” — “‘It’s been a desperate call’: Substitute teachers in high demand as districts grapple with teaching shortages,” by Dana Gerber, Boston Globe: “As incentives, districts like Woburn and Brockton recently announced pay hikes to recruit more substitutes. Since the onset of the pandemic, both Boston and Cambridge have waived the requirement for substitute teachers to have a bachelor’s degree; Cambridge now requires at least one year of professional experience working with students, said spokesperson Sujata Wycoff, and Boston requires unlicensed candidates to pass an online course, according to the current job listing.” FROM THE HUB — “Tufts Medical Center will close its pediatric hospital after more than a century of treating sick kids,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: “After more than a century of treating sick children, Tufts Medical Center will close its 41-bed pediatric hospital in July and convert those beds to treat more adult patients. Tufts will refer children who need hospitalization to Boston Children’s Hospital, its longtime competitor and the dominant pediatric hospital in the state.” — “More cowbell: Protests outside of Michelle Wu’s house continue, but sound a bit different,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The anti-vaccine-mandate protesters outside Mayor Michelle Wu’s house have swapped out bullhorns for cowbells after the cops reportedly made it clear they’d start confiscating noise amplifiers.” — “Kim Janey starts a new chapter in academia,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe : “This spring, [former Boston acting mayor Kim] Janey, who lost a mayoral bid for a full term in the City Hall fifth-floor corner office in September’s municipal preliminary contest, will serve as a fellow at the Frederick E. Berry Institute of Politics and Civic Engagement at Salem State University, according to a Thursday announcement. She will also serve as a resident fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics.” — “Boston Police commissioner search committee hears input,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The search committee for the next Boston Police commissioner hasn’t settled on any candidates yet, Mayor Michelle Wu said at the start of a meeting geared toward getting locals’ opinions about what they want in the city’s next top cop.” — “Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass. CEO Andrew Dreyfus to step down,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey and Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: “Andrew Dreyfus, the chief executive of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, who used his high-profile role to push for health care reform in the state and beyond, is stepping down after nearly 12 years leading the state’s biggest health insurer.” ON THE STUMP — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Methuen Mayor Neil Perry and City Council Chair D.J. Beauregard have endorsed Councilor James McCarty in his bid for 4th Essex District state representative. — “Five key things to know about Maura Healey as she starts her campaign for governor,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “Democrats eager to retake the Massachusetts governor’s office have been fantasizing about Maura Healey seeking the job for years. … But a few years ago, when Healey first ran for attorney general, she had to overcome widespread opposition from the state’s Democratic political establishment to get the job.” DAY IN COURT — “U.S. drops case against MIT professor accused of ties to China,” by Eric Tucker, The Associated Press: “The Justice Department dropped charges Thursday against a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor accused of concealing ties to the Chinese government, a further setback to a federal initiative that was set up to prevent economic espionage and theft by Beijing of trade secrets and academic research.”   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.     FROM THE DELEGATION — “The Senate failed to pass voting rights legislation. Where does that leave Democrats?” by Jazmine Ulloa, Boston Globe: “[Assistant House Speaker Katherine] Clark and her Democratic colleagues are trying to regroup and regain momentum following an emotional debate in the Senate that touched on racism and past civil rights struggles.” — “Sen. Edward Markey meets with Western Massachusetts officials to tout legislation to bolster LIHEAP heating assistance program,” by Patrick Johnson, Springfield Republican: “The program’s budget would increase from $3.75 billion to $40 billion annually, eligibility requirements would be expanded to any household spending more than 3 percent of income on utility costs, and its scope would widen from just heating costs in the winter to cooling costs in the summer.” — LISTEN: “Elizabeth Warren Claps Back at Elon Musk,” by Kara Swisher, The New York Times. — NEW OVERNIGHT: The entire delegation stands “in solidarity” with the Jewish community after the Texas synagogue hostage situation, according to joint statement released last night. “Americans everywhere have the right to worship in peace,” the members said. “Yet the rising tide of antisemitism has forced Jewish organizations across the country to confront violence as a clear and present threat. We cannot allow this to be the new normal. We must all work towards a future free from antisemitism and faith-based violence.” FROM THE 413 — “UMass Amherst clarifies mask rules: high quality masks, such as N95s, are ‘urged,’ but not required,” by Will Katcher, MassLive: “Students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will not be required to wear high-grade face coverings, such as N95 masks, while in campus buildings this spring, the school said Thursday as it clarified a previous statement on health and safety guidelines for the upcoming semester.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Feds: Regulators ‘should never have approved’ Weymouth compressor, too late to shut it down,” by Jessica Trufant, Patriot Ledger: “While several members said regulators shouldn’t have approved the project to begin with, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says it won’t revoke authorization for the natural gas compressor station in Weymouth.” — “Trash is a burning question with mixed answers in some Mass. towns,” by Hannah Chanatry, WBUR: “The Haverhill incinerator is one of seven operating in Massachusetts. The state has a limited amount of landfill space, so most of our trash is either burned locally or shipped to landfills out of state. State-level activists want that to stop; they argue incinerators are major sources of pollution and should be closed. But in communities hosting the incinerators, opinions are more mixed.” — “Here’ s why fatal overdoses in Plymouth County were down in 2021 after a brutal 2020,” by Susannah Sudborough, Brockton Enterprise: “In a surprising but hopeful finding, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz has announced that fatal overdoses in the county were down significantly in 2021 compared to 2020 and 2019.” — “Man arrested after allegedly tossing hot coffee on unmasked Dunkin’ customer in Brookline,” by Arianna MacNeill, Boston.com: “A man was arrested in Brookline for allegedly tossing hot coffee on another man in a Dunkin’, apparently because the victim was not wearing a mask.” MEDIA MATTERS — “Into the Red: How the Globe will cover climate change,” by Steven Wilmsen, Boston Globe: “To report on the most pressing issue of our time, the Globe’s climate team is expanding and rethinking its coverage.” TRANSITIONS — Vanessa Snow joins MassVOTE as policy and organizing director. Boston law firm Sherin and Lodgen LLP has appointed Matthew C. Moschella as chair of the firm’s litigation department. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Molly Trowbridge of Sen. Eric Lesser’s office, Jeremy Jacobs and Diego Sanchez, a Massachusetts Democratic State Committee member and Barney Frank alum. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Lauren DeFilippo, state Rep. Josh Cutler, Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner and former state Rep. Brad Hill, Sarah Mattero, Carson McGrath, Stephen Glick and Gail Shalan, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Kristen Lepore, chief of staff to Gov. Charlie Baker, and Harvard Institute of Politics’ Amy Howell. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: TEST STRESSING — MassLive’s Alison Kuznitz joins hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela to talk about the state’s new Covid rapid-test program for schools. Smith, Koczela and host Lisa Kashinsky break down the latest on vaccine passports and vaccination mandates. 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

