I was excited this year for our state to finally have a Democratic governing trifecta, with a Democrat leading in all three offices of Governor, Senate, and the House. However, this trifecta has been much less productive in passing legislature than I expected.
As has become the norm on Beacon Hill, the House and Senate ran out the clock on many important priorities, adjourning on the morning of August 1st with a long list of unfinished business. After the hottest summer on record, they didn’t manage to pass a climate bill. Several other bills, among them economic development bills and bills to address the Steward crisis, are stuck in potentially dead-end negotiations, and that’s not to mention all the common-sense bills that never even made it that far.
As of August 11, more than 90% of the bills signed into law this session were home rule petitions, bills about specific individuals, or budgets, which are required. We’ve seen a striking decline in basic deliberation and accountability in the Legislature, with both chambers taking fewer than half the recorded votes they did just a few sessions ago.
The economic development bill, which needs a recorded vote to pass, has important policy components, such as keeping high school seniors out of adult prisons and strengthening our public health infrastructure, and we shouldn’t have to wait until next year to start all over again.
Given Republican opposition, passing climate legislation will also require legislators to come back. Mother Nature doesn’t wait, and neither should the Legislature. Every month and every year, we break new heat records, and it is irresponsible for the Legislature to go a full session without passing meaningful climate legislation. We need a clear plan for transitioning away from fossil fuels and putting gas in the past, and we need a just transition that centers environmental justice and ensures that the communities who have borne the brunt of fossil fuel pollution don’t continue to suffer from pollution and lack of opportunity. Massachusetts has impressive climate goals, but goals won’t mean much if we don’t pass legislation to help us meet them.
Another important bill is the prison building moratorium which passed the House and Senate with wide support, but was vetoed by our previous Governor, a Republican. That roadblock no longer exists, and given the broad support, it should be easy to bring forward.
The formal legislative session ended at the end of July, and the Legislature will not be back in session until next January. We deserve more of a time commitment from our elected officials. Going back into session will mean the Legislature will do what it is supposed to: deliberate, legislative, and vote.
Sincerely,
Charlo Maurer
Watertown Resident
A Democrat monopoly on state government, yet nothing gets done? What are the odds? Your contempt for Republicans and their point of view ought to be tempered by the knowledge that they have absolutely no say in state matters or national representation. None. Even the occasional Republican governor is elected by Democrat voters. Ones afraid of getting everything they claim to want, I imagine.
Democrats are the majority because they are elected to be so. Unlike the January 6th coup attempt, it’s democracy. We don’t always agree with the decisions, but we don’t try to violently overthrow the government because of that disagreement. See the difference?
Not until you pointed it out.
You’re welcome!
I would like to see the Death with Dignity Act (SB1131) voted on by the Senate. It made it out of committee and has a lot of support. Postponing and postponing is not fair to those suffering and their families who want an end of life option regulated in the bill.
I would much prefer that the bureaucrats – both at the State and Federal level – keep their hands away from my fuel and appliances choices.
As to the prison building moratorium, those opposing incarceration for anybody at anytime, have no reason to worry after the closing of MCI-Concord, which clearly outlines what our State Democrats prefer. Don’t want to lose the votes of high school seniors, among others…
Was there a line about limiting car use deleted from the original Letter above?
The letter has not been changed.
Thanks for clarifying.
High school seniors only vote when they turn 18. Happy to help educate you anytime!
Wrong again; not surprisingly, however.
Read Ms. Maurer letter above, specifically: “ The economic development bill, which needs a recorded vote to pass, has important policy components, such as keeping high school seniors out of adult prisons”.
As I realize reading comprehension may not be easy to some, I will explain slowly. Ms. Maurer refers to those individuals aged 18 or beyond. So did I.
Please go educate yourself.
You should weigh in with your legislators. That’s how democracy works.
No thanks for unsolicited advice, particularly when you have no idea how I deal with my legislators. And, if I were to need civic lessons, I can think of much better sources for it.
Glad to hear that you do. And I’m actually quite a good source for such knowledge.
No, I don’t think so.
Ms.Maurer:
It is passing legislation, not “passing legislature”.
Thank goodness you are here to “fix” this articulate and thoughtful letter. You’ve shared paranoia about “missing lines” in the original letter as well. Is this a “deep state” plot?
You’re welcome. Anytime.
I am glad I was able to explain a portion of Ms. Maurer’s letter to you.
Please speak about paranoia once you get a medical degree. Otherwise, I will suppose you are speaking as a patient. You quote “fix”, “missing lines”, “deep state”. Hint: you quote things that have been mentioned by others. Such is not the case here. I know, language can be difficult.
We are done here. It’s getting boring. Bye, bye.