What to know about Healey's State of the Commonwealth speech
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Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Gov. Maura Healey struck a middle-of-the-road tone in her annual State of the Commonwealth speech Thursday night, touting progressive accomplishments but avoiding any direct challenges to the incoming Republican regime in Washington.
Why it matters: Healey focused the speech on spending state money on projects to improve transportation, build more housing, expand access to healthcare and spur the economy.
The cornerstone of her speech is the $8 billion plan to invest in the MBTA and other transportation projects.
- Beyond typical bridge repairs and road improvements, Healey outlined a plan to stabilize the MBTA's growing budget crisis with more taxpayer dollars, improve service frequency and upgrade stations.
- It'll rely on the state's 4% surtax on incomes over $1 million to finance the ten-year plan.
Healey pointed to housing shortage and affordability as major issues, saying that "for decades, we didn't build enough homes in this state."
Zoom in: Her biggest housing-related task of 2025 is implementing the Affordable Homes Act to create thousands of affordable homes by increasing production by 50%.
- Some of those homes will be built thanks to the MBTA Communities law that led 116 towns to approve more building near transit stations.
- Healey also wants to eliminate tenant broker fees that put a huge burden on renters when they move.
When voters threw out the MCAS graduation requirement for high schoolers last year, they left Healey with the task of drawing up new statewide regulations.
- She's putting together a council of teachers, college officials, employers and students, tasked with creating a permanent new standard to ensure Massachusetts diplomas hold consistent meaning in each community.
Healey almost sounded a bit like her Republican predecessor when she outlined plans to review the state's business regulations with an explicit goal of cutting red tape to make running a business easier and cheaper.
The intrigue: Healey mentioned the upcoming change in federal political control only once, saying that her administration "will take every opportunity to work with the federal government in any way that benefits Massachusetts." Republicans in the House chamber started a round of applause for the bipartisan nod.
- "And I also promise you we will not change who we are," Healey said in a nod to Massachusetts's progressive reputation. That line got a standing ovation led by progressives.
- What Healey didn't mention is the looming threat of the Republican-controlled federal government calling in the $2.5 billion Massachusetts may owe back for misusing unemployment insurance funds.
What's next: Healey will lay out her budget priorities this spring and detail exactly how much she wants to spend to reach her goals.