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POLITICO NIGHTLY: The Medicare-size hole in Biden’s testing plan

 

 

BY RENUKA RAYASAM

Presented by AT&T

Covid-19 rapid at-home test kits rest on a table at a free distribution event for those who received vaccination shots or booster shots at Union Station in Los Angeles. | Mario Tama/Getty Images

A NEW KIND OF MEDI-GAP — With Covid daily case counts three times higher than the country’s previous peak last January, the Biden administration has made testing a larger part of its pandemic strategy.

The hyped website that offers free tests directly to the door of every American is actually a small part of the administration’s plan, limited to just four tests per household. The bigger part of the testing plan includes new guidance that, starting this week, private insurers must cover the costs of eight over-the-counter rapid tests per person every month — another 32 free tests for a family of four.

But there’s a giant loophole: The at-home tests won’t be reimbursed by Medicare, which covers about 64 million people who are either 65 and older or have long-term disabilities.

About 42 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are in what’s called an Advantage plan — run by private insurers with generally broader coverage that Medicare beneficiaries can buy into — and some of them will be covered. But the Advantage plans aren’t required to cover the tests.

And if you’re one of the 58 percent of Medicare beneficiaries without an Advantage plan? You can get a test through the new website or at a clinic or doctor’s office, but you can’t get reimbursed for buying the rapid, at-home tests over the counter.

These are the Americans who are in the demographic cohort that is most vulnerable to Covid complications. This is the group with the highest Covid risk factors . People 65 and older have made up almost three-quarters of all Covid deaths during the pandemic, according to the CDC.

Medicare, including the part with the Advantage plans, is not designed to cover things that people can get over the counter, without a prescription, said Tricia Neuman, a Medicare expert at the Kaiser Family Foundation, who was recently nominated by Biden to serve on Medicare’s board of trustees. The rules-heavy program bills enrolled providers like hospitals, doctors, labs and pharmacies directly for expenses. It doesn’t reimburse patients the way a flexible spending account or a commercial insurer sometimes does.

