News: Running up that hill

Monday, July 25, 2022

Running up that hill

Jul 25, 2022

CRUNCH TIME — It's the last week of formal sessions on Beacon Hill, and that means lawmakers are racing to make deals on a host of major bills. Here's a guide to what's advancing — and what's not — with at least eight conference committees still negotiating with just seven days left:

— GREEN LIGHT: Gov. Charlie Baker signed off on making Negro Election Day a state holiday on Friday, as well as a bill designating "Gronk Playground" on the Esplanade. Baker has until Thursday to act on a bill to curb discrimination of people with natural hairstyles , a Friday deadline for the fiscal 2023 budget and a Sunday deadline for the climate bill lawmakers rushed through their chambers last week.

Tax relief, a priority of the governor's, is poised to reach his desk as soon as negotiators hammer out their differences — including a pretty big one over when the tax changes should take effect. The Senate's up next in the race to tighten the state's gun laws after the Supreme Court decision expanding gun rights.

— YELLOW LIGHT: Top officials are hedging their bets on sports wagering, with House Speaker Ron Mariano telling reporters last week that the chambers are "far apart" in their negotiations and that he's unsure whether they'll reach an agreement. Collegiate sports betting remains a sticking point between the House, which authorized it, and the Senate, which didn't. Other differences between the bills include tax rates and the Senate ban on sports betting ads during live broadcasts.

Negotiations are also ongoing over bills to expand mental health access and veterans benefits, overhaul oversight of state-run soldiers' homes and reform the state's cannabis rules. The chambers disagree over how best to expand access to abortion amid the possibility of a gubernatorial veto. And senators suddenly looking to put happy hours back on the menu have mere days to convince their House counterparts to opt in to their local-option plan.

— RED LIGHT: The third time wasn't the charm for Baker's bill to reform the state's criminal dangerousness statute. Lawmakers sent it to study on Friday, effectively killing one of the governor's biggest legislative priorities. But they've also cleared the way for Baker to exact his revenge through vetoes or amendments on other matters: the governor's 10-day window to review bills sent to his desk now extends past when formal sessions end, leaving lawmakers with little recourse .

And Baker's not letting this one go quietly. The governor, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and survivors will gather at the State House library at 2:30 p.m. to have their say over the now-moribund dangerousness bill.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Still emotional from Big Papi's hall of fame speech ? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

TODAY — Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark promotes Summer Eats at 10:30 a.m. in Malden. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) for a tour of Minute Man Historical National Park at 3:15 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins striking Starbucks workers at 9:30 a.m. at 874 Commonwealth Ave., appears on WBUR's "Radio Boston" at 11 a.m. and welcomes baseball hall-of-famer David Ortiz at 4:30 p.m. in the Seaport.

LG candidate state Sen. Eric Lesser announces endorsements of Rep. Richard Neal and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno at 9:30 a.m. outside of Springfield's Union Station. GOP governor hopeful Chris Doughty is on WATD at 6:20 p.m. Suffolk DA candidates participate in an Eastie Dems forum at 6:30 p.m.

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today .

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

— PALFREY'S CLIMATE PLAN: Quentin Palfrey is rolling out a climate plan today that aims to push the boundaries of what the attorney general's office can do to combat climate change.

Palfrey would issue a memo on his first day in office requiring each unit in the AG's office to develop a plan for how its work "will contribute to fighting the climate crisis." He's also calling to more strictly enforce environmental laws against polluters, continue advocacy for environmental justice communities and strengthen oversight of the Department of Public Utilities, which he says is "too cozy with the industry that it regulates."

Some elements of Palfrey's proposal would seem to fall under the Legislature's purview: investing more in renewable energy and making public transportation fare-free among them.

But the attorney general hopeful told Playbook that "this is an area where we need to push and where we need to use every available lever to the [AG's] office, including the explicit powers that we have, but also the platform that we have as a major voice in tackling this crisis."

Climate activists are split in the AG race. Palfrey's climate plan comes on the heels of endorsements from 350 Mass Action and the Massachusetts chapter of the Sierra Club. But Green New Deal co-author Sen. Ed Markey and the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund are with Andrea Campbell.

