Where I stand

I believe that your elected representatives owe you clear answers to important questions. We are your voice in government, and you deserve to know what we will say on your behalf. Too often you get vague generalities or comfortable answers to uncomfortable questions. Some candidates use slogans like “he’s for us” or “common sense”, without really telling you what they believe in.  From Day 1 of my first campaign, I have been clear and straightforward in telling you where I stand on issues important to our district. We may not agree on every issue, but you are entitled to my reasoning. 

If you do not see an issue listed that is important to you, please email me and I will add it to the list.

On Jobs:  Advocating for Economic Development

We, the members of the middle class, are the real job creators because it is our spending that creates demand. Nick Hanauer, who helped found Amazon, put it this way: “Only consumers can set in motion a virtuous cycle that allows companies to survive and thrive and business owners to hire. An ordinary middle-class consumer is far more of a job creator than I ever have been or ever will be…We’ve had it backward for the last 30 years. Rich business-people like me don’t create jobs. Middle-class consumers do, and when they thrive, U.S. businesses grow and profit.” If demand for goods and services increases, businesses will have a need to employ more people to create those goods and services. Jobs will be created.  We have to get money into the hands of the middle class, who will spend that money and continue the “virtuous cycle” that allows us all to thrive. This is why I filed and championed Paid Family and Medical Leave and the Common Start bill, which give our workers the support they need.

On Workers’ Rights:  Championing Fair Wages for Fair Work

I am fighting hard for the rights of workers to get fair treatment in the workplace. We all have a right to equal pay for an equal day’s work. I fought to increase the minimum wage, because employees who work 40 hours a week should earn a salary that allows them to afford food and shelter, instead of one that currently qualifies those at the lowest end for public assistance benefits. I co-authored, filed and fought for Paid Family and Medical Leave. I was instrumental in the passage of the unemployment insurance reform bill, which gives most small businesses a break in their premiums to help fund increased wages to low-paid workers.  And I led the bipartisan fight for Uniform Wage Compliance, a new law that gives minimum wage workers the same rights as everyone else to enforce claims if they are not paid. I am against covenants not to compete as long as secrets are protected. I not only talk about these issues — I have also demonstrated a commitment to supporting fair treatment for workers. 

On Health Care: Protecting Patients, Improving Care

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is fortunate to have some of the very best medical facilities in the country. One of those is located right here in Burlington: The Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. I sponsored and passed legislation, with bipartisan support, that adds transparency to reimbursements by public insurers for mental health. I helped improve a new law that will help trauma centers like Lahey identify and transfer patients seeking treatment for drug dependency in a way that will clear long waiting lines at the emergency room, save money for the facility, and fairly treat the patients. I am proud that Lahey’s President and CEO, Dr. Howard Grant, called this legislation a “first in the nation”, and wrote: “Our patients, many of whom reside in Burlington, Bedford, and Wilmington, are fortunate to have such a thoughtful and committed legislator to represent them on Beacon Hill.” 

On Choice: Preserving A Woman’s Right to Choose

I believe a woman has a right to make her own health care choices. This right is guaranteed by the Constitution’s right to privacy. However, this right has recently been called into question on the federal level. That is why I co-sponsored and fought hard for Massachusetts’ answer to the Dobbs decision and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Here in Massachusetts, a woman’s health care issues will remain between that woman and her health care provider, and decisions concerning her health must remain with the woman. We must continue to defend the rights of all women facing such difficult and supremely personal decisions. 

On Education: Supporting Public Schools

This is Massachusetts, the nation’s leader in education. I believe in strong state support for public higher education and access to preschool education. Effective public education is essential for our society to function. Our children should not depend on the wealth of their parents to receive a quality education. Schools should be places where children learn not only the academic skills to succeed, but are also exposed to various cultures, thoughts, ideas and lifestyles through the experiences of their classmates. Our children should be taught science in science class, without regard to religious views on that science. Our priorities should be to educate all students in public schools, not just those fortunate enough to have been chosen for a charter school.  And our schools should be places where children are not bullied. Well-qualified and trained teachers are vital to our continued success and must be supported. I am pleased to have succeeded in obtaining permanent funding to educate the children of residents of Hanscom Air Force base.    

I had the honor of mentoring a group of Burlington Elementary students as we filed a bill that they had an idea for. Together, we filed the bill and led it through the legislative process until it was signed by the governor and became a new state law.  

The FY25 budget codified much of the important early education access reform I worked to implement, often referred to as “Common Start.” The provisions in this legislation improve affordability and access for families, increase pay for early educators and ensure the sustainability and quality of early education and care programs. I believe that accessible childcare helps everyone. This legislation will allow parents to rejoin the workforce, allow employers to meet the needs of their employees, and allow children to receive the extraordinary benefits of early education. 

On the Environment: Safeguarding Our Children’s Heritage

We are stewards of this planet. It is our responsibility to conserve and replenish our natural resources and create a healthy environment for our children. I will continue to fight so that we attain net-zero as fast as possible.  Environmental justice is a civil right that we must support. Saving this planet is the issue of our generation, and we cannot back down, even if it requires some changes in our behavior.

