Dear Neighbor,

Last week, the Senate passed our version of the PROTECT Act.

The Senate's PROTECT Act holds federal immigration agents legally accountable for civil rights violations, bars local and state police from participating in civil federal immigration enforcement, and prohibits immigration civil arrests at courthouses, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and childcare facilities.  

The House previously passed its own version, initiated by the Black and Latino Caucus.  WGBH has a good summary of the differences, which will have to be resolved by a conference committee of three members from each house.

Senators, including me, filed 79 amendments, but only 7 were adopted.  In the end, all Democrats and two of the five Republicans - including the minority leader, voted in favor.

Dear Neighbor,

It's frustrating when you work for years to pass a bill, and then it's not carried out as intended.  That's happened with medical parole.  A little history, then individuals' stories by MassLive on "Death Under Watch."

WHY MEDICAL PAROLE?

In 2011, I filed a bill to allow dying and incapacitated people to be released from prison into care by their family, a nursing home, or other facility. 

I visited the Health Services and the Activities of Daily Living Units at MCI Shirley with other legislators.  We saw a quadriplegic who could not sit up in bed, being cared for by a prisoner from another unit. Others required dialysis to survive.  There were many men with dementia, some of whom had no idea where they were.  The unit was like a nursing home, but much more expensive, with no benefit to public safety.  None of the men was a danger to others. 

Dear Neighbor,

FLIGHT OF THE MILLIONAIRES

This is the third in a series on the causes and effects of the rapid transfer of income, wealth and power upward.  The first demonstrated the concentration of wealth.  The second was about how that concentration showed up in life expectancy and food. 

This one has immediate policy implications.  It's about the "flight of the millionaires."  Are the uber-wealthy fleeing Massachusetts because of the Fair Share Amendment? That law, passed by 52% of the popular vote in 2022, added a 4% surtax on incomes over $1 million.

Dear Neighbor,

This set of short takes is the second in a series about the wealth gap and its effects.  ICYMI, here's the first.

Dear Neighbors,

Amid the hourly onslaught of mostly bad to horrific news, it's easy to lose sight of something that's both cause and result of those events.

That's the rapid and enormous transfer of income, wealth and power upward.  This newsletter just shows the scale of the wealth and income gaps.  How do those gaps affect housing, taxation, spending, health, education, food, war, and more?  How do our policies affect those gaps?  I'll be writing about that in future newsletters.  And we'll examine the urgent question of whether millionaires are fleeing Massachusetts because of the Fair Share Amendment.  

Dear Neighbor,

In December, I wrote about Governor Healey's Graduation Council's Interim Report.  After voters passed Question 2 by almost 3-2, eliminating MCAS as a graduation requirement, districts have been allowed to set their own graduation standards.  Healey (who opposed that elimination) established a Graduation Council to propose replacements for the test as a graduation requirement.

Dear Neighbor,

Last week:
     - I filed a bill to unmask ICE 
     - The Assisted Living Commission filed our report and commendations
     - The Senate passed my Senior Property Tax Deferral bill

Dear Neighbor,

Happy New Year!  

I always start every year full of optimism.  This year, almost all bills have been reported out of their primary committees.  Many are now waiting for action in the Ways and Means committees.  So we have a lot to work on.

Thanks to all of you who sent kind words after I announced that I won't be running for re-election this year!  

Here's a roundup of some recent news reports on issues I'm working on.

Dear Neighbor,

l love being a senator and representing the people in our district!  But I’ve been in the Senate for 20 years, and it’s time to move on.  I won’t be running for re-election next year.  

But I’ll still represent you for all of 2026, and there’s a lot to continue working on together. 

Dear Neighbor,

Last year, many of us worked and voted to pass Question 2, which passed 59-41%.  It eliminated the requirement that students pass MCAS exams to get their high school diplomas.  I wrote about why I supported Question 2 here, with lots of evidence of how standardized tests don't help, and can harm students.

In January, Gov. Healey, who opposed Question 2, created a Massachusetts Statewide K-12 Graduation Council to examine new graduation requirements. 

Dear Neighbor,
 
Here's some pre-election news, including my recommendations for two ballot questions in Somerville, and recordings of recent candidate forums.  More Senate news soon. 

Dear Neighbor,

It's been a busy time at the state house!  I don't expect you to read everything here, but to give you a taste of some of the things we work on.

First I want to let you know that the wonderful Vicki Halal, who has worked with me for many years on education and aging policy, is now my chief of staff!  And Tara Christian has joined our team as legislative aide.  You can see all our staff bios here.  

SENATE AGAIN PASSES MENSTRUAL EQUITY BILL