— WATCH: Lieutenant governor hopeful and state Rep. Tami Gouveia said on WBZ's "Keller @ Large" that the super PAC with Republican ties that's backing her rival Kim Driscoll "does not reflect the values of those of us here in the state of Massachusetts" and called on the Salem mayor to "disavow" the super PAC. Candidates and super PACs can't coordinate.

— LOOK: No, a sharknado isn't hitting the State House. But GOP gubernatorial hopeful Chris Doughty is using sharks to drive home his messaging on "Bacon" Hill's approach to taxes this fine "Shark Week."

— "DAs race focuses on judicial experience," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Two Democrats are running to succeed outgoing Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett in a wide-open race that focuses on which candidate has more experience working with law enforcement and the court system. Paul Tucker, of Salem, threw his hat in the ring in January — only a few hours after Blodgett announced he wouldn't be seeking another four-year term. His rival, James O'Shea, is a Middleton attorney making his first run for elected office with a bid for the DA's post."

— "'I was called to be the DA': Teenage wish propelled Kevin Hayden to attain dream job," by Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: "Kevin Hayden was seeking to fulfill a dream when he dusted off his resume last year and wrote to Governor Charlie Baker asking to be considered as the interim district attorney for Suffolk County. Same thing 25 years ago, when Hayden was fresh out of law school and looking for his first job. The only resume he submitted was to the Suffolk District Attorney's Office. He got the job both times, realizing a Black Newton teenager's wish to become a prosecutor who could create change near home through intervention, prevention, and community collaboration."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "Sexual assault, domestic violence survivor bill sent for study by Massachusetts lawmakers, dooming its passage this session," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "Beacon Hill lawmakers on Friday sent a signature bill from Gov. Charlie Baker to study, effectively dashing hope of expanding protections for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence this legislative session. Baker highlighted the bill during his State of the Commonwealth address in January, vowing to rectify state government failures that have left victims and their family members vulnerable to ongoing safety threats and trauma. The governor, joined by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, has often shed tears during roundtable discussions throughout the year meant to underscore the import of the law and persuade lawmakers to seriously consider his proposal in his last months of office."

— "The return of happy hour in Mass.? State Senate gives green light; restaurateurs have their doubts," by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: "The state Senate passed a bill that would reverse the ban on happy hour drink promotions, approving late Thursday night language to give municipalities the option to let restaurants serve up discounted drinks, such as two-for-the price-of-one beers, or half off shots between 4 and 6 p.m. A repeal of the prohibition would represent a major change for the state's hospitality industry, which is still struggling amid pandemic-related losses, labor shortages, and inflated food prices. And some restaurateurs reacted to the idea with apprehension. But the return of happy hour could spark a positive shift in the state's drinking culture, which state Senator Julian Cyr, who sponsored the measure, characterized as 'puritanical.'"

— "Judiciary seeks to join modern era with $164m bond bill," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Many courthouses do not have wi-fi, even for employees who move between their desks and a courtroom. Judges work from paper case files, so motions must be printed and brought to court. With the House passage Thursday of a $164 million bond bill for information technology at the judiciary, there is finally a glimmer of hope that the courts may join the 21st century."

FROM THE HUB

— "White supremacist group protests drag queen book reading in Jamaica Plain, condemned by mayor, DA," by Flint McColgan and Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: "A group wearing masks and hats emblazoned with '131,' a symbol for the New England-based group Nationalist Social Club, demonstrated outside of the Loring Greenough House in Jamaica Plain around midday Saturday. The venue was hosting a drag queen story hour for children and families at the time of the group's arrival, according to Mayor Michelle Wu's office and witnesses at the scene."

— More: "Christopher Hood, leader of Nationalist Social Club NSC-131 that marched in Boston on Saturday, aspired to be a police officer," by Erin Tiernan, MassLive: "Hood, who previously lived in Malden, graduated from Henry Owen High School, a Chelsea school run by the Shore Educational Collaborative for behaviorally and academically challenged students."

— More: "'You are not welcome here.' Rollins to launch dedicated number to report neo-Nazi activity in Mass.," by John Hilliard and Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: "Amid a surge in neo-Nazi activity across Massachusetts, US Attorney Rachael Rollins said Sunday she was planning to launch a hotline in the coming weeks for people to report white supremacist activities, and pledged federal resources to assist law enforcement."

