Members of the western Massachusetts legislative delegation say they have always worked well together, so it’s no surprise that they have some of the same hopes and visions for their districts and the region in 2021.
The continued COVID-19 crisis, health care and health inequities, mental health, hunger, job loss, affordable housing, redistricting, the environment, economic development and education are at the top of their priority lists.
“I learned a lot in my first session and now it’s time to build on the work and successes during the second session,” Sen. Jo Comerford said. “We’ve got an economic crisis created by COVID and the pandemic has put a spotlight on health inequities.”
The Northampton Democrat said she will file more than 60 bills in the coming years, but the ones she sees as most important are related to racial health equity and public schools, as well as a municipal building bill for small towns that need help constructing fire stations, police stations, public works buildings and other municipal buildings.
“I want to see us double down on what small rural communities need,” she said. “We also need equitable funding for school buildings.”
Comerford said there will also be an expansion to a bill concerning “farms and food security” that will improve the economic security of the region’s farmers.
Sen. Adam Hinds said his focus will be on businesses and communities and just “helping them get through” until a vaccine is available to most, if not all, residents of western Massachusetts. He has secured $100,000 to provide small business grants to businesses in the greater Shelburne Falls area and would like to see the state invest in health and schools.
Carbon sequestration and how forests are used is another one of his top priorities as he continues his work with climate change.
“We’ll also be preparing next year’s budget, so I’ll be looking at income and equality,” said Hinds, D-Pittsfield. “I’ll also be looking at infrastructure, economic development and education through a regional lens.”
He intends to file about 70 bills this year.
Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, said she’s looking forward not only to working on the issues mentioned by her colleagues but getting back to in-person office hours where she can be face-to-face with her constituents.
“I want to be able to talk with people in their backyards again,” she said. “I think that connection is one of the most important parts of the job. Zoom and the phone has been fine during a pandemic, but the people are what drives our decisions and I want to see them.”
Blais said at the top of her list is making sure constituents continue to receive a high level of services, especially those who are unemployed, hungry or face other significant challenges like housing assistance.
“Infrastructure has always been a priority for me, including affordable housing, bridges and roads, and broadband, to name a few,” she said. “I’ll be identifying new funding and programs that will serve our rural area. We’re here to give the people a voice.”
Rep. Dan Carey, D-Easthampton, said that the pandemic will be the main thing people look back on for these last two years. At the same time, Carey said that the Legislature was “still able to get a lot of work done.”
Pre-pandemic, Carey pointed to the successful passage of the Student Opportunity Act, which changed how public schools are funded. And during the pandemic, Carey pointed to the changing of election laws to facilitate elections during it.
Carey’s grandfather, William Carey, served in the State House in the seat Carey currently occupies from 1974 to 1986, and Carey said he still has people tell him how his grandfather helped them.
“It’s been an honor for me,” said Carey, who served his first term in the last legislative session.
Carey said that while he’ll continue to work on education and climate change in the new session, the pandemic will still be paramount.
“We are not near the finish line of that,” he said.
Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, has completed her first term in office. And she said that the previous legislative session “was far more successful than I thought it would be.”
“I am very proud that we passed a lot of progressive legislation this session,” Sabadosa said.
She pointed to reaffirming transgender rights, lifting the cap on the number kids one can claim welfare benefits for, and sealing eviction records as examples.
“I am really proud of that work,” Sabadosa said.
The Northampton representative also pointed to the collaboration done by members of the western Massachusetts delegation, both with one another and with their colleagues in the eastern part of the state.
“We’re not focused on hyper-regionalism,” she said.
At the same time, she said that the delegation puts “the needs of our constituents before all else.”
As for what she’s looking to work on in the new session, Sabadosa cited criminal justice reform, pesticides and reproductive services access.
Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, said that she felt her first session as a member of the Legislature was very productive.
“I was impressed with how much we did,” said Domb, noting that part of the session was held during the pandemic.
Domb cited the passage of a ban on gay conversion therapy, as well as the passage of legislation lifting the cap on the number of children one can claim welfare benefits for early in the session.
The cap lifting legislation was passed over the governor’s veto, and at the end of the session, Domb said that the Legislature overrode Gov. Charlie Baker more than 100 times, including overriding his veto of the ROE Act.
“It’s really important to watch what the governor does,” said Domb, who said that the governor’s vetoes tell people who he is.
Domb said that in the new session she’ll be filing legislation allowing people to select nonbinary for their gender on all state forms, legislation on food insecurity and legislation on expanding the electorate. She also said that she’s prepared to support real-time legislation in response to the pandemic, and will be looking into the cost of and people’s access to pharmaceuticals. Additionally, Domb said that she’ll be supporting implementing a carbon fee in the state.
Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, was elected in 2020 to the state Senate in a special election after Sen. Don Humason stepped down to become mayor of Westfield. Prior to this, he was serving in the state House of Representatives. Velis’ election, and subsequent Senate service, occurred amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Although I have yet to meet all of my Senate colleagues in person, I’ve still been able to form strong relationships virtually with many of them,” Velis wrote in an email. “It is clear that we are all focused on helping our constituents get through this pandemic, and we have collaborated to pass some important legislation for our commonwealth, especially to support struggling businesses and those who are unemployed.”
Velis also said that he is proud of the Legislature’s response to the pandemic
“Whether it be improving healthcare access and telehealth options through the Patients First Act, providing much-needed relief to our communities and local businesses through the Economic Development Bill and our fiscal budgets, or advocating for increased unemployment benefits and COVID-19 testing sites, the Legislature has worked diligently to help those who are struggling during these difficult times,” he said.
Velis said that he’ll continue to advocate for the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, noting that he secured additional funding for the facility last session. He also said that recovering from the pandemic will be the most immediate issue in the new session, and that he’ll be working on mental health and substance abuse legislation.
“Especially with the impact that the pandemic has had, I think we’re going to continue to see the impact this time has had on mental health and substance abuse. It is vital that we ensure resources are available to people in need,” he said.