| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky and Kelly Garrity | | | NEW: TAX CARVEOUT POPULAR IN POLL — Democrats and Republicans finally seem to agree on something about the new millionaires tax: one-time millionaires shouldn't pay it. Sparing so-called one-time millionaires — in this case, people who sell their homes or businesses — from the new surtax won majority support across party lines in a Change Research poll for Northwind Strategies shared with Playbook. — ZOOM OUT: 63 percent of polltakers support the carveout, 27 percent opposed it and 10 percent weren’t sure how to feel. The survey of 711 likely 2024 voters was conducted in late February and has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points. — ZOOM IN: 66 percent of Trump voters support cutting one-time millionaires a break. So do 62 percent of Biden voters. Sixty-five percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents support an exemption. So do 62 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. Remember: only 52 percent of voters approved the tax last year. “You rarely see an issue like this where it’s just consistently above 55 percent [support] in almost every demographic and geographic area,” Northwind founder Doug Rubin, who was neutral in last year's ballot-question battle over the tax, told Playbook. “Making sure [the tax] doesn’t hurt the people it shouldn’t hurt is a pretty populist issue, and both parties have a populist strand in them right now.” The bipartisan backing for tweaking the tax comes as Beacon Hill is still trying to figure out how to budget the revenue from it. The branches agreed on allocating $1 billion in fiscal year 2024, and Gov. Maura Healey split that almost evenly between transportation and education projects in her proposal. But Healey didn’t include any changes to the tax itself. And other top Democrats don't seem to want to mess with it right now. Well, except for Bill Galvin. The secretary of state, through state Sen. Nick Collins, has filed legislation that would exempt people over age 65 who sell their principal residence after 30-plus years of continuous ownership, if they meet certain income eligibility requirements. It would also create a trust fund through which to funnel millionaires tax money for transportation and education projects, similar to Healey's budget proposal. Galvin told Playbook he believes the surtax was intended to target multimillionaires more so than one-timers. But a spokesperson for Raise Up Massachusetts, the coalition behind the surtax, said voters have already rejected that kind of carveout: Opponents held up one-timers as a reason not to pass the tax, but voters did so anyway. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Charlie Baker wasn’t a big fan of taking on other GOP governors when he was in the state’s corner office. But as NCAA president, he’ll have to contend with the debate around transgender athletes — and the Republicans, like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who are using it to whip up their base. Baker didn’t hit DeSantis too hard when he flew nearly 50 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard last year. And he didn’t take the bait offered up during an interview on CNN last night, when the network played a clip of the Florida governor blasting the NCAA for “taking efforts to destroy women’s athletics” after transgender swimmer Lia Thomas competed in last year’s national championships. (Transgender women have been allowed to compete in women’s categories in the Olympics since 2003 and in the NCAA since 2010.) Instead, Baker said, he wants to find a balance between inclusion and equity. “You don’t want transgender athletes to have to play by different sets of rules at every step along the way in the process,” Baker said. “Do there need to be rules? Do they have to meet clinical standards to participate? Yes, they should have to meet clinical standards and those should be based on science.” TODAY — Keep on shoveling. The gov's got nothing public, so plenty of time to dig out from all that snow. Tips? Scoops? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com.
| | A message from NextEra Energy: A Beacon Research Poll shows that a majority of Massachusetts voters support clean, low-cost nuclear energy as a tool to fight climate change. Support for nuclear increases beyond 70% as people learn more. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “State officials warn of child care closures,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler told lawmakers during a Monday hearing of the Joint Ways and Means Committee that the state needs to spend at least $475 million to extend a pandemic-era child care grant program, or risk the possible closures of hundreds of early education providers.” — "Mobile sports betting gets off to a rousing start in Massachusetts," by Michael Silverman, Boston Globe: "With mobile betting divvied up among six operators, more than 8.1 million geolocation transactions were made and more than 400,000 unique accounts — nearly 6 percent of the state’s population of 7 million — were established." — “Gaming commission holds first hearings for sports betting violations,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “Commissioners did not take any action on Tuesday, but will eventually issue a written report with their decision on any possible penalties, which can include fines, restrictions on the operators’ licenses, or license revocation.” — “Gov. Healey says Mass. should ‘grow the pipeline’ of construction workers as building trades unions gather in Springfield,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican.
| | VAX-ACHUSETTS | | — “Boston formally drops COVID-19 vaccine mandate for firefighters, some police,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The Wu administration has agreed to formally drop its vaccine mandate for firefighters and police superior officers, and it’s evaluating what to do next with its vax policy. The city inked the agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 718 on Feb. 15, and the one with the Boston Police Superior Officers Federation on Monday, according to documents provided by the city following a records request. The city says it’s also in conversation with the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society for a similar agreement. … In exchange, the unions will drop their state Department of Labor Relations complaints.” — “Gift cards helping narrow vaccine equity gaps,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “State health officials have doled out more than $5.2 million in gift cards to people who get vaccinated for COVID-19 as part of a program aimed at reaching vaccine-hesitant communities and expanding public health equity.” — “Though Berkshire residents are still dying of COVID, this past winter was the least deadly yet. What you need to know about COVID-19 now, three years into the pandemic,” by Greta Jochem, Berkshire Eagle.
