What is the Actual State Cost of MassHealth?

       

June 7, 2019 What is the Actual State Cost of MassHealth? Every month, the MassHealth program (Massachusetts' Medicaid program) provides health insurance for more than 1.8 million residents of the Commonwealth: children in low-income households; low-wage workers; elders in nursing homes; people with disabilities; and others with very low incomes who cannot afford insurance. This is more than one-quarter of the Commonwealth's population, including close to half the state's children. Not surprisingly, such a comprehensive program represents a large share of the state's budget. But how much? Since Medicaid is a partnership between state and federal governments, much of this essential health care coverage is actually paid for by the federal government. MassBudget's new fact sheet, written for the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute, explains that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget includes approximately $16.7 billion for MassHealth. This total (or "gross" amount) is approximately 36 percent of total state budget appropriations. The federal government then reimburses Massachusetts for more than half this spending. After receiving these reimbursements, the state's net cost for MassHealth is $8.3 billion, 24 percent of the total net budget. Read the full MassBudget fact sheet on the actual cost of MassHealth here. ### The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: DeLEO spars with activists — The other would-be WYNN buyer — Newton judge says NO DEAL

DeLEO spars with activists — The other would-be WYNN buyer — Newton judge says NO DEAL

May 24, 2019 View in browser BY STEPHANIE MURRAY Presented by JUUL Labs GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! DELEO SPARS WITH ACTIVISTS — While you might associate free college with someone like Bernie Sanders, House Speaker Robert DeLeo says a group of student activists protesting for debt- and tuition-free higher education at the State House remind him of someone else: President Donald Trump. Tensions between DeLeo and activists from the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts boiled over last night, when DeLeo slammed the activists for making what he calls "wildly inaccurate" claims about how they were treated during a five-day protest at the State House. "I value participation by all stakeholders and everyone is entitled to their opinion on how taxpayer funds should be appropriated. Everyone, however, is not entitled to their own facts," DeLeo said in a statement last night. The protesters say State House staff threatened to arrest them for holding a sit-in outside DeLeo's office, and that a court officer threatened them with facial recognition technology in the building. DeLeo disputed those claims in a statement last night, calling the accounts both untrue and "offensive." "These Trumpian tactics are both offensive and counterproductive," DeLeo said. "There was no threat of arrest, there is no such technology used at the State House, and my staff and House members met with them on multiple occasions." PHENOM activists are angry DeLeo did not meet with them to discuss the two bills they are pushing for, though his staff and other House members did meet with them. They fired back at the Speaker late last night on Twitter, and turned the Trump label around on DeLeo. "I think it is incredibly sad that Speaker DeLeo has descended into name calling and spreading misinformation, exactly the 'Trumpian tactics' he accused others of using," PHENOM Executive Director Zac Bears wrote online. PROGRAMMING NOTE: There will be no Playbook on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Happy unofficial start of summer! 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, Rep. Stephen Lynch and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh attend the re-dedication of the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attends a ribbon cutting for the Dartmouth Maritime Facility. Walsh attends a ribbon cutting for the Madison Park Roadway project. Walsh is a guest on "Boston Public Radio." A message from JUUL Labs: Youth vaping is a problem. We're taking action. No youth or non-nicotine user should ever try JUUL products. We've taken a series of actions to greatly reduce youth use of tobacco products, including our own. Learn more about our youth prevention efforts: JUUL.com/youth-prevention DATELINE BEACON HILL - "Mass. House Will Take Up Janus 'Fix' To Aid Unions," by Mike Deehan, WGBH News: "The Massachusetts House of Representatives will take up a bill before the July 4 holiday to aid local labor unions affected by a U.S. Supreme Court decision that cut deeply into their pocketbooks, according to a spokesperson for House Speaker Robert DeLeo. In last year's Janus v. AFSCME decision, the Supreme Court ruled that labor unions can't charge fees in lieu of dues to non-member workers who refuse to join the union. As a result, unions lost a key revenue stream and the ability for non-member workers to become so-called "free riders" on union services expanded. The bill Speaker Robert DeLeo plans to push through the House in June would let Massachusetts unions charge non-members for legal aid they benefit from in arbitration cases, restoring some of the cash flow lost under the Janus decision." - "Right to choose safe in Massachusetts, Baker says," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Acknowledging a "tremendous amount of anxiety" over abortion rights around the country, Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday that a woman's right to choose is safe in Massachusetts, even if he remains skeptical of expanding abortion access. "I certainly will do everything I need