“As your State Representative, I will make sure that Arlington, Belmont, and Cambridge’s commitment to education is protected”. -Dave Rogers (2012)

This past Legislative Session, I strongly supported the “Student Opportunity Act”, which has since been passed overwhelmingly and signed into law. This Act will allow for the Commonwealth to invest $1.5 Billion into our Public Education System over the next seven years, and will ensure that our district’s educational systems are properly protected.

“As your representative, I will work tirelessly to bring all relevant stakeholders to the table to fashion a comprehensive solution to transportation and infrastructure issues”. (2012)

I have strongly pushed for a funding stream needed to make important transportation infrastructure improvements. Earlier in March 2020, the House passed two major pieces of legislation relating to transportation infrastructure.

The first piece of legislation, one that I have strongly supported, is expected to generate between $522 and $612 million in additional annual revenue to fund our state's transportation projects. This revenue package draws from several sources of new income the first being one that I pushed hard for. It proposes the first increases to the corporate minimum tax in over 30 years. The tax is on a graduated scale, with larger corporations responsible for paying more, while small businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenue, would not be affected by increased tax rates. The gas tax will also increase by 5 cents a gallon. The business community in Greater Boston was actually pushing for a much higher gas tax increase but, working with like-minded legislators, I argued that the gas tax is too regressive and successfully made the case for the increase in corporate taxes. The per trip charge on certain Lyft and Uber rides will increase by up to $1.20, while “shared” rides will see no increase, incentivizing app users to ride together. This revenue package is a big win for transit advocates, for progressive principles and for the future of transportation in Massachusetts.

In addition to the revenue bill outlined above, I supported the major transportation bond bill, H. 4506 - An Act Authorizing and Accelerating Transportation Investment. This bond bill was a 5 year plan with an authorization of up to $18 billion. By passing a revenue bill in tandem with the bond bill, the Legislature ensures that there is adequate financial backing to support the bond bill. Collectively these two bills ensure that the Commonwealth can undertake the kinds of investments necessary both to maintain and modernize our transportation system.

“While providing adequate funding for mass transit, I will also support alternative methods of transit such as bicycles. Bike lanes with clear markings, signs for bike routes, and sufficient parking racks can all make biking easier and safer”. (2012)

As part of the 2020 bond bill process, I was able to add a number of amendments to authorize funding of transportation-related projects in our communities.  Amendments to secure bonding authority for both the Belmont Community Path and the Minuteman Bike Path passed, as did an amendment for improvements to the Alewife Garage and bus improvements at Alewife Station. Other amendments authorized traffic and intersection improvements in Belmont and Arlington, including redesigning parts of Massachusetts Avenue. These projects can dramatically improve all forms of commuting, especially biking.

“As your state representative, I will fight for strong enforcement of the laws protecting our environment and advocate for policies that help lead to development of the alternative energy sector and the creation of green jobs”. (2012)

Working with environmental organizations like the Environmental League of Massachusetts, I successfully pushed for major increases in funding for environmental protection, and have consistently filed legislation that strengthens environmental protection policy. Just recently, I was the lead sponsor of a variety of environmental bills, including one that will transition the MBTA fleet to clean energy power. I was also just a featured speaker at the Green Budget kick off event at the Statehouse.

I pushed for significant clean energy legislation, mandating major procurements of offshore wind energy and hydropower. Massachusetts now has authorized up to 3200 Megawatts (Mw) of offshore wind, enough to power 1.6 million homes. Along with like-minded colleagues, I supported bringing a large renewable energy bill to the floor and worked to make sure that gas pipeline costs would not be passed on to Massachusetts ratepayers. This will hold gas companies accountable for repairing their existing pipeline leaks. The new law will not only ensure that the leaks in residential areas are fixed, but it will also force companies to repair leaks in fields and forests that are deemed “low priority”. While these low priority leaks are typically not in residential areas, they are a major culprit in greenhouse gas emissions into our air. It is about time that we hold these gas companies accountable for the unnecessary financial burden that they impose on Massachusetts residents, as well as the overwhelming greenhouse emissions that have long been left ignored. 

Now, with revenue falling dramatically, I will strenuously push to protect funding. I see my role now as a leader to prevent a repeat of the 2009 recession, which resulted in significant reduction in enforcement actions, water quality testing and other key environmental initiatives. With my work experience in the green energy sector and at the EPA always in mind, I will promise to continue to be a vigorous champion of environmental causes.

“As your State Representative, I will make controlling healthcare costs a top priority”. (2012)

I have continually supported expanded health insurance rights. I have co-sponsored single payer legislation, as well as introduced the “Cover All Kids” legislation, which would give health care rights to undocumented children. Everyone deserves the right to make their own choices for their body, and I will continue to fight to ensure that everyone receives the proper coverage they need, no matter their choice. I am proud to have supported the Advancing Contraception Coverage and Economic Security in our State, or ACCESS Bill. I am particularly pleased to have co-sponsored this bill, which goes even further than the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which allowed health insurance companies to choose one form of contraception to cover within each of the 18 categories. The ACCESS bill requires coverage of nearly all FDA approved contraceptives, with no cost sharing with consumers. With this legislation, most Massachusetts women will be protected from whatever action the Trump administration takes on repealing birth control coverage.