Senate President Karen Spilka: We're in this together

My statement regarding the presidential election results

Updates from Beacon Hill & MetroWest Dear Friends,    I'd like to share with you a statement I recently issued regarding the recent presidential election results: "Massachusetts may be the home of American democracy, but it is also the community we call home—and I take the responsibility to protect our community—and its residents—very seriously. In Massachusetts, we will always uphold the right to respectfully disagree, speak our minds, worship the way we choose, be our true selves, and love who we love. We have faced an anti-democratic presidency before, and we responded by doubling down on defending reproductive freedom, protecting the health care of all our residents regardless of gender or gender identity, strengthening voter protections, and creating comprehensive climate policy to protect our state—and our nation—from the devastating effects of climate change. The Massachusetts State Senate stands ready to fight for the fundamental values our Commonwealth holds dear once again. As we wait for our country to turn yet another page, we are reminded that Massachusetts is a Commonwealth—and we are all charged with the responsibility of caring for each other, regardless of background or political affiliation. We have been a leader and a model for our nation in so many ways throughout our long history. Now, more than ever, we must continue to be a light of democracy and justice for all." As always, if my office can be of assistance to you or your family, please don't hesitate to reach out at karen.spilka@masenate.gov or call 617-722-1500.   karenspilka.com Want more frequent updates? Follow us on social

Senate President Karen E. Spilka | Massachusetts State House Room 332 | Boston, MA 02133 US

State Representative Jeff Roy rolls out 2024 endorsements

United States Senator Ed Markey has endorsed Jeffrey Roy in his State Representative race in the 10th Norfolk District (Franklin and Medway). 

“I am proud to endorse Rep. Jeff Roy for re-election as the State Representative for Franklin and Medway. He has been a partner and champion on climate and energy issues, spearheading efforts to pass landmark climate and energy bills, as well as legislation to address substance use disorder, economic development, and civil rights. And he has consistently delivered critical local aid to Franklin and Medway. I look forward to continuing to partner with him."

United States Senator Ed Markey has endorsed Jeffrey Roy

In addition to Markey, Roy has been endorsed by Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Speaker of the House Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Massachusetts & Northern New England Laborers’ District Council, Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund, Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers & Scientists, Massachusetts Nurses Association, and 1999SEIU. He has also been endorsed by Franklin Town Council Chair Thomas Mercer; Franklin Town Council Vice-Chair Robert Dellorco; and Franklin Town Council Clerk Glenn Jones.

Governor Healey shared the following: 

“Representative Roy has been a highly effective and skilled legislator for more than a decade, advancing important laws addressing education, economic development, healthcare, criminal justice, and civil rights. In his role as Chairman of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee, Jeff spearheaded efforts to pass landmark climate and energy legislation to legislation strengthening protections for survivors of abuse and exploitation. His district and the Commonwealth will benefit from his continued leadership at the State House."

Attorney General Campbell noted that Jeff 

“has been a partner in the work, including protecting our environment and addressing climate change. With significant local and state government experience, he is passionate about getting things done and having an impact on all of his constituents, including his seniors, students, and those often forgotten.”

In its endorsement, the Mass State Police Commissioned Officers Association President William “Duke” Donaghue remarked that MSP COA 

“deeply appreciates your past support for law enforcement and your commitment to public safety in the Commonwealth. Your proven leadership and dedication aligns perfectly with our mission to ensure the safety of our communities and the well-being of our members.”

Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Chrissy Lynch stated: 

“The Massachusetts AFL-CIO Executive Council has officially voted to endorse your re-election. On behalf of nearly half a million members across the Commonwealth, we are proud to support candidates like you who have demonstrated a commitment to the values and principles of the Labor Movement, and create an economy that works for working people.”

"I am absolutely thrilled to receive the support and endorsement from all of these groups and individuals," noted Roy. "In my years in the Massachusetts House I have built strong and lasting relationships and have partnered with them to make Massachusetts and our communities great places to live, work, and raise a family. With their continued support, I am confident we can continue to deliver results for Massachusetts."

You can view the complete list of endorsements and testimonials at https://jeffreyroy.com/testimonials/.

