| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | WALSH WATCH — Joe Biden is staying in the race for president, congressional Democrats, mainstream media and Hollywood elites be damned. But the president’s public promises haven’t stopped the rumor mill of his potential replacements from churning, and a report from The New York Times Thursday that the Biden campaign is running the numbers to see how Vice President Kamala Harris stacks up in a head-to-head matchup against former President Donald Trump didn’t do anything to quiet the fervor. A hypothetical Harris bid is stirring speculation locally: If — and it’s a massive if — she tops the ticket, could she tap Marty Walsh to be her No. 2? The former labor secretary generated some buzz when was spotted in D.C. earlier this week, joining Biden as the president met with the AFL-CIO’s Executive Council and spoke to a room of supporters holding “Unions for Biden-Harris” signs. Walsh didn’t take the mic at the campaign rally, but his presence was enough to reignite the Boston chattering class that never really stops talking about what his next political move might be. The idea of a Harris/Walsh ticket isn’t entirely far-fetched. The former Boston mayor and past California senator struck up an unexpectedly close friendship when Walsh followed Biden to Washington to head up his labor department. Walsh, with his blue-collar background and labor bona fides, could complement Harris and help attract some of the hardest voters for her to reach, particularly as former President Donald Trump continues to court union voters But Walsh tamped down that talk when Playbook called him up Thursday night. “I don't deal in hypotheticals,” Walsh said. “[Biden] is my candidate for president. He is staying in the race for president. He plans on running and beating Donald Trump.” Plus, Walsh added, “I’m focused on my job with the NHLPA. … I'm focused on doing the best I can for the players I represent.” GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. In any case, 2028 isn’t too far off… TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have no public events. THIS WEEKEND — Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Republican Senate hopeful and Quincy City Council President Ian Cain is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan are on NBC10 Boston’s “@Issue” airing at 5 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | READING THEIR RECEIPTS — The Boston Globe dug through legislative leaders’ campaign finance reports to see how top Democrats are spending their campaign cash. LET THE BARGAINING BEGIN — The Senate passed its economic development bill late Thursday night, calling for $2.86 billion in bond authorizations and packing on a slate of new policies. What made it in? Boston Celtics-backed legislation that would raise the age most people could be prosecuted as an adult to 19. Local option happy hour. A policy that would clear the way for a soccer stadium in Everett. What didn’t? A House proposal to rename the BCEC after late Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. A live theater tax credit that House lawmakers and Healey included in their versions of the bill. And the Senate scaled back investments in life sciences that Healey made one of the focal points of her version of the bill, which the House largely mirrored. More from State House News Service. ICYMI: HEALEY EXTENDS HIRING CONTROLS — Gov. Maura Healey’s administration has extended the pause on executive-branch hiring that began in April through the end of October. “Given the volatility we’ve observed in several key revenue categories over the past year, we have extended these temporary hiring controls — which allow selective, critical hiring through exemptions and waivers — until October 31, 2024, to ensure we start Fiscal Year 2025 in the best position possible to continue responsibly managing spending,” Healey’s secretary of administration and finance, Matt Gorzkowicz, said in a statement. The hiring policy has saved about $17 million so far, in the administration’s estimation, and roughly 250 job postings have been removed. But the state’s fiscal picture is still murky after May’s tax haul came in $192 million below benchmark. Meanwhile, House and Senate lawmakers continue to swap proposals on the budget for the fiscal year that began at the start of the month, and Massachusetts appears to be in position to be the last state with a July 1 deadline without a budget, per the State House News Service. — “Steward Health Care is under federal investigation for potential foreign corruption violations,” by Jessica Bartlett, Elizabeth Koh and Hanna Krueger, The Boston Globe: “The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Steward Health Care for potential corruption in its international business dealings, the company confirmed Thursday, the latest development in a high-stakes drama surrounding the Boston-born health care system. The focus of the investigation is potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a law that prohibits U.S. companies or citizens — as well as foreign entities doing business on U.S. soil — from engaging in bribery and other corruption overseas. The law also sets requirements for accounting practices abroad.” — “Advocates at State House push bills addressing prison reforms for women, elderly,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette: “As the legislative session winds to a close July 31, advocates for certain prison reforms are hopeful two bills will find their way onto the governor’s desk. One measure that imposes a moratorium on the construction of new prison facilities and the other would extend parole review to those who turn 55 and served more than 50% of their sentence.” — “Council Eager To See Healey Fill Superior Court Vacancies,” by Sam Doran, State House New Service (paywall): “Governor's Council members stepped up their calls Wednesday for prompt action to fill the growing list of judicial vacancies, and Gov. Maura Healey responded, telling the News Service she would hand down her next Superior Court nominations ‘very shortly.’ Councilor Tara Jacobs raised the issue at the end of the council's weekly assembly, which was chaired by Healey on Wednesday.” — “Massachusetts officials launching $20.3 million project to repair State House dome, cupola,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe.
