News : The political fallout of Martha's Vineyard

Friday, September 16, 2022

The political fallout of Martha's Vineyard

Sep 16, 2022

THE POLITICS OF IMMIGRATION — Republican governors shuttling migrants north in protest of President Joe Biden's immigration policies have largely succeeded in antagonizing the leaders of the blue states and cities they've targeted. Not so much in Massachusetts.

Democratic governors and mayors have condemned GOP Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas for busing thousands of migrants to Washington, D.C., New York City and Chicago for weeks. Biden on Thursday defended his administration's border policies and decried the Republican governors acting against him as "reckless." Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, is asking the Department of Justice to investigate whether GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flying migrants to Martha's Vineyard was illegal; U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins is also waiting on word from DOJ.

Yet Charlie Baker, the Republican governor of Massachusetts, kept his focus on the humanitarian efforts underway on the island — and potentially at Joint Base Cape Cod — in a three-sentence statement Thursday afternoon that didn't acknowledge DeSantis at all.

Baker, a moderate, leans right on immigration. He's opposed making Massachusetts a sanctuary state and joined 25 GOP governors last year in requesting a sitdown with Biden "to bring an end to the national security crisis created by eight months of unenforced borders." The meeting never happened. Earlier this year, Baker vetoed a bill granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, forcing the legislature to override him. With a question on whether to keep the law now on the November ballot, Baker said he'll vote to repeal it.

The popular governor's reticence to engage in partisan national politics — where immigration enforcement is a lightning rod — is also likely a factor in his decision not to engage DeSantis.

It's an example that Maura Healey, the frontrunner to replace Baker, is following as she navigates a prickly political situation. Her gubernatorial campaign has directed reporters' questions to her official attorney general office, which issued a statement saying: "Our office has been in touch with state and local partners to offer support and resources as needed. We are working to get more information about this situation."

Her Republican rival, conservative former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, took a different tack. He sent an email to supporters that included a graphic of DeSantis and a quote from his spokesperson claiming that Massachusetts and other blue states have been "incentivizing illegal immigration." He applauded locals who "sprang into action to address the situation as it unfolded," while also pledging to be "tough on the issue of illegal immigration" as governor.

Even as they skewered DeSantis for using people as "political pawns," many Massachusetts Democrats worked to keep focus on how the state is meeting the humanitarian challenge at hand.

"Exploiting vulnerable people for political stunts is repulsive and cruel," Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a statement. "Islanders and people across Massachusetts have joined together to assist migrants that have arrived. … This is something we can do — work together, remember our values, put aside the politics and support the people who need our help."

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Well, we published today after all. But for real this time…

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook will not publish on Monday and Tuesday. I'll be back in your inbox on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attends the 2022 Massachusetts Manufacturing Mash-Up at noon in Worcester. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends a City Fresh Food Tasting at 11 a.m. in Roslindale and attends the AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in the Seaport.

THIS WEEKEND — Steve Crawford of Fair Share for Massachusetts and Jim Stergios of the Pioneer Institute debate the Fair Share Amendment ballot question at 8:30 a.m. Sunday on WBZ's "Keller @ Large." AG hopeful Andrea Campbell is on WCVB's "On the Record" at 11 a.m. Sunday.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

— "GOP governors put focus on migrants with Martha's Vineyard transport," by Lisa Kashinsky, Sue Allan and Gary Fineout, POLITICO: "Republican governors this week escalated their campaign to transport migrants across the country, deepening a war with the Biden administration and Democratic states over immigration ahead of the November elections. The latest moves came from Republican governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas, both of whom transported migrants from the southern border to Democratic strongholds. Abbott on Thursday sent two buses of migrants to a location near Vice President Kamala Harris' residence in Washington while DeSantis Wednesday directed at least one plane carrying dozens of migrants to Martha's Vineyard. The Florida governor's move sparked local and state emergency responses in Massachusetts and accusations from Democrats that Republicans are politicizing immigration without recognizing the harm their moves are causing migrant families. … [A]t least two government officials said they are seeking input from the Justice Department on whether the transports are legal."

— "Two planes land, and an island springs to help," by Janelle Nanos and Brittany Bowker, Boston Globe: "Most of the migrants were from Venezuela, had crossed the border into Texas, and were staying at a migrant center in San Antonio. There, several of them said, they met a woman named Mrs. Perla who offered them three months of rent and work, in Boston. After a few days in a hotel, the group — mostly young men in their 20s and 30s and a few families with children — boarded two planes in San Antonio that hop-scotched up the East Coast, stopping briefly in Florida and North and South Carolina. During those legs of the flight, the migrants said, they were again told their final destination was Boston. But during the last leg, the captain announced they were headed to Martha's Vineyard, and the crew handed out booklets that listed Martha's Vineyard Community Services as a resource."

— "Vineyard Community Rallies Relief Efforts to Assist Stranded Migrants," by Brooke Kushwaha, Vineyard Gazette: "The migrants, including seven children, were being housed temporarily at St. Andrews Church in Edgartown while efforts were underway to figure out a longer-term relocation plan. Immigration lawyers from off-Island were brought in, and Spanish language translators, including students from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, were assisting. Attorneys 'are meeting with each person individually,' said Janet Constantino, a coordinator with the Island Counseling Center. 'A lot of them have dates with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), so they are trying to figure out when the court cases can be rescheduled.'"