to do to protect a woman's right to choose here in Massachusetts, period," Baker said during an interview on Boston Public Radio.The Republican governor's comments came just days after abortion rights activists gathered at the State House in solidarity with protestors in other states opposing crackdowns on abortion access." - "Former chief medical examiner being phased out," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "The state's chief medical examiner is phasing out her predecessor, Dr. Henry Nields, from his role as a part-time contractor — a move that has surprised staff in an office that's struggled to quickly complete death investigations. Dr. Mindy J. Hull, who replaced Nields in October 2017, told him in an e-mail last week that "at this time . . . we do not anticipate needing your services" because the office has been able to hire several new full-time examiners. She said it allows her to staff each of the agency's four offices in Boston, Holyoke, Worcester, and on Cape Cod without "extra" contracted workers. But Nields is the only one of four part-time, contracted medical examiners the agency uses who was removed from its June schedule, according to internal copies reviewed by the Globe. And the three others are each scheduled to work the same or a similar number of days as they have in May." - "NEW BEDFORD CHARTER SCHOOL EXPANSION BILL BLOCKED IN HOUSE," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "A bill state education officials want to see passed by the end of the month to execute a deal between New Bedford and a charter school in that city hit a speed bump Thursday in the House of Representatives and could face a rocky path ahead with some representatives wanting a larger debate. The bill, a home rule petition approved on an 8-2 vote in late April by the New Bedford City Council, surfaced in the House for the first time on Thursday with about a dozen representatives in the chamber. Rep. James Hawkins doubted the presence of a quorum, forcing the House to adjourn because a quorum of lawmakers was not present." - "Senate says no to boost in minimum education aid," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: "The state Senate on Wednesday rejected a budget amendment that would have increased the minimum education aid every district receives from $30 per pupil to $100 per pupil on a 7-32 vote Wednesday. After lengthy debate to open the second day of budget deliberations, senators voted virtually along party lines to shoot down the Republican-sponsored change, which would have added $30 million to the $42.7 billion budget. Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, who filed the amendment, said that while the proposed budget's $268 million increase to the Chapter 70 program that helps cities and towns with education costs was laudable, at least 182 districts would only see a boost of $30 per pupil next year. He described that amount as insufficient to meet the growing needs in many schools." - "Lawmakers: Compressor case erased public confidence in regulators," by Jessica Trufant, Patriot Ledger: "Lawmakers are urging a state regulator to overturn the air-quality permit issued for a proposed natural gas compressor station in Weymouth due to what they see as incomplete air testing, a delayed disclosure of new data and questionable appeal proceedings. Nine South Shore legislators sent a letter to hearing officer Jane Rothchild this week requesting that she reject the air-quality plan and force gas company Spectra Energy-Enbridge to resubmit a plan that incorporates all data. State environmental regulators last week released hundreds of pages of additional air-quality testing data from the Fore River Basin several days after they received it, and two days into an appeal hearing on the air-quality permit." - "Collins's budget priorities center on UMass, DCR projects," by Jennifer Smith, Dorchester Reporter: "The Massachusetts State Senate is assembling its annual budget this week, considering more than 1,110 amendments to the $42.7 billion bill that made it through the upper chamber this month. Among the local amendments on the table are some that are intended to boost transit service, bolster Community Preservation Act funds and open spaces, and wrangle with the University of Massachusetts over its budget. Lawmakers are not yet proposing any major new revenue sources; they plan to tackle revenue or potential tax hikes in a separate discussion later this year. State Sen. Nick Collins, whose First Suffolk district stretches from South Boston through Dorchester and Mattapan, filed amendments that would push for studying electrification of the Fairmount and Providence commuter rail lines and advance a two-year pilot program to bring the Fairmount up to rapid transit service." FROM THE HUB - "John Henry, owner of Red Sox and the Globe, considered buying Everett casino," by Mark Arsenault, Boston Globe: "It was one of the biggest deals in memory that didn't happen: Wynn Resorts this month discussed selling the Encore Boston Harbor hotel and casino to MGM Resorts, though talks broke off without an agreement. But MGM was not the only suitor for the $2.6 billion gambling resort on the Mystic River in Everett. Boston businessman John W. Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and the owner and publisher of The Boston Globe, backed by a group of potential investors, quietly investigated buying the Encore in 2018 and again just weeks ago, Henry confirmed in response to questions from a Globe reporter ." - "Racism allegations put MFA in the spotlight," by Brian MacQuarrie, Gal Tziperman Lotan and Zoe Greenberg, Boston Globe: "The Museum of Fine Arts found itself under siege Thursday as educators, politicians, and civil-rights activists assailed the renowned institution over reports that minority students from a Dorchester middle school were subjected to racial insults and close security during a field trip. Mayor Martin J. Walsh called the allegations "disturbing," while City Council President Andrea Campbell decried them as "sad and unacceptable." An official with the Boston NAACP questioned whether the 149-year-old museum, one of the country's largest, had violated federal and state antidiscrimination law during the May 13 outing by 26 seventh-graders from the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy." - "Conservative group to push redistricting reform in Massachusetts," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "A national conservative group focused on government reform says it wants to take on gerrymandering in deeply blue Massachusetts. Alabama-based Take Back Our Republic wants to replace the Legislature's redistricting process with a nonpartisan commission in the Bay State, with the aim of increasing voters' access to their elected officials, said John Pudner, the group's executive director. "We're going to get districts that are much fairer for people," Pudner said. Take Back Our Republic plans to follow the model that was adopted in Michigan last year — using a ballot initiative to create a 13-member independent commission that would redraw district lines based on the 2020 census." - "BPS memo called for 'right-sizing' Boston's schools," by Trea Lavery, Bay State Banner: "When Boston Public Schools moved to close the West Roxbury Education Complex last year, students and teachers from the Urban Science Academy and West Roxbury Academy, the two schools making up the WREC, blasted department officials for not finding a way to keep the two high schools' students together. School officials said they exhausted every option, yet documents from the decision-making process suggest that the district may have closed the school regardless of whether a solution had been found." - "Federal officials investigate Mass. prisons on elderly, ill inmates, solitary confinement," by Maria Cramer, Boston Globe:"Federal prosecutors are investigating the Massachusetts prison system over its use of solitary confinement, and the treatment of elderly and severely ill prisoners, according to several attorneys who have spoken with federal investigators. The investigation, launched by the civil rights unit of the US attorney's office in Massachusetts, is focused on reports of mistreatment of inmates in order to identify potential patterns and practices of abuse, those familiar with the investigation said. Lawyers who have been interviewed by federal investigators said they have provided documents alleging abuses of inmates who are 50 and older, inmates who are terminally ill, and prisoners who have spent months, even years, in isolation." POLITICO PLAYBOOK: "The most influential newsletter in D.C." - Stephen Colbert, host of the Late Show. Be in the know, sign up for Playbook today. politico.com/subscribe/playbook DAY IN COURT - "Suspended Newton judge declined plea deal that would have meant no criminal charges," by Andrea Estes, Shelley Murphy and Maria Cramer, Boston Globe: "Suspended Newton Judge Shelley Richmond Joseph turned down a deal that would have allowed her to avoid prosecution — and possibly preserve her career — if she admitted that she illegally helped an undocumented immigrant elude arrest by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, according to several people briefed on the federal prosecutor's offer. US Attorney Andrew Lelling had offered Joseph a "deferred prosecution agreement" under which she would not have been indicted and, in a year, as long as she didn't repeat the conduct, prosecutors would abandon the obstruction of justice charges, according to the people familiar with the deal." - "Can ICE target undocumented immigrants for arrest in Massachusetts courts? Federal judge hears the first arguments in case brought by DAs," by Jacqueline Tempera, MassLive.com:"A Boston federal court judge heard the first arguments Thursday in a case that will decide whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents can target and arrest undocumented immigrants who show up for court dates in Massachusetts. Erez Reuveni, who is representing the government, argued that ICE focuses only on people who pose a national security or public safety threat when they take the step of a courthouse arrest." - "Years after bitter breakup, Boston lawyers to square off in court," by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: "A trial is scheduled to kick off next week in a Boston courtroom that pits the owner of a local law firm that specialized in asbestos defense work against six partners who left his firm in 2016 to launch a competing outfit. David Governo, owner of Boston-based Governo Law Firm, sued the founders of CMBG3 Law shortly after they left his firm, accusing them of stealing electronic client data and the firm's trade secrets before they quit." - "Massachusetts High Court Says Poor Evidence Storage Endangers Fairness Of Justice System," by Mark Herz, WGBH News: "Massachusetts' highest court has said that problems with the storage of DNA and other kinds of crime evidence could threaten the integrity of the state's criminal justice system by making it harder to overturn wrongful convictions. In a decision on Tuesday, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled on several similar cases in which there was a tussle between state court clerks and local police departments over who would store and preserve such evidence. In its decision, the court said that Massachusetts needs a state of the art facility for evidence storage staffed