| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky and Mia McCarthy | ON TO THE SENATE — Massachusetts Democrats voted through gritted teeth last night to help the House pass the bipartisan deal aimed at avoiding a government default. But not all nine of them. Reps. Jim McGovern and Ayanna Pressley joined other progressives in voting against the bill, which would suspend the debt ceiling through the 2024 election, over changes it would make to government-assistance programs. The deal brokered by President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy would add new work requirements for programs such as SNAP and codify the end of the pause on federal student loan repayments. “I just have a hard time voting for something that compromises support for some of the most vulnerable people that I represent,” McGovern, the House’s leading anti-hunger advocate, told Playbook at the Capitol. “I’m grateful to the president for fighting the good fight. And he was able to reverse a lot of bad things. But we need to do better in the future.” Pressley, a leading advocate for student-debt relief, said in a statement: “While I have consistently supported raising the debt ceiling, I could not in good conscience support a bill that takes food away from hungry people, forces borrowers back into our broken student loan system, and perpetuates environmental injustice.” Neither McGovern nor Pressley needed to vote for the compromise bill in order for it to pass. After days of hand-wringing and vote-wrangling, the measure sailed through the House 314-117, buoyed by more centrist members on both sides of the political aisle.
|  Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) speaks during a press conference on the debt ceiling on Capitol Hill May 24, 2023. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images) | AP | Still, the rest of the state’s all-Democratic delegation put aside their reservations — and there were a lot of them, from the cut to IRS funding to the increase in defense spending — in the name of averting economic disaster and in a show of support for the president. “There is no perfect negotiation when you’re the victim of extortion,” Katherine Clark, the House Democratic Whip, said in a statement rebuking Republicans after voting for the deal. “It’s not my ideal bill — few things are in Washington, D.C.,” Rep. Jake Auchincloss said in a video prior to the vote. “But governing in divided government requires compromise.” House Democrats walked away touting some wins. While the deal would raise the age limit for people on food aid who are subject to work requirements, it would also exempt veterans, the homeless and those aging out of the foster care system. The bill now moves to the Senate, where our colleagues report that the upper chamber’s progressives — including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey — are grumbling with little time to spare before the U.S. is projected to run out of money to pay its bills on June 5. Markey plans to vote against the deal, tweeting yesterday that he “will not support a deal to fast-track dirty fossil fuel projects at the expense of environmental justice” — a reference to provisions that would speed up energy permitting processes and the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. And Warren is showing skepticism: “We have to weigh the consequences of default against the pain that Republicans are trying to impose on hungry Americans, students, our climate and the Republicans' constant enthusiasm for protecting billionaire tax cheats,” she said yesterday at the Capitol. But, like their House counterparts, they’re not expected to hurt the bill’s chances of passing. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. We’re tag-teaming from the Bay State to the Beltway. Send us your tips and scoops: lkashinsky@politico.com and mmccarthy@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll swear in MWRA board members at 10 a.m., DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein at 10:20 a.m. and Housing Secretary Ed Augustus at 10:35 a.m. at the State House. Healey attends a Pride Flag raising at 4:30 p.m. outside Boston City Hall with Mayor Michelle Wu. Driscoll attends the Willie Pearl Clark Community Center dedication at noon with Augustus and Wu, an ECCF event at 4 p.m. in Beverly and the Essex Tech graduation at 6 p.m. The MBTA Advisory Board hosts GM Phillip Eng for a conversation on the T’s future at 10 a.m. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts a LGBTQ+ roundtable at 10:30 a.m. in Lowell. Wu signs a construction safety ordinance at 1:15 p.m. at the Brazilian Worker Center in Allston.
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW. | | | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Peter Durant plans to announce Senate run next week for Anne Gobi’s seat, source says,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “State Rep. Peter Durant, a Spencer Republican, plans to announce next week a run for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Sen. Anne Gobi, who is leaving the Legislature to join the Healey administration, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. … Durant’s decision to run will pit him against his House colleague, Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, a Gardner Democrat.” — “Packies, Restaurants Divided Over Takeout Drinks,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “Lawmakers considering whether to continue allowing patrons to purchase beer, wine and cocktails to go with their takeout food orders must weigh the interests of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, which supports the idea, against those of the Massachusetts Package Store Association, whose leader warned Wednesday that keeping the option around would contribute to the shops' ‘death by a thousand cuts.’" — “Beacon Hill urged to expand loan repayment program,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Thousands have applied for the state's new college loan repayment program for health care professionals, and lawmakers are being pressured to pump more money into the initiative to help ease workforce shortages. The $130 million taxpayer-funded program, which got underway last year, will pay off up to $300,000 in college loans for health care professionals in a variety of disciplines, including dental, medical, mental health and substance abuse.” — “Gaming Commission asks feds to shut down illegal gambling,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Magazine: “Members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission are going to send a letter to US Attorney General Merrick Garland, asking the Justice Department to do more to combat illegal offshore sports books and online casinos.” — “Advocates push for pregnancy care measures on Beacon Hill,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News: “The OB-GYN group backs one bill that would create grant programs aimed at equitably expanding access to mental health services during and after pregnancy, and another would require MassHealth to cover services from doulas, professionals who provide physical, emotional and informational support during pregnancy, labor and pregnancy loss. The doctors also support a bill that looks to build on a 2022 state law that requires insurers to cover abortion care without copays or deductibles for patients.”
