| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | Presented by Mass General Brigham | MONEY ISN’T EVERYTHING — Cash wasn’t always king when it came to getting priorities passed on Beacon Hill this session. Case in point: The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council spent the most money on lobbying lawmakers in both 2023 and the first half of 2024 — $696,055 and $348,067, respectively. Yet the billion-dollar economic development bill that could’ve authorized hundreds of millions in borrowing for a life sciences initiative backed by MassBio didn’t become law before legislators reached their deadline last month. That’s one of the findings from a new analysis from Legislata, a productivity software for politicians, and its founder and CEO Chris Oates, who dug through the disclosure forms lobbyists are required to file with the state. The report, shared first with Playbook, used the info to create a database of lobbying details from the most recent session – including top spending clients, who lobbyists donated to, what legislation they were working on and which lawmakers brought in big bucks. MassBio wasn’t the only organization that spent big for less-than-desired outcomes. The Massachusetts Municipal Association spent the third most in 2023 at $425,315 and the fifth most in the first half of 2024 at $197,766, according to the database. But some pieces of legislation that municipalities wanted to see pass, such as a local-option tax on high-dollar real estate transactions, got cut before making it to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk. And lawmakers never reached an agreement on another, Healey’s so-called Municipal Empowerment Act. It’s food for thought for the Beacon Hill movers and shakers used to being able to grease the wheels on bills stuck in committee (or kill legislation they don’t want to see the light of day) in part by paying to play. Oates also tallied the top recipients of lobbyist donations this session. Senate President Karen Spilka pulled in the most – unsurprisingly, given her leadership role. But House Speaker Ron Mariano was ninth on the list. The top House lawmaker lobbyists donated to? That was the chamber’s Ways and Means chief and Mariano’s likely successor, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz. He was just behind Spilka, taking in $37,850 to her $42,050. But the paychecks available on the other side of the table are even more eye-catching — and may make it more challenging to keep experienced lawmakers and long-time staffers from leaving their public service jobs for a better payday. According to the data, there are “about 75 people who in 2023 earned more from lobbying contracts than any member of state government, including the House and Senate leadership and the governor,” Oates wrote in the analysis. “How long can we expect talented people to stay in a tough job, with perhaps a difficult commute, when every day they see people walking around the State House who used to be in their shoes and are now in a higher tax bracket?” GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It was good while it lasted, Pats fans (and maybe it would’ve if not for a certain pass interference call). Commiserate: kgarrity@politico.com TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey has no public events. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll chairs a meeting of the Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs at 1 p.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston City Council President President Ruthzee Louijeune, Councilor Sharon Durkan and other members of the Boston City Council attend an event with the Boston Housing Authority to announce $7 million in ARPA funding for affordable housing initiatives. Sen. Elizabeth Warren tours a Head Start school and leads a roundtable discussion with parents at 9:30 a.m. in Malden. Rep. Jake Auchincloss speaks at a New England Council at 8:30 a.m. in Boston. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio visits the Big E for West Springfield Day at noon and attends the WooSox “Police vs. Fire Baseball Classic” at 5 p.m. in Worcester.
| | | | A message from Mass General Brigham: At Mass General Brigham, we harness the collective strength of our healthcare system to provide research-driven cancer care for the patients and communities we serve. Mass General Brigham is number one in hospital medical research. We perform the most cancer surgeries and have the most cancer specialists in New England. We have the region’s only proton therapy center and provide access to more than 1,000 clinical trials annually. We’re one against cancer. Learn more. | | | |  | TRUMPACHUSETTS | | WHAT WE KNOW NOW — Federal authorities are investigating an what they're calling an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump after Secret Service agents “opened fire on a gunman located near the property line” at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, where Trump was playing Sunday evening. The suspected gunman was taken into custody, and Trump is safe. But Republicans are outraged over what appears to be the second attempt to kill the former president ahead of November’s election. In Massachusetts, the head of the state’s Republican party called for the nation to “unite and unequivocally condemn political violence in all its forms.” “Our thoughts and prayers are with President Trump and his family. We cannot allow political discourse to spiral into violence—this is not the legacy we want to leave for our children,” MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale said in a statement. Here’s what else to know: — “Suspected gunman at Trump golf course has quixotic past,” by David Nakamura, Aaron Schaffer, Cat Zakrzewski and Devlin Barrett, The Washington Post. — “The Leader of Congress’ Investigation Into July’s Trump Assassination Attempt Has Questions About What Happened Sunday,” by Oriana González, NOTUS. — “Harris ‘deeply disturbed’ by possible assassination attempt: ‘I condemn political violence,’” by Myah Ward, POLITICO.
| | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Lawmakers approve $20M for victims services,” by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: “Lawmakers have thrown a financial lifeline to more than 100 Massachusetts groups that provide services to victims of crime by approving funding to bridge gaps in federal support for the programs. A supplemental budget approved by the state Legislature on Thursday and headed for Gov. Maura Healey’s desk includes $20 million for the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, which supports organizations that work with victims of homicide, rape, domestic violence, elder abuse and other crimes.”
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Boston Mayor Wu rescinds Summer Street bus lane that wasn’t working ‘as intended’ in bustling Seaport,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Wu administration plans to remove a bus lane on Summer Street that runs through South Boston, citing data from a six-month pilot that showed it wasn’t working as intended, largely because cars were illegally using it more than buses. The City of Boston Streets cabinet released a report Friday outlining the decision, as part of an analysis of the ‘Summer Street Bus/Truck Lane Pilot program,’ launched in December 2023 as a way for the city and MBTA to test potential changes and reconfigurations to Summer Street, which officials say ‘cannot support the Seaport’s continued economic growth and vitality,’ as it exists today.” — “Boston City Council ‘chaos’, lack of support from Mayor Wu prompted Suffolk SJC clerk bid, Erin Murphy says,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald.
| | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL | | ABOUT THAT FUNDRAISER — Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn’s upcoming fundraiser has generated some buzz among those hoping to see him wade into the mayoral race — but he isn’t expected to make any campaign announcement during the reception Tuesday, according to a person familiar with his plans. And Flynn, in a statement, noted that fundraising “is part of running for public office.” “I’m fortunate that residents throughout Boston and Massachusetts support me and the leadership I’m providing throughout the city,” he said.
| | | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | | — “Driving toward a dream: Study groups help immigrants prepare for driver’s license exam,” by Gerardo Beltran Salinas, The New Bedford Light.
| | PRESIDENTIAL PURSUIT | | SURROGATE ALERT — Gov. Maura Healey was back on the national Sunday show circuit over the weekend, this time joining ABC’s “This Week” to do some post-debate spin for Vice President Kamala Harris with the network who hosted Harris and Trump’s showdown last week. Healey highlighted Harris’ stance on abortion, and the vice president’s “underdog” status in the race. She also caught the attention of the Trump campaign after deflecting a question about a false claim Harris made when she said that there are no military members in an active combat zone. MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTIONS — CNN’s Edward-Isaac Dovere is out with a piece on the women Harris has mentored — including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who talked about her lasting relationship with the vice president for the piece. Harris “wants us to understand the reality of what it means to be a Black woman running for higher office, that there are significant challenges: It’s much harder to fundraise. It can be more challenging to break through, including in the media, to cover your race or to cover your story with the thoughtfulness maybe it deserves,” Campbell told CNN. Harris was also “on a running text thread’ with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, per Dovere.
| | | | A message from Mass General Brigham:   | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — “How much does shuttle service cost the T during shutdowns for track repairs? (Hint: Big $$$),” by Shannon Larson, The Boston Globe: “Since the agency began working to eliminate slow zones systemwide last year, alternative bus service has been a main way for riders to get around. ... How much money could the T be on the hook for with all those shuttle bus companies? The total value of all contracts could reach $193.5 million, if it utilizes all possible buses, according to the T. So far, the T has paid out more than $50 million with more bills coming.” — “Western Mass. officials show support for proposed Northern Tier Rail,” by Chris Larabee, Greenfield Recorder.
