| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity and Lisa Kashinsky | Presented by Save Our Benefits Massachusetts | SNO-THING TO SEE HERE — Winter’s been a bit of a bust for snow-lovers across the commonwealth. But the mild weather is paying off for municipalities. No need to break out the space savers. Boston hasn’t even seen a foot of snow this winter, let alone anything close to its 40.3-inch average, according to the National Weather Service. It’s been a snowier season to the west, but not by much: Worcester has clocked 31.8 inches so far, significantly below the city’s average 59.7 inches. It’s bad news for the state’s winter tourism industry and a warning sign of problems to come for a warming region. But for cities trying to balance the books, a tame winter isn’t a bad thing. Boston has spent less than $8.9 million of the $23.3 million the city squirreled away for winter storms. Worcester anticipates using just “about half” of its $6 million snow removal budget, officials said. And Springfield expects to come in under its $1.6 million budget at the end of the season. Let’s put these potential savings in perspective. Cities often plow through their snow removal budgets, in part because they routinely underestimate them. Snow and ice removal is one of the few areas in which municipalities can deficit-spend, meaning officials can budget low and pay later. And a few bad snowstorms can add up fast: Boston spent a whopping $40 million cleaning up from the sudden deluge that was the 2015 snowpocalypse, easily surpassing what was, at the time, an $18 million budget for the season. Now, instead of worrying about overruns, municipal officials are eyeing extra cash that can be used for repairing plows, replenishing salt piles and other maintenance efforts. But it’s too early to start permanently rethinking budgets, Dartmouth College earth science professor Erich Osterberg told Playbook. Winters are warming twice as fast as any other season in New England, making them less predictable from year to year. But that doesn’t mean walloping snowstorms are off the radar for good — we could get one early next week. “There will be some years where the storms just track the right way, just right off of our coasts, and bring snow to the major Boston area,” Osterberg said. “And that would be a really big budget buster.”
|  A driver walks back to his truck after a plowing convoy parked on a snow-free road near an off-ramp to Route 495, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Haverhill, Mass. | AP | GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It’s been three years since then-Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency over Covid-19. Since then, there have been more than 2 million cases reported, nearly 50 million tests conducted and more than 22,000 deaths logged. Cases right now are trending down — DPH reported 2,703 over the past week, a 19-percent drop from the week prior — and the state is closing its remaining “Stop the Spread” testing sites this month. But the end of the federal Covid-19 emergencies will bring new challenges. President Joe Biden is not seeking significant new Covid funding in his new budget, our colleague Adam Cancryn reports. And the state is grappling this budget season with how much to pick up the slack as extra federal aid runs out on everything from food stamps to child care. TODAY — Mobile sports betting launches at 10 a.m. Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll visit Greenfield Community Farm at 10 a.m., make a “rural communities announcement” at 11 a.m. at Williams Farm Sugar House, and attend a Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce outlook event at 12:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and colleagues host a press conference on Equal Pay Day at 10 a.m. in D.C. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the South Boston Boys & Girls Club St. Patrick's Day luncheon at 12:30 p.m. at the Omni Boston Hotel. THIS WEEKEND — Driscoll is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Boston Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Segun Idowu is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Don’t forget to change your clocks! Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com.
| | | | A message from Save Our Benefits Massachusetts: In a time when there is so much that is driving up the price of health care - Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) create competition to bring prescription drug costs down.
Find out how PBMs are advocating to lower drug costs on behalf of employers and unions. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | |  Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey shaves New England Patriots’ Devin McCourty at Granite’s 10th Annual Saving by Shaving event benefiting Boston Children’s Hospital. (Photo: Business Wire) | Business Wire | — CLOSE SHAVE: Gov. Maura Healey is sporting a slightly new ‘do after letting the Patriots’ Devin McCourty shave off a few of her locks for charity. But it was only fair after she took clippers to the captain's dome first. “It’s just hair,” the slightly nervous-looking governor quipped as McCourty went in for the trim. And it’s all for a good cause — the haircuts were part of Granite Telecommunications’ annual “Saving by Shaving” event to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. Watch the clips and judge the better barber for yourself. — CUE THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: The House and Senate have both approved the governor’s request for $130 million to extend now-expired extra federal SNAP benefits for three months, $65 million to fund universal free school meals through the end of the academic year and $85 million to expand emergency shelter capacity. They also passed $1 million for a public-awareness campaign on “crisis pregnancy centers.” But other differences between the chambers' bills mean they’re likely heading to a conference committee before Healey’s desk. — “Healey won't release sexual harassment complaints, settlement pacts from past 5 years,” by Todd Wallack, WBUR: “Gov. Maura Healey's office says it won't release copies of sexual harassment complaints filed with the office in the past five years. The agency also rejected a WBUR request for settlement or severance agreements involving members of the governor's office signed during the same time span. Healey's office denied the requests and said it is completely exempt from the state's public records law. … Healey's office said it plans to voluntarily abide by the public records law going forward, but won't apply the policy to records created before she took office in January, including the severance and settlement pacts.”