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Boston is changing how it collects data on disability,” by Meghan Smith, GBH News: “The city of Boston is rolling out new guidelines for how it serves residents with disabilities. … The guidelines propose a new set of questions for city workers to use when planning events, meetings or providing services. For example, rather than asking how many constituents are blind, departments will ask if people need services like braille, large-print documents, audio description or areas for service dogs to relieve themselves — a reflection that each person’s individual needs can be varied and diverse within disability categories.”
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS | | — “Mass. pledged delegates ready to support Biden at convention, despite concerns,” by Tréa Lavery, MassLive: “After President Joe Biden’s poor performance during the first presidential debate of 2024 on June 27, Democrats across the country have been publicly considering whether the 81-year-old is the right candidate for the next term. Massachusetts is no exception. Even here, where voters have consistently supported the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since the 1980s, doubts are creeping in. But so far, few are ready to stray from giving the president their support when the party chooses its nominee this year.” — “Auchincloss: Voters still have ‘deep and unaddressed doubts’ about Biden,” by Ted Nesi, WPRI: “Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss on Thursday expressed grave doubts about whether President Biden can defeat Donald Trump in the November election, though he stopped short of calling for Biden to abandon his campaign. ‘What I’m hearing is that everyday Americans in the Massachusetts 4th [Congressional District] have deep and unaddressed doubts about President Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump in November and to discharge the duties of his office in his second term,’ Auchincloss said during a live interview on 12 News at 4 with anchor Kim Kalunian.”
| | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “Norfolk parents told state picking up tab for shelter students,” by Stephen Peterson, The Sun Chronicle: “Concerns about the impact that a shelter for homeless and migrants may pose to the town’s school system appeared to be eased to some extent following a forum on the issue Thursday night.”
| | | MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS | | | — “Cannabis Commission unveils proposed leadership changes,” by Bhaamati Borkhetaria, CommonWealth Beacon: “The Cannabis Control Commission, which has come under fire for a disjointed and ineffective management structure, released a draft document on Thursday that attempts to clarify the responsibilities of key players at the agency. The draft governing document has been in the works for more than two years. It was released at a meeting that followed close on the heels of a legislative hearing this week where Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro urged lawmakers to place the agency in receivership while the Legislature develops a new governing structure for it, particularly in relation to the duties of the commission chair and its executive director. Lawmakers seemed hesitant to pursue receivership, which they called the ‘nuclear option.’” — “It looks like there won’t be an increase to the license cap — for now,” by Chris Faraone, Talking Joints Memo.
| | | | Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more. | | | | | | | FROM THE 413 | | — “Agawam mayor picks clerk to City Council as new chief of staff,” by Aprell May Munford, The Springfield Republican. — “One arrested in shootout that took out Holyoke City Hall Annex window,” by Daily Hampshire Gazette staff. — “Greenfield councilors debate proposed Code of Conduct,” by Anthony Cammalleri, Greenfield Recorder.
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “'They can lock us up:' Homeless Brocktonians fear for future after Supreme Court ruling,” by Christopher Butler, The Brockton Enterprise: “On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities can fine or arrest people who sleep or set up tents in public spaces. The ruling overturned a lower court’s decision that prohibited cities from banning people experiencing homelessness from sleeping outside. … Under the previous ruling, Brockton lawmakers had to tiptoe around legal restrictions when it came to removing homeless encampments on public land. Currently, the city has no law against sleeping outside, and city workers aren’t allowed to remove or arrest people for living on the street or in tents. Some members of the Brockton City Council have been calling for a policy that would let city employees clear out areas where people sleep outside, but the previous court’s ruling put up roadblocks.” — “City Council to appoint Belvidere seat?,” by Melanie Gilbert, The Lowell Sun: “A power struggle between members of the City Council, City Manager Tom Golden and state Sen. Ed Kennedy regarding a home rule petition for the filling of vacant positions on elected bodies may come to a head during the council’s upcoming July 23 meeting.” — “Inaugural conference on Hispanic, Minority Serving Institutions quickly fills up at SSU,” by The Salem News staff. — “Misnumbered addresses widespread problem in Taunton. Why residents don't want them fixed,” by Daniel Schemer, Taunton Daily Gazette.
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Charlestown state Rep. Dan Ryan, Daily Hampshire Gazette reporter Scott Merzbach, Gregorio Gomez, Arlene Remz, Madeline Saunders and POLITICO’s Ryan Lizza. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Amanda Hunter, executive director of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, Nick Newburger and Barry Posen, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Rick Jakious of Rep. Seth Moulton’s office, former state Attorney General Martha Coakley, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Erin Olivieri of state Sen. Barry Finegold’s office, Zach Crowley, Laurily Epstein, Nate Bermel, Georgia Katsoulomitis, executive director at Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and David Emil Reich. 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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