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS | | — “Cohasset Democrat ‘exploring’ bid for Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey’s job,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “A Democrat from Cohasset is ‘exploring’ a run for Norfolk County district attorney, an elected position that has faced intense scrutiny over the past year for the prosecution of Karen Read and the investigation into Sandra Birchmore’s death. Craig MacLellan, a former prosecutor in Suffolk County and practicing defense attorney, filed paperwork Thursday to mount a bid for Norfolk County district attorney, a race that is not on the ballot until 2026 and has been held by Michael Morrissey since 2011.”
| | BALLOT BATTLES | | — “The money behind the effort to crack open Beacon Hill’s books,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “The ballot question committee spearheaded by [state Auditor Diana] DiZoglio, a first-term Democrat and former state lawmaker, raised more than $87,700 and spent nearly $123,000 since January, according to state campaign finance filings updated earlier this month. The majority of funding came from a single $50,000 donation made in March by the EAB Business Trust, an organization that has the same address as Subaru of New England, the automobile dealership run by politically active billionaire Ernie Boch Jr.”
| | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN | | — “‘PFAS is everywhere’: A Mass. class action lawsuit may set a new standard for damages,” by Adam Piore, The Boston Globe. — “Healey, Lamont eyeing possible nuclear/wind deal,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “Govs. Maura Healey of Massachusetts and Ned Lamont of Connecticut are considering a major energy deal, with Healey signaling that she might agree to purchase power from the Millstone nuclear power plant in Connecticut if in return Connecticut buys a chunk of the output of the proposed Vineyard Wind 2 wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.”
| | FROM THE 413 | | — “Amherst councilors debate expanded nuisance property bylaw,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “In a college town where loud and often large gatherings can be a regular occurrence, levying fines is an enforcement mechanism for restoring tranquility to a neighborhood, with arrests also possible for those violating Amherst’s noise and nuisance house bylaws. As part of an effort to give police officers and code enforcement officials more flexibility in their responses, a nuisance property bylaw, to replace the existing nuisance house bylaw, is nearing adoption by the Town Council, with a second reading and possible vote at the council’s Oct. 7 meeting.” — “With just 49 towns in state still using hand-counted ballots, Whately seeks electronic tabulator,” by Chris Larabee, Daily Hampshire Gazette.
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Doesn’t matter if you’re rich, poor, or in between, if you live in Cambridge pre-k is now free,” by Spencer Buell and Christopher Huffaker, The Boston Globe. — “Worcester Chamber of Commerce chief seeks answers from state on $ for WPI bid for hotels,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette. — “Donations pour in for demonstrator accused of shooting man during a violent clash at a pro-Israel rally in Newton,” by Laura Crimaldi, Deanna Pan and Natalie La Roche Pietri, The Boston Globe.
| | WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING | | — “Empty churches hold potential for housing opportunities. But first, you've got to get past the zoning laws,” by Claire O'Callahan, The Berkshire Eagle. — “State troopers have a new tactic against fleeing vehicles — shooting GPS tracking tags,” by Emily Sweeney, The Boston Globe.
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Zachary Calderon and Segun Idowu, Boston’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion
| | | | A message from Mass General Brigham: At Mass General Brigham, we harness the collective strength of our healthcare system to provide research-driven cancer care for the patients and communities we serve. Mass General Brigham is number one in hospital medical research. We perform the most cancer surgeries and have the most cancer specialists in New England. We have the region’s only proton therapy center and provide access to more than 1,000 clinical trials annually.
The vision for Mass General Brigham is to build a world-class center of cancer care, with the patients at the center of everything we do. New collaborations, new treatments, and innovative approaches. Leading to new hope and possibilities. At Mass General Brigham, we’re one against cancer. Learn more. | | | 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 | | | | |
