| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | SEEING GREEN — In the power struggle between Bay State Republicans’ warring factions, the party establishment appears to have gained a surprising ally. Rick Green, the auto-parts magnate and former congressional candidate who closely aligned himself with former MassGOP Chair Jim Lyons, is helping host an October fundraiser for the party that’s being headlined by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Tickets for the two-part event range from $50 to $5,000, per an invitation obtained by Playbook. That means Green, who served as Lyons’ finance chair, is now boosting the very establishment that ousted them both — and that continues to feud with Lyons, the de facto leader of the party’s hard-right flank. The founder of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, Green has long been more aligned with those within the Republican Party who were critical of former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and his bipartisan brand of politicking. A conservative donor, Green backed Gov. Ron DeSantis early in the GOP presidential primaries, though the Florida Republican dropped out more than a month before Bay Staters hit the ballot box. But Green also cut a sizable check to help bankroll the ballot initiative backed by Auditor Diana DiZoglio that would let the Democrat audit the Legislature. Having Green in the fold is good news for current party Chair Amy Carnevale, who’s been working to untangle the myriad money problems she inherited and replenish Republicans’ ranks on Beacon Hill that have dwindled in recent years. And it could help quash the hopes of those rumored to be eyeing a challenge to her when she’s up for reelection to the role. Green did not respond to requests for comment. But time hasn’t healed all wounds. Not only is Lyons still litigious, he’s still attempting to push the party further right by backing a slate of conservative legislative candidates in November. And he’s already dealt one blow to the party establishment in the primaries by helping one of his endorsed “Freedom Fighters,” Coast Guard veteran John Gaskey, to victory over incumbent Republican state Rep. Susan Williams Gifford. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey holds a bill signing ceremony for long-term care legislation at 10:30 a.m. at the State House and speaks at the Boston Globe Summit at 12:10 p.m. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at a Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery event at 11:30 a.m. in Boston. Healey, Driscoll and Attorney General Andrea Campbell attend the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation’s memorial ceremony at 1:30 p.m. at the State House. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio speaks at the Massachusetts Town Clerks Conference at noon in Southbridge and attends the North Central Chamber’s annual legislative and candidates reception in Sterling at 5 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the Globe Summit at 9 a.m., at the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery event at 11 a.m., at the Boston Public Schools Attendance Symposium at 12:30 p.m. in Roxbury and at a renaming ceremony for Ruth Batson Academy at 4:30 p.m. in Dorchester. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com.
|  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “State Senate President Karen Spilka talks C3 grants, affordable child care in Worcester,” by Cam Jandrow, Spectrum News.
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Boston City Council to discuss alternative to Mayor Wu’s plan to hike business taxes,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Two Boston city councilors opposed to the mayor’s controversial plan to raise commercial tax rates introduced an alternative option that would target $45 million in city funds toward homeowners that would be most burdened by a hefty tax hike. Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy said Wednesday that such an investment would provide tax relief to 20% to 30% of Boston households with home values assessed at or below $1.5 million, thus negating the need for the city-sponsored legislation the mayor proposed as a means to provide similar relief to homeowners.” — “Wu unveils $100 million development fund to jump-start stalled housing projects,” by John Chesto, The Boston Globe: “To help jump-start stalled residential construction in Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu is launching a long-awaited ‘housing accelerator fund’ that would offer up to $100 million in city funds for equity investments in certain multifamily projects. In an interview, Wu said the city will make investments in multifamily residential projects that are close to achieving financing but need some help to complete the deal. The goal is to actually start construction on some of the thousands of housing units that are approved but in limbo because of high interest rates and supply costs.”
| | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “Across continents, two sisters work together to serve Haitians in crisis,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News. — “How much migrant welcome center, shelter at Eastern Nazarene cost? What public records show,” by Peter Blandino, The Patriot Ledger
| | BALLOT BATTLES | | — “As voters ponder ballot question to end MCAS graduation testing requirement, failure rates rise dramatically,” by James Vaznis, The Boston Globe: “Massachusetts public high schools have experienced a sharp decline in 10th graders passing all three MCAS exams over the last five years with the latest scores showing approximately16,000 students failing to meet the bar, a trend that is injecting urgency into a ballot question this November that seeks to repeal the test as a graduation requirement. Just 78 percent of 10th graders last spring passed all MCAS exams in English, math, and science on their first attempt, down from 87 percent in 2019, a 9 percentage point decrease, according to a Globe review.” — “U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern endorses ballot question ending MCAS graduation requirement,” by Adam Bass, MassLive.