— "Massachusetts has 8 sanctuary cities and how they cooperate varies," by Mike Sullivan, WBZ: "Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state, but there have been proposals for it on Beacon Hill. A sanctuary city or state is a location that limits cooperation with federal immigration laws. There are eight cities in the state that are sanctuary cities. They are Amherst, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Concord, Newton, Northampton, and Somerville. What they do is legal, and how much they cooperate can vary from city to city."

— "Texas Gov. Abbott uses Martha's Vineyard migrant flights as rallying cry," by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' move to send a group of migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard is being used as a rally cry by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has long pushed for stringent policies against immigrants without legal status. Abbott — a Republican — wasn't involved with the initial planes to Martha's Vineyard, which included about 50 migrants, but he's lauding the move."

— "Amherst, Northampton get calls that Texas is sending migrants to their communities; officials work to verify call, make a plan," by Luis Fieldman, MassLive: "An anonymous caller claiming to work in Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office warned town officials in Amherst and Northampton that buses containing migrants were on their way to the two communities — an unsubstantiated claim that sparked the two municipalities to mobilize in anticipation — an Amherst spokesperson said on Thursday."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "Mass. taxpayers to get $3 billion back under obscure law, state officials say," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts taxpayers are due to receive nearly $3 billion from the state after a windfall of tax collections triggered an obscure 1980s-era law for just the second time in nearly four decades, officials said Thursday, clearing the way for potentially millions of taxpayers to get a slice of the unprecedented credit. State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump said her office certified that the state is required to return $2.94 billion under a 1986 voter-passed measure intended to limit state tax revenue growth to the growth of total wages and salaries, and return any excess to taxpayers. Still, several crucial details remained unclear, notably how, and when, people could receive money and how much individuals should expect." The Baker administration is expected to lay out details of how the state plans to administer 62F today.

— "Mass. eliminates probation, parole fees," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Tens of thousands of criminal defendants on probation and parole will no longer have to pay supervision fees under a new law that eliminated the required charges. Prisoner advocates say the measure will keep more people out of jail. The probation fees, which ranged from $50 to $65 a month, were done away with as part of the $52.7 billion state budget signed by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in July. The changes, which were recommended by Baker, also eliminated $80 per month parole fees and a $5 per month victim services surcharge that probationers were required to pay. … Massachusetts Trial Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Locke has issued an administrative order remitting all probation fees for July 2022 and after, and the probation department said people who pre-paid their administrative fees will be getting refunds from the court."

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

— "Massachusetts reports 20% jump in COVID cases after Boston-area virus wastewater data went up; 37 COVID deaths were reported in the last week," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "State health officials on Thursday reported 7,936 confirmed COVID cases from the last week, a 20% jump following the recent rise in the Boston-area COVID wastewater data."

— "Massachusetts reports 17 new monkeypox cases, more than 15,000 people vaccinated," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The count of 17 new monkeypox cases in the Bay State was down from 30 infections during the previous week, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. It brings the total number of monkeypox cases in the state to 364 since the state's first case was announced in mid-May."

— "Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts," by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "Marty Walsh on freight rail negotiations: 'This had to be resolved'," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "After brokering a 20-hour negotiating session between freight rail companies and employee unions that ultimately avoided a strike, Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh said Thursday that he knew 'this had to be resolved' or the American economy would face devastating consequences."

— "MBTA could face $421M budget deficit in 2024," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: "The MBTA plans to lean on federal relief funds to balance its budget this year, but is facing a deficit that could grow to more than $400 million in fiscal year 2024 when that aid runs out, the T's chief financial officer said. … The budget gap, based on different ridership scenarios, could be anywhere between $236 million and $421 million in FY24, a number that could grow to more than $550 million in four years, according to the presentation."

DAY IN COURT

— "Woman arrested in Boston Children's Hospital bomb threat, FBI says," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A Westfield woman is charged with making a bomb threat to Boston Children's Hospital as the institution was hit with with threats over its transgender healthcare unit last month, the feds say. Catherine Leavy, 37, was behind bars Thursday pending a detainment hearing Friday on a charge of calling in a false bomb threat on Aug. 30."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "Salem mayor presents abortion, transgender rights protections," by Dustin Luca, Salem News: "A new proposal from [Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll]'s office would help shield those traveling to the area for reproductive health care like abortions and gender-affirming services from prosecutorial efforts in their home states where it may be illegal now. This measure is similar to Salem's 'Sanctuary for Peace' ordinance of 2017 that formalized a commitment to protect undocumented residents into city law."

MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND

— "Attack ads start flying in Fung-Magaziner race as parties vie for RI's 2nd District," by Ted Nesi, WPRI: "Less than 48 hours after the polls closed in Rhode Island's primary election, national Democrats and Republicans are already engaged in a full-scale battle for control of the state's open 2nd Congressional District. … In the eyes of Washington Democrats, no open seat in New England is more at risk of flipping to Republicans than Rhode Island's 2nd District."

HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH

SPOTTED — Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Rep. Lori Trahan chatting while waiting for a flight at Reagan National Airport, per a Playbook tipster.

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