Since 2013 Jeff has been part of a legislative team that has addressed the issues of education, economic development, the coronavirus pandemic, health care, substance use disorder, criminal justice, civil rights and social equity, gun safety, climate change, energy, and the environment. In addition, he led efforts to:

• Draft and pass the bill accelerating a responsible, innovative and equitable clean energy transition in 2024;

• Draft and pass an act to prevent abuse and exploitation in 2024;

• Draft and pass the clean energy and offshore wind bill in 2022;

• Finalize the Roadmap Bill on climate change in 2021;

• Draft and pass the Genocide Education Act in 2021;

• Draft and pass legislation on Step Therapy and Patient Safety in 2022;

• Draft and pass legislation relative to sexual violence on higher education campuses in 2021;

• Draft and pass legislation increasing transparency and financial reporting requirements for higher education institutions in 2019;

• Draft and pass legislation that increased transparency and civic engagement by creating a searchable online database of legal notices in 2015;

• Pass legislation lowering thresholds on specialty license plates, making them available to smaller charities and causes in 2015; and

• Pass legislation to create a Regional Dispatch Center for Franklin, Norfolk, Wrentham, and Plainville in 2013.

He has also led efforts to bring millions of dollars in local aid for schools, roads, infrastructure, public safety, arts, recreation, substance use disorder, economic development, historical preservation, and food insecurity. He has also helped thousands of constituents with issues involving unemployment, health care, human services, and other matters with state agencies.

Roy is seeking re-election as the State Representative for the 10th Norfolk District (Franklin & Medway). He is the Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy and previously served as Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, and the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance. 

He is also the Chair of the Manufacturing Caucus, which promotes and encourages “Making It” in Massachusetts. Previously, he served as a member of the Franklin Town Council, and the Franklin School Committee where he held the position of Chair for 9 of his 10 years. He also chaired Franklin's Master Plan Committee from 2012 to 2013.

For more information on Jeffrey Roy, please visit http://jeffreyroy.com/

Episode 42 starts with eclipse highlights and legislative seminar before discussing headlines (audio)

FM #1176 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1176 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. Starting with highlights from Ted’s experience of the eclipse, and with my highlights from the Citizen Legislative Seminar where I spent 2 days in State House.

• NY Attorney General sues meat producer https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/29/new-york-jbs-climate-lawsuit

• Meat a contributor https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/us-banks-sabotaging-own-net-zero-plans-by-livestock-financing-report-claims 

• 80/20 rule strikes again https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/just-57-companies-linked-to-80-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-since-2016 

• How to spot five of the fossil fuel industry’s biggest disinformation tactics https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/14/climate-disinformation-explainer?CMP=share_btn_url 

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 43 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio link ->   https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1176-making-sense-of-climate-42-04-16-24

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** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Episode 42 starts with eclipse highlights and legislative seminar before discussing headlines (audio)

Senator Spilka's 55+ Health and Wellness Fair - Oct 14, 2023

Please save the date for the 2023 Fair, taking place Saturday, October 14, again at Keefe Tech School in Framingham.   

 

We look forward to seeing you on October 14, 2023.

RSVP online at -> https://karenspilka.com/fair2023

Senator Spilka's 55+ Health and Wellness Fair - Oct 14, 2023

MA State budget signed, one of the line items cut is "Hey Sam"

"GOV. MAURA HEALEY on Wednesday signed into law her first state budget, setting a different tone than the Republican who held the corner office for the previous eight years.

She invited Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano to join her at the signing ceremony, signaling a united front among the top three Democrats on Beacon Hill. It was a departure from past practice under former governor Charlie Baker; Mariano called it a new precedent.

Overall, the $56 billion budget gives all three Democrats items they can crow about. Healey trumpeted a measure she initiated to cover “last-dollar funding” so students over age 25 can attend community college for free. She also highlighted a big boost in funding (1 percent of the state budget) for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the largest increase ever in K-12 school funding, and a 48 percent increase in funds for the state’s emergency shelter program."

Continue reading the article online -> https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/with-democrats-united-healey-signs-56b-budget/ 

The Mass Municipal Assoc also provides coverage ->  https://www.mma.org/gov-healey-signs-fy24-state-budget/

Boston Globe provides coverage of the signing ->

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/09/metro/gov-maura-healey-state-budget/

Via Senator Rausch wasn't pleased with one of the line items cut

"I am pleased that @MassGovernor signed much of the FY24 budget today, but concerned about several significant cuts, incl. complete elimination of funding for Hey Sam, a 100%-successful youth mental health text line, amid an ongoing #mentalhealth crisis. My full statement"

Senator Rausch statement on "Hey Sam"

Senate President Spilka: Progressive tax relief, celebrating Juneteenth + Pride Month, and more!