“There is not a structure in place that is ready made for reimbursement,” she said.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the agency responsible for running the program, told Nightly that people in the program can get tested for free through their health care provider or one of 20,000 testing sites. Medicare covers Covid tests that are done by a lab. A doctor can order a test, making them free to Medicare patients. Some clinics are also distributing free rapid, at-home tests.

CMS is also encouraging Medicare Advantage plans to voluntarily cover the tests. But it can’t require the plans to pay for them. It’s unclear right now how many of the Advantage plans are planning to reimburse people who buy the at-home tests.

Those measures aren’t enough, some advocates and lawmakers say. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), chair of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, urged the Biden administration, in a letter sent Wednesday, to expand the coverage of at-home tests to Medicare beneficiaries.

“There is a bigger question about how long it will take to adopt a fix and whether it would require a change of law or whether CMS could do this on its own,” Neuman said.

No one seems to know the answer to Neuman’s question. The agency didn’t get back to Nightly about whether it could fix the issue under the Medicare statute, without new legislation.

Nor has CMS told AARP how or whether it will address the issue, said Andrew Scholnick, AARP’s senior legislative representative in government affairs.

Going to a doctor or pharmacy or another site to get a lab-based test that Medicare will pay for is a huge barrier, Scholnick said. A supply of rapid, at-home tests laying around the house would help seniors more easily figure out whether they can gather with friends and relatives or go to a crowded setting.

“To say that they shouldn’t have the same level of access to at home tests is ridiculous,” he said. “This is unfair and bad policy.”

Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com. Or contact tonight’s author at rrayasam@politico.com, or on Twitter at @RenuRayasam.

 

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WHAT'D I MISS?

— Some Democrats not ready to give up on child credit: They’re balking at suggestions by the White House to drop their bid to revive their signature Child Tax Credit plan . One day after President Joe Biden appeared ready to concede it may fall by the wayside, some lawmakers said they are not giving up on the proposal, which is included in a sweeping package stalled in the Senate.

— Georgia DA asks for special grand jury in election probe: The Georgia prosecutor looking into possible attempts to interfere in the 2020 general election by former President Donald Trump and others has asked for a special grand jury to aid the investigation . Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter to Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Christopher Brasher asking him to impanel a special grand jury. She wrote in the letter that her office “has received information indicating a reasonable probability that the State of Georgia’s administration of elections in 2020, including the State’s election of the President of the United States, was subject to possible criminal disruptions.”

— Jan. 6 panel will target Ivanka Trump for questioning: Jan. 6 investigators revealed today they’re going after Ivanka Trump, whom senior White House aides viewed as a last-ditch resort to convince Donald Trump to address rioters during the Capitol attack , according to evidence and testimony released today. “He didn’t say yes to Mark Meadows, Kayleigh McEnanay or Keith Kellogg, but he might say yes to his daughter?” a committee investigator asked of Kellogg, a top Trump White House official, during a recent interview, according to a testimony transcript published by the panel.

 

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.

  

— U.S. drops case against MIT professor accused of ties to China: The Justice Department dropped its case today against a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor charged last year with concealing research ties to the Chinese government , saying it could “no longer meet its burden of proof at trial.” The department revealed its decision in the case against Gang Chen in a single-page filing in federal court in Boston.

— SEC blocks Anthony Scaramucci’s Bitcoin fund: The Securities and Exchange Commission rejected Anthony Scaramucci’s proposal to launch a Bitcoin-based investment fund, saying it would be too risky for investors. The proposal by Scaramucci — a financier best known for his 10 days as former President Donald Trump’s communications director in 2017 — would have let investors on the New York Stock Exchange buy shares in a fund backed by the Bitcoin digital currency. It’s just one of several exchange-traded funds being pitched as a way to let individuals speculate on the price of Bitcoin without having to buy it directly.

 

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AROUND THE WORLD

President Joe Biden meets with members of his Infrastructure Implementation Task Force. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

BIDEN CLARIFIES ‘INCURSION’ REMARK — Biden personally sought to clarify his remarks about a potential “minor incursion” by Russian forces into Ukraine , which top Ukrainian government officials condemned as needlessly provocative amid a broader White House effort to clean up the president’s statements.

