CommonWealth Magazine: "Baker again clashes with lawmakers on abortion-related law"

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. 

Continue reading the article online ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/baker-again-clashes-with-lawmakers-on-abortion-related-law/

Gov. Charlie Baker addresses the media during a press conference at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center vaccine clinic at La Colaborativa in Chelsea, MA on April 1, 2021. (Pool photo by Craig F. Walker/Boston Globe)

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."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/criminal-justice/baker-vetoes-prison-moratorium/ 

The full list of legislation acted upon by Gov Baker on Thursday

(copied from the Governor's page -> https://www.mass.gov/service-details/on-the-governors-desk)

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

MCI-Shirley, a medium and minimum security state prison. (Photo by Department of Correction)

“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."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/15/metro/reluctantly-governor-vetoes-mass-climate-change-bill-it-may-soon-be-back-his-desk/

Direct link to Climate legislation doc: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2995

 

CommonWealth Magazine article:  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/environment/in-veto-letter-baker-objects-to-a-lot-in-climate-change-bill/

 

Statement from Senate President Karen E. Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano:

“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.”