Why Dems don’t agree on free community college — yet

Lisa Kashinsky's must-read rundown of what's up on Beacon Hill and beyond.

Apr 18, 2023 View in browser   By Sophie Gardner, Kelly Garrity and Mia McCarthy SCHOOL DAZE — Community colleges in Massachusetts want to be free for all state residents … someday. Gov. Maura Healey introduced MassReconnect, a program that would make public community college free for state residents who are at least 25 years old and don’t already have a degree, as part of her budget proposal. The House soon followed suit, pitching $20 million to kick-start the program. Senate President Karen Spilka, however, doesn’t buy the age restrictions, a value that’s likely to be reflected in the chamber’s budget proposal, which will be up for a vote in May. But community college representatives have clearly picked a side on a subject that’s turned out to be surprisingly testy on Beacon Hill: They’re not quite ready to offer free tuition to everyone. “We want to move quickly to make this happen, but frankly, we can't move that quickly for everybody — it's complicated,” said David Podell, the chair of Council of Community College Presidents and president of MassBay. Free tuition and fees can, unsurprisingly, generate a jump in enrollment. And while it’s unclear just how many new students might come through MassReconnect, free community college for all has even more variables, Podell told Playbook. MassReconnect is a solid start, he said, and then there could be a debate about expanding it further in a year or two — once administrators have more time to prepare. “We have to learn how to do it, so this would give us a first step. And it would give us a first step with a population that in some ways needs it the most,” Podell said. Nate Mackinnon, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, agreed. “We see MassReconnect as the right first step towards a longer term strategy of making community college free for everybody,” he told Playbook. “That will take a lot more money and a lot more time.” Ellen Kennedy, president of Berkshire Community College, and John Cox, president of Cape Cod Community College, support the slower plan too, though Cox told Playbook he expects the colleges would “rise to the occasion” either way. Many other states already make community college free and Democrats may fully run things in Massachusetts now but it’s unclear how this issue will resolve itself. They have plenty of time: A completed budget is due by July 1, and negotiations often stretch on past that deadline. Education has turned out to be one of the more contentious issues on Beacon Hill, with the House booting one of Healey’s other education proposals — a tuition freeze at state universities — and instead pushing for $161 million to make free school meals permanent. One-party rule doesn’t patch everything. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. More funding for local public transit is popular with the people, a new poll shows. In the MassINC poll out today, 79 percent of those surveyed said they support increasing funding for the state’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities, the local transit systems serving areas outside the MBTA’s purview. A bill proposed by state Sen. Susan Moran would raise the floor for RTA funding from $94 million to $150 million, allowing RTAs to run seven days a week and during the evening. The bill has racked up substantial support in the Senate — 26 senators have signed on, including members of both parties. And now polling indicates it’s popular with Massachusetts residents, too. When asked specifically about the proposal, 69 percent of those polled said they strongly or somewhat support raising RTA funding to $150 million in the state budget. The poll, a collaborative effort from MassINC and the Regional Transit Authority Advocates Coalition, surveyed 1,401 Massachusetts residents, 967 of whom live in RTA service areas. The survey was conducted online, over the phone and via text between Feb. 23 and March 7 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attend the Bloomberg Center for Cities opening celebration at Harvard at 10:30 a.m. Healey kicks off Earth Week with a tree planting event in Malden as part of the Greening the Gateway Cities program at 11:30 a.m. Sen. Ed Markey is holding a Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee hearing on vehicle emission standards and clean vehicle investments at 2:30 p.m. in D.C. Programming note: We’re excited to be in your inbox this week while Lisa is out. Email us with your tips, scoops, schedules, birthdays, budget amendments or thoughts on last night’s Bruins win: kgarrity@politico.com, sgardner@politico.com, mmccarthy@politico.com.   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.     DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Months in, Healey is scoring wins with a Democrat-led Legislature in the very places her GOP predecessor failed,” by Samantha J. Gross and Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Three months into her gubernatorial tenure, Maura Healey has quickly piled up legislative victories in areas her popular GOP predecessor couldn’t. This despite the fact that, in several cases, she proposed the exact measure Baker did.” FROM THE HUB — TITLE TOWN – Congratulations to Boston’s speediest marathoners: Vinny Castronuovo, Shannon Lamarre and Danielle Bishop, winners of the inaugural “Fastest Bostonian” awards. Castronuovo finished the race in 2:25:56 to win the men's race, Lamarre came in at 2:54:34 to top the women’s race and Bishop clocked a 3:32:29 in the new non-binary category. — “Worrell brothers, one a councilor and one a state representative, open joint Dorchester office for ‘top-notch constituent services’,” by Tiana Woodward, Boston Globe: “Both brothers, who are each serving in their first term, say the space is part of a promise they made to voters while on the campaign trail — bringing transformative resources and policies from the confines of Beacon Hill and City Hall to the heart of their district.” — “Ten years later, reflecting on the many meanings of Boston Strong,” by Paris Alston, GBH News. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES In this June 2015 photo, commuters disembark from a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority train in Brookline, Mass. The Green Line experienced delays during Patriots' Day on Monday. | AP — “MBTA Green Line has delays on busy Marathon Monday, stranding exhausted runners who are faster than the T,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “What’s more Boston than T delays on Marathon Monday?” — “South Coast Rail: Train tracks aren't for ATVs or dirt bikes. Here's how to stay safe,” by Dan Medeiros, The Herald News: “As warmer weather is driving people to seek adventure outdoors, South Coast Rail Director of Community Engagement Jean Fox is reminding people that some places they may have ventured for years are now off-limits: railroad rights of way.”   GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat.     ON THE STUMP — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Massachusetts Nurses Association, Mass Retirees, MA & Northern New England Laborers' District Council, and Pipefitters Local 537 have endorsed Bill MacGregor for state representative for the 10th Suffolk District. — “This 19-year-old hopes to be Woburn’s next mayor,” by Alvin Buyinza, MassLive: “While some college students are still trying to figure out their own career paths, Northeastern University freshman Omar Mohuddin is already preparing for what he hopes to be his next job: mayor of Woburn.” — “Dracut selectmen approve reduced polling hours for uncontested town election,” by Prudence Brighton, The Lowell Sun: “With an uncontested town election on the horizon and choices for how voters cast their ballots, Dracut selectmen approved shortening polling hours at least for this year.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “State legislators want to give residents a better way to recycle paint. For less than a buck up front, a nonprofit might be the answer,” by Matt Martinez, The Berkshire Eagle.  FROM THE 413 — “Agawam takes steps to restore early mail-in voting option by adjusting election dates,” by Aprell May Munford, MassLive: “The change would modify the timing of the town’s preliminary municipal elections. It comes after controversy that arose following a narrow vote to opt out of early mail-in voting this month.” THE LOCAL ANGLE Fans in the bleachers at Fenway Park wait out a rain delay during the third inning of a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, April 17, 2023, in Boston. | AP — “Red Sox fans make the most of a soggy situation in Fenway bleachers,” by Spencer Buell, Boston Globe: “When Monday’s Patriots Day Red Sox game at Fenway Park was delayed not once, but twice for rain, some fans apparently opted to make the most of the soggy situation. While they waited for the delay to pass Monday afternoon, scores of shirtless spectators flocked to a section of the center field bleachers and were spotted chanting and partying as the droplets fell.” — “‘Attention seeking’: Mass. Guardsman charged with leaking top secret documents liked guns and the military, high school classmates say,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Former high school classmates of Jack D. Teixeira, the 21-year-old Air National Guardsman from Dighton who is accused of leaking classified documents online, recalled him as a quiet teenager with an interest in guns and the military and speculated that he may have been seeking notoriety when he allegedly posted the top secret material.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu is contemplating a presidential run. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu isn’t officially running for president in 2024 — yet. But if/when the moderate Republican makes a bid for the GOP nomination, he has his message down: In: Talking about inflation, border security, health care and fiscal responsibility, he said during a CNN interview on Monday night. Out: Attacking abortion rights. “Remember that line, ‘every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings?’ Well, every time a Republican talks about abortion, someone runs to the Democrat Party,” Sununu told CNN’s Erin Burnett. “I support that a state should be able to design their path,” he added. “We shouldn't have national abortion bans.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Dewey Square Group’s Charlie Baker, Theresa Verbic, Kelsey Donohue, Trey Grayson, Tracy Spicer, James D. Lee and Muzammil Nazir. Happy belated birthday to Doug Elmendorf who celebrated Sunday and Charles Fried 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 Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   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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