| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | GETTING SCHOOLED — Fresh off its latest victory at the ballot, the Massachusetts Teachers Association is ready to revive some familiar fights on Beacon Hill this session. The state’s largest teachers’ union is eyeing a suite of policy asks and budget items this session — and hoping for a solid slice of the so-called millionaire’s tax revenue to make them happen. The MTA wants to put legislation legalizing teacher strikes back on the table, and it’s pushing proposals that would see school employees covered by the state’s paid family and medical leave law, establish minimum salaries for K-12 teachers, up the funding for mental health services in schools, target wage and staffing struggles at public higher ed institutions — the list goes on. And after successfully muscling through a ballot question ending the use of the MCAS exam as a graduation requirement, the MTA wants the state to make MassCore — the state-recommended outline for high school course requirements — mandatory across the board in Bay State schools while creating a commission to study graduation requirements that would create an “extensive, serious public process,” MTA President Max Page first told Playbook. Their goals this session are all interconnected, Page said, underscored by what he described as the “fiscal crisis” schools are facing. Take teacher strikes. Local unions bargaining for better wages and benefits like those the MTA is pedaling on Beacon Hill have increasingly taken to striking in recent years to coax those policies through negotiations. The MTA has become a more dominant (and to some electeds, a more vexing) powerbroker in recent years, wracking up a series of high-profile victories at the ballot box. Amid a wave of illegal teacher strikes last year, some wondered whether strike legislation — which hasn’t seen much buy-in on Beacon Hill — was also destined for the ballot. MTA leaders say they are focused on legislating first. But don’t be surprised if more strikes pop up over the next few months. ”I think what you're going to see is more educators standing up and speaking out … for living wages, for the right to [paid family and medical leave],” MTA Vice President Deb McCarthy told Playbook. “I do expect to see a more militant public vocalization of fighting for public ed,” she added. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. One of the union’s hopes looks like it’s already been dashed. The MTA wanted to see “a significant portion” of the roughly $1 billion excess millionaires tax revenue go toward education-related deferred maintenance and capital projects, Page said. (The union was one of the biggest driving forces behind the ballot measure that created the surtax, after all). But Gov. Maura Healey announced yesterday plans to use about two-thirds of that money to help plug transportation funding holes. More on the $8 billion transportation finance plan from the Boston Globe and CommonWealth Beacon. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll chairs a Governor’s Council meeting at noon at the State House. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com.
|  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Republicans push for reforms to shelter system,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “Republican lawmakers are calling for an overhaul of the state’s emergency shelter system amid rising costs and revelations the Healey administration didn’t conduct criminal background checks on migrants staying in hotels and other taxpayer-funded housing. The GOP lawmakers rolled out a package of bills Tuesday they hope will be taken up by the Democratic supermajority in the state Legislature, including proposed changes to the state’s right-to-shelter law, limits on shelter stays by migrants, and residency requirements to qualify for emergency housing.” RELATED — “House budget chief wants more info on shelter crimes before advancing Healey’s spending bill,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald. ALSO RELATED — “Shelter leaders say they're responding to incidents to the best of their ability,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “State records show more than 670 serious incidents at Massachusetts’ emergency assistance family shelters in 2024, including allegations of rape and physical assault. … GBH surveyed the over 40 shelter agencies mentioned in the 2,239 pages of reports last year. They were asked how they handle domestic abuse cases and how quickly perpetrators are kicked out of shelter; if there’s a screening involved in the intake process; how many people have been evicted from shelter as a result of the reports, if staff has been concerned for their own safety; and thoughts on the governor’s call to audit all shelters. Five of the providers replied with answers. Four ignored questions and gave short statements. Two forwarded information to the state and referred all questions to the state. Thirty-two didn’t respond at all.” — “‘Anger is justified’: Revere City Councilor wants state to address emergency shelter concerns,” by Ryan Breslin, Boston 25 News. — “Springfield opens new emergency shelter after reaching capacity during freezing weather,” by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican.
| | FROM THE HUB | | FAMILY MATTERS — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was discharged from Brigham & Women’s hospital at 4 p.m. yesterday, a source close to the mayor told Playbook, after giving birth to a daughter, Mira, at 2 p.m. Monday. She was home recovering yesterday evening, and had been in touch with her team at City Hall. Congratulations and well-wishing for Wu and her family poured in from supporters yesterday — and from one potential opponent. “Congratulations to Mayor Wu on the birth of her daughter, and best wishes to her husband and boys as they welcome Mira to the family,” New England Patriots Foundation President Josh Kraft posted on Linkedin. — “Very few women have delivered babies while serving in elected office. Here’s what a few had to say,” by Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe: “In interviews with the Globe, women politicians who have balanced the same challenges hailed [Boston Mayor Michelle] Wu’s example and said they have drawn inspiration and strength from those who did it first. Mom-mayors say their small community keeps in touch via group texts and trade tips at conferences and national conventions.” — “White Stadium project opponent says City of Boston can renovate venue for BPS for ‘fraction of the cost’,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald.
| | WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET | | — “Frustrated AG Reminds Auditor ‘We Have A Process’,” by Alison Kuznitz, State House News Service (paywall): “Attorney General Andrea Campbell divulged Tuesday that she voted for Question 1, as she defended why her office has yet to intervene in Auditor Diana DiZoglio's unsuccessful attempts to audit the Legislature amid the voter law taking effect earlier this month. … DiZoglio, who says she cannot initiate a lawsuit to force the Legislature to comply with her audit, has repeatedly and publicly asked Campbell for her support. Campbell on Tuesday afternoon stressed there's a process her office must follow to determine which state agencies it represents.”
| | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | ZONING OUT — The Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling last week that the MBTA Communities Act is constitutional and enforceable didn’t deter Needham voters from turning out to vote down the zoning plan local officials had crafted to put them in compliance with the controversial law, the Boston Globe’s Andrew Brinker reported last night. Meanwhile, new regulations the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities rolled out yesterday in response to the SJC’s decision are facing their own pushback from lawmakers in some regions seeing the fiercest opposition to the law. State Sen. Bill Driscoll raised concerns about a lack of public process for the new regulations that he suggested ought to be required. “I understood the [SJC’s Jan. 8] decision to mean that new guidelines should be promulgated by HLC via the same public process that all regulations go through, namely the Administrative Procedures Act. The previous MBTA Communities Act guidelines did not, and were therefore deemed unenforceable,” the Milton Democrat said in a statement. “After nearly a year of legal action, and over four years since the MBTA Communities Act was passed, the public process has again been abridged. The previous guidelines were a set of moving goal posts and included provisions and penalties not authorized by the statute. Today's emergency regs are more of the same.” And in the House, Rep. Ken Sweezey, a Pembroke Republican, floated new legislation to repeal the zoning law entirely, saying in a statement that the new guidelines were “not the long-term reprieve that our residents resoundingly want after record setting town meetings.”
| | | DAY IN COURT | | | — “Prosecutors of Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson ask for evidence to be filed under seal,” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald: “Prosecutors are asking to release their evidence in the kickback case of Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson under seal, as the voluminous number of documents are rife with personal identifying information. ‘The government submits and the defendant does not at this time contest, that good cause exists for the following protective order in regard to certain discovery in this case,’ the model language of the order prosecutors submitted Monday evening states.”
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | APP BATTLE — Reps. Jake Auchincloss and Seth Moulton aren’t the only members of the Massachusetts delegation backing a TikTok-related bill. Sen. Ed Markey unveiled the “Extend the TikTok Deadline Act,” a bill that would extend the deadline for ByteDance to sell the app (or see it banned) by 270 days. The social-media savvy senator also went live on the app to break it down for his followers. More from MassLive. — “Why Moulton won't back transgender bill,” by Nicholas Wu, POLITICO: “Rep. Seth Moulton plans to oppose a bill banning transgender athletes from women’s sports, according to a statement provided first to POLITICO. ‘This is not the sort of balanced, fairness-oriented policy I’ve advocated for, and I won’t vote yes on this bill just because it is the first option that comes to the floor,’ he said. The Massachusetts Democrat said there should be ‘reasonable’ restrictions on transgender athletes but said the bill on the floor was ‘too extreme.’” WATCH — “'Let's just stop right there': Warren confronts Hegseth about past remarks,” via MSNBC. LISTEN — “Rep. Pressley is spending MLK Day in Boston and ditching the inauguration,” by Kana Ruhalter and Arun Rath, GBH News.
| | FROM THE 413 | | — “Dozens of Amherst homes snapped up by LLC’s over past 5 years,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Companies, rather than families or individuals, acquired an average of more than 10 single-family homes each year from long-term residents over a recent five-year period, according to information presented to the Amherst Affordable Housing Trust on Thursday.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Man’s quest to make Worcester ’city of joy’ leads to city council run,” by Adam Bass, Masslive: “Dr. Satya Mitra, founder of The Guru Tax and Financial Services in Worcester, announced Monday he is running for city councilor-at-large. Mitra, 73, who lives on Westport Road according to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, announced his candidacy on Radio Worcester, telling host Hank Stolz that he will do his best to help and give back to the city.” — “Methuen councilors choose not to renew city solicitor's contract,” by Teddy Tauscher, The Eagle-Tribune: “Without any deliberation, the City Council voted 6-3 to not reappoint City Solicitor Ken Rossetti Monday night. Rossetti began working as city solicitor on Jan. 1, 2021 during the Neil Perry administration, according to his LinkedIn and had been up for a two-year reappointment at the Special Meeting held Monday night.” — “Consultant calls for firing of Lawrence police chief,” by Jill Harmacinski, The Eagle-Tribune. — “Healey on DOJ investigation of Worcester police: I'm confident in the city,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette.
| | MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND | | LIGHTS, NO CAMERAS, ACTION — “R.I. governor blocks rotunda from protesters, bans TV cameras from State of the State address,” by Steph Machado and Edward Fitzpatrick, The Boston Globe: “Governor Daniel J. McKee’s State of the State address Tuesday night was overshadowed in part by a decision to block the public from the rotunda, where protesters had planned to gather, along with barring television news cameras from the House chamber where he made the speech.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Samantha Joseph, the outgoing director of the USDA’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, is joining the Anti-Defamation League as the director of the organization’s New England region. — Non-profit Thrive Support & Advocacy has hired Nancy Bishop, DeMarr Langford, Claire Jean-Michel, and Patrick Reardon. Guillermo Creamer Jr. was promoted to director of residential services and Tony Smith was promoted to director of community employment and internships. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Rep. Kate Hogan, former Pittsfield city councilor Helen Moon, Omar Sedky and Bruce Schneier. 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 | | | | |
