| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky and Kelly Garrity | TIKTOK ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK — Reps. Seth Moulton and Jake Auchincloss say they aren’t trying to ban TikTok. They just want it out from under Chinese control — for quite a few reasons. Moulton and Auchincloss are co-sponsoring a bill that would force Beijing-based ByteDance to divest of TikTok. The bipartisan bill is slated to come up for a vote in the House today and is expected to pass despite TikTok and content creators lobbying against it, resistance from some Republicans and concerns from progressives including Rep. Ayanna Pressley. President Joe Biden, who recently launched a TikTok account for his reelection campaign, has said he would sign it. But if a sale doesn’t happen in about six months, the app would be barred in the U.S. No more dance trends to try, no more episodes to watch in the 50-part series detailing the alleged lies a woman’s ex-husband told her, no more of Bruins players doing, well, whatever this is ... we digress. Moulton insists his goal isn’t to get rid of TikTok, but to limit the influence of a foreign adversary in our everyday lives — and in our electoral politics. TikTok's China-based parent company has access "to a tremendous amount of Americans’ personal, private data. And they write the algorithms that control the feed. So, they influence what Americans receive on their phones,” Moulton, who sits on the House China select committee, told Playbook. “When you’re concerned about influence, malign foreign influence, in the election ... TikTok is their weapon.” Auchincloss, who’s also on the House China committee, came to back the bill for mental health reasons — and out of concerns that extend beyond TikTok. “We have these trillion-dollar social media corporations that are making parents and children miserable. They are corroding our civil discourse. They are monetizing the attention spans of our youth. They are platforming disinformation. And they are unaccountable,” Auchincloss told Playbook. “The first step toward accountability is to subject them to U.S. law.” Some congressional offices have been flooded with calls from TikTok users pleading with lawmakers not to restrict access to the platform — in some cases prompted by push notifications from the app itself. Moulton says his office has received a few. In his view, it's “in TikTok’s hands to decide what they want to do — whether they want to continue their business in America.” Auchincloss, meanwhile, says that while banning TikTok is “not my near-term goal,” he wants to “reserve the right to say that ultimately might be necessary.” Neither congressman would miss out if TikTok goes away — they don’t use the app anyway (“Big no,” Moulton said when we asked.). But other major Massachusetts politicians do — either personally, for their official offices or for their campaigns. Pressley, Sen. Ed Markey, Auditor Diana DiZoglio and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu are among those with active accounts. Moulton's response to that: “Well, I’m also one of the few Massachusetts politicians who regularly sees classified intelligence about China.”
|  TikTok users are lobbying Congress not to pass the bill that would force its sale or bar the app in the U.S. | Alex Wong/Getty Images | GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Get ready to check one more campaign promise off Maura Healey’s list. The governor is getting ready to announce pardons for people convicted of simple marijuana possessions at the state level, continuing to flex the power of clemency afforded to her office. Healey first pledged such a move while running for governor in 2022, shortly after President Joe Biden announced his administration’s pardon policy and encouraged governors to follow suit. Potentially thousands of Bay Staters could see the charge dropped from their records. There are still a lot of details Healey will need to fill in during her 10 a.m. press conference at the State House. But we know the pardons would need approval from the Governor’s Council. Multiple members of the body expressed support for the possibility of a blanket pardon of cannabis possession convictions. Councilor Terry Kennedy said he also wanted to see pardons for some of those convicted of possession with intent to distribute. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, AG Andrea Campbell and Senate President Karen Spilka join Healey for her pardon announcement at 10 a.m. at the State House’s Grand Staircase. Healey attends the MA YouthBuild Coalition’s annual State House Day at 11 a.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at a Fire Department graduation ceremony at 9 a.m. in Dorchester. Tips? Scoops? More #mapoli TikTok accounts? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com.
| | | | Easily connect with the right N.Y. State influencers and foster the right relationships to champion your policy priorities. POLITICO Pro. Inside New York. Learn more. | | | | | |  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | WE'RE ONTO THE GENERAL ELECTION — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have collected enough delegates to be named their parties' presumptive presidential nominees, cementing their general-election rematch.
| | | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | | FEMA APPEAL — Gov. Maura Healey has formally appealed FEMA’s denial of her request for a disaster declaration for communities deluged by last September’s floods. Officials in hard-hit Leominster are welcoming the move. — “State lawmakers holding fewer recorded votes,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “The number of roll call votes by the state House of Representatives has plummeted in recent years, prompting concerns from open government groups about a lack of transparency in Beacon Hill's often secretive legislative process. In the current legislative session, which got underway in January 2023, the House has held 81 roll calls that recorded how each lawmaker voted on specific bills, according to voting records from the House clerk's office. But the number of recorded votes has been declining for years, with 105 roll calls held during the preceding two-year session in 2021 and 2022, according to the data.” — “Massachusetts school funding overhaul hits an inflation glitch,” by James Vaznis, The Boston Globe: “Nearly five years after Massachusetts lawmakers overhauled the state’s school funding formula, districts are struggling to balance their budgets for the upcoming school year, prompting many to consider cutting programs and staff or asking taxpayers to dig deeper. The chief culprit, district leaders and advocates say, is the high rate of inflation. … Voters in Belmont, Harvard, and Westford will be considering hefty property tax hikes at the polls this spring, which, if they fail to pass, could result in significant cuts to school and town services.” — “Race to replace Marc Pacheco in senate heats up as 2nd Taunton city councilor jumps in,” by Daniel Schemer, The Taunton Daily Gazette: “[T]hree candidates have officially declared their candidacy for the 3rd Bristol and Plymouth seat held by long-time incumbent Marc Pacheco, [Taunton City Councilor Barry Sanders, a Democrat, and Republicans Taunton City Councilor Kelly Dooner and Raynham Selectman Joe Pacheco.]”
| | BALLOT BATTLES | | TIPPING POINT — Things got heated on the State House steps Tuesday morning as dueling groups jockeyed for attention during back-to-back press conferences on a ballot initiative that would require restaurants to pay workers a full minimum wage in addition to tips. Advocates with One Fair Wage, the nonprofit leading the effort to get the question on November’s ballot, argued that the current pay structure isn’t sustainable for restaurant workers, who typically earn a lower-than-minimum wage before tips. But as state Sen. Pat Jehlen stepped up to the microphone to offer her support, she was drowned out by chants of “Save our tips!” from an opposition group supported by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. Workers and restaurant owners who joined the event as part of the “Committee to Protect Tips” claim the question could cut into workers' pay.
| | | | JOIN US ON 3/21 FOR A TALK ON FINANCIAL LITERACY: Americans from all communities should be able to save, build wealth, and escape generational poverty, but doing so requires financial literacy. How can government and industry ensure access to digital financial tools to help all Americans achieve this? Join POLITICO on March 21 as we explore how Congress, regulators, financial institutions and nonprofits are working to improve financial literacy education for all. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “Chickenpox cases reported at Melnea Cass Recreation Complex overflow shelter site,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Six people staying at a shelter site in Roxbury housing migrants have contracted chickenpox since it opened at the end of January, though state officials said there is 'no current outbreak' of the disease. A case has not been identified at the Melnea Cass Recreation Complex shelter since March 1.” — “‘It was getting impossible to live’: In Mattapan, a front line of the humanitarian crisis fueled by Haiti’s unrest,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe. — “Greenfield shelter leaders ponder impacts of potential funding infusion, stay limit,” by Anthony Cammalleri, Greenfield Recorder.
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Wu’s open to expanding the BPS free museum pilot — but not now,” by Nicole Garcia, GBH News: “‘It is very much my hope that we can expand. My sense is that we'll need to find some more funding for that to happen, and that will be something that we have to plan out,’ [Mayor Michelle Wu] said.”
| | | ROLLINS REPORT | | | — “Rachael Rollins suspended from practicing law in Massachusetts,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Rollins’ law license was suspended on Feb. 20, for non-payment of registration fees, according to documents from the Supreme Judicial Court of Suffolk County, where the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers filed a motion for suspension.”
| | WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING | | — “A divided Milton heads into court,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “Thirteen days after Milton residents voted by a 54-46 percent margin to reject a zoning plan put forward by the Select Board and approved at Town Meeting, Campbell filed suit against the town, claiming it was not in compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. A day later she filed a motion to have the case moved directly to the Supreme Judicial Court. Legal briefs on the move to the SJC were due Monday and on the original complaint March 25. … Milton seems unprepared, partly because of the fast-moving pace of legal action and mostly because town officials are as divided as the town they represent.” — “Massachusetts State Police fire back after police officers push for review of embattled agency,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “MSP is touting its series of reforms to ‘maintain and strengthen the public’s trust’ in response to the Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement again [proposing] a Blue Ribbon commission to take a close look at MSP.” — “State pushes back on Saint Vincent Hospital: Says investigation still ongoing,” by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette: “The state Department of Public Health is challenging a Saint Vincent Hospital press release that states the department found no deficiencies in staffing and quality of patient care at the hospital. The investigation that started Jan. 31 is ongoing, and no conclusions can be drawn at this time, according to the state health department.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | ADD THAT TO THE LINKEDIN PROFILE — Housing Secretary Ed Augustus won a new title Tuesday: Hall of famer. Augustus is one of three people who will be inducted into the Worcester Red Sox Hall of Fame later this season, State House News Service reports. TRANSITIONS — Peter D. Banko will be the next president and CEO of Baystate Health in Springfield. He starts in June. — Mike Festa will step down as AARP Massachusetts state director in July. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Diamond Naga Siu and Madison Colburn. 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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