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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy Monday!
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: THE FIGHT TO FUND EDUCATION — A coalition of lawmakers, advocacy groups, teachers and parents are coming to the State House on Wednesday to jumpstart the conversation around education reform.
The wide-ranging group hopes to get the ball rolling early to modernize the Chapter 70 formula that funds the state's public schools. And ahead of the press conference, state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz plans to file an education funding bill today or tomorrow called the PROMISE Act that will carry on the effort to reform the Chapter 70 formula that died at the end of formal session last summer.
"Every year that we wait as a legislature to act on a highly-vetted, highly-researched, highly-debated road map that this bipartisan group of experts has given us, is a year that students can't get back," Chang-Díaz told me in a recent interview.
The PROMISE Act would implement recommendations from a 2015 Foundation Budget Review Commission report, which found the state's public schools are underfunded by around $1 billion per year. The bill deals with funding in four areas: health care, special education, low-income students and English language learners. Chang-Díaz is the lead Senate sponsor of the bill. In the House, Holyoke state Rep. Aaron Vega and Worcester state Rep. Mary Keefe will be the lead sponsors, she said.
"It's crucial that the PROMISE Act be passed in 2019 , that we get the job done in 2019 and not fall into the same pitfall of last session of leaving it until the last minute," Chang-Díaz said. "And it's crucial that it includes all four of the finance reform provisions of the review commission — including and especially the equity provisions." Failure to come to agreement on how to address those last two provisions was part of what sank the bill last session.
The new bill is largely similar to last session's legislation, she said, but adds a few tweaks around how the state counts low-income students and a provision that affirms schools get at least their minimum proportion of state aid. The full name is "An Act Providing Rightful Opportunities and Meaningful Investment for Successful and Equitable Education."
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse will attend Wednesday's press conference at 11 a.m. in Room 428, as will members of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Boston's NAACP chapter, members of the Foundation Budget Review Commission, public school teachers, parents and students, and a number of other groups.
And there's plenty of Chapter 70 buzz. Education funding reform was central to the conversation last week as Gov. Charlie Baker, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo were sworn in as Beacon Hill's "Big Three" leaders. In his inaugural address, Baker said he'll offer plans to revamp the school funding formula when he unveils his budget proposal later this month.
"I'm delighted the governor is joining the table," Chang-Díaz said. "I hope he will do that in a way that's highly transparent and file it as standalone legislation rather than sort of buried within a budget proposal that deals with a thousand other things."
In Spilka's opening speech, which touched on education, the Senate leader insisted the time for incremental change is over. DeLeo also agreed education funding reform is on his radar heading into the 191st General Court.
So the big question is how lawmakers will try to do it — and when. But Chang-Díaz says she's hoping the Legislature can build on work from last session and get something on Baker's desk before 2020, especially in the face of increased political pressure from inside and outside the State House.
"We're not at the end of session. We're at the beginning of session. We don't have to start from scratch. There's no reason we can't pick up where we left off, which was pretty darn close to the finish line," Chang-Díaz said.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY - Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo huddle for a leadership meeting. Polito celebrates Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella's 25th year as mayor. Unions representing National Grid workers vote on a tentative contract agreement with the utility. The MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board meets. The Supreme Judicial Court hears arguments.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "The Cost Of K-12 Education And Financing Health Care Loom Large At The State House — As They Did Last Year," by Mike Deehan, WGBH News: "The work of the 2019 Legislative session truly begins Monday afternoon when Democratic leaders from the House and the Senate meet with Gov. Charlie Baker to discuss the agenda for the coming months. There's an uncustomary sense of agreement between the branches about what that agenda should be. However, there's little indication Beacon Hill's Big Three will find easy compromise on just how to tackle the big-ticket items of education funding and health care costs. You could be forgiven if that particular policy menu sounds familiar, as it's identical to the list of items lawmakers tried to pass laws on at the end of last year's session."
- "STATE TAX HAUL PLUNGES IN DECEMBER BUT REVENUE CHIEF SEES JANUARY REBOUND," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "Add plunging state tax collections to a list of concerns that has recently grown to include a volatile stock market, rising interest rates and increasing talk about when the next recession may hit. Tax receipts for the month of December alone missed the monthly benchmark by more than half a billion dollars, erasing months of above-benchmark collections and leaving collections $108 million behind their targets midway through fiscal 2019, according to data released late Friday by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
- "The state's biggest businesses line up to pay for Baker's inaugural parties," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Governor Charlie Baker has taken more than $1.1 million from corporations, trade groups, and wealthy individuals to fund his multiday inaugural party, nearly doubling the haul his predecessor used for his own second-term celebration. Donor records filed by Baker's inaugural committee Thursday, the day Baker took his second oath of office, show the Republican raised $875,000 in December alone, including from nearly two dozen who gave up to the committee's self-imposed cap of $25,000."
