In the State of the Commonwealth address Thursday evening, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker discussed the need to collaborate on legislation that will improve issues such as transportation, education and climate change.
In a room of about 800 people, Baker took the platform in the Massachusetts State House Chamber and described his vision of working together as a state. Baker called upon the administration to “act quickly and to move on critical legislation for the state and the region.”
“Everyday, the people expect their state government to work,” Baker said. “They work hard, they have to sort they details and they have to perform. So should we.”
The administration has been making collaborative efforts to reduce spending and invest in local aid and school aid, Baker said.
“We’ve tightened our belts, got creative and reduced spending, taking what once was an unsustainable path and setting a healthy responsible course,” Baker said. “No longer will Beacon Hill balance its budget on the backs of local communities.”
Referencing the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s problems last winter, Baker announced a plan to double the capital investment in the transportation system.
“Turning around the system or the troubles and problems that the T has won’t be easy or quick, but we are determined to do it,” Baker said. “A million people ride the system every day to get to work, school, the grocery store and back home. They need the T to work and they need it to work well.”
Baker later said he believes it is possible to extend the progress that the state has made in reducing carbon emissions.
“Massachusetts leads the nation in energy efficiency, but that will never be enough,” Baker said. “We must significantly increase the supply of clean and affordable hydropower.”
Shifting his attention to the younger population, Baker addressed a report stating that four people per day are dying of opioid abuse, which he said directly affects younger generations who are less aware of the drug’s consequences.
“Prescribers are far too casual about the addictive consequences of these medications,” he said.
Nodding again toward the younger demographic, Baker highlighted a bill for new economic development, which he said will invest $75 million in the commonwealth’s career and technical schools.
“These schools are a pathway to a bright future,” Baker said. “At an age when too many people are struggling to find work that pays well, these schools have so much to offer. We should help them make that happen.”
Hoping to make a statement before the State of the Commonwealth began, several members of New England Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hosted a rally Thursday afternoon in support of a proposed bill, which would increase transparency of public records in the commonwealth.
Bill Marcus, one of the rally’s organizers, expressed the importance for citizens to reach out to their local representatives to prove their commitment to the issue. Marcus also outlined his group’s four main goals.
“[Our goals are] firm time frames for providing records, a straightforward effective appeals process, mandatory attorney fees and reduced fees for public information,” he said.
However, Baker neglected to mention public records reform in his State of the Commonwealth address.
Several attendees of the State of the Commonwealth praised the attention the Governor paid to issues such as substance abuse and transportation.
Linda Dorcena Forry, 42, of Dorchester Center, said she agreed with the governor’s choice to discuss issues of education and drug addition. Forry, a senator for the 1st Suffolk District, said no matter one’s economic status, education is vital for development.
“The addiction issue continues to be a big problem here in our commonwealth,” Forry said. “But education is the big piece. Education is critical whether you’re from a poor family or rich family. If we can get kids at the basics, that will help them get ahead in the future.”
Pralhad K.C., 57, of Bedford, said that of the topics discussed in Baker’s speech, he is most concerned with transportation.
“The T was chaos [and] we had last year with the MBTA and hopefully this winter we can implement his ideas to fix it,” K.C. said.
Rady Mom, 46, of Lowell, is a state representative for the 18th Middlesex District. He said he was pleased by the nature of Baker’s speech.
“I thought the governor was very optimistic, very positive,” Mom said. “You can hear him, but you can also see [action], and that makes it very easy for all of us to get along.”
