RECONCILIATION RECKONING — Congressional Democrats are still figuring out exactly how to push back against Donald Trump’s agenda, but the upcoming budget debate could give them an opening.
Congressional Republicans got the budget conversation startedin both chambers last week, setting the stage for debate over what they hope will allow them to quickly pass Trump’s key priorities through the budget reconciliation process. But Sen. Ed Markey sees a chance to put the GOP rank-and-file on the record backing controversial cost-cutting measures.
“You'll see on the floor of the Senate in this coming week, amendment after amendment to put Republican House and Senate members on record. … They have to decide, are they with Trump? Or are they with the health care, the education, the environmental programs [and] the rights of protection of every family in our country?” Markey said at a press conference he convened Monday to talk about
One move Democrats have been debating: using the threat of a government shutdown to their (possible) advantage. Some on the left want to use whatever tools Democrats have to stymie Republicans' efforts to slash the federal workforce and funding for things like Medicaid.
The challenge: making sure voters blame the majority, not the Democratic minority that in the past has helped push through continuing resolutions to keep the federal government functioning normally.
Markey didn’t say whether he believes Democrats should wield the threat of a shutdown as a political cudgel. But he did give a preview of what their message could look like.
“Ultimately, the Republicans are heading towards a shutdown of the government initiated by themselves,” Markey said. “They are headed towards shutting down the government because they are acting in an unconstitutional way … towards the goal of dismantling the federal government as we know it.”
There’s still a ways to go before the government grinds to a halt. The temporary spending bill Congress passed late last year isn’t set to expire until mid-March.
GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Stay warm and try not to blow away today!
TODAY — U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts a roundtable at the Merrimack Valley Food Bank about potential losses in federal funding for programs at 10:30 a.m. in Lowell. Rep. Jim McGovern visits veterans at 11 a.m. in Leominster. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends an Age Strong Resource Fair at 12:45 p.m. in Roxbury and visits Blue Mountain Jamaican Restaurant at 5:15 p.m. in Mattapan.
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IN MEMORIAM
'A FIERCE ADVOCATE' — Taunton state Rep. Carol Doherty died Saturday, her office announced on Facebook, after “a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.” She was 82.
Doherty, a former teacher who had served as president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, won her seat representing parts of Taunton and Easton in a 2020 special election to replace Shaunna O’Connell, who vacated the seat to become Taunton’s mayor.
Tributes to Doherty poured out over the weekend. House Speaker Ron Mariano described her as "kind, passionate, and a fierce advocate for the residents of Taunton and Easton" in the State House.
"She dedicated her life to helping the children of Massachusetts learn, grow and succeed – as a teacher, guidance counselor, President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, school committee member and State Representative," Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. "Her empathy and dedication to children and families are an inspiration for all of us in public service." More from the Taunton Daily Gazette.
DATELINE BEACON HILL
— “‘We don’t want people to panic unnecessarily’: Massachusetts’ top health official braces for changes under Trump,” by Jason Laughlin, The Boston Globe: “In her first interview since Donald Trump took office, Massachusetts' top health official said the state is holding firm in response to a flurry of federal activity that could affect medical and social services for millions of people but is prepared for the possibility of hard fights ahead. Kate Walsh, secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and one of Governor Maura Healey’s most influential cabinet members, oversees more than half the state’s budget, ranging from public health to Medicaid administration to senior affairs. She described the Trump administration’s executive orders to curtail funding for states, at least so far, as more bark than bite. She acknowledged concern, though, that some federal changes could hit Massachusetts hard.”
— “Healey’s budget plan resurrects decades-old excise tax on prescription drugs,” by Matthew Medsgar, Boston Herald: “Tucked into an outside section of her fiscal 2026 spending plan is a proposal by Gov. Maura Healey to reinstitute a long-dormant tax on prescription drugs. Written into the budget as Section 78 is a plan to reestablish a ‘pharmacy assessment’ on all prescription drugs sold in the Bay State. The assessment would see pharmacies charged 6% per prescription or $2 per, whichever is less.”
— “The plans by Massachusetts for the Revolution’s 250th anniversary are being questioned,” by Brian MacQuarrie, The Boston Globe: “Massachusetts proudly calls itself the birthplace of the American Revolution, but critics say the state’s plans for its 250th anniversary might be too little, too late for a celebration that begins in only two months at the Lexington and Concord battlefields. Less than $2 million in local grants for the 250th has been awarded so far in Massachusetts for this once-in-a-generation commemoration, and a mix of historians, lawmakers, and nonprofit officials are concerned that Massachusetts has fallen behind compared with other key Revolutionary states in its grass-roots programming.”
