| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky and Kelly Garrity | GROUNDHOG DAY — Here we go again. In just a few hours, Massachusetts Democrats are expected to take another run at passing a more than $3 billion supplemental budget that Republicans keep blocking over concerns with how the state is handling its migrant and shelter crises. House Republicans stalled the supp for the third day straight in a rare Saturday session, forcing Democrats who usually have unilateral control over the chamber to again push off a vote on the bill that contains $250 million in critical funding for the emergency assistance program and raises for tens of thousands of public employees. Republicans have relied on simple parliamentary procedure — questioning whether there’s a quorum — to halt proceedings in these informal sessions as they push for a return to formal sessions where they can debate the spending bill and hold a roll-call vote on it. But, as pressure mounts from unions to pass workers’ raises, House Speaker Ron Mariano is signaling that he’s ready to cut off that avenue of protest. Today is “a work day. Members will be in here,” Mariano told the Boston Herald on Saturday, suggesting “there will be enough” members in the chamber to hit its 81-person quorum. (Never mind that Thursday and Friday were work days).
|  House Democrats are looking to power past Republican opposition to shelter money in the closeout supplemental budget. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO | The clock is ticking. If the spending bill isn’t signed this week, workers run the risk of not getting their raises and retroactive pay in time for the holidays, union members and Beacon Hill officials have said. Unions are blaming both parties for the holdup, as a rare exercise of GOP legislative power begins to turn into a no-win political situation for the Democrats whose procrastination led to this point and the Republicans whose continued objections could, critics say, hurt vulnerable families and state workers. House Minority Leader Brad Jones seems aware of the optics. He told the Herald on Saturday that his caucus is keeping in mind “responsible opposition versus irresponsible obstructionism.” Mariano said Republicans have already made their point. But MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale is cheering them on. "The migrant shelter crisis is unsustainable and we need [systemic] reforms,” Carnevale said on WCVB’s “On the Record.” “So, I really applaud our Republican leadership ... for standing up to this broken process.” GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The House gavels in at 10 a.m., and the Senate follows at 11 a.m. Remember, even if the bill clears the House today, it could still face Republican roadblocks in the Senate. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus Winner’s Circle Awards at 6 p.m. at the UMass Club. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts a Facebook Live on the history of the Lowell Mill Girls at 10 a.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at a UMass Boston/Mass General Brigham luncheon at noon. Tips? Scoops? Are you a Republican lawmaker? Email us your plans for the supp: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com.
|  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | NOTHING TO SEE HERE — Gov. Maura Healey traveled to Arizona for the Democratic Governors Association’s annual meeting, but you probably wouldn't know it unless you were in Phoenix. Healey’s office no longer sends out alerts when she’s traveling out of state, due to unspecified security concerns. And the confab wouldn’t have been on her public schedule because it’s a political event. Healey has no public events today. FROM THE OPINION PAGES — As an overflowing shelter system prompts debate over whether to change the state’s “right-to-shelter” law, the Boston Globe’s Yvonne Abraham questions its limitations as she shares the story of a family that can’t afford rent but isn’t poor enough to qualify for emergency housing.
| | | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS | | | BIDEN’S GOT A FRIEND IN MORE THAN JAMES TAYLOR — President Joe Biden is appearing at not just one but three fundraisers when he travels here Tuesday. Along with the concert with Grammy-winner James Taylor, Biden is also appearing at the home of former U.S. Ambassador Alan Solomont, a person familiar with the planning told Playbook. HEALEY'S CASH DASH — Healey will be in Worcester Tuesday to headline a fundraiser of her own. Tickets run from $250 to $1,000 for the evening reception to replenish the coffers of the governor's campaign committee, according to an invite obtained by Playbook.
| | | FROM THE HUB | | | — “Josh Kraft for mayor?,” by Gintautas Dumcius, Jennifer Smith, Bruce Mohl and Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Beacon: “Boston’s political rumor mill has churned for months about whether Josh Kraft, son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head of the organization’s philanthropic arm, is eyeing a campaign for mayor of Boston. Such a move would put him on a collision course with Michelle Wu, who has all but formally announced a run for a second four-year term. Kraft said he had been approached about running for mayor, though he did not name names.” — “Boston Police union, city reach tentative 5-year contract deal,” by Flint McColgan and Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: “The deal took place during a ‘flurry of meetings over the last few days’ that included [Mayor Michelle] Wu’s direct participation, according to a source familiar with the matter, that finalized early Friday morning.” — “Baker salutes staff — and takes a bow — at Florian Hall party,” by Seth Daniel, Dorchester Reporter: “Mayor Michelle Wu attended and presented Baker with a street sign that reads ‘Frank Baker Way.’" — “Roxbury residents weigh ideas for playground near Mass and Cass,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald.
| | MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “Top cannabis regulator suspended after she allegedly made racist remarks, which she denies,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “An outside investigator reported in September that the state’s top cannabis regulator, Shannon O’Brien, made a series of racist and ‘culturally insensitive' remarks, including referring to Asian people as ‘yellow,’ while sowing turmoil within the agency she was appointed to lead — revelations that prompted Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to suspend O’Brien days later, new records show. … O’Brien’s attorneys said none of the accusations against her have ‘any merit.’”
| | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN | | — “Report Card: State Keeping Pace With Climate Goals,” by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (paywall): “On the route to decarbonization, the state is so far on target with its goals, the Healey administration says, but there is more work to be done with the most intense period of rapid decarbonization quickly approaching. Gov. Maura Healey's administration released its first Climate Report Card on Friday, which includes data and assessments on the state's progress on its climate resilience and environmental justice goals.” — “US joins in other nations in swearing off coal power to clean the climate,” by Seth Borenstein, The Associated Press: “U.S. Special Envoy John Kerry announced that America was joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which means the Biden Administration commits to building no new coal plants and phasing out existing plants.”
| | | WARREN REPORT | | | TWO-STATE SOLUTION — Sen. Elizabeth Warren wants to extend the cease-fire that lapsed in Gaza and “start building a foundation” for a two-state solution. But she said on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” that both Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are undermining that goal.
| | THE LOWELL CONNECTOR | | — “‘Step aside,’ Lori Trahan tells Corey Robinson,” by Melanie Gilbert, Lowell Sun: “Rep. Lori Trahan called for City Councilor Corey Robinson to step aside from his council seat, saying his two charges for domestic assault and battery on a household/family member were ‘extremely disturbing’ and the police report details ‘excruciating to read.’”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Man who died from ‘knife wound' outside Kowloon remembered as loving dad,” by Kaitlin McKinley Becker and Michael Rosenfield, NBC10 Boston: “A man is dead after he was found with a knife wound in Kowloon's parking lot in Saugus, Massachusetts, on Saturday night, and his family is speaking out about the 'horrible tragedy.' ... This is just the latest incident to occur at Kowloon, less than two weeks after a brawl at the iconic restaurant on Thanksgiving eve."
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — “Massachusetts ‘mourns’ with family of Pittsfield native who died in Osprey crash, Warren says,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said the entire state ‘mourns’ with the family of a U.S. Air Force member who died in an Osprey crash off the coast of Japan earlier this week. Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher was killed Wednesday during a training mission off the southern coast of Japan.” — “John Walsh: The Operative Who Paved the Way for Obama’s 2008 Win,” by Frank Phillips for POLITICO.
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE | | BOOSTING BIDEN — It was an awkward night for Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) at a New Hampshire Democratic Party dinner on Friday, where he sat and listened to top politician after top politician take the stage to urge activists to write in rival Biden's name on next month’s primary ballot. Longtime Democratic operative Kathy Sullivan is also helping launch a super PAC in the state to encourage voters to write in Biden. The PAC comes in addition to a grassroots effort that launched in late October and has now hired two staffers to help do the same. More from Lisa in Manchester and Holly Otterbein. — “Influential N.H. Dems See Hope for a President Hakeem Jeffries in 2028,” by Trent Spiner, The Messenger.
| | MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND | | — “R.I. Ethics Commission appointee resigns after Globe investigation into sexual harassment complaints,” by Amanda Milkovits and Edward Fitzpatrick, Boston Globe: “Bryant C. Da Cruz, Governor Daniel J. McKee’s new pick for the Rhode Island Ethics Commission, withdrew his name Friday afternoon hours after a Boston Globe investigation detailed sexual harassment complaints made against him by six women.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to State House News Service’s Alison Kuznitz, the Boston Globe’s Jackie Kucinich, Springfield state Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Amanda Keane, Marina McCarthy, Sarah Baron, Jennifer Taub, Maureen Forry-Sorrell and Kevin Towle. 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 | | | | |