— And more: "Suffolk DA to add two more civil rights prosecutors as hate-based crimes rise in Massachusetts," by John Hilliard, Boston Globe.

— Related: "The white-nationalist Patriot Front is getting bigger, and more visible, in New England," by Laura Crimaldi, Dugan Arnett and Amanda Milkovits, Boston Globe: "Despite New England's reputation as a deeply blue region, those who've studied Patriot Front say that its local faction is among the group's most active nationally, along with Virginia and Texas, where several of its leaders are based. The group, rooted in a notorious far-right rally in Virginia in 2017, is finding a receptive audience for its white supremacist ideology among certain young men — and has targeted colleges for recruitment. In fact, there have been hundreds of incidents involving Patriot Front members in Massachusetts and Rhode Island this year alone, according to statistics compiled by the Anti-Defamation League."

— "Boston hits 100 degrees, setting record for the date as heat wave scorches the state," by Alexander Thompson and Anjali Huynh, Boston Globe: "Boston temperatures reached 100 degrees mid-afternoon on Sunday, the sixth and hottest day of a heat wave that has scorched the region over the past week. … The last time temperatures in Boston crossed the 100 degree mark was June 30, 2021, and the previous July 24 record was 98 degrees set in 1933."

INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY .

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "More tolls? Congestion pricing? Mass. lawmakers set to launch study on new road fees," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "Generations of Massachusetts drivers have faced tolls around here only while on the Turnpike, the Tobin Bridge, or in the Boston Harbor tunnels. But that could soon change. The state Legislature wants to appoint a commission charged with recommending new 'roadway pricing' opportunities across the state. Or, to put it another way: more tolls."

BALLOT BATTLES

— "Geoff Diehl condemns 'harassment' of repeal signature collectors for illegal immigrant license law," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: "Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl condemned 'acts of intimidation' that he claimed have been occurring against people supporting a potential ballot question that would seek to repeal a new state law allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. … Diehl called for his Democratic opponent for governor, Attorney General Maura Healey, who supported the new law, to join him in condemning such alleged acts."

MOULTON MATTERS

— "Moulton says Dems can win against Republican 'wimps' afraid to speak against Trump," by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: "Democrats can hold the House and Senate after November's midterm elections and beat 'wimp' Republicans afraid to speak out against former President Donald Trump, says U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, but not if they keep doing what they've been doing. … Moulton was appearing on WCVB's On the Record Sunday with Ed Harding and Janet Wu. The Marine Corps veteran and Salem native said that inflation is a big enough issue to sink his party's chances of holding onto Congress, but that if they show the voting public they have a plan to tackle the problem, they can win."

— "Massachusetts congressman reacts to MBTA Orange Line fire: 'It's a total embarrassment'," by WCVB.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "It's not officially a recession until this Cambridge-based group says so, and making that call is a little like 'Fight Club'," by Jim Puzzanghera, Boston Globe: "There's a good chance the US Commerce Department will report Thursday that the economy shrank from April through June, a second-straight quarterly contraction that by a conventional rule of thumb would mean the nation is in a recession. But it's not officially a recession until a small group of experts empaneled by the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge says so — and they are known to take their time."

— "If someone needs an abortion on the Cape, it's not simple. Here's what you need to know," by Sarah Carlon, Cape Cod Times: "The Cape and Islands region — home to over 263,000 people across Barnstable, Nantucket and Dukes counties — is an 'abortion desert,' or an area where the nearest abortion provider is over 100 miles away, according to Planned Parenthood. That doesn't mean the demand isn't there, though. An estimated 15 people a week from the Cape and Islands go to the Four Women's Health Services office in Attleboro for an abortion, a spokesperson said."

HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Boston law firm Sherin and Lodgen has added Danielle R. Kohen as an associate to the firm's litigation department.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Shrewsbury state Rep. Hannah Kane, Boston Herald reporter Sean Cotter, Boston Globe reporter Milton Valencia, former World Bank president Robert Zoellick, Amanda McGowan, Alan Chartock and David Marx. Happy belated to Mariane Pearl , 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 .

Follow us on Twitter