by trained professionals." WARREN REPORT - "A toaster once nearly set Elizabeth Warren's kitchen on fire. Here's why the story sticks with her." by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "For Sen. Elizabeth Warren, toasters are more than just a convenient kitchen appliance or stereotypical wedding gift. They're a reminder of her belief in how government should work. Over the past two decades, the Harvard law professor-turned-Massachusetts senator has repeatedly brought up the bread-cooking devices in speeches, writings, and even a fundraising email from her 2020 presidential campaign this week. "Let's talk about toasters," Warren began a speech last year at Georgetown University's School of Law." FROM THE DELEGATION - "Trahan disclosure shines light on finances," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "A newly filed personal financial disclosure by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan suggests she had more than enough revenue and assets to secure sizable loans to her campaign last year, but watchdog groups that filed complaints against the congresswoman say her story still doesn't add up. Trahan, a Westford Democrat, has been accused by two groups of violating campaign finance laws by loaning her campaign $371,000 in the months ahead of a contentious primary election. The complaints question the source of the loans, alleging that Trahan's revenue and assets in 2018 weren't enough to secure them." - "US House passes bill to aid workers saving for retirement; Rep. Richard Neal praises vote," by Patrick Johnson, MassLive.com: "The U.S. House of Representatives' passage on Thursday of a bill that intends to increase the ability of people to save for retirement was praised by U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal as a way of averting an impending "retirement crisis." The bill, known as the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, was overwhelmingly approved by a vote of 417-3, with 11 representatives not voting. Neal, D-Springfield, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in a statement that the House has made "significant progress" in helping to ensure workers of all ages are able to save enough money for retirement." MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS - "Cannabis Control Commission approves first sale of a marijuana company," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "The Cannabis Control Commission on Thursday approved the state's first acquisition of a marijuana company. The commission approved the sale of Sira Naturals to Cannabis Strategies Acquisition Corp. Sira Naturals owns three medical marijuana dispensaries, in Cambridge, Somerville and Needham. It has secured licenses to cultivate, manufacture and transport marijuana for the recreational market. Cannabis Strategies Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded company in Canada, announced in October that it had an agreement to buy Sira Naturals along with three Nevada-based marijuana companies and one company that operates in Nevada and Colorado." EYE ON 2020 - "Brookline Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan On Why She Wants To Take On Sen. Ed Markey In 2020," by Jamie Bologna and Zoë Mitchell, WBUR: "U.S. Sen. Ed Markey has served in Congress for more than 35 years, but one Brookline labor lawyer has decided that this term should be his last. Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan will challenge Markey in the Democratic primary next year. Liss-Riordan has spent the past two decades fighting for worker's rights, against companies which include Uber, Starbucks, FedEx and American Airlines." - "The First Big Democratic Primary Challenge of 2020 Is Happening In Massachusetts," by Hannah Levintova, Mother Jones: "Labor lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan announced this week that she is running for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey in next year's Democratic primary race. Markey was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1976 and moved to the Senate in 2013, after winning a special election to replace John Kerry, who had stepped down to become Secretary of State. With the exception of a 2013 primary to succeed Kerry, the last time Markey faced a Democratic challenger was 2002." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "DROP PUCK, LIFT FORK," "HOT ICE!" — Globe: "Mass. prisons are facing US review," "SPECTER OF RACISM PUTS MFA IN SPOTLIGHT," "Inclusion means more than just opening the doors," "Torrent of criticism follows reports about students' treatment." FROM THE 413 - "As Nominating Window Closes, Women Rise to Consider Sarno Challenge," by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: "In the twilight of the signature gathering-phase of Springfield's election, two women have stepped forward to consider a challenge to Mayor Domenic Sarno. On Thursday, Linda Matys O'Connell, an advocate, activist and journalist in the city, announced she was pulling paper for mayor. She follows Yolanda Cancel, who began gathering signature this week after her son was the victim of a gun crime. Both women will need to collect 500 signatures by Tuesday at 5pm to appear on the September 10 preliminary ballot. But, if they meet that threshold, they will face added challenge of fundraising and organizing in a seemingly crowded preliminary before taking on Sarno in a November smackdown. Still, their consideration and potential entry reflects growing unease with Sarno's now-12 year reign. It also recognizes the myth of his invincibility." THE LOCAL ANGLE - "City eyes scooter rollout," by Dustin Luca, The Salem News:"Nevermind more sharable bikes. A fresh fleet of electric scooters could soon be