| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky | PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook won't publish on Monday, July 4. I'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday, July 5. Email me at lkashinsky@politico.com and enjoy the long weekend! THINK OF THE CHILDREN — Two reports released this week assessing the state's Covid-19 vaccine rollout have some lawmakers and advocates concerned that the equity and access issues seen with adult vaccinations are persisting for kids. THE STATS — Fifty-eight percent of children ages 5 to 11 had received at least one shot as of June 28, according to DPH data posted Thursday. In the first week of vaccines for the youngest set, 3 percent of those under age 5 got their first jabs. Both are higher than national stats for those age groups. But the percentage of kids ages 5 to 11 who are at least partially vaccinated hasn't budged for most of June. And data compiled by Alan Geller and his Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health colleagues show that in 182 of the state's 351 cities and towns, less than half of children ages 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated. Geller said those communities "tend to be poorer" and among those hardest hit by Covid. TIME CRUNCH — Parents only have a few weeks left if they want their kids fully vaccinated by the start of the next school year. For kids under 5, the Moderna vaccine is still two doses given 28 days apart. But the Pfizer vaccine is a three-dose regimen, with a three-week gap between the first two doses and an eight-week gap between the second and third shots. "The window is rapidly closing to have that peace of mind before the start of the next school year," state Rep. Bill Driscoll Jr., who co-chairs the legislative Covid-19 oversight committee, told Playbook. Geller estimates 29 percent of public school students in Massachusetts contracted Covid during the academic year that just ended, based on state data. In a few districts, it was more than 50 percent. SHOTS IN ARMS — Lawmakers called in their report for a temporary, Cabinet-level "special assistant" to the governor focused on boosting vaccination rates. "The brutal disparities in race and class that we saw among adults replicated themselves almost immediately among kids," state Sen. Jo Comerford, Driscoll's co-chair, told Playbook. "Making the vaccine not only accessible, but easy to get and delivered locally and delivered through trusted messengers — all those lessons we had to learn for adults we also are having to learn with kids." The Baker administration recently launched new ads in English and Spanish encouraging parents to get their kids vaccinated and said pediatric vaccinations are a key focus of its now $58 million vaccine equity program. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. If the flurry of emails asking you to "rush $3 before midnight" or trying to get your attention "really quick" didn't tip you off, yesterday was the end-of-month and end-of-quarter fundraising deadline for state and federal candidates. And Andrea Campbell has now raised more than $1 million in her bid for state attorney general, her campaign told Playbook first, making her the first candidate in her race to reach that milestone. Campbell will also report raising more than $210,000 in June and will start July with about $750,000 in her campaign coffers. TODAY — Secretary of State Bill Galvin provides a first look at historical documents on display for the Commonwealth Museum's annual Independence Day exhibit at 10 a.m. at the museum. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at Boston Harborfest at noon. THIS WEEKEND — U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins is on WBZ's "Keller @ Large" at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. GOP LG candidate Leah Cole Allen is on WCVB's "On the Record" at 11 a.m. Sunday.
| | | | 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. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS | | — "Massachusetts COVID cases jump 13%, virus hospitalizations decline," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The state Department of Public Health on Thursday reported 1,915 daily COVID cases, a 13% jump from the 1,700 recorded infections last Thursday." — "Massachusetts reports 8 new monkeypox cases, brings state's total to 21 infections," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced the eight additional cases in men."
| | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — "Senate seeks greater public funding of childcare," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Massachusetts Senate leaders on Thursday unveiled a proposal to inject significant sums of public money into the state's childcare system, which has traditionally been mostly privately funded. The Senate plan would provide additional subsidies to families, including for the first time middle-class families, in order to make childcare more affordable. It would also pay more to childcare providers as a way to increase the salaries of early educators — a step toward stabilizing the industry's struggling workforce. … The Senate plans to vote on the bill next Thursday. With only a month left before the end of formal legislative sessions for the current two-year session, it is unclear if the House will even consider the bill, much less if both bodies will be able to get a final version to the governor's desk." — "With LGTBQ rights in the spotlight, Senate advances bill to repeal archaic state laws that ban sodomy, 'unnatural' sex acts," by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Senate Thursday voted to advance a bill that would repeal archaic anti-sodomy laws among other bygone statutes, a move that lawmakers say is necessary in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which advocates fear could pave the way for the court to eliminate other privacy protections." — "Mass. Senate votes to expand access to HIV prevention care," by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Senate voted Thursday, the last day of LGBTQ Pride month, to advance a bill that would significantly expand access to preventative HIV care." — "Mass. senate votes to reform civil forfeiture law, adding greater protections in property seizures," by Saurabh Datar, WBUR: "The Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill Thursday to change the civil forfeiture system, raising the legal bar law enforcement must meet to seize and keep people's money and property in suspected drug crimes." — "Here's how many police officers were denied recertification in Massachusetts through the state's law enforcement licensing commission," by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: "The state's law enforcement licensing commission denied recertification to seven Massachusetts police officers ahead of a Friday deadline as it looks to finish administering renewals for thousands of officers across the state. ... Of the 6,366 law enforcement personnel who submitted their recertification packets, 5,606 were certified, 683 were granted conditional certifications, 60 officers' recertifications were processed 'but merit further review,' and seven were not recertified." — "Law streamlines voting process for Massachusetts military members serving overseas," by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: "The state has adopted a streamlined voting process to make it easier for members of the military to vote while serving overseas. … The law was proposed by Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, based on his experience of voting in the 2018 midterm election when he was serving in Afghanistan." — "Long to-do list for end of legislative session," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "There's one month until the Legislature wraps up its business for the 2021-2022 legislative session and, as is typical, lawmakers have a lot left on their plates. They have billions of dollars in budget and bond bills to consider, bills in final stages of negotiation on priorities like sports betting and cannabis, and responses to national events related to guns and abortion. Several stated priorities — like improving early education and mental health care — remain in flux."
| | VAX-ACHUSETTS | | — "Massachusetts State Police fired over vaccine mandate to lose guns, too," by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: "The head of the State Police has informed troopers fired for failing to get COVID shots that their permits to carry firearms will be 'expired' as of next week."
| | FROM THE HUB | | — "Mayor Michelle Wu gets inaugurated 7 months in," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Mayor Michelle Wu held her free public inauguration-slash-block-party on the fresh bricks of a not-quite-yet-reconstructed City Hall plaza, speaking on stage for just a hair under two minutes at her event ... citing transportation, housing and the schools as important issues to keep tackling. ... It wouldn't be a 2022 Wu public event without some appearance from protesters, and someone — a 'generous donor,' one group said — paid for a small plane to do circles around downtown with 'Shame on Wu & BPD leadership too' in reference to the ongoing battle over coronavirus vaccine mandates." — "Full circle: Incoming superintendent returns to district that 'raised' her as an educator," by Seth Daniel, Dorchester Reporter: "[Mary Skipper said] a key part of her early plans will be to focus on school safety — something that has been at the forefront this year due to multiple violent incidents in and around the public schools." — "Wu names fire department veteran as Boston's new fire commissioner," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on Thursday named Paul F. Burkeas the city's new fire commissioner."
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: IBEW Local 103 is endorsing NAACP Boston Branch President Tanisha Sullivan for secretary of state, per her campaign. Look for her on the big billboard over I-93. — "Gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty pushes for small business protections," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: "Gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty pledged, if elected, to implement a 'bill of rights' for small businesses, which would aim to make it easier and less costly for them to operate in Massachusetts." — "Andrea Campbell wants to cap gun purchases, expand assault weapons ban," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Democratic attorney general candidate Andrea Campbell [released] her first in-depth policy plan on Thursday — a gun violence prevention plan that includes a mix of enforcement of current laws and advocacy for new rules. The plan involves working with lawmakers to revise the state's assault weapons ban to cover additional guns, imposing caps on gun purchases, cracking down on 'ghost guns,' and bolstering gun safety training requirements." — "Muni Matters: Will LG Hopefuls Follow Polito's Lead on Local Relations?" by Meg McIntyre, State House News Service (paywall): "Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito often highlights the fact that her almost eight years in office has brought her to visit each and every one of Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns. ... Most of the remaining candidates told the News Service they plan to continue emphasizing relationships with local leaders if elected to the role, though one said she intends to be 'a different kind of lieutenant governor.'"
