Tackling Twin Crises of Climate Change and Inequality

Flooding

September 29, 2021

Chairman Barrett, Chairman Roy, and Members of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy:

I am submitting testimony in my capacity as Chair of the Issues Committee of Progressive Massachusetts. We urge a favorable report for S. 2226/H. 3365: An Act providing for building justice with jobs.

Progressive Massachusetts is a statewide grassroots advocacy group fighting for a Massachusetts that is more equitable, just, sustainable, and democratic. We are appreciative that the Legislature began the session by passing the Next Generation Roadmap bill. But if we are to meet the targets set out in the bill (and go even further), we must take additional action to address the emissions across sectors. These bills, filed by Sen. Marc Pacheco and Reps. Maria Robinson and David LeBoeuf, would be a powerful step toward doing so.

After the transportation sector, the residential sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. However, many homes—notably in underserved communities—are older and must be retrofitted in order to achieve maximum energy efficiency. At the same time, many underserved communities where unemployment remains a significant problem would benefit greatly from programs that address retrofitting. 

The Building Justice with Jobs bill would do so by adopting housing regulations mandating minimum energy efficiency, energy performance, or related energy standards and by putting thousands of MA residents to work retrofitting 100,000 homes each year to improve energy efficiency and health outcomes, as well as reduce utility bills and carbon emissions.

We can address both the climate crisis and the inequality crisis at the same time; indeed, we have to. 

Sincerely,

Jonathan Cohn

Chair, Issues Committee

Progressive Massachusetts

Our 2021 Annual Member Meeting: Videos & Slides

2021 Member Meeting

Thank you to everyone who joined us earlier this month for our 2021 annual member meeting!

We were not able to record every breakout session, but we do have recordings for five of them, which you can watch on our YouTube page: 

You can also view the slides from the three presenters for the “What the COVID Pandemic Reveals about Our State Government” breakout.

And the slides from the “Massachusetts Budget Dilemma: Wealthy State, Inequitable Services” breakout:

The MA Legislature Passes the Next Generation Climate Bill — for the Third Time

This week, the Legislature re-passed their omnibus climate bill from last session, An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy, rejecting all of the amendments from Governor Baker that would have weakened the bill.

In the Senate, which voted on Monday, Ryan Fattman was the sole NO vote.

In the House, which voted on Thursday, the vote on re-passing the bill was 145 to 14, with 13 Republicans and 1 Democrat–Colleen Garry (D-Dracut)–voting no.

Tell Beacon Hill to Finish the Job

The current legislative session in Massachusetts ends in just three short weeks, with a few holidays in between.

And there’s a lot left to do.

The Legislature has to reject harmful amendments proposed by Republican Governor Charlie Baker to weaken police accountability legislation and strike vital language on equitable abortion access and prison oversight from the budget.

Important climate and housing legislation has been languishing in secretive conference committees while crises fester.

Key protections for workers like emergency paid sick time and for our immigrant communities like the Safe Communities Act and the Work and Family Mobility Act (driver’s license bill) were voted out of committee months ago but remain stuck in limbo.

It’s time to stop delaying and take action.

Can you email your state legislators today to demand swift action on these priorities?

We can’t let the clock run out with so much still on the table — and so much at stake.