buzzing through the streets of Salem. The City Council is considering a trial run for expanding its public bike-sharing system with Zagster to include as many as 250 electric scooters around the city. The issue was sent to the City Council's ordinance committee for a future meeting. Zagster has managed a bike-share network in the city since 2017, when three hubs of six bikes each initially launched. Today, the system has 80 bikes maintained and distributed by Zagster throughout 16 docks across the city, according to city senior planner Tom Devine." MEDIA MATTERS - "GateHouse staff cuts hit Telegram, WoMag newsrooms," by Zachary Comeau, Worcester Business Journal: "Worcester Magazine's editorial staff is down to just one reporter, the Telegram & Gazette lost six positions and hundreds of other journalists, photographers and hundreds of other employees working for newspaper giant GateHouse Media are jobless after round of cuts today, as the New York-based company announced the continuation of its $100-million stock buyback program. In Worcester, the magazine's Editor Walter Bird and Arts & Entertainment Editor Josh Lyford were laid off, leaving reporter Bill Shaner to run the only weekly alternative paper in the city." - Laurel J. Sweet leaves the Boston Herald and joins the public affairs team at FBI Boston. Tweet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Massachusetts Teachers Association government relations specialist Kate Donaghey and Boston Globe crime reporter Evan Allen. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND - to WGBH's Kirk Carapezza, Rosina-Maria Lucibello of Team Dukakis; Julia Lucivero , media relations manager at the Innocence Project; Jeff McCue, head of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance; WGBH's Brendan Deady, and UMass Journalism student Brian Choquet. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 8-2. 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. A message from JUUL Labs: We're combating the problem of underage vaping by: Advocating for raising the legal age to purchase our products to 21+ nationwide. Stopping the sale of non-tobacco and non-menthol based flavored JUULpods to traditional retail stores. Enhancing our online age verification process. Strengthening our retail compliance program with over 2,000 secret shopper visits per month. Shutting down our Facebook and Instagram accounts and working to remove inappropriate social media content generated by others on those platforms. And investing in new technologies to further prevent youth use. JUUL.com/youth-prevention POLITICO LAUNCHES NEW GLOBAL PODCAST: Trade. Technology. The environment. The globe is beset by profound challenges that know no political bounds. But are our world leaders up to the task of solving them? POLITICO's newest podcast, "Global Translations" presented by Citi and launching on June 6, will go beyond the headlines, uncovering what's really at stake with the most pressing issues of our time, the political roadblocks for solving them and the ideas that might just propel us forward. Subscribe to receive the first episode at launch. Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd.  Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: What WELD asked BAKER — WYNN some, lose some — DUNKIN’ says NO POLITICS

What WELD asked BAKER — WYNN some, lose some — DUNKIN’ says NO POLITICS

May 22, 2019 View in browser   BY STEPHANIE MURRAY Presented by JUUL Labs GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. WHAT WELD ASKED BAKER — William Weld, the former Massachusetts governor running against President Donald Trump, spoke with his protégé Gov. Charlie Baker at the outset of his 2020 presidential bid. As Weld tells it, Baker gave him some insight into why the most popular governor in America doesn't want to run for president. And as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan weighs a run for the White House, Weld suggested the Trump administration could use its power to hamstring any sitting governor who gets in the race. "I talked to him very early on," Weld told me last night, describing his talk with Baker. "I said, 'Do you want to run?'" "He said 'No, I can't run. I'm a sitting governor. Trump would tell all his cabinet agencies to respond accordingly,'" Weld continued. Weld made the comments after a talk at the Kennedy Institute last night, where the Canton Republican pitched himself as a fiscally conservative former prosecutor who is ready to spar with Trump in the early voting state of New Hampshire and on the debate stage. Weld is the sole Republican running against Trump in the 2020 primary, but he's encouraging other like-minded Republicans to get in the race. Weld says he would welcome Hogan, or former Ohio governor and 2016 candidate John Kasich into the primary field. A Monmouth University poll released earlier this month shows Weld polling at 12 percent among New Hampshire primary voters in a match-up against Trump. The president was backed by 72 percent of GOP voters surveyed. Though he's been critical of some Trump policies, Baker has said he has "zero interest " in running for president. And Baker spokesman Jim Conroy reiterated that point in an email last night. "Governor Baker has never considered running for president. He is focused on doing the job he now has," Conroy said. "I wouldn't tell him what to do anymore than he told me what to do. He said these are personal decisions," Weld said, in reference to Baker. "I do think it's a little tough for a sitting governor to run." 