🏫 Landmark education reform enacted
Read the Baker-Polito Administration’s latest “Corner Office Connect” update
Governor Baker signs historic education finance reform legislation
Joined by a broad coalition of legislators, local officials, educators, business leaders, as well as hundreds of students, Governor Baker last month signed landmark legislation updating the Commonwealth’s system of education financing and investing significant resources into Massachusetts’ local public schools. The signing ceremony took place at English High School, the nation’s first public high school, and included remarks from Gov. Baker, Lt. Gov. Polito, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Senate President Karen Spilka, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Sen. Jason Lewis and Rep. Alice Peisch.
The new law boosts investment in public schools by $1.5 billion annually when fully phased in over the next seven years. These investments will ensure school districts have additional resources to provide high-quality education to all students by revamping the formula used by the state to calculate the cost of educating students. The law also includes accountability measures to ensure the new funds support students in under-performing schools.
MassWorks investments support community-driven growth
The administration’s commitment to community-driven economic growth is reflected in its ongoing work through the MassWorks program. This month, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito are spending time in cities and towns across the Commonwealth to join local officials and announce this year’s round of MassWorks awards, which aim to leverage state resources to unlock private investment and spur development in line with communities’ priorities.
Through the 2019 MassWorks round, the Baker-Polito Administration will award more than $72 million in MassWorks awards to a diverse mix of 36 projects in 35 communities across the Commonwealth, including nine Gateway Cities and eight communities that will receive MassWorks funding for the first time. The awards will unlock a total of $2.3 billion in private investment and more than 4,600 new full-time jobs, along with more than 3,100 new housing units, more than a third of which are affordable, building on the Administration’s efforts to tackle the ongoing housing shortage through complementary programs like historic funding for affordable housing and the Housing Choice legislation.
Highlights From The 2019 MassWorks Round Thus Far:
QUINCY: PATRIOT-LEDGER COVERAGE | PRESS RELEASE | PHOTOS
CARVER: CARVER REPORTER COVERAGE | PRESS RELEASE | PHOTOS
HOLYOKE: DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE COVERAGE | PRESS RELEASE
SOMERVILLE: SOMERVILLE TIMES | PRESS RELEASE | PHOTOS
Governor Baker joins NAACP leaders and city officials for an announcement that Boston will host the 111th NAACP National Convention in 2020.
Income tax reduction in January finally implements voters’ decision
On January 1, 2020, the Massachusetts income tax rate will drop to 5%, thanks to a strong economy and sound fiscal management. Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito announced the tax cut this month, which will finally conclude the statutory process by which the income tax rate has been periodically lowered based on certain revenue milestones. That process implements the will of the voters’ decision in a 2000 ballot question to reduce the rate to 5%.
“Starting in January, the income tax rate will be the lowest it has been in decades, allowing Massachusetts taxpayers to be able to keep more of their hard-earned money. Our Administration is working to keep the Commonwealth’s economy strong while maintaining fiscal discipline and now we are finally making happen what voters called for almost 20 years ago.” -Governor Charlie Baker
Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito join legislators and local first responders at an announcement for $920,000 in grant awards to 174 Massachusetts fire departments for gear and equipment that will reduce firefighters’ exposure to dangerous chemicals on the job.
Spotlighting health care legislation’s investments in community health centers, primary and behavioral care
Governor Baker’s comprehensive health care legislation is earning support from a broad cross-section of stakeholders in the health care community, from patient advocates, to caregivers, and hospital leaders. This week, Governor Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders held an event spotlighting the bill at Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center in Dorchester. The event highlighted the legislation’s prioritization of behavioral health care services, expanded scope of practice for nurse practitioners and investments in community health centers. The bill was praised by the team at Harvard Street, including its President Stan McLaren and several clinicians.
DORCHESTER REPORTER COVERAGE | PRESS RELEASE | PHOTOS
“As primary care providers who have been working on the front lines of health care for a combined 60 years, we find [the governor’s] bill to be, in many ways, music to our ears. Experience and research show that in communities that have access to primary care, populations are healthier and the cost of spending is lowered.” -Boston Medical Center clinical leaders Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett & Dr. Barry Zuckerman in The Boston Globe (READ MORE)
Strengthening penalties for child predators
Administration leaders this month testified on Governor Baker’s proposed legislation to strengthen penalties for child predators and reform the civil commitment process for sex offenders. First filed in June 2018, the legislation will require a full hearing by a court to resolve disputes over whether a sexually dangerous person should be released from custody.
Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a Superior Court decision ordering the release of Wayne Chapman, an admitted and convicted repeat child rapist. The ruling stated that the Commonwealth’s civil commitment statute does not permit a trial if two qualified examiners agree that the individual no longer remains sexually dangerous, even if other equally qualified experts disagree. The governor’s bill would reform that statute so that any disagreement among experts will result in a trial at which a judge or jury can hear all the evidence about whether a person remains sexually dangerous and make a fully informed decision regarding release.
Regulatory framework and new law address vaping-related health risks
Informed by guidance from medical experts amidst increase in vaping-associated lung injuries, Governor Baker took action this fall to declare a public health emergency and implement a temporary ban on the sale of vaping products. As the Governor said at the time, the goal of the temporary ban was to provide legislative and regulatory bodies time to consider next steps while experts continue to research what is making people sick. Last month, state legislators passed a law that includes a number of restrictions on the sale of vaping and tobacco products.
The law also granted the Department of Public Health new authority to regulate the sale of nicotine vaping products. On December 11, the Public Health Council approved the Department’s proposed regulations, which detail DPH’s authority to take a range of actions like completing inspections and prohibiting the sale of certain products if they are determined to cause vaping-related lung illness. As it continues to protect public health, the Baker-Polito Administration will monitor ongoing research and implement the new regulations.
New law requires hands-free use of electronic devices while driving
Last month, Governor Baker signed legislation to improve road safety in the Commonwealth, which stipulates that no motor vehicle operator may use electronic devices while driving unless the technology is being used hands-free. The legislation, which adopts recommendations from the Commonwealth’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, also sets forth penalties for violating the law and requires that law enforcement officers report data on violations so the information can be shared with the public.
Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito were joined by state leaders, officials with the National Transportation Safety Board, and representatives from advocacy groups, including, the Vision Zero Coalition, Safe Roads Alliance, LiveableStreets Alliance, WalkBoston, MassBike and Boston Cyclists Union. The Governor acknowledged the work of stakeholders for efforts to get hands-free legislation passed and thanked the families of victims for sharing their personal stories during legislative hearings.
SALEM NEWS EDITORIAL | BOSTON.COM COVERAGE
