State of Massachusetts secondary Archives: on Families & Children
Allen Waters:
Believes in traditional American values
He is fiscally responsible, socially conscious, believes in traditional American Values, follows the Constitution, and is a strong advocate for ordinary Americans like himself.
A middle class, Cape Cod family man with blue-collar roots, Allen defines himself as a "People's Candidate."
Source: 2018 Massachusetts Senate campaign website AllenRWaters.com
Jul 17, 2017
Charlie Baker:
Reduced caseloads and licensed almost all social workers
With your help, the Department of Children and Families has made tremendous progress serving some of the Commonwealth's most at risk children and families. Caseloads are at historic lows and virtually all of our social workers are licensed.
We doubled the earned income tax credit for 450,000 low income working families, invested over $100 million in new funding into our early education system and reduced the use of hotels & motels to shelter homeless families by over 95%. Think about that!
Source: 2019 Massachusetts governor inaugural (State of the State)
Jan 3, 2019
Charlie Baker:
Massachusetts needs to make "revenge porn" a crime
The Lieutenant Governor and I recently listened to several women tell us their survival stories. law is clearly not working. These women were bothered, battered, bruised and beaten time and time again by their abusers, and nothing changed.
We felt their desperation. Another woman came forward to detail how an ex-partner, unbeknownst to her, had taken dozens of lewd pictures of her and posted them on the internet.
48 other states treat this as a crime. Because it is a crime. These women had the courage to come forward and publicly tell their stories. They deserve to be heard.
And they and the women they speak for deserve a vote on these two pieces of legislation.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to Massachusetts legislature
Jan 25, 2022
Deval Patrick:
A child's future should not be defined by their zip code
there are children here in our own Commonwealth whose future is still defined by the zip code in which they were born. I was once one of those kids. And for all my many blessings I have not forgotten. I see the working poor struggling to keep their heads
above water. I see the middle class family one paycheck away from being poor. I see the person who has been out of work for a year and has lost not just her way but her self-confidence.
I see the parents working two and three jobs and sacrificing everything so their kids can go to a school that sometimes doesn't meet their needs. I see those people. And so do you. For too many of our neighbors, the American Dream is in trouble.
And, I refuse to accept that their Dream is out of reach. Government cannot deliver that all on its own, but government--we here in this chamber tonight--have a solemn duty to help all our people help themselves.
Source: 2014 State of the State speech to Massachusetts legislature
Jan 28, 2014
Don Berwick:
Seeds of kids' success are sown early--beginning prenatally
Berwick focuses strongly on creating a strong support system for families with children from birth to five years of age. Currently, Massachusetts ranks 27th in enrollment of 4-year-olds in pre-kindergarten programs and has 30,000 children on wait lists
for infant, toddler and preschool care. His goal is to ensure that all children have access to pre-kindergarten care."As a pediatrician, I know that the seeds of success or failure in education are sown early--beginning with prenatal care, and
extending through the time a child enters school," writes Don Berwick on his campaign website.
As well, he plans on improving the preparation of new teachers and strengthening the certification
process. "The key to success in education is clear to me. It is a proud, capable, respected, and fully supported teacher workforce," Berwick said in a statement.
Source: BostInnovation on 2014 Massachusetts Governor race
Jan 28, 2014
Jay Gonzalez:
Quality childcare and preschool from birth to age 5
Q: What do you see as one of the biggest issues facing the state?A: I'd like to talk about early childhood education and childcare. The thing we can do that can make the biggest difference for kids--particularly low income kids--is to get them off to
the right start. And that means access to quality childcare and preschool from birth to age 5. Before they get into kindergarten. That's the most formative period in a person's development. Like 90% of a person's brain development happens in that age
range. Yet it's where we're doing the least. So if we ensure that kids and families have access to good quality childcare and preschool, it's going to give them the head start they need to be successful in school and in life. Also, it's a benefit to
parents because it allows parents who have access to childcare, who are able to go back to work. I'm committing that by the end of my first term that every single child in the state, age birth to 5, will have access to good quality, affordable childcare.
Source: Wicked Local Marshfield on 2018 Massachusetts governor race
Apr 21, 2017
Jesse Gordon:
Provide paid family and medical leave
Q: Despite major advances in civil and political rights, our country still has a long way to go in addressing the issue of gender inequality. In order to address this, we must fight
for pay equity for women, expand and protect the reproductive rights of women and provide paid family and medical leave. A: Agree.