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Boston University president rips graduating students for ‘cancel culture’ after they shouted obscenities at Warner Bros. CEO,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Boston University’s retiring president has sent a parting shot at his final class of graduating students, calling out the alums for ‘cancel culture’ after one of the most awkward commencements of all time when they booed and shouted obscenities at the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO amid the writers’ strike.”
| | DAY IN COURT | | — "Massachusetts assault weapons ban targeted in federal suit," by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: "A national gun rights group has asked a federal judge to immediately halt the state’s longstanding ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines while the court decides whether the law should stand at all."
| | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN | | | — “New Bedford longshoremen’s union extends protest against offshore wind developer,” by Ben Berke, The Public’s Radio: “Members of a New Bedford longshoremen’s union are still protesting at the city’s Marine Commerce Terminal over hiring decisions related to construction of the nation’s first major offshore wind farm. … The ILA’s picket at the main entrance to the state-owned Marine Commerce Terminal is causing expensive delays on the project.”
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | FROM THE 413 | | — "Springfield city councilors allege favoritism in mayor’s outdoor dining grants," by Daniel Jackson, Springfield Republican: "Two Springfield city councilors leveled criticism Wednesday at how the mayor’s office distributed federal recovery funds for an outdoor dining program. They said the process fast-tracked funds to restaurants and organizations politically favored by the mayor’s office." — “Amherst-Pelham Regional board issues apology to LGBTQ students,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A statement put out by the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee this week is expressing support for all students in the secondary schools to have a safe learning environment free of discrimination, as well as providing an apology for the pain and harm recently caused to the LGBTQIA+ community by alleged anti-trans actions by middle school staff.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Boston Supreme Court case has Framingham mulling a new policy on flying flags,” by Jesse Collings, MetroWest Daily News: “A new ordinance being proposed in Framingham would limit what flags the city can fly on public buildings unless the City Council approves otherwise. The proposed ordinance would change the process the city follows to fly flags, with proponents saying it is designed to protect Framingham from being forced to fly flags that may be against city policy.”
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE | | — TRAIL MARKERS: GOP presidential contenders Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democratic hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are in New Hampshire today. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expected to launch his second White House campaign on Tuesday at Saint Anselm College, Axios scooped. Former Vice President Mike Pence, another frequent flier to the Granite State, is announcing his bid for the top job on Tuesday in Iowa.
| | MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND | | — DEPARTURE LOUNGE: Democratic Rep. David Cicilline is heading home to Rhode Island and to his new gig leading the Rhode Island Foundation after turning in his letter of resignation during yesterday’s debt-deal vote. But it wasn’t just a letter. Cicilline handed in a 24 page document highlighting his accomplishments over his 12 years representing Rhode Island’s 1st district. And while you were counting votes on C-SPAN, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark was reading out Cicilline’s resignation letter on the floor. His vote in favor of the debt bill was his last as a representative.
| | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | | TRANSITIONS — Tracy Roosevelt is now attorney adviser in the office of the general counsel of the Department of the Navy. She previously was in the international litigation and arbitration practice at Foley Hoag. — Will Stockton is joining 4C Partners as VP. He ran Andrea Campbell’s campaign for attorney general and previously worked for candidates including Elizabeth Warren and Terry McAuliffe. — Samuel L. Gebru’s Black Lion Strategies has added Kristen Halbert, Art Gordon, Suryani Dewa Ayu, Keith Chappelle, Peter Payack and Mark Martinez as senior associates; Luke Albert as research associate; and Aratrika Ghosh and Abigail Elsbree as policy and advocacy assistants. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS — Happy hour is back on the legislative menu for this session and environmental concerns abound over a proposed machine-gun range on Cape Cod. Hosts Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky break it all down. 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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