| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky and Kelly Garrity | | Presented by |  | | | MIGRATING NORTH — Massachusetts’ migrant crisis is becoming a campaign cudgel for Republicans — in New Hampshire. In the Granite State’s gubernatorial race, GOP former Sen. Kelly Ayotte has spent the week hammering Democrat Joyce Craig to drop her endorsement from Maura Healey after the Massachusetts governor responded to an alleged rape at a hotel housing migrants by saying “from time to time, things will happen.” (Healey also called it a “horrible situation” and said the state has the “right systems in place” to vet people entering the shelter system.) But Ayotte’s attacks didn’t start this week. Healey’s early endorsement of Craig and Massachusetts’ worsening migrant and shelter crisis have long given Ayotte fodder against the former Manchester mayor. Ayotte has accused Craig — and Craig’s Democratic primary rival, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington — of wanting to make New Hampshire a “sanctuary” state. And Ayotte refers to the woman she views as her main rival for the corner office in Concord as “Sanctuary Craig.” Ayotte’s Republican primary rival, Chuck Morse, is taking it even further — he’s calling on Healey to resign over her remarks about the Rockland incident. Morse, the former state Senate president who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2022, has also said he would sign legislation to “ban sanctuary cities” among other tough-on-immigration stances he’s touting. It’s not just the governor’s race. Russell Prescott, a Republican who served on the state’s Executive Council and is now running against Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, recently sent a fundraising email linking “Migrant shelters ... along the New Hampshire border” to rising crime and fentanyl. “Make no mistake — this is a direct threat to our way of life,” he wrote in bright red, bold letters. Immigration and border security have long been salient issues among Republican voters in New Hampshire. And GOP candidates campaigning in the state have long laced into liberal Massachusetts cities’ immigration policies to score political points. Former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, for instance, have all taken swings at Lawrence over its “sanctuary” status. Now, with immigration quickly becoming one of the biggest issues of this election year, Democrats are engaging in their own way. Warmington criticized Sununu’s push to send New Hampshire National Guard members to the southern border. Craig blasted Ayotte and Morse for supporting Sununu’s request while opposing the bipartisan federal border bill that would have tightened asylum standards and sent billions of dollars toward the border. After initially staying silent on Ayotte’s calls to denounce Healey’s endorsement, Craig’s campaign put out a statement earlier this week dismissing the “disgusting attack.” And Craig further unloaded on Ayotte in a new statement to Playbook on Thursday referencing the Rockland incident: “Anyone who commits crimes against children should be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Craig said. “Kelly is using this horrific crime to score political points while all she's done is oppose actual solutions to solving our border crisis." Immigration could yet become an “Achilles heel” for Ayotte — who sparse public polling shows is the GOP frontrunner — after she “flip-flopped on [the issue] in the U.S. Senate,” longtime New Hampshire Republican strategist Mike Dennehy said. Morse, for one, is already trying to make it an argument against Ayotte. But her campaign brushed it off in a statement saying, “That’s just not true. Kelly Ayotte has always fought to secure our borders, stop illegal immigration and against sanctuary policies.” For now, Dennehy said, it’s Democrats on the defensive on immigration. As for Ayotte? She’s gotten a week’s worth of free press out of this all. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com. TODAY — Healey has no public events. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at the Massachusetts Farm and Sea to School Conference at 9 a.m. at Smith College. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announces affordable housing awards at noon at the Roslindale Substation and speaks at the 2024 EXTRAordinary Women’s Event at 7:30 p.m. at the Park Plaza. THIS WEEKEND — Healey is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. MBTA GM Phil Eng is on NBC10 Boston’s “At Issue” at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
| | | | A message from the Service Employees International Union: Uber and Lyft are planning to spend big on a ballot initiative to buy their way around respecting the rights of Massachusetts’ rideshare drivers. But rideshare drivers in our state have a different vision: one that works better for consumers and gives drivers a voice on the job. Drivers can’t get there alone — we're calling on the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions to convene drivers and rideshare companies and steer us down a better road. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | SENATE’S SUPP — Senators approved a supplemental budget Thursday night that would put hundreds of millions more dollars toward the state’s emergency shelter system, while capping stays at nine months. Under the bill that senators approved on a 32-8 vote, families that meet certain criteria would be eligible for 90-day extensions. Four Democrats (John Velis, Nick Collins, John Cronin and Walter Timilty) joined the chamber’s four Republicans in voting against the bill, which would allow Gov. Maura Healey to siphon $840 million from a savings account to spend on the shelter system. The cost of the program has shot up since Healey told federal officials last summer that the system was costing the state $45 million a month. It's now $75 million, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues said. Democratic senators shot down dozens of Republican proposals during the hours-long debate, including an amendment that would’ve added a six-month residency requirement before people would become eligible for emergency assistance. But they did adopt an amendment that would require safety checks at state-run shelters, after the alleged rape at the Rockland hotel. The timeline to hammer out an agreement is tight. Rodrigues expects the state will run out of money for the shelter system in early April. “We’re going to try to get it done as quickly as possible,” Rodrigues told the Boston Herald. RELATED — “Westfield Democrat fires back at Jim Jordan over inquiry into Haitian accused of rape,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “[State Sen. John Velis] said it was ‘comical’ and ‘disgusting’ for a federal lawmaker who opposed a bipartisan immigration deal in Washington to wade into an individual state’s issues with immigration.” — “Massachusetts steps closer to making 'revenge porn' illegal,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News: “The state Senate voted 40-0 to pass a bill that would amend the state's criminal harassment law and establish clear penalties, including fines and jail time, for sharing sexually explicit images or videos without the subject's consent. The bill also applies to ‘deepfake’ photos or videos. … [Outlawing revenge porn] has been on lawmakers' radar since at least 2017, when then-Gov. Charlie Baker filed legislation to criminalize the practice. But the House and Senate never got a final bill over the finish line in past years, despite sustained advocacy from Baker and revenge porn survivors.”
