The Bedford Citizen

Posted November 14, 2017

Rep. Ken Gordon joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass two bills to support Massachusetts’ veterans. “This legislation is a small but important step toward showing gratitude for the sacrifice of our veterans,” said Rep. Gordon.

“I am immensely proud that Massachusetts ranks first in the nation when it comes to military-benefit programs and services,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said. “This legislation sends a message to our heroes and their families that we appreciate their bravery, sacrifice, and service. While these two bills are small steps, the House is continuing its work in providing critical and well-deserved supports.”

Under legislation passed by the House, every municipality in the Commonwealth will now designate one parking space at its town or city hall as “veterans-only parking.”

The House also took action to enable municipalities to more easily collect donations for their Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Celebration Funds. This legislation allows cities and towns to include a check-off box on municipal tax or motor vehicle excise tax bills through which residents can pledge donations to be used for the creation and restoration of monuments and other activities that honor the contributions and sacrifices of local veteran

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Wicked Local Burlington

Posted November 8, 2017

State Rep. Ken Gordon, D-Bedford, led a group of 125 state legislators who have signed onto bipartisan testimony calling for the passage of legislation to permanently protect consumers and the environment from risks associated with gas pipeline expansion.

Though now suspended, Kinder Morgan’s Northeast Energy Direct pipeline and Enbridge’s Access Northeast proposal each threatened conservation efforts, private property and Massachusetts’ climate goals. In 2016, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled the project’s primary financial mechanism, a “pipeline tax” on electric ratepayers, was illegal and placed consumers with a significant burden that would otherwise be borne by investors. Pipeline proponents are currently seeking to amend Massachusetts law to enable the pipeline tax. A House letter circulated by Gordon; state Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington; and Minority Leader Bradley Jones, R-North Reading, garnered 100 signatures, while a concurrent Senate letter circulated by state Sens. Pat Jehlen, D-Somerville, and Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, has 20 signers.

“It’s very simple, ratepayers should not be forced to assume the financial responsibility and environmental risk associated with paying for pipelines that a majority of our constituents do not want,” said Gordon.

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