麻州州長Maura Healey上任百日 逐步打造成就

麻州州長Maura Healey (右)、副州長 Kim Driscoll (左)
鼓勵女孩子拓展能力。 (檔案照片，周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 節譯) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 和副州長Kim Driscoll將在4月15日上任滿100天。州長辦公室聲稱新政府已使麻州更可負擔，更具競爭力，也更公平了。

新政府的百日成就包括組成了強大內閣團隊，提出的首份年度預算，內容就包括在教育、交通及氣候變遷上做歷史性投資，為耆英、租戶及家庭帶來緩解。

州長辦公室還指稱，奚莉州長還很快地實踐了她在競選時的關鍵承諾，包括設立房屋廳，提議擴大兒童及家庭抵稅優惠，給25歲以上學生機會免費上社區大學，全額資助學生機會法案，撥出州政府總預算的1%給能源及環境事務辦公室，把清潔能源中心的預算一跳三倍。

            在面對德州聯邦法官的裁決，威脅到麻州人們的生育自由時，奚莉州長也馬上採取行動，保護麻州的藥物流產。

            州長辦公室並列舉了奚莉政府就職100天以來的亮點:

奚莉政府 (Healey-Driscoll) 提交了一份555億美元的預算提案，以及7.5億美元的稅收減免方案，已建造經濟強大的宜居社區。

• 創建兒童和家庭稅收抵免，增加租金扣除和老年人斷路器，並改革遺產和短期資本增值稅，以跟上其他州的步伐。
• 創建MassReconnect，為25歲以上的學生提供免費的社區大學教育，擴大早期大學和創新途徑計劃。
• 將1％的州整體預算撥給行政部門的能源和環境。
• 三倍投資於清潔能源中心，這是清潔能源創業、就業和家庭電氣化的引領者。
• 創建環境司法辦公室，由環境司法和公平副秘書長領導，並聘請14名環境司法聯絡員。
• 建立一個新的教育和交通基金，以保護公平份額收入，最大化這個新的資金來源。
• 全面資助K-12教育的學生機會法案，這是麻薩諸塞州歷史上最大的增加經費。
• 提前通知市政當局有關當地援助資金水平的水平，讓他們提前計劃為居民部署這些資金。
• 為4年內凍結麻省大學的學費，並為4年內凍結其他州立大學的費用。
• 全力支持Commonwealth Cares for Children（C3），幫助兒童看護提供者保持營業並投資於編程和工作人員。
• 投資於全州交通，包括MBTA票價計劃、紅藍連接器、西東鐵路和區域運輸當局。

Healey州長簽署了一份2023財年的389億美元補充預算，其中結合了政府在三個單獨提交的法案中概述的許多優先事項，包括：

• 投資於C3補助金、MassWorks、清潔水信託、RAFT、寬帶基礎設施、生殖健康服務宣傳、NAACP會議以及在COVID-19公共衛生緊急情況結束之前支持公共衛生工作人員。
• 通過CHIPS和Science Act進行匹配資助，以競爭聯邦資金。
• 為州的住房收容系統提供資金，以支持家庭和兒童。
• 通過2023學年結束的全面學校餐，確保孩子們可以專注於課堂學習，而不必擔心飢餓。
• 為增強聯邦SNAP福利結束提供了三個月的下坡道，為家庭提供了40％的之前聯邦福利，以幫助保持糧食供應。

Healey州長宣布任命一位新的經驗豐富的交通領導者擔任MBTA總經理，並採取了措施改善MBTA的透明度和應對人員短缺，包括：

• 推出在線安全儀表板，提供FTA特別指令狀態以及在線速度限制儀表板的透明度。
• 對MBTA所有合格職位實施7500美元的報名獎金，並在補充預算中提出2000萬美元用於招聘和保留工作。
• 成立技術工作組，以確定CRRC的流程改進，以加快車輛交付和提高安全性。