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House Speaker Ron Mariano. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO | TRANSFER TAX CHANCES — Speaker Ron Mariano is leaving the door open to including a real-estate transfer fee in the House’s version of Healey’s housing bond bill. “If you believe that the issue of housing affordability is genuine,” Mariano said during a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce forum Thursday, “then we must explore all options that have the potential to make a real difference.” But Healey’s version of the tax (she proposed letting municipalities impose a 0.5 percent to 2 percent fee on property sales over $1 million) might be too high for the House. “You don’t want it to be an inhibitor to construction,” Mariano told reporters after the event. “When I read the governor’s [bill], my initial reaction was that this might be high.” DEPARTURE LOUNGE — State Rep. Bill Straus isn't seeking reelection, WBSM reported. And that’s creating a big opening atop the Transportation Committee, for which Straus is the House chair. Straus has represented the 10th Bristol District for more than 30 years.
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — “Healey administration reaches new agreement with federal officials on Cape Cod bridge project,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey’s administration said Thursday that it reached a new agreement with federal officials for its plans to replace the aging Cape Cod bridges, under which the state and US Army Corps of Engineers will commit a combined $1.3 billion toward the multibillion-dollar project."
| | DAY IN COURT | | — “Appeals court orders judge to probe claims of juror bias in Boston Marathon bomber’s case,” by Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press: “A federal appeals court on Thursday ordered the judge who oversaw Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s trial to investigate the defense’s claims of juror bias and determine whether his death sentence should stand. A three-judge panel of the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not throw out Tsarnaev’s death sentence." — “Taunton sues hotel state's using as emergency shelter,” by Rebecca Hyman, The Taunton Daily Gazette: “Taunton has sued the Clarion Hotel — which the state has been using as an emergency shelter — for more than $100,000 in unpaid fines for ‘operating greatly above its occupancy limits.’"
| | | | A message from the Service Employees International Union:   | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | WE’RE ONTO FY ‘25 — The $1.2 trillion spending package that will fund the federal government through the end of September is out, and the $3 billion Rep. Lori Trahan wanted for the Shelter and Services Program that aids states and cities sheltering migrants isn’t in it. Instead, it’s $650 million. But she’s already gearing up to give it another go in fiscal 2025. — “Warren slams abortion pill access case as ‘partisan politics’ ahead of Supreme Court arguments,” by Alyssa Vega, The Boston Globe: “Days before the US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that could restrict access to mifepristone, a commonly used abortion pill, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren characterized the case as political and criticized justices appointed by former president Donald Trump as having gone ‘too far’ in their rollback of access to reproductive care.” — “Mass. congressional delegation seeks extended protection for Haitian immigrants,” by Tonya Alanez, The Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts congressional delegation sent a letter Thursday urging Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to renew and extend protected status for immigrants from Haiti, ‘given the country’s volatile and dangerous ongoing coup.’” — “Attleboro area [Rep. Jake Auchincloss] continues to stand firmly behind Israel despite international outrage,” by Tom Reilly, The Sun Chronicle.
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING | | — “Massachusetts teachers union faces heat for anti-racism program with ‘antisemitic and anti-Israel falsehoods’,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald. — “Larry Summers was ousted as Harvard president. He has a lot to say about what’s wrong with the university now,” by Stephanie Ebbert and Deirdre Fernandes, The Boston Globe. — “Boston targets $21M to combat youth mental health ‘crisis’,” by Seth Daniel, Dorchester Reporter. IN MEMORIAM — Sarah-Ann Shaw, WBZ legend and Boston's first Black woman TV news reporter, dies.
| | | | A message from the Service Employees International Union: Massachusetts is facing a choice between two paths for the future of the gig economy:
- Allow billion-dollar rideshare companies to pursue a deceptive, anti-worker ballot initiative that locks drivers into independent contractor status, depriving them of their basic rights and a meaningful voice on the job.
- Empower our state’s 55,000 rideshare drivers with a voice through a union and give them the ability to bargain with rideshare companies to improve pay, safety, and working conditions.
Rideshare drivers have a roadmap for a better gig economy for Massachusetts, and it starts with legislative leadership convening all stakeholders to eliminate confusion on the ballot and reach a resolution. The Massachusetts legislature is at a critical crossroads. We urge them to choose a better path for drivers and consumers. Learn more here. | | | | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRAHAN’S PICKS — Trahan is anticipating a big win for South Carolina in the women’s March Madness tournament that officially kicks off today. And she’s predicting a rematch between last year’s finalists, LSU and Iowa, in the Elite Eight. No men’s bracket for Trahan — the women’s tournament is where all the action is at, anyway. MARKEY MADNESS — Someone get this guy an eraser. If we’re reading this right Sen. Ed Markey has South Carolina defeating Iowa for the women’s championship (same as Trahan) and UConn trumping Marquette on the men’s side. TRANSITIONS — Jordan Maynard has been appointed interim chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. — Former WBZ anchor Liam Martin is joining Newsmaker Marketing as co-owner and CMO. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former state Rep. Tom Sannicandro, Daniel Sullivan, Zachary Agush and Larry Farmer. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to state Sen. Paul Feeney, who celebrates Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Matt Gorman of Targeted Victory, Vail Kohnert-Yount, Tyler Giles, Ford Hatchett and Playbook fan Paul Murray. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: THE HEMP RACE — Hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky tackle some of the state’s burning mysteries: Why are hemp-based THC seltzers appearing outside of dispensaries? Why are fewer voters registering with a party? Where is Gov. Maura Healey traveling? Some of those prove easier to answer than others. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. 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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