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS | | — “John Deaton, GOP candidate for US Senate, paid no federal income tax in 2022,” by Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe: “John Deaton, the multimillionaire attorney running as a Republican against Elizabeth Warren for US Senate this year, paid no federal income tax and donated $0 to charity in 2022, a year when he reported no taxable income due to business losses, according to his tax returns. That year, Deaton reported losses at both his law firm and on rental properties he owns, according to the documents from 2022, the most recent year available in roughly a decade’s worth of tax returns posted on Deaton’s campaign website earlier this month after he secured the GOP nomination.” FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Rep. Jake Auchincloss is endorsing Josh Tarsky in his bid to replace retiring state Rep. Denise Garlick in the 13th Norfolk District, according to his campaign. ENDORSEMENT CORNER — Former Republican Gov. Bill Weld is backing GOP Senate hopeful John Deaton in his bid to unseat Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Weld, in a statement, described Deaton as a "serious, experienced, and intelligent person who would serve the Commonwealth well in office." — “Pease, Matthews-Kane point to records in office during campaign for state rep.,” by Amy Porter, MassLive.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — “Governor Healey nominates first woman to lead Massachusetts Appeals Court,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey on Wednesday nominated state appellate court Judge Amy L. Blake to be chief of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, turning to a veteran jurist who, if confirmed, would be the first woman appointed to lead the half-century-old court.” — “Steward CEO could face prison time after rare Senate vote to punish him for flouting subpoena,” by Aaron Pressman and Jim Puzzanghera, The Boston Globe: “Steward Health Care chief executive Ralph de la Torre could face a trial and prison time for ignoring a congressional subpoena, after the US Senate on Wednesday unanimously moved to refer a criminal contempt charge to the Justice Department. It was the first such action by the Senate in more than 50 years.”
| | FROM THE 413 | | — “Under its revised cellphone policy, Pittsfield schools have less than half as many infractions as last September,” by Matt Martinez, The Berkshire Eagle: “In the first 18 school days of this academic year, there were 416 disciplinary ‘log entries’ for cellphones, according to a presentation by Matthew Bishop, interim assistant superintendent of instruction, assessment and educational engagement. By the end of September 2023, the number was 988, Bishop said.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Worcester nonprofits see ‘blatant racial equity issues’ in some ARPA funding decisions,” by Sam Turken, GBH News: “The American Rescue Plan Act money is intended to support economic recovery and address long-term challenges, especially those affecting communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. But some nonprofits and activists argue Worcester has used a lot of its ARPA funds to continue a pattern of preferential treatment to larger, well-funded organizations over small Black- and brown-led groups.” — “'People are going to die': Fall River passes anti-homeless law; advocates say it will fail,” by Dan Medeiros, The Herald News: “The City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night to ban ‘unauthorized camping on public property,’ essentially outlawing homeless encampments with the potential to fine people for living outdoors. The measure calls for no fines if a person is homeless, if there are no shelter beds available, and if the person is willing to ‘immediately go to a shelter if/when space becomes available.’ However, if all three criteria aren’t met, fines could be levied.” — “'Tool...to know what is happening': Councilors ask for 10-year plans from higher ed schools,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette. — “North Attleboro officials find no rodeo negligence in escape of bulls but want reimbursement,” by Stephen Peterson, The Sun Chronicle.
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE | | — “Craig, Ayotte tangle often in Nashua Chamber of Commerce debate,” by Adam Sexton, WMUR.
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Elham Dehbozorgi is now chief legal risk officer at Fish & Richardson. She most recently was general counsel at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox. — Ryan Owens will serve as the next executive director of the New England Forestry Foundation, replacing returning Executive Director Robert Perschel later this year. — Mary Gallagher has joined the board of trustees at New England Donor Services. She currently serves as the state’s commissioner of the Division of Banks. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Brendan Creedon. 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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