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 and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito launch the "RespectFULLY" campaign to promote healthy relationships to young people. Baker presents the Massachusetts National Guard Medal of Liberty to families of 15 fallen service members. Polito chairs a weekly meeting of the Governor's Council. Boston Mayor Marty Walshattends the ribbon cutting for a new EMS station at Logan Airport. The Senate debates its fiscal 2020 budget bill. The Gaming Commissionmeets. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo is a guest on "Boston Public Radio."   A message from JUUL Labs: Youth vaping is a problem. We're taking action. No youth or non-nicotine user should ever try JUUL products. We've taken a series of actions to greatly reduce youth use of tobacco products, including our own. Learn more about our youth prevention efforts: JUUL.com/youth-prevention   DATELINE BEACON HILL - "MGM pulls out of talks with Wynn over sale of Everett casino," by Mark Arsenault and Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: "MGM Resorts said Tuesday that it had pulled out of talks to buy Wynn Resorts' nearly finished Everett casino, a move that came after several days of sharp blowback following revelations that the company was talking to Wynn about a sale. Completing the deal would have forced MGM to relinquish the casino license it holds in Western Massachusetts, and presumably sell MGM Springfield, the state's first resort casino, which opened to great fanfare in August. "We are committed to our Springfield community and proud of what we have accomplished including thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of revenue for small businesses in the area," the company said in a statement." - "PROTEST WORRIES PROMPT CLOSURE OF SENATE VIEWING GALLERY," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "Before changing course mid-afternoon, the Senate opted to close one of two galleries from which the public is allowed to observe debate Tuesday due to the possibility of activists blocking access to the chamber as senators began to debate one of the most significant pieces of legislation of the session. The Senate halved the number of citizens, lobbyists, activists and reporters allowed to watch the beginning of the debate on a roughly $43 billion budget from within the newly-renovated chamber Tuesday morning by keeping the east gallery closed when the session got underway around 10 a.m. The staircase between the fourth floor outside the east gallery and the third-floor chamber entrance was also closed at the start of Tuesday's session, and the Senate erected rope lines that it does not typically use outside the chamber entrance." - "Boston protesters blast strict abortion laws passed by several states," by Annika Hom, Boston Globe: "Hundreds of abortion-rights supporters rallied outside the Massachusetts State House on Tuesday to protest stringent abortion legislation passed in several states. The noon rally was part of a national wave of protests, called the ''National Day of Action to Stop the Bans,'' against laws enacted or nearing passage in Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi, Georgia, and elsewhere. Several Boston protesters recalled their own experiences as they voiced worries that the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion could be in jeopardy with a conservative-leaning court." - "Senate trying to limit policy proposals in budget," by Andy Metzger, CommonWealth Magazine: "THIS YEAR THE annual spending bill may be just that. While the budget process is only about halfway through, the leadership of both legislative branches appears determined to focus on appropriations and to limit the amount of policy provisions included in the fiscal 2020 budget. "We talked a lot about the fact that we're trying to limit consideration of any outside sections or policy in the budget," Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues said right after the multi-day Senate budget debate began on Tuesday. "That's what we have committees for." That would be a change for the Senate. When Stan Rosenberg was president of the Senate and Karen Spilka was Senate Ways and Means chairwoman, the Senate loaded up the annual budget bill with policy priorities." - "3 Cost Centers Consume Half Of State Budget," by Katie Lannan and Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "About half of the $42.7 billion Senate budget proposal is consumed by spending in just three areas — health care, pensions and debt service — leaving some senators worried about underinvestment in other priority areas like transportation, housing and the environment. Spending on MassHealth, the health care program that serves 1.8 million seniors, children and low-income residents, totals $16.55 billion, or about 38 percent of the budget, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Michael Rodrigues said during remarks on the first day of fiscal 2020 budget deliberations." FROM THE HUB - "Dunkin' told a room of professors it didn't want to be political — and it seems to be resonating," by Jaclyn Reiss, Boston Globe: "A Dunkin' official told a room full of academics that the company strives to market itself as apolitical — and a tweet about that seemed to resonate with many. "We are not Starbucks, we aren't political — we aren't gonna put stuff on our cups to start conversations," said Drayton Martin, the vice president of Dunkin' brand stewardship, according to a tweet from Alexandra J. Roberts, an associate professor at University of New Hampshire School of Law. "We don't want to engage you in political conversation, we want to get you in and out of our store in seconds. It's donuts and ice cream — just be happy." The tweet got hundreds of likes shortly after it was posted late Monday afternoon and had more than 3,000 as of Tuesday afternoon." - "Council President Andrea Campbell Calls On City