Speaking ahead of a White House infrastructure meeting, Biden said he has been “absolutely clear” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that his Kremlin counterpart “has no misunderstanding: Any — any — assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion.”

Such an invasion would be met with a “severe and coordinated economic response” by the United States and its European allies, which has already been “laid out very clearly” for Putin, Biden said.

“Let there be no doubt at all,” Biden added. “If Putin makes this choice, Russia will pay a heavy price.”

Biden’s latest remarks today represented a slight revision of his comments at a White House news conference Wednesday, during which he predicted Putin’s forces will “move in” on Ukraine and outlined his thinking surrounding potential responses to such aggression.

 

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.

  

NIGHTLY NUMBER

About 10 days The amount of time between now and when the intelligence community’s expert panel on Havana Syndrome is expected to wrap up its work, according to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). Top senators are downplaying and criticizing a new interim CIA assessment on the mysterious illness known as Havana Syndrome, the latest salvo in a years-long battle for transparency between Capitol Hill and the intelligence agencies.

PARTING WORDS

‘PLEASE DADDY, NO MORE ZOOM SCHOOL’ — The Omicron surge is depleting California teachers and keeping students home in unprecedented numbers, but political leaders aren’t yet willing to broach the alternative: distance learning.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders who allowed school shutdowns early in the pandemic are holding firm on keeping classrooms open, Alexander Nieves writes. They’ve had support from the California Teachers Association despite some educators on the ground saying that working conditions are untenable due to staff shortages. And school districts are going to extreme lengths to keep students in classrooms, pulling retired teachers off the sidelines and recruiting office staff — at times even superintendents — to teach lessons.

It’s a dramatic turn for a state that once had the nation’s longest pandemic closures.

“I’m very, very sensitive to this, the learning opportunities that are lost because kids are not safely in school, the challenges of going online,” Newsom said when asked this month about distance learning. “My son, we had fits and starts, he’s in and out of school, said, ‘Please, Daddy, no more Zoom school.’”

The Sacramento City Unified School District released a statement Friday calling on local residents to “Sub-in and be a hero” by getting an emergency substitute teacher credential. Palo Alto schools have turned to parent volunteers for food service, office assistance and other on-campus jobs.

 

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Jenee Washington saw tech as the gateway to a brighter future for herself and her family. Growing up, financial hardship caused Jenee to leave school and accept dead-end jobs just to make ends meet. But with the help of accessible and affordable broadband, she discovered her passion for tech and secured a coding scholarship. Now, she's thriving as a QA analyst, pursuing the career of her dreams. That’s why AT&T is dedicated to helping close the digital divide with a $2 billion, 3-year commitment, so more low-income families like Jenee's can achieve their American Dream. Learn more.

 

 

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Who’s been to a Governor’s Council meeting