Plus news from the district & around the state

Updates from Beacon Hill & MetroWest Delivering tax relief for residents who need it most. Dear Friends – June has been quite the month.   We passed progressive tax relief, spent joyful hours celebrating pride with our LGBTQ+ community, and commemorated freedom for all at Juneteenth events around MetroWest. To top it off, our local farmers' markets are in full swing—one of my favorite summer activities. Our work on Beacon Hill has been truly historic. The tax relief package that the Senate unanimously passed will reduce income inequality, make Massachusetts more competitive nationally, and lessen the crippling impact of rising prices, inflation, and economic uncertainty. It delivers relief for workers, families, and elderly residents who are bearing the brunt of the rising costs of healthcare, housing, education, and basic goods. It is permanent, progressive, smart, and sustainable tax relief for the people who need it most. It was an equally exciting month in MetroWest. My team and I joined Juneteenth celebrations in several of our communities, cut ribbons on educational and public safety facilities, and visited the MetroWest Visitors Bureau to discuss our incredible region—something I could talk about forever. As always, my office is available if you need assistance or wish to share your opinion. You can email me at karen.spilka@masenate.gov or call 617-722-1500. And if you see me by the tomatoes at one of our local farmers' markets—don't hesitate to say hello. Warm regards, Speaking to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Forum I had the privilege of speaking to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce this month, and my message to them was: there's no place like home. We have everything we need here to create a thriving, multiracial, diverse and welcoming Commonwealth that can be the envy of the other states. But we must tackle head-on the challenge facing the rest of the nation – that of shoring up and expanding our middle class. By expanding access to the middle class, we can help the people who do some of our most important jobs – like home health aides, child care providers, and human service workers, among others – achieve the American dream. That's why I'm proud the Senate has focused on the fundamentals, like access to housing, health care and higher education, among many other things, in our Fiscal Year 2024 budget and our recent tax relief package. Tax Relief for Residents On June 15, the Senate unanimously passed a $590 million tax relief bill which delivers support to low- and middle-income earners and chips away at the headwinds that threaten Massachusetts' competitiveness. Focusing on providing relief to residents across Massachusetts while upholding fiscal responsibility, the Senate's tax relief package will provide relief to renters, seniors, and parents struggling with high early education costs while also increasing much-needed housing production. As I have said from the outset, tax relief should go to the workers, families, and elderly residents of the Commonwealth who need it most. LEARN MORE Juneteenth: Liberty and Justice for all Americans Three years after the Senate voted to make Juneteenth a state holiday, I am thrilled to see it being celebrated around MetroWest and all around the country. This day reminds us that none of us are free until we are all free, and that it is incumbent on us to do the work of dismantling systemic racism in Massachusetts and nationwide.  Juneteenth is a celebration of all Americans finally being truly free - and a reminder of the important work that lies ahead. I am immensely grateful to my colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate who work to uplift Black voices and strive to create a more equitable society for all. From outdoor painting, to live music, to book recommendations and great food, MetroWest was full of lively Juneteenth celebrations this year! Thanks to the many community organizations who stepped up, including Ashland Residents for Equity and Action, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network in Framingham, and organizations in Natick, including Natick for Black Lives Matter, Spark Kindness, and others. Celebrating Pride It was a joy to celebrate Pride in MetroWest and at the State House alongside friends and leaders. We rejoiced in our diverse identities and unity as a Commonwealth, and stood firm in our commitment to equity and protecting the rights of our LGBTQ+ community. Making Massachusetts a place for everyone is not just a moral imperative—it is our competitive advantage. To LGBTQ+ folks and their allies around the country who are facing renewed discrimination, I say, come to Massachusetts! I am especially proud of how residents of MetroWest cities and towns have come together to celebrate love, diversity, and equality with local Pride celebrations. Our communities must be places where everyone can live authentically and thrive. Photos are of Pride celebrations in Hopkinton, where I was joined by Congressman Jim McGovern, Framingham, and Ashland.