| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity, Lisa Kashinsky and Mia McCarthy | WILL THEY OR WON’T THEY — Here’s something you don’t see everyday on Beacon Hill: Republicans holding (nearly) all the cards. The question is, when it comes to the $2.8 billion supplemental budget that includes $250 million in emergency shelter money and raises for state workers, are they willing to play them? House Republicans seem prepared to. Minority Leader Brad Jones indicated yesterday that Republicans might block Democratic leaders from trying to ram through the full spending bill in informal sessions without “meaningful policy reforms” to stem the migrant surge and to make sure “longtime residents in need are not denied housing assistance.” “We strongly oppose this option,” Jones said in a statement. “The fact that the Speaker, Senate President and Governor have been unable to reach consensus on the migrant issue shows that this is too contentious an issue to take up in an informal session.” But Jones’ escalation in rhetoric wasn’t fully matched by his Senate counterpart. “We need to continue to look at this as a fluid situation,” Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr told reporters yesterday. “It would be irresponsible of me, and not well advised, to lock any of us into a position at this moment.” Democrats handed GOP lawmakers unusual leverage by failing to seal a deal on the supp before formal sessions ended earlier this month. Now, any one legislator’s objection in an informal session can derail the bill (and others). Republicans in both chambers have raised concerns about pouring more money into the shelter system with “no end in sight” to the migrant surge. They've pressed negotiators to move forward with parts of the larger spending plan — namely the contracts that contain raises for tens of thousands of state workers — while they continue to haggle over the shelter money specifics. But Republicans are in just as much of a bind as Democrats are. Blocking the full bill over the migrant money could mean delaying approval of those collective bargaining agreements into January, when formal sessions resume. State workers are balking at the prospect of missing out on their long-promised money for the holidays — though right now they're pinning the blame on the Democratic legislative leaders. Some workers are planning to gather at UMass Amherst and other colleges and universities today to “take actions targeting the legislators who are standing in the way” of their payday, per an email obtained by Playbook. Meanwhile, more than 50 representatives and 20 senators — most of them Democrats — have signed onto a letter being circulated by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO calling on the conference committee to pass the spending bill and fund the 95 bargaining agreements "immediately." Senate President Karen Spilka is “optimistic” that a compromise could come this week (both chambers meet again today). And she’s “hopeful” that said deal would include the whole supplemental budget, rather than just some of its parts. Lawmakers’ delay isn’t just hurting state workers and the shelter system. Comptroller William McNamara is also stuck waiting for lawmakers to finish their business before he can file an annual financial report that, by law, was supposed to be done by Oct. 31. McNamara has been in contact with members of the Legislature, a spokesperson told Playbook, and is confident that supp will be signed and enacted “in the coming days.” GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Budget deals? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com, lkashinsky@politico.com and mmccarthy@politico.com. TODAY — Members of the Healey and Biden administrations hold a media availability at their migrant work-authorization clinic at 11:30 a.m. in Reading. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on “Notorious in the Morning” at 9:15 a.m., WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m. and attends several tree-lighting ceremonies.
| | | | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | |  | FROM THE DELEGATION | | MOVING ON UP — Rep. Lori Trahan was elected co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee yesterday, giving Massachusetts yet another seat at House Democrats’ leadership table. Trahan beat Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) in a 132-71 caucus vote for the spot previously held by Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who stepped aside before launching his presidential bid. As DPCC co-chair, Trahan will help shape the caucus’ messaging as Democrats aim to take back the House majority in 2024. “We have a remarkable story to tell in between now and the next election,” Trahan said during a Democratic leadership press conference after the vote. “And we have a caucus full of incredible messengers already working to make sure that hard-working families across the nation hear it.” Reps. Stephen Lynch and Ayanna Pressley were among those helping whip votes for their fellow Bay Stater. Trahan’s new position means four of Massachusetts’ nine House members are now considered top Democrats in the chamber. Trahan joins Democratic Whip Katherine Clark in leadership, while Reps. Jim McGovern and Richard Neal are considered high-ranking because of their committee posts. Clark, Trahan’s mentor, praised the Westford Democrat as a “skilled messenger and effective policymaker, and with her leadership, [House Democrats] will win the fight for working families.” — “Sen. Warren calls for two-state solution for Israel and Gaza,” by Amanda Beland and Tiziana Dearing, WBUR.
| | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | | | 
The Massachusetts Senate Republican caucus has grown to four with the addition of Peter Durant (left). | Kelly Garrity/POLITICO | GOP VICTORY LAP — Senate Republicans’ minority crescent grew by one — or, as Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr put it, “by 33 percent” — yesterday when Peter Durant was sworn in to the seat formerly held by Democrat Anne Gobi. Republicans reveled in Durant’s victory, which Tarr said shows the GOP can still win in deep-blue Massachusetts. Durant “has proven the ideals that we share, the principles that we stand for, are viable in Massachusetts, and the voters in his district spoke loud and clear about it,” Tarr told reporters. We wrote earlier this week that two Republicans — Southbridge town councilor David Adams and Dudley Select Board member John Marsi — are already eyeing Durant’s old House seat. One who isn’t: his wife, former state Rep. Kate Campanale, per the State House News Service. The one-time lieutenant governor hopeful and her husband said they plan to support Marsi if and when the House calls a special election for the seat. — “Despite state budget delays, GCC approves raises,” by Mary Byrne, Greenfield Recorder: “Despite budget delays at the state level, Greenfield Community College President Michelle Schutt has approved pay increases for its Massachusetts Community College Council union members. … ‘We certainly didn’t want to have folks wait until after the holidays to get that.’” — “Lottery’s $177,752 chief marketing officer placed on paid leave,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “Lottery CMO Edward Farley has been out of the office since early November, according to an agency spokesperson. No reason was given for Farley’s temporary ouster from his $177,752 per year position, nor was an end date for his leave provided.”
| | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “The ‘right thing to do.’ YMCA opens doors to migrant families sleeping in MBTA office building,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “In a bid to piece together help for migrant families waitlisted for emergency shelter, the state is partnering with the YMCA of Greater Boston to provide a place to eat and play during the day for families sleeping in converted conference rooms at the state’s transportation building. As many as 25 families who have stayed in the temporary, overnight shelter at 10 Park Plaza have visited the Wang YMCA daily since Monday to shower, store their luggage for the day, or eat lunch.” The state plans to keep the transportation-building shelter running through at least Dec. 7. But even with that safety net, Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, who is overseeing the emergency assistance program, said there are still some families “that have to rough it overnight.” He said officials are in negotiations for “bigger, more permanent places” to get everyone through the winter.
| | | | GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | FROM THE HUB | | PAPER OF RECORDS — It appears the Boston Herald is doing battle with Michelle Wu’s administration to get records of any ambulance calls to the mayor’s Roslindale home. The paper is following up on old rumors — which Wu’s team has dismissed as “pathetic and baseless” — that she was suffering from panic attacks. From the Herald’s Gayla Cawley.
| | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — “SRTA to begin free bus service in January,” by Grace Ferguson, New Bedford Light: “All of SRTA’s buses will be free to ride from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2024, as part of its “Try Transit” initiative, funded by a grant from the state. The first Sunday buses will start in the same month, but no launch date has been chosen yet.”
| | DAY IN COURT | | — “SJC justice stepping down early to join UMass, giving Healey another chance to mold high court,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Justice David A. Lowy will step down from the Supreme Judicial Court in February to become general counsel for the University of Massachusetts system, making him the second judge to announce an early retirement from the high court this year.” — “Amherst man’s arrest in Jan. 6 Capitol breach marks 32nd made by FBI Boston,” by David Cifarelli, MassLive.
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Record Turnout Forces Delay of Town Meeting,” by Sophie Mann-Shafir, Provincetown Independent: “About 700 people arrived at Truro Central School on Nov. 28 ready for a climax and dénouement to months of dramatically rising tension and civic disagreement here. But even using the school’s library and cafeteria as well as the gymnasium, the building could hold no more than 523 voters. With nearly 200 more stranded outside, no votes on articles could be held, and the meeting had to be postponed for the third time." — “Ex-Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia transferred to federal Philly prison,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “Convicted former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia II has been transferred from a federal prison in Berlin, New Hampshire, where he began serving a six-year sentence in April 2022 to the Federal Detention Center Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.” — “Why Fairhaven's Select Board chair says racism is deterring him from a second term,” by Matthew Ferreira, Standard-Times: “‘The truth is that the town of Fairhaven isn’t ready for a person of color to be a visible leader in the town,’ wrote [Leon] Correy in the Oct. 28 post, who's been said to be Fairhaven's first Black Select Board member.”
| | | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE | | | ENDORSEMENT CORNER — Vivek Ramaswamy is rolling out another 100 endorsements in the first-in-the-nation primary state. Among the activists and electeds: state Reps. Cyril Aures, Tim McGough and Josh Yokela. Aures formerly backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but switched his allegiance to Ramaswamy earlier this month.
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — "Henry Kissinger, diplomat who helped to reshape the world, dies at 100," by David Cohen, POLITICO.
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Joseph Russo is now special assistant to the Bedford town manager. He previously worked for the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Elder Affairs. — Aidan Ryan is joining the Boston Globe as a media reporter. Ryan most recently worked at The Information. — Ellen Sciales is now deputy comms director for Sen. Elizabeth Warren. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Chris Dempsey, Larry Summers and Ben Josephson. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: GRANITE BACHELOR — The Shah Family Foundation's Ross Wilson joins hosts Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky to talk about guaranteed income programs as Boston mulls the idea. Koczela and Kashinsky have an extended epiphany about how the contest for New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu's endorsement in the GOP presidential primary is a lot like "The Bachelor." Subscribe and listen on iTunes and SoundCloud. 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 | | | | 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 | | | | |