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY With help from Anne Brandes ATTENDANCE RECORDS — A mayor, two state senators, a state representative and a businessman are running for a job with few official duties besides overseeing the Governor’s Council. Playbook asked the candidates for lieutenant governor: Have you ever been to a Governor’s Council meeting? Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll went to one meeting to support a local judicial nominee during the Patrick administration, per her campaign. She’s also been endorsed by Governor’s Councilor Eileen Duff. State Sen. Adam Hinds and businessman Bret Bero have watched meetings virtually (Bero noted he can’t attend a meeting in person because the State House remains closed to the public). Hinds has also spoken with councilors. State Sen. Eric Lesser’s campaign said he hasn’t attended a meeting but is in “close contact” with Mary Hurley, the governor’s councilor for western Massachusetts, and “follows the work of the Council.” State Rep. Tami Gouveia hasn’t attended a meeting, but has “discussed the role with several governor’s councilors,” according to her campaign. Playbook also asked each campaign for the dates of any meetings each candidate (they're all Democrats) attended and to provide proof of their attendance. None did. What is the Governor’s Council, exactly? It’s an eight-member board elected every two years that primarily vets and votes on judicial nominees and other governor appointees. The board also weighs in on pardons and commutations and certifies election results. Meetings are available on YouTube, and they sometimes get testy. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tanisha Sullivan is running for secretary of state. Sullivan, a Brockton-raised attorney and president of the NAACP Boston Branch, said in a launch video that she would strive to protect and expand voting rights, improve state government transparency by ensuring access to public records, and protect Bay Staters from fraud. Playbook reported last week that Sullivan, who’s been active on voting-rights issues, was considering a bid for the seat. “In light of obstructionism that continues to stand in the way of federal action on voting rights, it falls to state leaders to protect and expand the right of every Massachusetts resident to participate in our government, and to show what a truly inclusive, representative democracy looks like,” Sullivan said. "We cannot accept incrementalism.” Secretary of State Bill Galvin still hasn't said whether he'll seek reelection. Republican Rayla Campbell is running for the seat. Of the state's six constitutional officers, three — Galvin, state Treasurer Deb Goldberg and state Attorney General Maura Healey — haven't announced their 2022 intentions. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and education officials make a testing announcement at 10 a.m. at the State House. Polito makes a grant announcement in Framingham at 8:45 a.m. Rep. Richard Neal makes a bridge funding announcement at 10:45 a.m. in Springfield. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a media availability at a new Covid testing clinic at 11 a.m. in Roxbury and is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at noon. Tips? Scoops? Still sad about the Pats? Email me: 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.     DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Charlie Baker files $5 billion bond bill for workforce development, cybersecurity, public safety,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “Gov. Charlie Baker filed legislation seeking almost $5 billion for investments in long-term priorities including public safety equipment upgrades, local infrastructure grants and IT modernization.” — From the opinion pages: “Mass. seeks to claw back at least $2.7 billion in jobless benefits it says were incorrectly paid,” by Larry Edelman, Boston Globe: “The Department of Unemployment Assistance made overpayments on about 719,000 claims in 2020-2021. It’s going after recipients even if they weren’t at fault.” VAX-ACHUSETTS — “Boston-area coronavirus wastewater data keeps dropping: ‘I’m cautiously optimistic,’” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The Boston-area coronavirus wastewater data continues to plunge, sparking a bit of continued optimism from local infectious disease experts that the region could be in store for a rapid decline in COVID-19 cases.” — “As Massachusetts hospitals flounder with COVID surge, Gov. Charlie Baker announces emergency actions,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Hours after Massachusetts hospitals executives sounded a dire alarm to the public about strained capacity amid the omicron-fueled COVID-19 surge, the Baker administration unveiled a slate of emergency actions to bolster staffing capacity.” — “Physicians call for hospital bed tracking system,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “As hospitals battle a record surge of COVID-19 infections, physicians are urging the state to create a system to track empty beds in emergency rooms to ease capacity issues.” — “In less vaccinated Western Mass., overwhelmed hospitals, but progress on vaccinations,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: “The combination of a less protected population and the extremely transmissible Omicron variant means this part of the state is being battered especially hard by the current surge of infections.” — "'The struggle is real': Educators work to keep classrooms open despite COVID surge," by Carrie Jung, WBUR: "Potter Road Elementary School principal Larry Wolpe says the last two weeks have been like one giant game of Tetris. For a brief moment, he thought he had every classroom covered. But that didn't last long." — “Mean customers, panic attacks, and thousands of COVID vaccines: Retail pharmacists struggle with pandemic burden,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “One retail pharmacist in a grocery store on the South Shore who’d been in his role for almost 25 years has been on leave since September, too scarred by his experience to go back after a mental breakdown.” — “State attorney general's office reviewing complaints against recently shut-down COVID testing sites,” by Sam Turken, GBH News: “The Massachusetts state attorney general’s office says