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Presented by Conservation Law Foundation: Lisa Kashinsky and Kelly Garrity's must-read rundown of what's up on Beacon Hill and beyond. | | | | |  | | By Mia McCarthy and Lisa Kashinsky | | | With help from Kelly Garrity CAPITOL CHAOS CONTINUES — Here we are again. The federal government is days away from a shutdown with a stopgap spending bill circulating that would keep agencies funded for just a few more weeks. Feeling déjà vu? Massachusetts Democrats are, too. “We have to do everything possible to avoid a shutdown. It'll be catastrophic,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley told Playbook at the Capitol last night. “I'm frustrated that we're in this position at all.”
|  Rep. Ayanna Pressley | AP | It was just over six weeks ago that the House was in a similar position. Then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy managed to ram through a 45-day funding plan (that “continuing resolution” phrase you keep hearing). But he used so many Democratic votes to do it that it cost the California Republican his gavel. All nine Massachusetts representatives voted in favor of the bill (as did the state's two senators). Three weeks of a speakership fight and another three weeks of the new speaker, Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson, figuring out how to navigate his fractured caucus have brought us to today, with the clock ticking down to a possible shutdown on Friday. To say Massachusetts Democrats are frustrated to be back in this position would be putting it mildly, according to interviews with five of the state’s nine representatives. But, like his predecessor, Johnson will probably need their help to keep the lights on as he pushes a temporary funding plan that would keep some federal agencies running through Jan. 19 and others through Feb. 2. House Democratic leaders are still reviewing Johnson’s proposal. “Continuing resolutions are terrible. They're horrible for our troops. They're horrible for our government. They're horrible for the American taxpayers,” Rep. Seth Moulton said. “But the one thing that’s worse is the government shutdown.” Members warned that relying on a series of stopgap bills is unsustainable and stressful for everyone from the lawmakers on Capitol Hill to the thousands if not millions of workers whose paychecks are at risk with each possible shutdown. “It's not any way to govern,” Rep. Bill Keating said. “If this were a municipal town, and the leaders are conducting things like this, there’d be a recall.” GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Keep an eye out for Mia around the Capitol! And send us your tips, scoops and spotteds: mmccarthy@politico.com, lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey speaks at a Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association awards ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attends the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute summit at 10 a.m. at Fitchburg State. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at a YMCA of Greater Boston event on early education at 11 a.m. in Roxbury and is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 12:30 p.m.
| | A message from Conservation Law Foundation: Conservation Law Foundation is separating fact from fiction when it comes to the role of bioenergy in cutting climate-damaging pollution and transforming our economy to one built on clean energy. The economic, environmental, and public health of our communities and businesses demand that we invest in energy efficiency and clean energy sources – while moving with caution and care on bioenergy resources. Get the full story. | | | |  | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | NO STRINGS ATTACHED — House and Senate lawmakers are heading into the last two days of formal sessions for the year at odds over how to approach Gov. Maura Healey’s request for more emergency shelter money. The chambers agree on the amount: $250 million. But top Senate Democrats skipped the stipulations the House attached to the money — like requiring $50 million be spent on overflow shelter — in their version of the close-out spending bill that's coming up for a vote today. Senators would, however, require the Healey administration submit reports every two weeks on the state and costs of the emergency shelter system. “This situation is fluid,” Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues told Playbook. “We thought it was important to direct that [the Healey administration] spend on items like temporary shelters, mitigating expenses for local municipalities … but not tie their hands with specific amounts in each bucket.” If the supplemental budget passes as expected, the two chambers will have to strike a deal before Wednesday's end. After that, any one lawmaker can derail a bill in informal sessions. There were 22 families on the shelter waitlist as of midday yesterday, the state’s housing office said, and 42 families exited the system last week. Meanwhile, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay has opened applications for the $5 million grant program the state is funding to help local and faith-based groups open temporary overnight shelters for families. And the work-permit clinic in Middlesex County is entering its second day. DIVE DEEPER — The Boston Globe sets the scene for this new shelter normal from inside a Mattapan nonprofit that helps primarily Haitian migrants. — “$4M deal to use ICC as emergency shelter being finalized,” by Alana Melanson, The Lowell Sun: “The state is finalizing a $4 million deal to lease the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center for one year as an emergency shelter for homeless families and migrants starting Dec. 1, officials confirmed Monday.” To be clear, this is not an overflow site.
| | | | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | | | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Tech-company trade group Chamber of Progress is urging Democratic legislative leaders to use the settlement Uber and Lyft reached with New York’s attorney general this month as a model for app-based drivers' status in Massachusetts. The New York agreement gives drivers an “earnings floor” and paid sick leave while keeping them as independent contractors. That “cuts through the noise of reclassification while also delivering immediate benefits” to drivers, the tech trade group writes in a new letter. Chamber of Progress backed last year’s court-felled ballot question to keep classifying app-based drivers as independent contractors, and supports legislation on Beacon Hill this session to do the same. — “Mass. Senate advances plan to build Revolution stadium in Everett,” by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “The Legislature will take up a measure this week that could finally enable the Kraft Group to build a soccer stadium for the New England Revolution along the Mystic River in Everett. The provision is included in a supplemental budget measure that Senate leaders filed on Monday. The House has already passed its version of the budget without the stadium language, but approved similar legislation last year." — “Mass. lawmakers weigh ban on Native American mascots in public schools,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News.
