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So Governor Baker just vetoed a climate bill two years in the making.
A thread analysis of his excuses: https://twitter.com/davabel/status/1349859947929096195
A thread analysis of his excuses: https://twitter.com/davabel/status/1349859947929096195
1) He claims this bill works against Housing Choice.
Yet the folks lobbying against this bill were not advocates of fair and affordable housing, but the real estate industry. Who's "choices" does he care about?
See @jonchesto's piece here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/13/business/real-estate-groups-push-veto-climate-bill-saying-it-could-thwart-economic-recovery/
Yet the folks lobbying against this bill were not advocates of fair and affordable housing, but the real estate industry. Who's "choices" does he care about?
See @jonchesto's piece here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/13/business/real-estate-groups-push-veto-climate-bill-saying-it-could-thwart-economic-recovery/
He then names how it does not address climate resilience. Vetoing a perfectly good bill because it does not have address everything is bad politics. He could have, can, and should continue to advocate for more funding for resilience. But that's no excuse to veto mitigation bill.
He then claims to celebrate the fact that the bill seeks to address environmental justice, but says that it does not give him the tools to achieve environmental justice.
I look forward to Baker (not) filing legislation tomorrow detailing the tools needed to achieve the EJ goals
I look forward to Baker (not) filing legislation tomorrow detailing the tools needed to achieve the EJ goals
He then claims "certain provisions" [unspecified] will "endanger" work being done regionally on clean energy. It's hard to see how Massachusetts being stronger on clean energy hurts regional efforts. It should lift those efforts. Up. We can't have lowest-common-denominator policy
He then falsely claims that 50% reductions by 2030 aren't backed up by science. And on that, we agree. But the problem is that its too weak, not too aggressive. Now is not the time to weaken our ambitions. https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/bakers-net-zero-goal-is-business-as-usual/
Finally, he concludes by arguing that the economy is recovering from covid, so we can't afford climate action.
Covid showed the dangers to our economy of ignoring scientific warnings. Climate CHANGE will hurt the economy. Climate Action stimulates economy activity, creates jobs.
Covid showed the dangers to our economy of ignoring scientific warnings. Climate CHANGE will hurt the economy. Climate Action stimulates economy activity, creates jobs.
Thankfully, @RonMariano and @KarenSpilka have shown leadership, courage, and vision by making clear they will work to immediately refile and pass this bill. They should do so as soon as rules allow, and without amendments. (If they do amend, it should be to strengthen, not weaken
the bill.
This bill was the result of the leadership of key numbers of legislators, policy advocates, and backed up by the vocal support of thousand of Massachusetts residents asking for a better future. It is damning that he chose to listen to real estate lobbyists instead.
This bill was the result of the leadership of key numbers of legislators, policy advocates, and backed up by the vocal support of thousand of Massachusetts residents asking for a better future. It is damning that he chose to listen to real estate lobbyists instead.
Governor Baker will yet work to spin this in his favor, and try to negotiate a climate bill more to his liking.
Legislators should be proud of what they passed & use the democratic supermajority present in the House and Senate to ignore his calls to shrink our climate ambition.
Legislators should be proud of what they passed & use the democratic supermajority present in the House and Senate to ignore his calls to shrink our climate ambition.
The rest of us should remember in 2022, should he seek to run again, that Governor Baker is proving that he is no friend to the climate or the broader cause of justice with this veto.
/end.
/end.
I should also add my (belated) thanks to @BarrettSenate @tomtipagolden for their work getting the #NextGenerationRoadmap bill over the conference finish line at the end of the last session, and their resolve to quickly pass it again at the top of this new session. Thank you both!
And here's a great thread on the power analysis behind Baker's decision: https://twitter.com/itai_vardi/status/1350115018407374848?s=20