On Seniors: Promoting Health, Independence, Dignity

I have devoted much of my time in office thus far to addressing the needs of seniors. I hosted two forums on the needs of our seniors, bringing the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Senior Affairs to one, and the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing to the others. You told us of your concerns with housing needs, protecting your retirement savings and health care.  I made it my mission to increase funding for ECOP, a program that helps fund vital programs that helps Seniors remain independent. ECOP funds Meals on Wheels and the home health aides that come to people’s homes. I have supported the Senior Circuit Breaker tax credit, contributing funds for people who pay burdensome utility and property tax bills. We must protect people’s rights to retire with dignity. We must protect Medicare benefits not only for those depending on them today, but those contributing into the system. Seniors should never have to choose between filling a prescription and putting food on the table. In Burlington, we should help the town leaders identify a space for the Council on Aging to expand, so that our seniors have the space they need to gather without being squeezed out of the community.  

Seniors deserve access to care in all aspects. This is why I worked hard to include funding for a full-time social worker at the Burlington COA. I also make visits to Bedford and Burlington COAs to give seniors an opportunity to ask questions and learn about legislation and events in the Commonwealth. 

On Open Space:  Enhancing the Beauty of our Natural Surroundings

We enjoy a beautiful environment in our district, with many parks, natural areas, and open space. These amenities attracted many of us to this wonderful part of the state. I want to preserve them for our own enjoyment, and to provide safe, beautiful, natural surroundings for our children to play and learn in without worrying about traffic and noise. 

On Veterans: Caring for Those Who Served

There is no doubt we have an extraordinary obligation to support our veterans returning from service to this country. There is also no doubt that Massachusetts has been recognized by most veterans’ agencies as providing the best services of any state for veterans. We must support the VA Hospital in Bedford, and the rights of all vets to good jobs at decent wages and affordable places to live. What has happened to the VA nationally is insulting to our country and cannot be tolerated. 

On Hanscom Expansion:  Relieving Congestion

We came to Bedford and Burlington in part to get away from the noise, crowd and traffic of the city. Expansion of Hanscom to commercial development or commercial airlines will only add to our terrible traffic woes and will create noise pollution that will affect all of us. We must fight Hanscom expansion. At the same time, we must fight to keep Hanscom open as a military base.

On Taxation:  Ensuring Fairness and Accountability

Massachusetts is in the mid-range of states regarding both its overall tax burden and its business tax climate. Nevertheless, it has one of the most regressive tax systems in the country. This is because most of our revenue comes from a flat income tax and a flat sales tax. Flat taxes mean that people who earn less pay a much greater percentage of their income in taxes than do people who make more. This is not simply a matter of fairness: it restricts consumers’ disposable income and starves the economy of the demand necessary for businesses to thrive and add jobs. We can all agree that none of us want to pay more than is necessary in taxes, and all of us understand it takes revenue to run a free society. So, the issue for me is more than just the level of taxation: it includes the sources of that revenue, what we do with the tax revenue we collect, and how we protect it from being wasted. 

On Rights of LGBTQ+ Individuals: Fighting Discrimination

I am proud to live in the state that was the first to recognize same-sex marriages and has worked to prevent discrimination on every level. LGBTQ+ youth should be welcome in school without being singled out. We can and will work to treat all people the same, and distinguish them by their behavior, and not by their appearance, age, gender or who they love. I proudly voted to expand the civil rights of transgender people, including their right to use the bathroom in which they feel most comfortable. I will not engage in fearmongering. I will never, ever support legislation aimed at suppressing discussion of the makeup of our families, including the diverse ways in which they are made up, in schools. And I will never, ever ban books in public schools because they discuss topics such as same-sex parents.

On Gun Violence Protection: Focusing on Promoting Safety

While the Second Amendment protects the rights of some people (not convicted felons, for example) to own some guns (not war weapons, at least in my opinion), our residents have a civil and moral right to feel safe in our schools, malls, theaters, town centers and more. Our right to safety is at least as valuable as a Second Amendment right. I am proud that Massachusetts has taken reasonable, measured steps to protect our residence from gun violence and by every measurable standard, is one of the safest states in the Country. We can and must always do more, but other states are learning by our example. I proudly supported Governor Healey’s 2024 gun law, which cracked down on “ghost guns,” strengthened public safety, and increased violence prevention programming in the state.

On Cultural Support: Fostering Creativity

As former Chair of the Cultural Council in Bedford, I have devoted significant time to the support of local artists, scientists, educators and others. The character of our communities includes the wonderful art pieces that hang in our libraries and public buildings. It includes our gardens, educational books and periodicals, and video creations on local cable channels. All of this creativity gives us our identity, and it is the reason people and businesses come to our communities, invest in our real estate, and help us maintain property values. Art and culture are the sauce that flavors our everyday diet.