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | FROM THE HUB | | — "Jan. 6, Breonna Taylor, and vaccines: Details emerge about why 3 Boston police officers were fired," by Danny McDonald, Emma Platoff and Nick Stoico, Boston Globe. — “New Boston program to offer free postpartum support to parents,” by Zeina Mohammed, Boston Globe.
| | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — FREE THE T, WITH DATA: Dwell times were down and ridership was up in the first year of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s two-year fare-free bus pilot program. And 42 percent of riders saved at least some money, stats from the city show. But the majority of riders on the three free lines saw no savings, which Boston Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge attributed to transfers and some people still needing monthly passes to complete their commutes. Boston is hoping to grow savings by expanding its pilot program. The city is in talks with communities including Cambridge, where a working group is studying fare-free buses, to see what other routes should be freed up. And Boston has set aside $2 million of the $8 million in ARPA money Wu committed to the program for a potential expansion. But Wu is going to have to find another funding source if she wants to keep free buses rolling after next March. And that could be a tough sell despite some initially positive data. Gov. Maura Healey pledged to create a "pathway" to free buses as a candidate. But she's taking it slow: her first budget only included $5 million to study means-tested fares. Meanwhile, the financially stressed T previously recommended half-priced fares for low-income riders. Franklin-Hodge said Boston’s first-year data “bolsters the case for the positive economic and community impacts of removing the fare box.” Now the city just needs the state to listen.
| | | | A message from NextEra Energy:   | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — “Democrats, led by Warren and Porter, unveil bill to repeal Trump-era bank law,” by Sahil Kapur, NBC News: “A group of Democrats led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Katie Porter of California [unveiled] legislation Tuesday to restore bank regulations that were undone under then-President Donald Trump in 2018, seeking to fix what they say was the cause of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.” Rep. Seth Moulton introduced a separate but similar bill yesterday. A spokesperson told Playbook he supports Warren’s bill and intends to sign on as a cosponsor. Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Jake Auchincloss are also cosponsoring Warren's bill. — “Elizabeth Warren wrote a scathing letter to Silicon Valley Bank’s CEO. Read it here,” by Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe. — “Bank failures revive bitter Senate Democratic infighting,” by Burgess Everett and Eleanor Mueller, POLITICO.
| | ROE FALLOUT | | — “Massachusetts providers brace for Texas antiabortion ruling, a threat ‘knocking at our front door’,” by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts providers are preparing for the impact of a Texas antiabortion lawsuit that could limit access to medication-assisted abortion. … At a baseline, abortion will still remain legal in Massachusetts. However, the case may result in providers across the country no longer being able to offer abortion care via telehealth and could lay the groundwork for effectively eliminating medication-assisted abortions entirely in Massachusetts and across the country, experts said.”
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN | | — “EPA's move to limit 'forever chemicals' would go beyond Massachusetts' existing regulations,” by Eve Zuckoff, GBH: “The Environmental Protection Agency today announced a plan to regulate and reduce harmful PFAS chemicals from drinking water. It’s the first time the federal government has moved to set a national drinking water standard for the so-called ‘forever’ chemicals. The proposal could take effect later this year, setting new practices in many regions while expanding on existing standards in the few states — including Massachusetts — that already regulate the synthetic chemicals.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Cape and Islands DA Robert Galibois cited by Barnstable police for ‘failure to report a motor vehicle crash’,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Robert Galibois, a Democrat who took over as DA at the start of the year, has been cited by Barnstable Police for failure to report a motor vehicle crash, marked lanes violation, and improper turn.” — “At Wellesley College, Students Vote to Admit Trans Men,” by Vimal Patel, New York Times: “The referendum, which was nonbinding, called for opening admission to all nonbinary and transgender applicants, including trans men. Currently, the college allows admission to anyone who lives and consistently identifies as a woman. … Wellesley’s president, Paula Johnson, said that the referendum would rewrite Wellesley’s founding mission to educate women. In a statement after the vote, a spokesperson for Dr. Johnson said the college would not reconsider its opposition.”
| | A message from NextEra Energy: Registered voters in Massachusetts show a clear interest in leveraging nuclear energy in the fight against climate change, according to a recent Beacon Research survey. The survey focused on the state’s energy resources, specifically how nuclear energy can be incorporated to reach long-term clean energy goals. | | | | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Kiame Mahaniah joins the state’s Health and Human Services office as health undersecretary in April; Mary McGeown joins as human services undersecretary. Mahaniah was most recently CEO of Lynn Community Health Center. McGeown returns to EOHHS after serving as ED of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. — Dan Koh, deputy Cabinet secretary of the White House and former chief of staff to one-time Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, which released its 2023 class on Tuesday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Miles Weber, Johanna Campbell Case and Lenny Alcivar. 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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