Leaders To Improve Diversity In Public Safety," by Zoe Matthews, WGBH News: "Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell called for more urgency from city leaders to improve diversity in public safety agencies on Tuesday. She also reiterated recommendations that the city study the civil service process, move forward with the creation of a cadet program in the fire department and get more transparent about the challenges at hand. "The number one issue for me is transparency around these issues. To get the data that actually demonstrates that our police, fire and EMS are not reflective of the demographics of the city of Boston, I had to go through hurdles. I'm in the system, it shouldn't take so long," said Campbell on Boston Public Radio." - "Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says these 3 Democratic 2020 presidential candidates have the best chance against President Donald Trump," by Jacqueline Tempera, MassLive.com: "Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said he believes three 2020 Democratic candidates stand a chance against President Donald J. Trump in the general election. They are: former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and California Sen. Kamala Harris. "I think there are three candidates that I see right now today that could go into the final with Donald Trump and energize the base," Walsh said on WGBH Monday night. "I think they represent different parts of the party." - "Boston traffic: the only predictable thing is that it's unpredictable," by Beth Teitell, Boston Globe: "For six years, Amy Shanler knew the milestones she needed to hit to make it from Sudbury to Boston University to teach her Principles and Practices of Public Relations course, which starts at 10:10 a.m., promptly. If she left home at 8:38 a.m., made the right onto Trapelo Road in Lincoln by 9, hit Watertown Square by 9:25, merged onto Storrow Drive by 9:30, got off at Kenmore by 9:35, crossed Commonwealth Avenue and pulled into the parking garage by 9:40, she'd be in such good shape she'd have time to get a Diet Dr Pepper. But lately that schedule hasn't been working, and on a recent morning, a truck on the side of Storrow caused such a slowdown Shanler had to call the department secretary from her car to make sure her students didn't take off." DAY IN COURT - "A low-profile judge, indicted for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant, finds herself in harsh spotlight," by Maria Cramer, Boston Globe: "When Shelley Joseph was sworn in as a district court judge in the fall of 2017, her father was in the front row, watching from his wheelchair. Paul Richmond, a retired food sales manager, was in the final stages of Parkinson's disease, but he and Joseph's mother were beaming as Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito gave the oath to their elder daughter. He died a month later, and Joseph often spoke of how grateful she was that her father had lived to see her reach the pinnacle of her 30-year career in law, said Alan Fanger, a longtime friend who was among dozens of former colleagues, friends, and family members gathered at the State House ceremony." WARREN REPORT - "Elizabeth Warren Takes a Different Strategy to Court the Black Vote," by Adam Harris, The Atlantic: "Warren is making the bold wager that people will go to the polls next year motivated by policy. In survey after survey, voters suggest that policy is top of mind; reality tends to paint a much different picture. Still, Warren is also gambling simply by releasing such extensive policies—including breaking up Big Tech, reforming the Department of Defense, and providing debt relief to Puerto Rico—so far in advance of the first primary caucuses. "It is risky to put out plans in as many areas which each have a constituency," Heather McGhee, a senior fellow and the former president of Demos, a liberal think tank, told me. "But it shows a basic level of compassion for the voter."" - "Elizabeth Warren Delves Deeper Into Her LGBTQ Agenda," by Nico Lang, NEWNOWNEXT: "Days after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act in a historic 236-to-173 vote, the Massachusetts Senator and 2020 presidential candidate reaffirmed her belief in full equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people under the law. In a statement shared exclusively with NewNowNext, Warren claimed she would "fight tooth and nail ... to ban discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in employment, housing, and healthcare" if elected to the Oval Office in 2020." - "After joking tweet, comedian gets love life advice from Democratic candidate Warren," by Tim Reid, Reuters: "A comedian who asked for help with her love life on Twitter said she was left "crying and shaking" from an inspirational phone call with Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday, after the two had connected on the social media platform. Ashley Nicole Black, a 33-year-old comic based in Los Angeles who is a former writer for "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee," asked jokingly in a tweet on Saturday: "Do you think Elizabeth Warren has a plan to fix my love life?" Her message was a reference to one of the Democratic candidate's campaign slogans, "I have a plan for that." Warren, a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, has one of the most detailed policy programs of the 23 Democratic candidates hoping to become their party's nominee to take on Republican President Donald Trump in next year's election."         