When Maura and Kim ran for office, they laid out their vision for building a stronger Massachusetts.
Yesterday, Maura signed their first budget into law. There’s a lot of big news, so here’s a very quick breakdown of just a few highlights.
Massachusetts has the best education system in America. That’s important, and the Healey-Driscoll Administration is going to make sure that doesn’t change. Our new budget fully funds the Student Opportunity Act to ensure every student and every public school gets the resources they deserve, and increases funding to our state university system, expanding financial aid so that everyone can afford a higher degree. Hunger should never be a barrier to learning, so the budget provides permanent free public school meals — for every child, in every zip code.
Maura and Kim want to make Massachusetts more competitive, and that starts with investing in our people. The budget includes their campaign promise to create MassReconnect, a proposal to fund free community college for adults 25 and older who do not already have a college degree. It expands access to ConnectorCare, giving individuals earning up to 500% of the federal poverty limit access to more affordable health insurance coverage. The budget invests in our infrastructure too, with $477 million dedicated to improving roads, bridges, transit, and more, helping us get around Massachusetts quickly and safely.
During the campaign, Maura and Kim committed to making Massachusetts the climate capital of the world, and they hit the ground running. They’ve created the position of Climate Chief and filed the largest solicitation for wind power in New England’s history (aiming to meet more than 25% of the state’s annual electricity demand). They’re working to create a Climate Corridor from the Berkshires to Barnstable, creating thousands of new jobs. The new budget delivers on their historic promise to put 1% of our state’s budget toward environmental and energy agencies.
When Maura and Kim ran for office, they promised to bring Massachusetts together.
In some states around the country, Governors are more focused on politics than promises.
But not in Massachusetts. That’s not who we are.
Partnering with Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, Chairman Rodrigues, Chairman Michlewitz, and the Legislature, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is showing America what Massachusetts stands for.
Here, we come together. We lift people up. And we lead.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration is going to make sure it stays that way.
We’re going to stand with them.
-Team Healey-Driscoll