By Maggie Dolan, news correspondent
Governor Charlie Baker delivered his second annual State of the Commonwealth address Tuesday night in the State House to a joint session of representatives and the public. Baker praised the state’s growing economy, top-ranking school systems and impending improvements for the T.
Positive public response to his proposed legislation will be important for Baker this year, as the Republican governor gears up for re-election in November 2018. Baker’s separation from President Donald J. Trump and his administration is also crucial to his popularity in a highly Democratic state.
“It’s one thing to stand in a corner and shout insults at your opponents,” Baker said. “It’s quite another to climb into the arena and fight for common ground.”
Baker cheered the State Legislature for its bipartisan policy successes throughout the past year.
“On energy. Public records. Pay equality. Addiction. And a host of other issues,” he said. “You’ve compromised with one another, and with us.”
Baker commended both the job market and the school systems across the state. He credited the decline in statewide unemployment from 6.5 percent to 3.7 percent and business innovation over the past year to the state’s business appeal.
“It’s a reflection of the quality of our people and the business climate we have created,” he said.
Baker also described the increased resourcing for education and child social work during his term. Funding for public schools has increased by over $200 million, and new opportunities have been put in place for students to receive degrees from public colleges at half the price.
This contrasts with Baker’s proposed $12 million cuts in public education funding last December, which several state senators opposed, according to WBUR. More than 1,000 Boston Public School students walked out of classes last March in protest of the proposed budget cuts, The Boston Globe reported.
Olivia Sorenson, a freshman international affairs major and Arlington, Massachusetts, native, questioned the use of Baker’s funding.
“The schools that are performing better on the exams are the ones that already have the resources to teach their kids adequately,” she said. “And the schools that aren’t performing as well are the schools that don’t have enough funding, so you get a huge education and wealth gap.”
Along with other health care measures, the governor introduced his upcoming request to finance mental health care reform in Bridgewater State Hospital, which has been plagued by charges of mishandling patients. Baker expects the proposal to be a difficult sell in the House because the expansion will be costly, but passing them is the right thing to do, he said.
The governor spoke of long-term plans to revamp the infrastructure of the aging T system, beginning with re-appropriating funds toward improvements while cutting back on operating costs.
Alongside state plans, a priority list released Tuesday by the Trump administration included a $3 million extension plan of the Green Line. The extension would include 3.4 miles of new tracks and is estimated to create up to 3,000 jobs.
Andrew Crane, a board member of A-Crane Construction in Chicopee, Massachusetts, said he believes the governor needs to follow through on prioritizing the budget, but supports his accomplishments as a whole.
“I think he’s got to focus on the budget, which he indicates he is,” Crane said. “He’s working well with other legislators, and I think he’s doing a great job.”
Baker emphasized the state’s priority is to serve the people, despite partisan dispute at the federal level.
“Our job remains the same,” he said. “That is to represent Massachusetts to Washington and not Washington to Massachusetts.”
The governor used his final remarks to express hope in the Commonwealth’s potential over the coming year. He said he expects Massachusetts to continue growing in prosperity and community engagement.
“And because of all that, I stand here tonight and say, the state of our Commonwealth is strong,” Baker said.
Photo by Dylan Shen
