Massachusetts has seen a windfall of federal money since Gov. Maura Healey took office but the spigot of cash for massive infrastructure projects could be at risk of tightening with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office next year.
Healey targeted Trump during his first term in the White House, filing around 100 lawsuits against his administration, and spent the better part of the 2024 election cycle campaigning for both President Joe Biden and later, Vice President Kamala Harris.
At the same time, Healey signed legislation that would make it easier for Massachusetts to compete for federal cash by using the interest generated off the state’s multi-billion dollar savings accounts as matching funds.
But Healey brushed off a question from a reporter Wednesday on whether that bill would be moot under a Trump administration.
“No, it’s a really important piece of legislation. I’m glad we have it in the books. It will continue to be important. And we’re going to continue to work with the next Congress and the next administration in securing as much as we can in terms of federal funding,” she said from the State House.
Trillions of dollars were made available to states under the Biden administration mostly through three federal initiatives — the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act.
Dollars from those bills are being used to rebuild the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges, improve accessibility at the MBTA, and set up the Northeast Microelectronics Hub, among other things.
Some have credited Healey’s close relationship with Biden as one reason why the White House has shuttled cash to Massachusetts and selected the state as the location for one of the coveted ARPA-H hubs.
Healey’s stance at the State House Tuesday is slightly different from the one she took in September when she signed the federal funds bill. At a press conference then, Healey said there were many people in the state “that were absolutely hurt by the former president.”
“It’s one of the reasons I’m campaigning so strongly for Kamala Harris, because having lived through the Trump years, barely — and I don’t say that jokingly — as Attorney General, having to bring suit after suit to protect people’s access to health care, to voting, to so much, we can’t can’t go back,” she said.
The Bay State has also sought to build an array of clean energy sources over the last four years, an effort that could face difficulties under a second Trump term. At the State House Wednesday, Healey said Massachusetts is “not taking our foot off the pedal at all” when it comes to the environment.
“That’s what we’re going to continue to work for every single day, to make sure that we are driving Massachusetts and this region forward,” she said. – Chris Van Buskirk
Boston wasn’t the only location with Election Day drama at polling stations.
A Herald editor picking up his “I Voted Today” sticker after sliding the 2024 presidential ballot into the tabulation machine was given a kind “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” was the proper response.
“At least we can still vote,” was the comeback. “You just never know.”
Excuse me? That seemed highly inappropriate if not overwrought. Plus, a poll worker should know better than to spout hyper-sensitive vitriol as we’re all exercising our civic duty. It called for some type of response, but she didn’t know me and I wanted to keep the peace. I do think I raised an eyebrow.
This election was polarizing — on both sides of the political spectrum. But no one’s voting rights will be sacrificed. A vast majority of poll workers, most volunteers, are political junkies whom I’d bet would rise up and fight for the right to keep on voting.
One volunteer does not reflect the spirit that remains in those of us who truly believe in our democracy. Perhaps that poll worker will read this item and reconsider the panic attack she seemed to want everyone around her to share.
I wish I could tell her there was a major flaw in her logic, we were all too busy voting to listen. – Joe Dwinell