GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Thursday signed a $3.76 billion economic development bill. But Baker, a Republican, once again entered into a controversy with the Democratic-led Legislature over reproductive rights by vetoing an education campaign about crisis pregnancy centers.Crisis pregnancy centers are organizations, often faith-based, that provide resources to pregnant women and counsel them about their options in a way that discourages them from getting an abortion. In some cases, these centers have run deceptive advertising, implying that they offer abortion services when they do not. Particularly since Roe v. Wade was overturned, abortion rights organizations have worried that women seeking abortions will be drawn to crisis pregnancy centers without realizing what the organizations do.The Legislature, as part of its economic development bill, appropriated $17.5 million for organizations that provide reproductive health care, including abortion care, to spend on hiring, security, and education. That money included a $1 million education campaign regarding crisis pregnancy centers.Baker left the $16.5 million earmarked for reproductive health organizations but vetoed the $1 million public awareness campaign as well as language requiring the state to publish a list of providers that offer “legitimate” family planning services. The state already maintains such a list.
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Friday, November 11, 2022
CommonWealth Magazine: "Baker again clashes with lawmakers on abortion-related law"
Friday, August 5, 2022
CommonWealth Magazine: "Baker vetoes prison moratorium"
"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Thursday vetoed a five-year moratorium on new prison construction, citing concerns that it would constrain the state from moving forward with several planned prison improvement projects. The moratorium was included in a $5.1 billion bond bill for projects related to government operations, which Baker signed.“These improvements require facility modifications that will require not only funding, but the allowance of discretion in how existing facilities are used – or not used,” Baker wrote in his signing letter."
Legislation Acted Upon by the Governor - August 4, 2022:
Bill # | Bill Title | Sponsors | Action |
H5065 | An Act financing the general governmental infrastructure of the Commonwealth | Governor Baker | Signed in part – 8/4/2022 |
H5130 | An Act relative to a purchase option on a University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth leased facility in New Bedford (FY23 attach Y) | Governor Baker | Signed – 8/4/2022 |
H5048 | An Act relative to a certain parcel of land in the town of Townsend | Rep. Kim Ferguson, Sen. Anne Gobi | Signed – 8/4/2022 |
H4250 | An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to release easements upon certain real property in the town of Canton | Rep. William Galvin, Sen. Walter Timilty | Signed – 8/4/2022 |
H5106 | An Act relative to the governance, structure and care of veterans at the Commonwealth’s veterans’ homes | Rep. Linda Dean Campbell and Sen. Anne Gobi | Signed – 8/4/2022 |
H4442 | An Act further regulating the enforcement of illegal hunting practices | Rep. Lori Ehrlich, Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante | Signed – 8/4/2022 |
H1917 | An Act relative to taking or transmitting images of crime victims by first responders | Rep. Joseph Wagner and Sen. Eric Lesser | Signed – 8/4/2022 |
H4338 | An Act relative to regular compensation for certain retirees and active retirement system members | Rep. Paul McMurtry and Rep. Colleen Garry | Signed – 8/4/2022 |
H5159 | An Act authorizing the commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey a certain parcel in the Roxbury section of the city of Boston | Rep. Elizabeth Malia | Signed – 8/4/2022 |
H901 | An Act protecting research animals | Rep. Carolyn Dykema | Signed – 8/4/2022 |
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MCI-Shirley, a medium and minimum security state prison. (Photo by Department of Correction) |
Friday, January 15, 2021
“Reluctantly, I cannot sign this legislation as currently written"
"Governor Charlie Baker vetoed a far-reaching package of climate change and energy legislation Thursday, rejecting — perhaps temporarily — a bill that would have set the state on a path to in effect eliminate its carbon emissions over the next three decades.The move disappointed but didn’t surprise lawmakers and advocates, who had feared the Republican governor would veto the bill, despite having laid out his own ambitious plan to achieve zero emissions on a net basis by 2050.The legislation, considered the state’s most sweeping measure to address climate change since the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act in 2008, would have required the state to reduce its emissions by 50 percent below 1990 levels by the end of the decade."
“Climate change is the greatest existential threat facing our state, our nation, and our planet, and so Governor Baker should sign the climate change bill that is now on his desk. Should he not take this important step, the Senate and House are united in our intention to refile and pass the conference committee bill in its entirety and get it onto the Governor’s desk in the coming days.”