Ballot question backers remain in fight mode

When the two sides of the rent control ballot question were in the same hearing room on Tuesday, Sen. Cindy Friedman made her pitch.

“What would be really wonderful for the Legislature is if you all got together and figured out what a middle ground is,” she said Tuesday.

Some would say that is exactly what they are hoping the Legislature will do, and avoid costly battles at the ballot box. But brokering any compromise isn’t easy, particularly if two sides are dug in. If classified ads in newspapers were still a thing, one for two ballot questions in particular – rent control and a proposed income tax cut question – might look something like this.

WANTED: Negotiators for statewide ballot questions before the Legislature. Must have patience, good relationships with unions and businesspeople, and a love of grand bargains. Attention to detail and deadlines required. Apply to House speaker and Senate president.

It’s early rounds yet, and the fight is in the posturing phase. The last day for the Legislature to act on ballot question proposals is May 13, but lawmakers believe they still have several weeks after that to nail down potential compromises that could lead to the withdrawal of some campaigns.

Opponents of the business-backed income tax cut proposal, reducing it to 4% from 5%, have continued to ramp up their efforts, and taken aim at the Massachusetts High Tech Council, led by Chris Anderson and a key group supporting the ballot question. Such a reduction would punch a $5 billion hole in the state budget. Opponents, who are also mounting a legal challenge in court, say the cuts could reach $8 billion a year.

The anti-MHTC pressure campaign takes another step Friday morning, as labor advocates and community activists plan to protest outside Fidelity’s downtown Boston office building, demanding the financial institution resign from MHTC and the Mass. Competitive Partnership (MACP), a CEO-supported group.

Seven union leaders sent a letter to MHTC members in February, urging them to resign from the group. “By remaining a member of the Massachusetts High Technology Council as it leads this assault on Massachusetts' economic wellbeing, you’re endorsing their effort to raid public coffers for the benefit of the wealthy, while shifting the costs of diminished public services on to everyone else,” they wrote. Signers included Mass. AFL-CIO’s Chrissy Lynch and Max Page of the Mass. Teachers Association.

As of mid-March, seven higher education institutions (UMass Boston, Brandeis and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, among others), as well as Massport and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have left. M&T Bank is the first financial institution to do so.

In an email, Anderson said MHTC “will not be deterred by these tactics” and remains focused on “Massachusetts’ long-term competitiveness—its ability to attract talent, investment, and job growth.”

“We believe these issues are best addressed through constructive, good-faith dialogue,” Anderson wrote. “External pressure campaigns directed at individual organizations are not a substitute for that process and do not change the underlying challenges we face.”

MHTC faces a problem ahead of any potential talks in that they are not trusted inside the building, State House insiders say, and legislators remain unhappy with the creation of the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, a group that includes MHTC, MACP and the Pioneer Institute in a bid to bolster arguments over business climate.

Unions remain influential on Beacon Hill and oppose a deal, believing MHTC is just using the ballot question as leverage to get a cut in the state’s estate tax. “We want to dismantle the High Tech Council piece by piece, if that’s what it takes,” one union official vowed.

Do you know someone who could answer the faux ad for a negotiator? Send me some names if you have ‘em: [email protected].

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10:00 | The Joint Committee on Ways and Means holds one of two hearings focused on health and human services funding included in Gov. Maura Healey’s $63.38 billion fiscal 2027 budget proposal. Health care spending continues to dominate the budget. Healey is proposing $22.7 billion for MassHealth, up from $22.1 billion in fiscal 2026. Included in MassHealth’s budget is $30 million to implement changes under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act that establish work requirements and more frequent enrollment eligibility checks. Sen. Lydia Edwards and Rep. Russell Holmes will chair the meeting. | Mattapan Library 1350 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan | Livestream

7:30 | Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is a guest on a live taping of What Next with Mary Harris at an event co-hosted by WBUR and Slate. | WBUR CitySpace, 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston

Join Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, Senate Majority Leader Creem, Event Hosts Senator Payano, and Representatives Consalvo, Garballey, and Williams, other leaders of legislature, advocacy,and  medicine for Virtual 17th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day, held on March 24th, 10 am to 2 pm. You will take part in expanding a Massachusetts model of national leadership in prostate cancer awareness, medical education, research and reducing health disparities. You will learn about the cutting-edge advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment – and Prostate Cancer Resource Project, bringing the best available quality care to Massachusetts men and supporting them every step of their medical journey. This event is organized by AdMeTech Foundation, in cooperation with the Prostate Cancer Action Council.

HUNTING LAWS: Hunting in Massachusetts would be allowed on Sundays, under a bill Gov. Maura Healey plans to file. The bill would also loosen rules for crossbow hunting. – Boston Herald

PROTECT ACT: House lawmakers plan to vote in the coming weeks on banning federal agents from making civil arrests at courthouses. The bill is set to clear the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security on Friday. "This bill doesn't exist just to make a point," Rep. Andy Vargas said. "It exists so that a family in Haverhill or in Chelsea or in Springfield can go to work, seek justice in court, cooperate with law enforcement without fear, and live in a commonwealth that honors the rights and liberties of our constitution." – State House News Service (gift link)

AUDIT LAW: The fight over enforcing Diana DiZoglio’s 2024 legislative audit law is now headed to the full Supreme Judicial Court, with Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt deciding to bring it to the full body. – WBUR

SEND FOR SHAPIRO: State lawmakers have oversight powers through committees – which come with nice stipends – but lately they’d rather punt thorny issues to Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro’s office, whether it’s sheriff spending or transporting special education students. They’ve since added a review of the Mass Save program to the IG’s plate. – CommonWealth Beacon

WORLD CUP WOES: The latest good news is the federal government is finally releasing $46 million to Massachusetts to cover security for hosting seven World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium this summer. The latest bad news is local organizers lost a top fundraising executive Jon Persch, who declined to offer a reason for his departure. – Boston Globe

REMOTE TERMINALS: Massport’s board has okayed a $150 million proposal for the construction of a new garage at Braintree Logan Express, with a remote terminal included. A pilot is still in the works for Framingham in June. Massport is leaning into remote terminals as a way to offer travelers check-in services and allow them skip lines at the airport. – Boston Business Journal

‘SMEAR’ TACTIC: In a Plymouth select board race, one candidate accuses the other of promising to drop his campaign in exchange for help returning to the local police force. The other candidate says that’s a “smear” tactic. – Plymouth Independent 

SECRET POT SHOPPERS: The Cannabis Control Commission wants to deploy “secret shoppers” at marijuana dispensaries as a way to make sure customers are getting carded. – MassLive

CONSUMER DEBT: Consumer debt cases in state courts are up 60% from two years ago, per Trial Court data. More than three-quarters of the cases filed last year came from nine companies going to small claims court. – GBH News

At Mass General Brigham, our leaders bring together the brightest minds to solve the toughest challenges in healthcare. From academic medical centers to community hospitals, mobile health centers and more we deliver compassionate, patient-centered care. The high quality care we provide is built on innovative research and visionary leadership throughout the system.

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KELLER AT LARGE: 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV. Political analyst Jon Keller's guest is Gov. Maura Healey. 

@ ISSUE SIT DOWN: 9:30 a.m., NBC 10. Reporter Matt Prichard interviews Rep. Maggie Goodlander, a New Hampshire Democrat.

ON THE RECORD: 11 a.m., WCVB. The guest is Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.

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