POLITICO PLAYBOOK: "The most influential newsletter in D.C." - Stephen Colbert, host of the Late Show. Be in the know, sign up for Playbook today. politico.com/subscribe/playbook     EYE ON 2020 - "Abortion bans fuel campaigns," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "A slew of recently enacted abortion bans has rekindled the divisive national debate over reproductive rights. The laws are also providing a fundraising platform for Congressional Democrats, some of whom are leveraging the controversy to help fuel their campaigns. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Cambridge Democrat, fired off a email blast to her supporters last week touting her plans to "protect women's reproductive rights" and soliciting donations." DATELINE D.C. - "Ben Carson misheard a housing term as 'Oreo,' and other tense moments at a congressional hearing," by Colby Itkowitz, Washington Post: "Near the end of the hearing, freshman Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) chided Carson and the Trump administration for failing to improve conditions in low-income housing. During a lightning round in which Pressley wanted yes-or-no answers to her questions, Carson failed to provide them. During one particularly contentious moment, Carson said, "Reclaiming my time." "You don't get to do that," Pressley retorted. Pressley then asked Carson if he would allow his grandmother to live in public housing under his watch." MOULTON MATTERS - "Echoing McCain, Moulton Focuses On Veterans In Early N.H. Campaign Stops," by Fred Thys, WBUR: "A month into his presidential run, Seth Moulton is addressing small groups at events across New Hampshire. He's making veterans a centerpiece of his campaign, touting his combat service, questioning President Trump's leadership of the military, and modeling his campaign on another veteran who stood up to Trump. It's a crowded field, with a total of 23 Democrats running for president." - "Another possible candidate for Seth Moulton's seat: Angus McQuilken," by James Pindell, Boston Globe: "As Massachusetts US Representative Seth Moulton travels the country exploring a run for the Democratic presidential nomination, back home in his district more people continue to explore running for his seat. Now joining the list of Democrats exploring a run in the state's Sixth Congressional District is Angus McQuilken, a longtime activist against gun violence who is now involved with the life sciences industry." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "MGM FOLDS," "HIGH NOTE,"" — Globe: "From judge to defendant: an unlikely fall," "MGM pulls out of Wynn talks." FROM THE 413 - "'Overwhelmed': Tommy's House donated to Springfield veteran and his family," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican:"Tommy's House, built on Carew Street in memory of U.S. Marine Corps. Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan of Springfield, was given on Tuesday to the family of another local service member who said he was overwhelmed by the gift. "Overwhelmed, excited," said National Guard member Brandon Klein, after he and his family were handed the keys to the new home by Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, members of the Sullivan family, and other volunteers involved in the project." THE LOCAL ANGLE BRAIN FARTS! WHERE DO PEOPLE BELIEVE THE CARS WILL GO? SUMMER CAPE TRAFFIC GRIDLOCKS THE REGION BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY CARS! MORE BRIDGES WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM...DUH?  - "Bill could provide money to replace Cape Cod Canal bridges," by Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: "A bill that could bring in money to help replace the aging Bourne and Sagamore bridges was reintroduced in Congress on Monday. If passed into law, the Enhancing the Strength and Capacity of America's Primary Evacuation Routes (ESCAPE) Act would put $1 billion per year toward bolstering infrastructure and increasing the capacity of the country's evacuation routes. The bill has strong support from the Massachusetts delegation, and was sponsored by Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey and Reps. William Keating, D-Bourne, as well as John Garamendi, D-Calif." HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Seth Klarman, who turned 62 yesterday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Methuen state Rep. Linda Dean Campbell,Noah Feldman, who is 42; the Springfield Republican's Shira Schoenberg, Casey Pease, Juli Hanscom, Mary Dooe, and Christina Prignano of the Boston Globe. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 10-3. 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.   A message from JUUL Labs: We're combating the problem of underage vaping by: Advocating for raising the legal age to purchase our products to 21+ nationwide. Stopping the sale of non-tobacco and non-menthol based flavored JUULpods to traditional retail stores. Enhancing our online age verification process. Strengthening our retail compliance program with over 2,000 secret shopper visits per month. Shutting down our Facebook and Instagram accounts and working to remove inappropriate social media content generated by others on those platforms. And investing in new technologies to further prevent youth use. JUUL.com/youth-prevention     POLITICO LAUNCHES NEW GLOBAL PODCAST: Trade. Technology. The environment. The globe is beset by profound challenges that know no political bounds. But are our world leaders up to the task of solving them? POLITICO's newest podcast, "Global Translations" presented by Citi and launching on June 6, will go beyond the headlines, uncovering what's really at stake with the most pressing issues of our time, the political roadblocks for solving them and the ideas that might just propel us forward. Subscribe to receive the first episode at launch.       Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd.  Arlington, VA, 22209, USA