通過行政命令，Healey州長：

• 任命了全國首位內閣級氣候主管，領導新的氣候創新和強韌辦公室，並成立了氣候內閣。
• 建立了一個住房工作組，以檢查行政部門的新住房秘書處的結構。
• 建立了州長黑人授權委員會和拉丁裔授權委員會。
• 重建了一個歷史上多元化和才華橫溢的司法提名委員會。
• 帶領執行部門進行公平評估。

Healey-Driscoll政府還：

• 加入了多州生殖自由聯盟，存儲mifepristone並發布行政命令，保護藥物流產權和病人和供應商的保護。
• 為2024財年提交了一份補充預算，將全面學校餐延長至2024學年結束，並探索如何使該計劃長期運行，投資於MBTA招聘，並為COVID-19健康緊急情況做好準備。
• 啟動了一項5000萬美元的補助計劃，用於資助現有低收入或中等收入住房建築的脫碳裝修。
• 創建了聯邦和地區能源事務辦公室，以促進區域合作，並與聯邦、州和其他利益相關者倡導推進州的清潔能源轉型。
• 創建了聯邦基金和基礎設施主任職位，推動和支持州和市政府的聯邦資助競爭
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• Healey-Driscoll Administration Highlights 100 Days of Making Massachusetts More Affordable, Competitive and Equitable 

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  BOSTON – Ahead of Governor Maura T. Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll’s 100^th day in office on April 15^th, their administration is highlighting key accomplishments to make Massachusetts more affordable, competitive and equitable.  

   

  In addition to building out a strong team of cabinet members, the administration filed its first budget and tax package that propose historic investments in education, transportation and climate and deliver relief for seniors, renters and families. Governor Healey also swiftly followed through on key pledges, such as establishing a housing secretariat and proposing an expanded Child and Family Tax Credit, free community college for students over 25, full funding of the Student Opportunity Act, one percent of the budget for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and tripling the budget of the Clean Energy Center. 

   

  And when faced when a radical ruling from a federal court judge in Texas that threatened reproductive freedom in Massachusetts, Governor Healey took immediate action to protect access to medication abortion in the state. 

   

  “As we pass the 100-day mark of our administration, our entire team is just as energized and committed to delivering results as we were on Day One. I’m proud that we hit the ground running, building out a strong Cabinet of experienced, dedicated leaders who share our drive to meet this moment for Massachusetts,” said Governor Healey. “We’ve made important progress on housing, food security, transportation, climate and education, and we’ve brought new voices to the table and gotten out into communities to meet people where they are. There’s much more work to be done to make Massachusetts more affordable, competitive and equitable, but we’ve set a solid foundation in these first 100 days that we will continue to build on in the years to come.” 

   

  “100 days goes by in the blink of an eye when you’re busy working for the people of Massachusetts all day every day. We knew when we took office that the challenges before us were daunting, but that there was enormous opportunity as well,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “We’re proud to have made important strides in making Massachusetts a better place to live, work, go to school, raise a family and build a future. In the days, months and years ahead, we’re not going to let up steam. We’re going to continue to hustle every day to deliver results for Massachusetts.” 

   

  Healey-Driscoll Administration 100 Days Highlights 

   

  The Healey-Driscoll administration filed a $55.5 billion budget proposal and $750 million tax relief package that builds a strong economy, livable communities, and a sustainable future by:  

  · Creating a Child and Family Tax Credit, increasing the rental deduction and senior circuit breaker, and reforming the estate and short-term capital gains tax to keep up with other states.   

  · Creating MassReconnect, which offers free community college to students over 25 years old and expanding Early College and Innovation Pathways programs.  

  · Dedicating 1% of the state’s overall budget to the Executive Office of Energy and Environment.  

  · Tripling investment in the Clean Energy Center, which is leading the way in clean energy entrepreneurship, job creation, and home electrification.   

  · Creating the Environmental Justice Office, led by the Undersecretary of Environmental Justice and Equity, and hiring 14 Environmental Justice Liaisons.  

  · Establishing a new Education and Transportation Fund to protect Fair Share revenue and maximize this new funding source.   

