| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky and Kelly Garrity | Presented by McDonald's | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: ECON DEV COMING — Gov. Maura Healey plans to file her long-awaited economic development bond bill this week, she told Playbook. We know it’ll draw on the economic development plan that her administration released late last year, and that it will at least include $100 million to create an “Applied AI Hub” in the state and a reauthorization of the life sciences initiative first launched under the Patrick administration. We don’t yet know the price tag — and how that dollar amount has been affected by the state’s slumping revenues. That’s not the only news Healey shared after her trip to Washington… FROM THE LOUNGE AT THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore could barely make it across the lobby without getting stopped for a picture. When Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte moved, a phalanx of staff, security and family followed. Healey cut a more unassuming presence as she networked her way through the National Governors Association winter meeting on Friday and Saturday at one of The District’s swankiest hotels. Her lower profile is likely as much physical as it is political — at 5-foot-4 she’s simply shorter than many of the men who make up the majority of state executives. But it allows her to operate without (too many) interruptions from lobbyists and pesky reporters like yours truly. And so, as the lobby lights dimmed on Friday evening, Healey arrived for a chat with Laura Kelly, the Democratic governor of Kansas. They sat off to the side of the lounge, at the same cluster of tables where Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt had held court moments before. But Healey and Kelly were joined only by Healey’s partner, Joanna Lydgate. They spoke quietly and intensely, heads bowed toward each other, their conversation shrouded by the dulcet tones of pop songs being recast as piano ballads by the evening’s entertainer. Healey wouldn’t divulge all the details of their chat. But they did engage in some good-natured football-related ribbing, in which Healey warned Kelly not to “get too ahead of herself on the Chiefs because you can’t touch the Patriots.” On a more serious note, the two talked immigration, a focal point for governors over the two-day event and the main topic of discussion at their White House meeting with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and administration officials including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Biden called on governors to press their federal representatives to revive the border deal that includes money for states sheltering migrants and stricter asylum rules. But Republican governors left the meeting unswayed. “It’s a shame,” Healey said. “It really flies in the face of strong consensus among governors, both Democrats and Republicans, that we need federal immigration reform and that we need Congress to act. I can’t tell you how many conversations we had, conversations with Democratic and Republican governors and the White House, all of us lamenting Congress’ failure.”
|  President Joe Biden speaks to governors at the White House. | Evan Vucci/AP | As the Biden administration explores what executive actions it can take to curb border crossings, Healey said there are “certainly things that can be done by executive action, and we have encouraged the president to exercise all authority.” She didn’t directly weigh in on the slew of executive actions Biden is considering, which have already spurred backlash from progressive groups. But she did say “it’s not about sending 15 National Guardspeople to the border from one of our northern states." That's a clear swipe at New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who recently won $850,000 from lawmakers to send members of the state’s National Guard to the Texas border. “If Congress passed the bipartisan bill," Healey said, "it would fund border agents, border personnel. It would also help with fentanyl interdiction.” Healey also had “productive discussions” with a FEMA administrator after the feds rejected her request for a disaster declaration tied to September’s flooding. She still plans to appeal. “We need Congress to act here as well,” Healey said. “We need to have a different mechanism for getting relief, getting funding to states and cities across this country that are dealing with new and devastating impacts of recurring adverse weather events attributable to climate change.” GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Also at the NGA: former Gov. Charlie Baker, who discussed sports betting’s impact on the NCAA during a private lunch with governors. TODAY — Healey swears in a judge at noon and joins Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and legislative leaders for a leadership meeting at 2 p.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends the Age Strong Black Heritage Celebration Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. in Dorchester. Rep. Lori Trahan highlights federal funding at 1 p.m. at Middlesex Community College. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is in Boston today for a Biden Victory Fund event that was rescheduled from earlier this month due to that snowstorm that didn't happen. Tips? Scoops? Fundraisers? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com.
| | | | A message from McDonald's: From 2021 to 2022, the McDonald’s System contributed over $700 million to Massachusetts’ economy, supporting over 14,350 jobs statewide. McDonald’s presence in local communities throughout Massachusetts generated nearly $125 million in federal, state and local tax revenue, providing funding for public schools, infrastructure, parks and more. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in Massachusetts and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/ma. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Healey says Steward information ‘insufficient’,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “The Healey administration said Steward Health Care failed to provide requested financial information by Friday’s deadline and announced no steps to compel compliance. Steward earlier this week said it provided the state with an enormous amount of financial data, but administration officials said audited financial statements were not included. ‘The financial information that Steward provided this week continues to be incomplete and insufficient,’ said Karissa Hand, the governor’s spokeswoman. ‘What Steward must do from this point forward is clear — complete an orderly transition out of Massachusetts.’” — “As New England Revolution kick off new season, Mass. lawmaker keeps ball rolling on new stadium,” by John L. Micek, MassLive.
| | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “A new immigration court is set to open in Mass. Will it help the immense backlog of cases?” by Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe: “A new immigration court is set to open in Massachusetts, where the population of migrants hoping to present their case to a judge has grown exponentially in recent years. The Lowell Immigration Court, which will be located on Apollo Drive in Chelmsford, is set to open in early April.”