Candidate's position on this issue: I support each of those policies individually, or as part of a systemic change.
Source: ORMA questionnaire on 2018 Massachusetts governor race
Jul 31, 2017
Karyn Polito:
Voted YES on affirming marriage for heterosexuals only
Mass. Democratic Party Platform indicates voting NO in Part I: CIVIL RIGHTS: Clause 9: Same-sex marriage. [State Rep. Polito, a Republican, voted YES].A Legislative Amendment to the Constitution relative to the affirmation of marriage would:-
Protect the unique relationship of marriage by defining the institution of civil marriage as only the union of one man and one woman.
- Establish civil unions to provide same-sex persons with entirely the same benefits and obligations as are afforded to
married persons, while recognizing that under present federal law same-sex persons in civil unions will be denied federal benefits available to married persons.
The relevant part of the MassDems Platform is Part I, clause 9: CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL
LIBERTIES: We affirm our commitment to the Massachusetts constitutional guarantee to same-sex marriage; and all of its rights, privileges and obligations; and reject any attempt to weaken or revoke those rights.Bill S.3190 ; vote # H174
Source: Massachusetts House voting record via MassScorecard.org
Sep 14, 2005
Lori Trahan:
Put working/middle class families first, not corporations
"We need more voices in Washington who are going to stand up to Donald Trump, hold this Administration accountable and restore the values of our country,"
Trahan said. "We need a Congress that puts working and middle class families first; and not corporations and special interests."
Source: 2018 Massachusetts 3rd House campaign website LoriTrahan.com
Oct 9, 2018
Lori Trahan:
Pass paid family leave and make it gender-neutral
Pass and promote paid family and gender-neutral leave. Lori understands that we need to apply family leave programs to all genders. Each parent should enjoy an equal opportunity to bond with their child, care for their parent, or recover from illness.
Removing gendered language from policies will abolish the stereotype that women are more likely to use services and reduce the number of women passed over for employment.
Source: 2018 Massachusetts 3rd House campaign website LoriTrahan.com
Oct 9, 2018
Martha Coakley:
PACWatch on DCF: not to fix it but to fight it
Baker sharply criticized Coakley for defending the state from a lawsuit filed by a children's advocacy group that has accused the Department of Children and Families of failing to properly care for foster children. He said her decision "not to fix it but
to fight it" showed "a lack of judgment."Coakley responded by pointing out that the case was dismissed by a judge, and said she was right to push back against "outside lawyers suing us with a one-size-fits-all solution."
The problems at DCF surfaced again when the candidates watched clips of attack ads being run on their behalf by Super PACs, including one ad that harshly criticizes Coakley for fighting the lawsuit. Coakley called the ad "heinous" and said it
essentially argues that "I sat by while children we killed. That's outrageous."
But Baker said that while he disagreed with the tone of the ad, the questions it raised about her fight against the lawsuit were legitimate.
Source: Boston Globe PacWatch on 2014 Massachusetts Governor debate
Oct 21, 2014
Marty Walsh:
Voted NO on affirming marriage for heterosexuals only
Mass. Democratic Party Platform indicates voting NO in Part I: CIVIL RIGHTS: Clause 9: Same-sex marriage. [State Rep. Walsh, a Democrat, voted NO].A Legislative Amendment to the Constitution relative to the affirmation of marriage would:-
Protect the unique relationship of marriage by defining the institution of civil marriage as only the union of one man and one woman.
- Establish civil unions to provide same-sex persons with entirely the same benefits and obligations as are afforded to
married persons, while recognizing that under present federal law same-sex persons in civil unions will be denied federal benefits available to married persons.
The relevant part of the MassDems Platform is Part I, clause 9: CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL
LIBERTIES: We affirm our commitment to the Massachusetts constitutional guarantee to same-sex marriage; and all of its rights, privileges and obligations; and reject any attempt to weaken or revoke those rights.Bill S.3190 ; vote # H174
Source: Massachusetts House voting record via MassScorecard.org
Sep 14, 2005
Maura Healey:
Common Start: free child care for lowest-income families
As Governor, she will continue to advocate for federal funding for early education and care, as well as explore state solutions to the child care crisis. Maura supports the Common Start proposal, which would make child care free for the lowest-income
families, limit child care costs for most families to no more than 7 percent of their income, and significantly increase pay for early educators to address the workforce crisis in the early education field.
Source: 2022 Massachusetts Governor campaign website MauraHealey.com
Jun 7, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023