Look at the Votes and Follow the Money
There is a clear choice in this race. Pay close attention to the actions rather than the rhetoric and Follow the Money
The Insidious influence of money in politics is reaching a crescendo both nationally and locally. It's pernicious impact reflects on what gets done at the State House and it reflects in the decision making. Why else would Legislators be so resistant to more transparency and good government improvements?
My opponent claims he is for transparency yet he voted for the so-called "Transparency" Bill that does very little to improve transparency in the Legislature, in fact this bill seems intent on derailing a looming public records initiative on the November Ballot. He says he is for the Audit but voted to eviscerate it when he voted for the"Transparency" Bill thus thwarting the will of the voters.
My opponent voted to cut the Mass Save program by a billion dollars. Yet this is a program which actually saves money for homeowners and reduces our greenhouse gas emissions. The true cost inflator is the billions of dollars spent on the wholesale replacement of methane gas pipes which is turning into the most expensive infrastructure project since the Big Dig estimated to cost ratepayers $40 billion over the course of this plan.
My opponent claims to support a Medicare for All model, yet as the House chair of the health care financing committee he blocked the bill for years and refused to meet with advocates until I got involved. Instead, his Committee just nibbled around the edges with failing, ineffective market regulations.
Chair Lawn only advanced a favorable redrafted bill (H.5590) to establish a special commission investigating a Medicare-for-All system under intense pressure by advocates and by my primary threat. This is the first time in many years that the committee advanced such a measure.
Healthcare costs have exploded and healthcare has become less accessible on his watch. We also saw a complete failure of leadership to discipline the for profit, corrupt enterprise that was Steward Health Care which resulted in bankruptcy, hospital closures, patient deaths and a cost to taxpayers of some $700 million dollars.
There is a well known refrain, "follow the money". Chair Lawn recently received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the AI company Anthropic:
As a committee chair he also enjoys significant financial support from lobbyists, PACs and executives from the insurance and healthcare sector. This creates a direct conflict of interest for the chair of the joint committee on Healthcare financing whose responsibility is to regulate these generous contributors. Only eight percent of his total contributions come from the district.
We need an engaged, independent and committed representative. Last year my opponent voted with the Speaker 100 percent of the time. He tied with one other representative for the highest number of missed roll call votes.
It's time for change. I ask for your VOTE on or Before September 1st.