— “Rep. Leigh Davis proposes a new law to close the state's age-of-consent loophole after new allegations at Miss Hall’s School,” by Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle: “A proposed law to protect children from sexual abuse regardless of the state's age of consent is gaining support in the wake of new details of sexual misconduct by a former Miss Hall’s School teacher. State Rep. Leigh Davis, D-Great Barrington, filed a bill on Jan. 15 to ‘stop sexual assaults by adults in positions of authority and trust in Massachusetts.’ Davis' bill would make it a crime for people like teachers, coaches and babysitters to have sex with children in their care — even if they are 16, which is the state’s age of consent.”
— “Amid rising energy bills, senators ask Mass. regulators to revisit natural gas rates,” by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe: “A group of 22 Massachusetts state senators has sent a letter to the state’s Department of Public Utilities, urging regulators to revisit already-approved natural gas rates after constituents reported sticker shock when opening their recent utility bills. … On Sunday, the DPU confirmed it’s engaging in high-level talks with each of the state’s natural gas utilities — a group that includes Eversource’s two territories, the former NStar Gas area and the former Columbia Gas customers — to explore how to revise the delivery charge on their bills to minimize further price volatility for customers.”
FROM THE HUB
— “Boston Police Commissioner confident federal support won’t be ‘undone’ despite sanctuary status,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “Despite the Department of Justice’s freeze on funding to sanctuary cities, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox says he doesn’t know why his department’s ties with federal law enforcement partners would be ‘undone.’ Attorney General Pam Bondi froze funding to ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ on her first day in charge earlier this month, advising cities and towns ‘should not receive access to federal grants’ if they have limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.”
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
— “Massport's rideshare fee hike faces pushback,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “The Massachusetts Port Authority is seeking hefty fee increases for rideshare vehicle trips to Logan Airport and new charges for cruise ship passengers to generate more revenue for upgrades, but the move faces pushback from critics who say it adds to the state's affordability crisis. Massport's board of directors is set to consider a plan next month that would increase the $3.25 fee charged to rideshare apps for pickups and drop-offs at Logan to $5.50 in July, and to $7.50 in July 2027.”
DAY IN COURT
— “Groups sue state over firearm age restrictions,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “A coalition of gun rights groups are suing Massachusetts over a ban on the sale of handguns and semi-automatic firearms to anyone age 18 to 20, arguing that the state’s restrictions are unconstitutional in the wake of recent federal court rulings. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Boston on Friday, alleges that the state’s age restrictions violate the Second Amendment and are ‘inconsistent’ with the nation’s history of firearm regulation. They are asking a judge to declare that the restrictions on 18- to 20-year-olds unconstitutional and prohibit the state from enforcing them.”
EYES EMOJI — Rep. Jake Auchincloss is a “Democrat who is thinking differently,” per The New York Times’s Ezra Klein. The Newton Democrat joined “The Ezra Klein Show” to talk his “Diet Coke” theory of the Democratic Party, the “Kamala is for they/them” ad and more.
TRUMPACHUSETTS
— “Officials plan to close Town Hall during discussion of W. Boylston Trump flag controversy,” by Craig S. Semon, Telegram & Gazette: “The Board of Selectmen plans to close Town Hall during an executive session Tuesday night in which it will discuss a dispute between Police Chief Dennis W. Minnich Sr. and newly appointed Town Administrator James Ryan that arose from the hanging of a Trump flag in a nonpublic area of the police station. The board will also not be taking public comments, according to an unsigned statement sent by the town Monday afternoon.”
— “‘No kings on Presidents Day’ rings out from protests against Trump and Musk,” by Michael Casey, The Associated Press: “Protesters against President Donald Trump and his policies braved frigid temperatures in parts of the U.S. Monday, shouting 'No kings on Presidents Day' in East Coast cities and attempting to enter the Arizona Statehouse to oppose a bill that would bolster fast-changing federal immigration enforcement. In Florida and California, local media outlets reported on hundreds of protesters carrying out 'Not my Presidents Day' protests. The 'No Kings' theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, and marked the second set of protests criss-crossing the nation in less than two weeks.”
— “500 attend McGovern coffee hour to share outrage with Trump administration and the Democratic Party alike,” by Samuel Gelinas, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “It wasn’t the coffee that had the people inside the First Churches of Northampton energetic and on edge Saturday morning. Some 500 crowded into the church shoulder to shoulder, mutually distressed about the state of national politics — and they voiced those concerns in a coffee hour town hall with U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern that lasted close to two hours."
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former state Auditor Suzanne Bump, Ross Levanto, the Boston Herald’s Rick Sobey and Joe Caiazzo of the JCN Group.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY — to Monday birthday-ers former state Treasurer Steve Grossman and Andrew Bilski.
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