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | FROM THE HUB | | — “Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden is facing two ethics probes from separate state entities,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe: “Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden is facing two ethics investigations related to statements he made about his opponent during the 2022 race for Suffolk DA. … One of the ethics probes is by the state’s Office of Bar Counsel, which investigates allegations of lawyer misconduct in Massachusetts. … Hayden is also being investigated by the state ethics commission for similar allegations raised by Arroyo.” — “Boston employees regularly assaulted for writing parking tickets, city union says,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Boston parking enforcement officers say they’re tired of being an ‘outlet’ for the anger of people they issue tickets to, and are urging city officials to impose stiffer penalties for the offenders who regularly assault and harass them on the job.” — “OTR: Boston [City Councilor Brian Worrell] wants to add 250 liquor licenses, here's why,” by Ed Harding and Sharman Sacchetti, WCVB.
| | | | A message from McDonald's:   | | | | | SENATE SHOWDOWN | | NO ARGUMENT HERE — Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and her most prominent Republican rival, John Deaton, appear to be on the same page about the Alabama Supreme Court ruling jeopardizing access to in vitro fertilization. Both Deaton and Warren condemned the decision in statements posted to social media. “Children are a blessing. Efforts to prevent couples from conceiving are unconscionable and cruel. This is health care and it’s about family. Just as they were wrong on Dobbs, out-of-control judges should not be deciding these things. Period,” Deaton posted on X. Warren called the ruling “outrageous” in her own post shortly thereafter, blaming “right-wing extremists” and former President Donald Trump, who she said “set the stage for this disaster by stacking the Supreme Court with radicals who’d overturn” Roe v. Wade.
| | | | Don’t sleep on it. Get breaking New York policy from POLITICO Pro—the platform that never sleeps—and use our Legislative Tracker to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more. | | | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | PUMPING THE BRAKES — MBTA Advisory Board Executive Director Brian Kane is casting doubt on the future of reduced fares for low-income T riders. Gov. Maura Healey proposed $45 million for the program in her budget, but Kane said on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” that “there’s no funding source dedicated for it in the long term.” “There’s no money in Year Two, and the cost of this program rises to $100 million after five years,” Kane said. “So it is a large concern for my organization, the cities and towns that contribute to the T.”
| | | DAY IN COURT | | | — “Federal class-action lawsuit filed in Worcester over illegal state trooper recordings,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “Four of the more than 200 criminal defendants state police recorded illegally using a cellphone application during undercover investigations filed a federal class-action lawsuit Friday against Motorola and the state police colonel.”
| | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | | — “Milton starts to chart path forward after residents reject MBTA zoning bill,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “The Milton Planning Board is considering seeking a reclassification that would lessen the burden on the number of multi-family housing units needed to comply with a state-mandated zoning plan. … Some Planning Board members argue that being classified as an ‘adjacent community’ rather than a ‘rapid transit community’ makes more sense.” But the state has said no before to changing the town’s designation under the MBTA Communities Law. THE SAGA CONTINUES — “Medford mayor broke law during search for interim fire chief, union attorney alleges,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “An attorney for the Medford fire union is accusing Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn of breaking the law by offering a firefighter from outside the city to serve as interim chief, but the mayor says she’s in the right as she followed the city charter. … Medford has been divided since a wave of sick callouts within the fire department earlier this month cost the city nearly $100,000.” — “DCU bull riding event met with animal rights protesters disappointed hosted in city-owned venue,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette.
| | | | A message from McDonald's: McDonald’s is an economic engine for the state of Massachusetts, contributing over $700 million to our state’s economy, directly employing nearly 11,600 Massachusettsans and supporting an additional 2,750 jobs statewide. It’s also an engine of opportunity: 1 in 4 independent McDonald’s operators in Massachusetts began their careers as restaurant crew members, generating wealth for their families and local communities. We are proud to support Massachusetts through public schools, parks and more from the nearly $125 million in federal, state and local tax revenue generated by the McDonald’s System’s activities. And thanks to the generosity of McDonald’s customers and owner/operators, the $700,000 raised through Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2022 provided over 7,000 overnight stays for families with children receiving medical care in Massachusetts. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in Massachusetts and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/ma. | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | SHE’S ONTO SUPER TUESDAY — Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is vowing to fight on after getting blown out in her home state’s GOP presidential primary by former President Donald Trump. She mathematically doesn’t stand much — if any — chance of stopping his march to a third straight nomination. But her refusal to quit means political action will briefly return to the region: Haley is capping off her swing through Super Tuesday states with a campaign event Saturday night at the Sheraton in Needham. More than 700,000 voters have requested mail-in ballots ahead of the state’s presidential primaries and nearly 250,000 had been returned, Secretary of State Bill Galvin said as early voting got underway. Even though there is “not as much of an incentive for people to come out” because races on both sides “seem decided,” Galvin said the “importance of this election” appears to be “superseding” low interest.
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TAYLOR, IF YOU’RE READING THIS — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly would be enchanted to meet you. Healey said Kelly has yet to meet Taylor Swift, who’s dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. But she’s “looking forward to doing that.” (Yes, we know the Chiefs play in Missouri, we’re just the messengers!) FIRE UP THE GROUP CHAT — Healey and Kelly are in one with the rest of the nation’s female Democratic governors. “It’s a dream team, it’s fantastic,” Healey said on CNN. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Harold Hubschman, Cathey Park, Laura Oggeri, Adam Bass, Jill Webb and Li Zhou. 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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