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — GOOD LUCK ON YOUR COMMUTE: The MBTA is slashing speeds subway-wide this morning "out of an abundance of caution." Trains will run at a reduced 10-25 mph following what the Boston Herald's Gayla Cawley and Joe Dwinell report were "negative findings from the Department of Public Utilities during an inspection of a stretch of Red Line track on Monday." The T plans to brief reporters at 10 a.m. at the state transportation building — barely 12 hours after it announced the service disruption. — THAT'S NOT ALL: “The MBTA is scheduling spring bus service that it knows it can’t deliver,” by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “[I]nstead of cutting bus service to reflect its shrinking staff, the agency plans to advertise mostly the same service for the spring, starting this Sunday, despite expecting to cancel about 5 percent of those trips, spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said.” — ONE PIECE OF GOOD NEWS: “MBTA checks off one item on FTA safety list,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine. — BUT, BUT, BUT: “MBTA leaning toward ‘new normal’ of lower ridership,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine. — REMEMBER: Gov. Maura Healey had pledged to hire a transportation safety chief by … four days ago. She’s also yet to name her new T GM. — “Biden budget includes some funding for Cape Cod bridges — but a long path awaits in Congress,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “President Biden included long-awaited funding to replace two aging Cape Cod bridges in his $6.8 trillion budget. But as Biden confronts a Republican-dominated House of Representatives, that funding — like the rest of the spending plan — is far from guaranteed. Biden’s budget, released Thursday, includes $350 million to replace the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, toward what the administration said was a total commitment of $600 million.”
| | | | A message from Save Our Benefits Massachusetts:   | | | | | ON THE STUMP | | — SUFFOLK SPECIAL: John Moran is the first person to officially jump in the race to replace now-Veterans Secretary Jon Santiago as 9th Suffolk state representative. He’s also hired Pete Buttigieg alum Sydney Throop. The Boston Globe’s Samantha J. Gross has more on Moran. — WALTHAM WATCH: Two-term Waltham City Councilor Jonathan Paz is now vying to unseat longtime Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, setting up another mayor’s race to watch this year. — “Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan announces reelection bid for 3rd term,” by Chris Helms, Brockton Enterprise.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — “Feds issue new indictment against activist Monica Cannon-Grant, that allege 27 fraud-related counts,” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald: “Just as federal prosecutors promised at a June 2022 court appearance of the alleged fraudster Monica Cannon-Grant, they have issued a superseding indictment which elevates the 18 charges against her and her husband to 27, with an additional two allegations of additional fraud.” — "Allegedly beaten and abused in an Oxford ‘house of horrors,’ former foster children file suit against state social workers," by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe.
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — “Meet Massachusetts's first-ever climate chief,” by Maxine Joselow, Washington Post: “[Melissa Hoffer’s] position mirrors that of White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi, whom President Biden has tasked with ensuring a whole-of-government approach to climate change within his administration. But unlike Biden officials, Hoffer doesn’t have to contend with a divided Congress that threatens to stall climate action at the federal level. … That means Hoffer could become an influential climate official in America, and one with the unique opportunity to inject climate considerations into state agencies that have not historically focused on global warming." — “National Archives says it retrieved nine boxes of Biden records from ex-personal attorney's Boston office,” by Melissa Quinn and Arden Farhi, CBS News.
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Detained immigrants claim civil rights violations at Plymouth County Correctional Facility,” by Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: “A civil rights complaint filed Thursday on behalf of immigrants detained at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility says severe restrictions on phone calls, videoconference calls, and mail are preventing immigrants from communicating with their lawyers and families, sometimes resulting in missed deadlines for court filings. The complaint asks Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell to open an investigation.” — “'Doesn't fit': Holden resists state mandate for housing near transit,” by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette: “Six out of the 177 municipalities subject to a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority zoning law that mandates allowing for more multifamily housing in communities with access to public transit, have not filed plans to comply. ... ‘The Town of Holden wants to zone the way the Town of Holden wants to zone,’ Town Manager Peter Lukes said in an interview last month.” — “Plummeting community college enrollment sends campuses scrambling,” by Grant Welker, Boston Business Journal: “Community colleges that were already facing declining enrollment before the pandemic are seeing numbers drop off at an even sharper rate." — "New Bedford City Council OKs Rent Stabilization Ballot Question," by Adam Bass, WBSM. — “Bay State College faces eviction over $720,000 unpaid rent claim,” by Max Larkin, WBUR. — “Town Requests AG, Middlesex DA Investigate Allegations Against Ex-Stoneham Cop,” by Ryan Kath, NBC10 Boston.
| | MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND | | — “Lt. Gov. Matos will jump into race for Congress,” by Ted Nesi, WPRI: “Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos has begun calling allies to say she plans to enter the Democratic primary to replace Congressman David Cicilline, 12 News has learned. … Matos — who was appointed lieutenant governor two years ago and won a full term last fall — would be the first big-name Democrat to jump into the special election.”
| | | | A message from Save Our Benefits Massachusetts: For nearly 50 years, federal law and legal precedent has prevented state legislators from preempting federal laws governing self-funded ERISA plans. Health plans are offered by employers, labor-management trusts as well as local, state and federal governments. With roughly 60 percent or more of the health plans offered by ERISA protected entities, these protected plans could expect consistency across state lines and a fair regulatory climate.
Now, lobbyists for Big Pharma and independent pharmacists are looking to increase their profits by ignoring federal law and undermining the cost-savings in self-funded plans. Save Our Benefits Massachusetts is ready to help you fight back against rising costs. Please, Join our coalition today and help us keep health benefits affordable and accessible for employers, employees and unions. | | | | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Audrey Gasteier has been named executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. — Outgoing UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy will be interim SVP for academic and student affairs and equity for the UMass system; presidential adviser for equity and inclusion Nefertiti Walker is now deputy VP for academic and student affairs and equity. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Anthony Amore, who celebrates Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Sen. Mitt Romney, Michael Gallant, Colleen Aber Tlagae and Andrew Carden. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: YOU GET AN AUDIT AND YOU GET AN AUDIT — The Boston Globe’s Julian E.J. Sorapuru joins host Steve Koczela to talk about the challenges Black business owners face after landing big contracts. The Supreme Judicial Court wrestles with wrongful-death restrictions in cigarette suits. Koczela and hosts Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky parse Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s new probes. 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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