| | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | CABINET BATTLE — Sen. Elizabeth Warren is doubling down on her efforts to keep Robert F. Kennedy Jr. out of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. After getting grilled last week about the possibility he could benefit financially from lawsuits against drug and vaccine companies, Kennedy, in amended ethics disclosures, said he would pass on his right to receive payment from certain cases to a “non-dependent, adult family member.” But in a letter to Trump’s Health and Human Services nominee Sunday, Warren and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) argued that’s not good enough. “What is clear is that your involvement and financial interests in vaccine litigation are broad and extensive,” Warren and Wyden, both members of the Senate Finance Committee that’s set to vote this week on whether to advance Kennedy’s nomination, wrote in a letter to Kennedy released this morning. “It seems possible that many different types of vaccine-related decisions and communications —which you would be empowered to make and influence as secretary — could result in significant financial compensation for your family,” they added. Warren and Wyden are calling on Kennedy to pledge to recuse himself from “all vaccine-related communications and decisions,” as well as matters before the department that he or his family have a financial interest in. And they want Kennedy to commit to waiting at least four years after he leaves HHS before getting involved in vaccine-related litigation. Kennedy doesn’t need Democratic support to make it through the confirmation process. But some Republicans wary of his history of vaccine skepticism could keep him from taking control of the department that’s tasked with regulating them. And Warren and Wyden’s pressure campaign could slow the process down — just what some Democratic governor's told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer they want to see. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It may be slightly warmer this week, but don't stash the winter coat away just yet: Ms. G says we’re in for six more weeks of winter. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey signs an executive order creating a poet laureate for the state at 10 a.m. and attends a Black History Month flag raising at 11 a.m. alongside Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and other state officials at the State House. Healey and Driscoll meet with legislative leaders at 2 p.m. in the Speaker’s Office. Driscoll speaks at Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s State of the City address at 8 p.m. at Newton City Hall. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announces a plan to file an ordinance addressing street safety and third-party app food deliveries at 10:30 a.m. and speaks at the city’s Black History Month flag raising at noon at City Hall. 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 | | — “Tariffs on Massachusetts’ three largest trading partners will leave residents facing price hikes, Healey tells Herald,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts does not have the means to provide relief to taxpayers and businesses who will likely face increased costs as a result of 25 percent tariffs on goods entering the United States from Canada and Mexico that are expected to take hold Saturday, Gov. Maura Healey said in an interview. The prospect of a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico and a separate 10 percent on products from China rattled Beacon Hill and businesses executives Friday, who argued tariffs on the state’s three largest trading partners would upend the prices of a wide swath of key products in the state.” MORE TRADE TALK — “As new tariffs set to be imposed, New England residents will see increased costs on gas, food, experts say,” by Todd Kazakiewich, WCVB. — “Massachusetts Senate president says state auditor is acting like President Trump,” by Jon Keller, CBS Boston: “Members of a Senate subcommittee are scheduled to meet with the [state Auditor Diana DiZoglio] this week to discuss the situation, a meeting DiZoglio characterized last week as a reiteration of ‘their rationale for breaking the law.’ In response to that remark, Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) pushed back hard during an interview on the weekend edition of ‘Keller At Large,’ drawing a comparison between DiZoglio’s moves and the Trump administration’s recent efforts to override Congressional appropriations.” DiZoglio called the effort to tie her to Trump “insulting to the electorate, to try and gaslight and manipulate them in this fear-mongering way,” via text last night. “The voters are much smarter than how legislators are treating them,” she said. — “Maura Healey wants to let Massachusetts cities, towns hike taxes on meals, hotel stays,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Gov. Maura Healey filed legislation Friday that would allow cities and towns to hike taxes on hotel stays and meals, an option the first-term Democrat argued is necessary to help municipalities ‘facing long-term fiscal pressures’ raise more money. In a filing letter sent Friday, Healey said giving locals the ability to raise taxes on hotels and meals and put in place an up to 5% surcharge on motor vehicle excise bills will let elected officials ‘avoid raising property taxes’ on residents who are struggling with high housing costs.” — “Healey slammed for looking at children’s rehab hospital as a ‘budget problem’,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “Staffers at Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children are calling on Maura Healey to visit their Canton facility after the governor vowed to reconsider her closure plan in the face of fierce backlash. … Healey has paused closing the multifaceted facility and moving the essential services for those with severe disabilities to Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield, over 100 miles away. She proposed the closure to save costs in the next fiscal year’s budget. Staffers, though, want full assurance that Pappas will not be shuttered and that their patients will not be displaced. A visit from the governor, they say, could carry that magnitude.” RELATED — “Gov. Healey to revisit plan to close Canton children’s rehab, congressman says,” by Christine McCarthy, Boston 25 News. — “How a $2.5 billion error could be an opportunity to fix the state’s ailing unemployment system,” by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe. — “Rep. Sabadosa, other pols again co-sponsor ‘Medicare for All’ bill,” by Alexa Lewis, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “During the last election cycle, voters in nearly a dozen legislative districts — including the district that includes all of Southampton — voted in favor of a nonbinding ballot question instructing their state representative to support a single-payer health care system in the state. Riding the wave of this most recent success, state legislators Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Reps. Lindsay Sabadosa and Margaret Scarsdale have refiled legislation to establish ‘Medicare for All’ in Massachusetts.”
