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Baker’s COVID Inaction
The writing’s been on the wall when it comes to the rising number COVID cases in Massachusetts. Rather than act, Governor Charlie Baker played with metrics to convince us we were on the right track. Democrats and public health officials called on the Governor to ensure equal access to testing, and a swift and complete response to rising COVID cases--and only then did he take modest action.
- For weeks, Democratic elected officials have been calling on Governor Baker to expand testing capacity to ensure that everyone, in every region of Massachusetts, has access to critical COVID testing and care.
- Back in November, Democrats like State Senator Julian Cyr and State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa called on Baker to provide more resources in ‘testing deserts’ on Cape Cod and in Western Massachusetts.
- This week, Springfield’s City Councilors blasted Baker after no Springfield-area representatives were appointed to the Vaccine Advisory Group. They also called on the Governor to increase testing to meet the demand in Western Mass.
- Democratic elected officials like Cyr and Sabadosa are taking things into their own hands to provide tests for their constituents--but they need Baker to step up in order to stop the spread.
- For over a month, Governor Baker watched COVID cases rise drastically for over a month while public health officials and local leaders called on him to do something to combat the surge in cases.
- Last weekend, one of the nation’s most respected public health experts said he was “aghast at [Baker’s] lack of action,” who kept casinos and tanning salons open while hospitalizations and deaths rose by 100%.
- Local leaders have called for a collective, statewide response for weeks, only for Baker to announce modest adjustments as coronavirus cases reach single-day record levels.
- MassDems Chair Gus Bickford blasted Baker after the Governor announced a single-step rollback in following pressure from public health experts and elected officials. “The pressure finally became too much for Baker to ignore, forcing him to finally take the extremely modest steps he outlined today,” said Bickford. “No matter the issue, Baker only acts when pressured. It’s not leadership, it’s negligence.”
- One thing is clear: Baker only acts when pressured, and Massachusetts needs a leader who doesn’t sit on the sidelines in times of crisis.
Baker Stalls on ROE
Last week, the state House and Senate passed the 2021 budget, including critical ROE measures to improve abortion access. Baker only has until December 14th to sign these crucial provisions into law, and the ROE Coalition needs you to tell Baker you support Section 40.
- Anti-choice Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court puts reproductive health care at risk. Right now, Massachusetts has an opportunity to lead on protecting reproductive freedom.
- The Massachusetts Legislature passed crucial provisions to protect and expand equal access to abortion in Section 40 of the 2021 budget--which now sits waiting to be signed on Baker’s desk.
- Bay Staters widely support equitable access to reproductive health care, and bad-faith attacks on the ROE provisions from opponents of safe and legal abortion, like the MassGOP, have not swayed public opinion.
- It’s past time we codify abortion access here in Massachusetts, but we know that Baker only acts when pressured. That’s why the ROE Coalition needs you to tell the Governor: “It’s time to break down barriers to abortion access.”
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