it’s reviewing complaints against testing sites statewide that were recently forced to shut down after operating without a license. The state Department of Public Health on Thursday issued cease and desist letters to three testing sites in Worcester, Needham and Dartmouth — all run by the nationwide Center for COVID Control.” — “For marginalized groups, COVID testing shortages a bigger burden,” by Tiana Woodard, Boston Globe: “A lack of reliable transportation, jobs with little flexibility, and language barriers make the search for tests more grueling in low-income, immigrant, and BIPOC communities, advocates and public health specialists say.” — “Evergrande reneges on multimillion-dollar pledge to Harvard-led COVID project, another stumble in its ties to school,” by Rebecca Ostriker and Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: “A financially troubled Chinese real-estate developer has reneged on a major pledge to Harvard University, leaving a shortfall of millions of dollars for a COVID-19 research effort involving hundreds of experts from academia and industry across Massachusetts.” WU TRAIN — “For new Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, it’s trial by fire,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Sworn in two months ago, Wu enjoyed a whiplash two-week transition period followed by a seemingly incessant barrage of new challenges — not least of which has been a resurgent pandemic driving record levels of infections, filling hospital beds, and sending the city’s school system to the brink.” — “‘Cards on the table’: Michelle Wu faces potentially tone-setting few weeks,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “At long-troubled Mass and Cass in the South End, whether an encampment will begin to regrow and how the city will deal with the crowds of people using and dealing drugs still on the streets remain open questions … the highly contagious omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to surge. … [And the] struggle between Wu and first-responder unions [over vaccine policies] will serve as a precursor to what is expected to be a broader fight over the next round of police labor contracts.” WHAT CITY HALL IS READING — “COVID-19 vaccine mandate begins in Boston amid demonstrations by opponents,” by Laura Crimaldi and Andrew Brinker, Boston Globe: “As the city’s new COVID-19 vaccine mandate took effect Saturday, some 500 protesters marched through the Fenway to show their opposition to the policy, and Mayor Michelle Wu spoke out about how early morning demonstrations at her Roslindale home have impacted her neighbors and family. … The protests, [Wu] said, are a byproduct of widespread misinformation that the city seeks to neutralize with its vaccine mandates.” — More: “Boston won’t immediately start enforcement of worker vaccine mandate,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald. — “Embattled Boston Police sergeant, founder of anti-vax mandate group spars with police over vaccine passport,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “Embattled Boston Police sergeant and founder of an anti-vaccine mandate group, Shana Cottone, sparred with officers over her refusal to show proof of her vaccination status in a restaurant Saturday as the city’s new vaccination requirements took effect.”   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.     FROM THE HUB — From the opinion pages: “Sheriff Tompkins still ‘ready to assist’ on Mass. and Cass,” by Shirley Leung, Boston Globe: “[Suffolk County Sheriff Steve] Tompkins outfitted an entire floor of his South Bay campus for what he calls dorm-style living with flat-TV screens, armchairs, a gym, and beds, enough to accommodate 100 people. He has plenty of room … [but since] Tompkins made his offer, the Mass. and Cass unit ― controversial from conception ― has sat empty.” — U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins told WCVB's "On the Record" that there "may be" a role for the feds in addressing Mass and Cass: "We've seen situations where certainly there's human trafficking, there's drug trafficking there, we know that. It’s important for us to see whether we can bring the full weight and resources of the federal government into the conversation. … Those pharmaceutical companies that are pumping opioids into communities or doctors that are prescribing them, we can be helpful in assisting with things like that.” — “New Suffolk County DA says he'll focus on equity and fairness, no decision yet on seeking election,” by Deborah Becker, WBUR: “[Interim Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden says] there will be some differences between him and his high-profile predecessor Rachael Rollins, who is now the Massachusetts U.S. attorney. For example, the well-known ‘list’ of lower-level crimes that Rollins said the Suffolk DA would not immediately move to prosecute under her leadership. Hayden doesn't plan to have a formal list necessarily, but said reducing the rate of incarceration is important to him.” FEELING '22 — MAYBE GETTING IN: Investor Chris Doughty has been calling around to Republican activists and party officials about a potential run for governor, three people who’ve spoken to him told Playbook on Friday. WBUR’s Anthony Brooks first reported Doughty’s name was floating around GOP circles. The Boston Globe’s Matt Stout has more on the Wrentham businessman. Doughty would be running against former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, who sent out a fundraising email over the weekend reminding supporters that he’s been campaigning since last July and that he “didn’t base my decision on who else might be in the race.” — “Labor unions top PAC fundraising,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Organized Labor, always a powerful force in Democratic-dominated Massachusetts, continues to hold sway heading into the 2022 election season — and nowhere is that clearer than in fundraising. The Office of Campaign and Political Finance put out a newsletter Thursday listing the 10 political action committees with the largest bank accounts at the end of 2021, and eight of them were union affiliates.” PARTY POLITICS — “Baker spent $100,000 of campaign cash on MassGOP legal fight,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Weeks after announcing he won’t seek reelection, [Gov. Charlie] Baker’s