- "OTR: Mass. Senate President talks tax hike potential," by Ed Harding and Janet Wu, WCVB: "Karen Spilka discusses the possibility of new taxes for upgrades in areas such as education funding reform and transportation."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Regina Robinson Not Reappointed to Boston School Committee After Controversial Vote," by Bianca Vázquez Toness, WGBH News: "The Boston school committee member replaced after abstaining from a controversial vote to close two high schools says she was 'surprised' by the move. Robinson, the dean of student affairs at Cambridge College, was the only school committee member to abstain from a Dec. 19 vote to close West Roxbury Academy and Urban Science Academy in June."
- "Walsh looking to expand focus outside the city," by Brooks Sutherland, Boston Herald: "Mayor Martin J. Walsh is unveiling a legislative package on housing that extends its focus beyond the City and targets statewide issues — a move one political pundit said is 'a great way to jump from mayor to a higher office.' The 14-bill package focuses on economic mobility and housing security, and is the first of four packages the mayor will send to the state legislature in the new year."
- "Mass. hosts scrambling to comply with tough new short-term rental rules," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "The state's decision last month to enact a law with some of the nation's toughest rules on short-term rentals has thousands of people who rent homes by the night scrambling to figure out how to comply. From Cape Cod to Boston to the Berkshires, individual hosts and corporate owners are sorting through the state regulations, which establish taxes and registration requirements for units that aren't covered by traditional one-year leases. In Boston, separate rules that sharply restrict who can rent homes for the short term add another layer of complexity."
- "Arlington asks MassDOT to remove spikes keeping homeless from sleeping under Route 2 bridge," by John Hilliard and Aimee Ortiz, Boston Globe: "Town officials were unhappy to discover that the state transportation department had installed two rows of metal spikes underneath a Route 2 bridge to keep homeless people from sleeping under the structure and have asked they be removed, said a top official Sunday. The bridge crosses the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway near the Alewife MBTA station."
-THE MORE YOU KNOW: "The Story Behind Ocasio-Cortez's Dancing Video—from Those Who Made It," BU Today: "It was a quiet winter week for Eric Baker (COM'13) and Raul Fernandez (COM'00, Wheelock'16)—until their phones started blowing up. A silly four-minute dance video they helped make eight years ago on the rooftop of the College of Arts & Sciences at Boston University was suddenly all the rage on YouTube. In a matter of 48 hours, it went from having about 50,000 views on Wednesday to almost 2 million by Friday. What happened? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez happened."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Questions surface over Kevin Spacey's 'secret court' hearing," by Matt Rochealu, Boston Globe: "The Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey has tried to limit publicity about recent sexual assault charges against him, and officials in the Massachusetts judiciary seem largely to have refused him preferential treatment. But the Globe has found that in the months leading up to his arraignment — set for Monday — the actor's lawyers were given a special opportunity to have his case reviewed in a mini-trial-type setting where potential charges can be dropped and records kept out of public view."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Senate Dems keep distance from Warren campaign," by Burgess Everett, POLITICO: Senate Democrats aren't ready for Elizabeth Warren. The Massachusetts Democrat electrified some in the liberal grassroots when she became the first senator to enter the race to take on President Donald Trump. But her colleagues aren't leaping to support her — or anyone else in the Senate, for that matter. Even Sen. Ed Markey isn't ready to endorse his fellow Massachusetts Democrat, at least not yet."
- "Warren regains footing in Iowa blitz," by Natasha Korecki, POLITICO: "Just two months ago, Sen. Elizabeth Warren risked political backlash here by opting to avoid a trip to Iowa during the critical midterm elections — the only major potential 2020 candidate to do so. But less than a week into the new year, Warren already flipped that on its head, becoming the first major candidate to land on the ground in the first-in-the-nation presidential caucus state, lapping up media attention, locking down key staff and organizers, and capitalizing on pent-up 2020 Democratic excitement."
- "Five Big Takeaways From Elizabeth Warren's Trip To Iowa," by Adam Reilly, WGBH News: "Elizabeth Warren hadn't visited Iowa since 2014 — a long time away, for someone who seems to have been pondering a presidential bid for a while now. But she traveled there immediately after announcing her presidential exploratory committee, crisscrossing the state from Friday to Sunday to hold five public events. I've been following Warren throughout, from Council Bluffs to Sioux City to Storm Lake to Des Moines — and I've picked up on a few key themes that anyone interested in Warren's nearly-official presidential campaign would do well to ponder."
- "'It is a pleasure to blog with you': Elizabeth Warren's early years online," by Jack Bohrer, NBC News: "Long before Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was exploring a run for president, she was a Harvard Law School professor with a side gig: blogger. Warren's posts offer an unguarded look at her policy passions and withering critiques of corporate influence in government — including stinging barbs for a major potential 2020 rival, former Vice President Joe Biden ."