| | | | A message from Conservation Law Foundation:   | | | | | MATHACHUSETTS | | POLITICAL CALCULUS — Healey’s political arm sent out a fundraising email on Sunday touting some of the savings families could see under the tax cuts and credits she signed into law earlier this fall. But the math didn’t add up. The email cites as an example a family that rents an apartment in Springfield. If the renters pay more than $8,000 a year (and they likely do), they’d be able to take full advantage of the now $4,000 rental deduction cap (it was $3,000). But they wouldn’t, as the email says, get $4,000 back. The deduction reduces a person’s taxable income. So the increase would save someone an extra $50 a year, or $200 total. Healey’s campaign-side spokesperson acknowledged the error. (And h/t WBUR’s Nik DeCosta-Klipa for doing this math way before we did).
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Boston City Council to weigh ordinance that would track gun trafficking,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Boston City Council is expected to consider an ordinance Wednesday that would task police with compiling annual data on firearms trafficking, an illegal activity that the body says is a major contributor to gun violence."
| | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | | NO LONGER ACTING — Healey has dropped the "acting" from Monica Tibbits-Nutt's title as transportation secretary. The former undersecretary had been serving as acting secretary since Gina Fiandaca’s abrupt departure in mid-September. Tibbits-Nutts told WBUR’s Tiziana Dearing that signs of success after her first year on the job should include lifted speed restrictions on the T, a "solid plan" and schedule for addressing the Cape Cod bridges, and talking "more comprehensively" about connecting central and western Massachusetts. More on the challenges Tibbits-Nutt faces from the Boston Globe.
| | DATELINE D.C. | | ‘CEASE-FIRE NOW’ — Rep. Ayanna Pressley is keeping up her call for a cease-fire in Gaza, joining rabbis and fellow House progressives — including recently censured Palestinian-American Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) — at the Capitol to press for peace. “There is no justification for the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” Pressley said. Families of hostages that Pressley spoke to “didn’t want vengeance,” she said, “they just want their loved ones safely home.” — “On buses from Gillette, locals head to D.C. for March for Israel,” by Daniel Kool, Boston Globe. RHODE ISLAND REPORT — Rhode Island now has its first Black representative in Congress after Gabe Amo was sworn in last night to finish out former Rep. David Cicilline’s term. It’s also the first time two millennials will represent the Ocean State in Congress, per WPRI’s Ted Nesi. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recommended Amo be put on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, on which Cicilline used to serve and neighboring Rep. Bill Keating sits. — “6 things to know about the Supreme Court’s new ethics code,” by Josh Gerstein, POLITICO. As an addendum to No. 2: Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote on X that the code of conduct is “useless without enforcement.”
| | | | GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Andover teachers strike: Massachusetts judge orders $50,000 fine for educator union; Andover Public Schools battles union on social media,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The Andover teachers union is facing a $50,000 fine for continuing its strike while classrooms remain empty, as the school district on Monday started to go after the educator union on social media to ‘clear up inaccurate information.’ … The fine would keep going up $10,000 each day until the strike ends.” — “Barnstable commission urges US lawmakers to fight additional funding for machine gun range,” by Walker Armstrong, Cape Cod Times. — “Report: Here’s why Mass.’ tough parole rules do more harm than good,” by John L. Micek, MassLive. — “Expert: Worcester strained from overdose rate, housing shortage,” by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette.
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE | | — “Lawmaker’s death leaves narrowly divided N.H. House in mourning,” by Steven Porter, Boston Globe: “Leaders in the New Hampshire House announced Monday that a member of the near-evenly divided chamber passed away late last week. Colleagues and friends said Representative Hoy Robert ‘Roger’ Menear III, a Democrat from Lee, served with integrity and will be missed.”
| | A message from Conservation Law Foundation: Conservation Law Foundation is working to fight climate change and secure a livable and healthy future for all New Englanders. We know New England needs to end its reliance on fossil fuels, and that presents a pressing question: What role will bioenergy play in the region’s energy system as we move toward 2050? The fossil fuel industry is leaning hard on selling biofuels such as renewable natural gas as viable options to meet state mandates for cutting climate-damaging emissions. But what’s beneath the surface is more of the same climate-damaging fuels. We don’t have time or resources to waste on costly and ineffective solutions. Conservation Law Foundation is sorting fact from fiction. Bioenergy’s role in New England’s clean energy future is a limited and targeted one. Get the full story. | | | | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Walter Wuthmann is now state politics reporter for WBUR. He previously was a general assignment reporter covering Boston City Hall. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Todd Feathers, a Lowell Sun alum; Tamika Olszewski and New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley. 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 | | | | |  |