campaign paid $100,000 to help fund [Republican activist Nicaela Chinnaswamy’s] sinuous legal fight to secure a seat on the Republican State Committee, the state GOP’s obscure governing body, which Baker has tried for years to seed with like-minded, moderate allies.” DATELINE D.C. — “After a rough first year, CDC director Rochelle Walensky tries to correct course,” by Jess Bidgood and Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: “A star physician and scientist from Massachusetts General Hospital, Walensky was chosen by President Biden to take the helm of an agency that had been sidelined in the pandemic fight by the previous administration, with promises to restore its credibility. With an ever-evolving virus still raging, and the country still deeply polarized over the best tools for fighting it, it would not be easy. But Walensky has made a series of stumbles that exacerbated an already difficult task, according to multiple experts.” — More: “Walensky faces CDC burnout as pandemic enters third year,” by Erin Banco, POLITICO. FROM THE 413 — "DA Harrington backs indicted Baltimore prosecutor; likely challenger questions commitment to Berkshire County," by Amanda Burke, Berkshire Eagle: "The top law enforcement official in the Berkshires took to Twitter over the weekend to defend the state’s attorney in Baltimore city, who was recently indicted on federal charges." — “Western Massachusetts needs District Court judges: Governor’s Councilor Mary Hurley signals glut of openings,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “Aspiring judges: polish up your resumes. Governor’s Council member Mary Hurley says this is your moment, particularly if attorneys are interested in District Court positions. Recent retirements and moves to higher courts have cleared a wide runway for judicial opportunities in the four western counties, according to Hurley.” — “UMass Amherst will require high-grade masks, such as N95s or KN95s, or double masks for students, staff during spring semester,” by Will Katcher, MassLive. THE LOCAL ANGLE — MLK DAY: Bay State pols and activists marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day with calls to pass voting rights legislation ahead of a planned Senate effort that's predicted to fail. Sen. Ed Markey , Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark and Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Jake Auchincloss and Jim McGovern were among those who urged in speeches and tweets to abolish the filibuster to do it. Sen. Elizabeth Warren added her voice to the chorus on CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on Monday night, where she acknowledged "we may not be able to carry this vote," but said if it fails "we get back in the fight." — “Aafia Siddiqui, the jailed terrorist at the center of synagogue hostage crisis, has Massachusetts ties; local Jewish community ‘on high alert’,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The jailed terrorist at the center of the Texas synagogue hostage horror on Saturday has ties to Massachusetts, where she studied at prestigious institutions before becoming an al-Qaeda operative.” — “Families in Alabama have free, full-day prekindergarten while many Mass. families can only dream of it,” by Naomi Martin and Jenna Russell, Boston Globe: “[W]hile Alabama ranks much lower than Massachusetts on most education metrics, experts say it is serving its children and families far better in at least one important area: prekindergarten.” — “First woman to command USS Constitution takes over on Friday,” by The Associated Press: “Cmdr. Billie J. Farrell is scheduled to become the first woman to lead the crew of the 224-year-old warship known as Old Ironsides during a change-of-command ceremony on Friday.” — “Cambridge appoints Christine Elow as permanent police commissioner,” by William J. Dowd, Wicked Local: “Cambridge has elevated Christine Elow from acting to the permanent police commissioner, appointing the first woman to lead the city’s police department in its 163 years of existence.” — “Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga promises reset of City Hall,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Verga has long experience in municipal politics, serving for eight years on the Gloucester School Committee and six on the City Council. He takes office at a challenging time, with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 ravaging the state. Already, Verga said, he is getting vitriolic emails containing Nazi imagery and threats from residents who oppose new city mask regulations.” — “In Brookline, questions abound for the future of its police department,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “The instability at the top of the department is unfurling amid a push by some in town to reimagine its approach to policing, efforts that have badly frayed the relationship between Brookline police and authorities running this town of roughly 63,000 people.” — “Five Lynn officers resign, another fired, following investigation into ‘racially offensive’ texts, drug use,” by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: “Five Lynn police officers have resigned, one was fired, and two suspended following a monthslong investigation into a text exchange that included ‘racially offensive language’ and evidence of drug use by officers, the city’s police department said in a statement.” TRANSITIONS — Samuel Gebru, former director of policy and public affairs at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, is now a nonresident senior fellow at Tufts University's Center for State Policy Analysis at Tisch College. — Brittany Buford is Danielle Allen’s gubernatorial campaign manager. — Interim Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden has named Padraic Lydon as his chief of staff and Erika Reis as general counsel. His office said current general counsel Donna Patalano and chief of staff Amanda Teo will leave at the end of the month to pursue other opportunities. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former Sen. Paul Kirk and David Jacobs, publisher of the Boston Guardian. Happy belated to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who turned 37 on Friday. 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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