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | SCOTUS WATCH | | — "Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in to Supreme Court," by Olivia Olander, POLITICO: "Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in on Thursday, the culmination of her historic ascension as the first black woman to claim a seat on the nation's highest court." — "Supreme Court limits EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas pollution," by Dharna Noor and Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: "As the world heats up, unleashing frequent floods, fires, and other extreme weather events, the Supreme Court on Thursday sharply curtailed the federal government's ability to regulate carbon emissions from power plants, putting that responsibility on a dysfunctional Congress while dealing another blow to the Biden administration's efforts to fight climate change." — More: "Why Biden's climate push might not be doomed," by Alex Guillén, Zack Colman and Josh Siegel, POLITICO. — "Michelle Wu calls recent Supreme Court rulings 'disempowering' and 'anti-American'," by Zoe Mathews, GBH News: "On Thursday, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency is restricted in how it can enforce the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, limiting its ability to fight climate change at the federal level. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said that decision and other recent Supreme Court rulings, including the reversal of Roe v. Wade and a ruling that loosens restrictions on concealed carry of guns, are bringing America back to the days of the Articles of Confederation."
| | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN | | — "A new state climate plan shows that — even without the federal government — Massachusetts is moving ahead," by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: " Hours after the Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to the national climate effort, Massachusetts released an aggressive new blueprint that speeds up efforts to slash emissions by electrifying buildings and vehicles and transitioning the electricity supply rapidly from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. … The state plan calls for cutting emissions to 33 percent below 1990 levels in less than three years' time, and getting to 50 percent by 2030. As it works toward those goals, the state envisions growing the economy, with modeling showing clean energy projects bringing a net gain of over 22,000 jobs by 2030."
| | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — "If funding comes through, a new pilot program could improve public transportation services for people in southern Berkshire County," by Tony Dobrowolski, Berkshire Eagle: "With public transportation options in the Berkshires limited and local employers facing staffing shortages, a plan has emerged to create an on-demand microtransit service that would serve the residents of three south county towns."
| | ROE FALLOUT | | — "Abortion clinics prepare for influx of patients," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president & CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said the group's network of abortion providers started fielding an increase in calls to crisis hotlines just hours after the high court's ruling last Friday, and said the volume of inquiries hasn't subsided."
| | FROM THE 413 | | — "Chronic absenteeism rates are higher in some Berkshire County schools than the state average. What's being done about it?" by Greta Jochem and Meg Britton-Mehlisch, Berkshire Eagle: "While the state cautions against comparing the first full pandemic school year with earlier experience, some Berkshire County schools saw absenteeism balloon well above the state average for 2020-2021, when all schools faced similar challenges."
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — "Rachael Rollins rips into 'trolls' behind 'dangerous' Mapping Project that targets Boston-area Jewish groups," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins is reassuring the local Jewish community that the Department of Justice and FBI are closely monitoring the 'Mapping Project' that targets Boston-area Jewish groups, stressing that the federal agencies are 'leaving no stone unturned.'" — "Most of Massachusetts in moderate drought," by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe: "A map released Thursday by the US Drought Monitor showed that 74.6 percent of the state was in moderate drought on June 28. In those conditions lawns can brown early, gardens can wilt, crop growth is stunted and there's an increased risk of fires." — "Curry College fires employee after probe of antisemitic, racist vandalism on campus," by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: "Curry College has fired an employee it said was responsible for a series of racist and antisemitic graffiti on its Milton campus during the last semester that led the college to shift to online classes as a safety measure."
| | HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Tara Healey. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Melwood Global's David Guarino, Josh Cahan and U.S. Army Capt. Chuck Nadd, who celebrate Saturday; state Rep. Mark Cusack, Barbara Lee, president and founder of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, Maia Raynor and Ted Steinberg , who celebrate Sunday; and to Monday birthday-ers Chris Ingerson, MassFiscal's Laurie Belsito, the late Massachusetts governor and President Calvin Coolidge, who was born on July 4, 1872, and, of course, the United States of America. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: SCOTUS SCARIES — Hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela break down the recent Supreme Court rulings. Boston Globe reporter Samantha J. Gross talks through the effort to repeal the state's new law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. 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 | | | | |
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