  · Fully funding the Student Opportunity Act for K-12 education, the largest dollar-amount increase in Massachusetts’ K-12 schools in state history.   

  · Notifying municipalities of local aid funding levels early to give them a head start on planning to deploy these funds for residents.   

  · Freezing the tuition at the University of Massachusetts for four years and freezing fees at other state universities for four years.   

  · Fully supporting the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) to help child care providers keep the doors open and invest in programming and staff.   

  · Investing in transportation across the state, including MBTA fares program, the Red-Blue connector, West-East Rail, and Regional Transit Authorities.   
   

  Governor Healey signed a $389 supplemental budget for fiscal year 2023 that combines many of the priorities the administration outlined in three separate bills filed by the Governor, including:    

  · Investments in C3 grants, MassWorks, the Clean Water Trust, RAFT, broadband infrastructure, a reproductive health services awareness campaign, the NAACP Conference, and support for the public health workforce ahead of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.  

  · Matching grants to compete for federal dollars through the CHIPS and Science Act.  

  · Funding for the state’s housing shelter system to support families and children.   

  · Universal school meals through the end of the 2023 school year to make sure kids can focus on learning in the classroom instead of worrying about hunger. 

  · A three month off ramp for the end of enhanced federal SNAP benefits, providing families with 40% of the previous federal benefit to help keep food on the table.   
   

  Governor Healey announced the appointment of a new, experienced transit leader as MBTA General Manager and took steps to improve transparency and address staffing shortages at the MBTA, including:   

  · Launched an online safety dashboard to provide transparency around the status of FTA special directives, as well as an online speed restrictions dashboard.   

  · Implemented $7,500 sign-on bonuses for all eligible positions across the MBTA (Bus Operators, Rail Repairers, Track Laborers, Streetcar Operators, Subway Train Operators, Service Technicians and Fuelers) and proposed $20 million for recruitment and retention efforts in a supplemental budget.   

  · Established a technical working group to identify process improvements at CRRC to expedite car delivery and improve safety.  
   

  By Executive Order, Governor Healey: 

  · Appointed the nation’s first cabinet-level Climate Chief to lead the new Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience and established a Climate Cabinet.  

  · Established a Housing Working Group to examine the structure of the administration’s new Housing Secretariat.   

  · Established Governor’s Councils on Black Empowerment and Latino Empowerment.  

  · Reconstituted a historically diverse and talented Judicial Nominating Commission.  

  · Led the Executive Branch to conduct equity assessments.   
   

  The Healey-Driscoll administration also: 

  · Joined the multistate Reproductive Freedom Alliance, stockpiled mifepristone and issued an Executive Order protecting access to medication abortion and protection for patients and providers. 

  · Filed a supplemental budget for fiscal year 2024 that extends universal school meals through the end of 2024 school year and explores how to keep the program running long-term, invests in MBTA hiring, and makes preparations for the end of the COVID-19 health emergency.  

  · Launched a $50 million grant program to fund decarbonization retrofits of existing low- or moderate-income residential buildings.  

  · Created the Office of Federal and Regional Energy Affairs to promote regional cooperation and advocate for advancing the state’s clean energy transition with federal, state, and other stakeholders.  

  · Created the position of Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure to drive and support the state and municipalities’ competition for federal funding and convened an Interagency Task Force.   

  · Filed and worked with the Legislature to establish the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.  

  · Created the position of Director of Rural Affairs to serve as a dedicated advocate and ombudsman for rural communities, responsible for cultivating rural economic development to ensure that state government is attuned to the unique needs of rural communities.  

  · Appointed the state's first Secretary of the newly established Executive Office of Veterans' Services.  

  · Announced 9 new early college programs including the first partnership with UMass to expand access to high schools. 

  · Created the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity and the Office of Federal and Regional Energy Affairs. 

  · Announced a Director of Data Initiatives to strategize the state’s economic growth and launched a Future Skills awareness campaign to connect talent with employers. 

  Established the Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness program to fund 177 cities and towns with cybersecurity training.