- "Elizabeth Warren nabs Obama's chief digital strategist, beefs up national staff," by MJ Lee, CNN: "Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has hired Barack Obama's former chief digital strategist to help lead her emerging 2020 presidential campaign and has also recruited a Democratic operative with deep experience in Southern politics ahead of a long primary. Joe Rospars, who led former President Obama's digital strategy in both 2008 and 2012, has joined Warren's newly launched presidential exploratory committee in a senior capacity, according to two sources familiar with staffing."
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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- "Pressley requests back pay for federal contract workers," by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "US Representative Ayanna Pressley called on congressional leaders of both parties Sunday to provide back pay for thousands of furloughed federal contract workers who have gone without a paycheck since the start of a partial government shutdown last month. In a letter sent Sunday to House and Senate leadership, the Boston Democrat called for an immediate solution to the partial shutdown, which has caused more than 850,000 workers to be furloughed or be required to work without pay."
- "Lori Trahan helped set a mark for women elected to Congress. Here's what makes her tick," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: " She's now part of a historic wave of diversity in Congress, and one of a record-high four women sworn in Thursday to represent Massachusetts. It's a group defined by Elizabeth Warren's star power, Ayanna Pressley's history-making entrance, and Katherine Clark's rising profile. Trahan, who emerged from a 10-Democrat primary by a mere 145 votes, may be the most inconspicuous among them. Amid an era of political fire-breathers, she's guided by pragmatism, said friends and colleagues. As progressives call for blood, she hews to moderation, in politics and tone."
- "Jim McGovern is overhauling the House rules. Here's what you need to know about the changes." by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "The saying may be that democracy dies in darkness. But Rep. Jim McGovern has joked that over the past few years it's actually the House Rules Committee 'where democracy goes to die.' As the ranking Democrat on the Rules Committee under Republican leadership, McGovern frequently protested the majority party's historic lack of openness in the legislative process."
- "Warren, Markey call for Columbia Gas to repair damaged roads," by Andrew Stanton, Boston Globe: "Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey sent a letter on Friday to Columbia Gas and parent company NiSource calling on them to repair more than 70 miles of damaged roads and sidewalks in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover. The letter comes after dozens of fires and gas explosions ripped through homes and businesses served by Columbia Gas in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover in September, killing an 18-year-old and injuring about two dozen other people."
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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- "Gas investigation on hold amid shutdown," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "The partial shutdown of the federal government has put the brakes on the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the Merrimack Valley gas disaster. With the impasse over funding for a wall on the Mexican border entering its third week, hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay, as funding to run agencies has dried up. That includes investigators and other employees at the NTSB, which probes natural gas explosions as well as transportation accidents. The lapse of funding means the agency with more than 450 employees has been reduced to a skeleton staff of mostly department heads, with ongoing investigations suspended."
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| DATELINE MERRIMACK VALLEY |
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- "Charlie Baker tours Merrimack Valley to promote businesses affected by gas explosions," by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe:"On Saturday afternoon, Governor Charlie Baker tried to help Naghibi with his predicament, stopping into Chama Grill with Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and other staff members to generate publicity for the business. The visit was part of an afternoon tour by the Baker administration of restaurants and stores affected by the Sept. 13 gas disaster and marked the culmination of inaugural activities for the governor, who was sworn in for a second four-year term Thursday."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "CUE THE COURTHOUSE," — Globe: "Spacey got special hearing," "Bolton offers new approach on Syria." |
| THE LOWELL CONNECTOR |
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- "Word of Hoey DPW contract plowed under," The Lowell Sun:"IT DIDN'T take new state Rep. Tami Gouveia long to start making a splash at the Statehouse. Upon being sworn in Wednesday, the Acton Democrat immediately broke with the majority of her Democratic colleagues and voted against Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo. Gouveia was among eight Democrats who voted 'present' instead of supporting the six-term incumbent speaker."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Low pay, economy shrinking substitute teacher market in Central Mass." by Scott O'Connell, Telegram & Gazette:"Substitute teachers are increasingly hard for local districts to find, as low pay and a healthy economy dry up the pool of potential applicants in the region. Across Central Massachusetts, subs generally can expect to be paid under $100 to teach a full day of classes in most districts, even if they have a college degree and are certified to be a teacher."
- "Norton voters to face ballot question on charter commission," by Stephen Peterson, Sun Chronicle: "Voters at the April 23 annual town election will be facing more than electing the usual slate of town officials. They will also be voting on whether to establish a charter commission to study local government and recommend changes. An accompanying ballot question will ask them to elect nine members to the commission."
TRANSITIONS - State Sen. Edward Kennedy names Patti Kirwin-Keilty chief of staff, Phil Geoffroy as legislative director, Jennifer Myers as communications director and Frank Munro as constituent services and policy director.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Natalie Boyse, special assistant in the office of the assistant secretary for public affairs at HHS, who celebrated Sunday.
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: In Friday's SPOTTED section, Dominick Ianno's name was misspelled (with some Game of Thrones flair), and Fred Laskey is the current MWRA chief, not the former one. Sorry!
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