By Erika Berglund
Throughout its history, Massachusetts has been a trailblazer in many progressive policy areas and is even touted as the most liberal state in the country. On numerous occasions, bold national policies can be traced back to the Commonwealth.
We are fortunate to have progressive leadership committed to implementing policies intended to improve the quality of life and protections of everyone in Massachusetts, be that in the realms of healthcare, education, LGBTQ+ equality, and the environment – to name a few. However, with the presidential election on the horizon and the possibility of partisan transition under a new administration, policy wins at the national level may be subject to reform or outright repeals. With this in mind, should Massachusetts’ policy makers be doubling down on progressive measures?
Here are a few areas where Massachusetts has implemented policies at the state level that pave the way for greater protection of citizens, and what could be done in anticipation of a potential change in administration.
Healthcare
Our state’s role as a model for national healthcare policy dates to 2006 when we passed a comprehensive healthcare reform law, known as Romneycare, aimed at reducing the number of people without health insurance. Fast forward to nearly two decades later, Massachusetts has 98.3 percent of its population insured and is ranked #1 for public health in the U.S. Moreover, Romneycare inspired the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) which makes affordable health insurance available to more people in the country. Now, over 45 million Americas are enrolled in coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
As it became clear that reproductive healthcare rights were under threat legislatively and in the courts, Massachusetts passed the ROE Act to enshrine abortion rights in state law and expand access to reproductive care in 2020. In 2022 following the U.S. Supreme Court officially overturning Roe v. Wade, Massachusetts further protected and expanded reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming services in the Commonwealth. The maternal health bill just passed by the Legislature is another way Massachusetts is protecting reproductive health access amid national uncertainty.
Education
Dubbed America’s most educated state, Massachusetts has consistently contributed to national conversations around education. With high standards and accountability, the state has gained bipartisan support for its education agenda, particularly its focus on K-12 education, and the frameworks developed in the late 90’s and early 2000’s have been touted as the nation’s best. Further, as home to many higher education institutions like Harvard and MIT, Massachusetts continues to set itself apart from other states by continuing to implement groundbreaking policies to support education.
Following an initiative passed last year and starting in the Fall, community college will be permanently free for every student in Massachusetts. Better yet, folks can also take free regional public transit to get there – another way to make education more accessible. The state’s education system is often cited as a national model for academic achievement and has influenced debates on education policy and standards.
This free community college plan, and the anticipated workforce development benefits, could serve as a national model for replication.
LGBTQ+ Laws and Policies
Since 1990, Massachusetts has been paving the way for LGBTQ+ laws and policies and is not shy from setting the standard for equality. The Commonwealth was the first state to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in public and private employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and services; the first state to legalize same-sex marriage; the second state to pass discrimination laws for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual; and, this year, updated the definition of a parent to make it more inclusive of LGBTQ+ families and parents who use surrogacy, in-vitro fertilization, and assisted reproduction. Coupled with one of the nation’s first openly lesbian Governor (shoutout to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek who also won her gubernatorial race in 2022), Massachusetts is proud to be progressive and support the LGBTQ+ community.
Further, Massachusetts became the first state in the country to support transgender protections through popular vote in 2018. Massachusetts allows transgender individuals to amend their birth certificate to reflect their gender identity, provides a non-binary option of “gender X” on I.D.s and drivers licenses, and codified gender healthcare protections.
With an increased rollback of LGBTQ+ protections in several states, the possibility of a change in administration may further roll back protections leaving liberal-minded states like Massachusetts leading the fight.
Environmental Protection
Massachusetts continues to lead the way nationally in demanding clean, reliable and efficient energy, ranking in the top 10 nationally in numerous energy categories, including: 2nd in energy efficiency (2019), 1st nationally for LEED Green Building (2020), and 8th in new installed solar capacity (2021). In 2022, the state passed a climate bill that included a provision to phase out the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035, followed by committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Leading the nation for offshore wind development projects, Massachusetts is laying the foundation for shifting energy generation to cleaner sources and reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Offshore wind projects are developed in federal waters, affording the federal government significant influence over development. With the potential shutdown of all offshore wind projects under a changed administration, Massachusetts’ leaders must act swiftly to both support projects at all stages and to mitigate some of the barriers to success for these projects. One major clean energy siting bill remains part of active negotiations between the House and Senate.
This Fall marks a pivotal moment as we gear up for a Presidential election. Naturally, a new Administration brings new priorities and new policies. With that, our state leaders need to be thinking ahead at how the national political shift can impact local policies, and what we can be doing now to codify protections and laws that will enhance our Commonwealth, and in return, enhance our nation.