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Some like it hot: Warmer winters mean more rats in Boston,” by Barbara Moran, WBUR: “Boston’s booming rat population is likely linked to the warming climate, according to a new study that looked at rat population trends in 16 cities around the globe. The study found more rats corresponded to a rise in temperatures, especially in winter. Of the 16 cities — which were chosen for their good record-keeping rather than any inherent rattiness — 11 had ‘significant’ increases in rat numbers over about a decade, including Washington D.C., New York City and Boston.”
| | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL | | — “Who is Josh Kraft, the nonprofit leader and son of the Patriots dynasty, challenging Michelle Wu for mayor?,” by Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe. CITY HALL CALLS — Somerville’s mayoral race is starting to get crowded. Somerville City Councilor Willie Burnley Jr. has launched his campaign for mayor, joining a field that already includes incumbent Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and fellow City Councilor Jake Wilson. “I feel very strongly that the city needs to be moving more urgently to deliver on its promise to residents, whether that is affordable and accessible housing, whether that is an unarmed alternative emergency response program … whether that is supporting our students and educators by building sustainable and safe schools,” Burnley told Playbook in an interview Sunday evening. Like most municipal candidates, Burnley says he’s focused on the nuts-and-bolts issues facing Somerville voters, public safety and housing in particular. Burnley is the only renter in the race, he told Playbook — notable in a city where about two-thirds of residents are renters themselves — and he’s one of a handful of local electeds working on pushing a statewide law that would pass the cost of brokers to who ever hired them (most of the time in Massachusetts it's the landlord). The mayoral races this cycle will also be one of the earliest chances to get a sense of where Massachusetts voters are roughly one year into Trump’s return to the White House.
| | PARTY POLITICS | | — “‘We can stop this guy.’ Democrats still mapping strategy to Trump response amid early onslaught,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “U.S. Representative Jim McGovern said he returned from a trip to India last spring with a special token: a string of brown prayer beads gifted to him by the Dalai Lama himself. With President Trump back in the White House, the beads are now wrapped around his left wrist, and are intended, McGovern said during a news conference last week, to help him manage his ‘fear and my concerns and my anxiety.’ ‘They’re not working,’ the Worcester Democrat deadpanned. The first 10 days of Trump’s second term have tested Democrats' mettle, political strategy, and, apparently, mental well-being, raising uncomfortable questions about how — and even when — they respond to what’s been a torrent of executive actions designed to upend Washington.”
| | WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET | | — “Mass. AG Campbell claims win after another federal judge puts brakes on Trump funding freeze,” by John L. Micek, MassLive: “Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell is claiming victory after a second federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to cut off funding for grants and other programs. On Friday, a U.S. District judge in Rhode Island granted a request by Campbell and Democratic attorneys in 22 states, by issuing a temporary restraining order.”
| | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — “South Coast Rail nearing final testing phase,” by Grace Ferguson, The New Bedford Light: “South Coast Rail is getting ready to clear its final hurdle before passenger service can begin. Last week, the MBTA asked the Federal Railroad Administration for permission to begin the final testing stage, known as ‘simulated service.’ That means the agency will run trains at full speed, stopping and opening the doors at each station. When federal regulators are satisfied, trains can finally start carrying passengers along the route. The new commuter rail extension is still on track to open this spring, an MBTA spokesperson said on Friday.”
| | TRUMPACHUSETTS | | — “Mass. clinics still provide trans care for kids. The future is uncertain,” by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: “Hospitals and clinics that treat transgender and nonbinary youth in Massachusetts said that care will continue while they review a funding ban signed by President Trump. The order, issued Tuesday, seeks to stop medical facilities that accept federal grants and payments from providing gender-affirming care for children ages 18 and younger. The types of treatment referenced in the directive include medications that delay puberty, hormones and surgeries.” — “UMass launches federal actions webpage to inform community of Trump administration actions,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A briefly considered White House federal funding freeze order and other possible changes in how federal money is disbursed, including for grants related to diversity, equity and inclusion projects, is prompting University of Massachusetts leaders to keep researchers regularly updated about possible funding shortfalls and disruptions to their ongoing work.”
| | MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “The state has eliminated cannabis ‘impact fees.’ But many Mass. towns are still charging them,” by Diti Kohli, The Boston Globe: “Almost three years ago, state lawmakers decided to end ‘community impact fees’ on cannabis businesses. The charge of up to 3 percent of sales collected by cities and towns was intended to address the side effects some feared would follow new dispensaries and grow facilities, such as traffic congestion, crime, and rampant substance abuse. When those impacts did not arise, policymakers ruled that the fees were unnecessary and instead required towns to provide a breakdown of how the money would be spent before businesses have to pay up. But the reforms have changed little: Dozens of communities across Massachusetts are still demanding impact fees from marijuana companies amounting to thousands of dollars each year, while others refuse to return the funds they’ve already collected — at least $50 million in all since 2018.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Maximos Nikitas is now a litigation associate at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough's Boston office. He was a judicial clerk on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. — Marty Martinez will be the new CEO of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay. He now serves as the CEO of Reach Out and Read and was previously chief of health and human services for the city of Boston under former Mayor Marty Walsh. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Matt Rhoades, co-CEO of CGCN Group; Justine Turner, an Elizabeth Warren 2020 alum; Fred Hochberg, Billy Shore and Haley Ryger. Happy belated to Katelyn Billings of state Sen. Jo Comerford’s office, who celebrated Saturday. 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.
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