Civic Engagement
Policy
Here you can track the Governor's various plans through the legislative process and you can plug in to advocate on behalf of a proposal or policy. (COMING SOON)
We are excited to welcome President Obama back to Massachusetts. Details about the event will be made available shortly and published here on DevalPatrick.com
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
"One of the Commonwealth's brightest lights went out last night. Ted Kennedy was a compassionate, effective, visionary statesman, family man and friend. Diane and I were blessed by his company, support and many kindnesses, and miss him profoundly. We pray for comfort for his beloved wife and partner Vicki and his entire family."
Governor Patrick's remarks at the Memorial Service for the Senator
A letter from the Governor:
Dear Friends,
Right now, we have nothing but tough decisions in front of us, so for those of us dealing with these decisions every day, poll numbers are bound to reflect that. Every cut and every reform affects somebody. Our economy is in crisis, people in Massachusetts and across the country are hurting, and they expect and deserve help from their government. I don't need a poll to understand people are not satisfied with where we stand. Neither am I.
We will get through this crisis. To see us through, there will be more tough decisions ahead. We in state government have worked hard to bring jobs to the Commonwealth, strengthen our public schools, provide affordable health care and housing, and reform some of the practices that have undermined public trust for decades. Still, we need to do more. All of us in state government, including me, need to step up our game, and not shrink from confronting those tough decisions, however unpopular. If we continue to do so, I am confident our great Commonwealth will come out stronger tomorrow on the other side of the unprecedented challenges we face.
Sincerely,
Deval Patrick
Governor Patrick joins Senator Kerry, Congressman Capuano, Mayor Curtatone to announce funds for the Assembly Square Mall Project:
Check out Governor Patrick's blog comments on the Communities Count Initiative
And, read Patrick helps wind turbine subsidiary start spinning in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.
Also, read Governor Patrick's op-ed which ran in the Boston Globe. click here
The world's economy is in crisis. Every individual, every family and every business in our Commonwealth is facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty.
This crisis also reminds us how interconnected we are. Hardships in one sector of our economy affect others. One neighbor's struggle becomes a neighborhood's. We rise or fall together.
In times like these the mission of state government is clear: Secure our common economic future. That means doing everything we can to create and sustain jobs and opportunities for Massachusetts people and businesses to regain their economic footing and move forward. more...
RELATED NEWS
8/13/09 Governor Patrick Announces $40.4 Million in Statewide Community Development Grants
7/30/2009 Governor Patrick Announces One Hundred New Jobs for Sutton Facility Expansion
7/28/2009 Governor Patrick Invests $4.3 Million in Western Massachusetts Broadband Expansion Project
5/26/09 Governor Patrick Takes Steps to Secure Federal Recovery Funding for Broadband Expansion
4/23/09 Governor Patrick Awards $3.56 Million to Boost Local Economic Development
4/22/09 Governor Patrick Joins Legislative Leaders to Celebrate Launch of Green Communities Program
4/1/09 Governor Patrick Announces $300 Million Available for Student Loans
3/19/09 Governor Patrick pledges $168 million in federal recovery funds for schools across Massachusetts
A Message from the Governor
Today, we announced a plan to end the culture of systemic neglect, and build a long-term, sustainable transportation system to support job growth and economic opportunity in Massachusetts.
Our Transportation and Economic Security Plan reforms and radically simplifies our transportation bureaucracy by:
- abolishing the Turnpike Authority;
- ending special perks in the MBTA pension system;
- increasing transparency and accountability throughout the system;
- making our transportation system more environmentally friendly; and
- putting our transportation network back on responsible, long-term footing by finally paying down the Big Dig debt and funding regional transportation needs.
You can read my remarks, see the plan and engage on this reform at the You Move Massachusetts site: www.mass.gov/YouMoveMassachusetts
Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Proposal
A Message from the Governor
To the People of Massachusetts:
Our Administration submits this budget proposal for the coming fiscal year at a time of immense challenge and uncertainty for our Nation and our Commonwealth.
Our economy faces its most significant downturn since the Great Depression. Tens of thousands of people in Massachusetts have lost their jobs as business activity slows down. Thousands more have lost their savings or home equity to turmoil in the markets. Credit is tightening, and foreclosures are rising. People are anxious about the future. More...
Stronger penalties, greater enforcement authority, enhanced investigative tools aimed at restoring public confidence in government
BOSTON - Tuesday, January 6, 2009 - Governor Deval Patrick's Task Force on Public Integrity today issued a report outlining several recommendations to strengthen the state's ethics and lobbying laws. The series of proposals call for expanded investigative and enforcement authority as well as tougher penalties. "Right now, thanks to several recent serious charges of misconduct, our citizens are questioning the integrity of their government," said Governor Patrick. "Now is the time to assure ourselves and the public that the consequences for breaching the public trust will be serious, swift and certain."
Formed in November by Governor Patrick and chaired by the Governor's Chief Legal Counsel Ben Clements, the 13-member bi-partisan task force examined the current regulatory structure governing ethics, lobbying and public employee conduct and received input from experts and the public. For the full report, please visit www.mass.gov/governor/publicintegrity
Governor Patrick recently named a council that will develop a 10-year strategic plan to continuously improve public education in the Commonwealth. This project will support his vision for a comprehensive, child-centered public education system that begins before kindergarten, continues through grade 12 and higher education, and extends to workforce development and lifelong learning.
Right now the Governor is laying the initial plans for a grassroots organizing effort throughout the state to support and advance education reform and The Readiness Project. If you want to improve education in our state and can participate by helping with events, talking with neighbors and friends, contacting your legislators, and other ways, please join the Grassroots Readiness Project Working Group.
Governor's announcement: legislation to establish a Secretary of Education.
On April 12, 2006, Massachusetts made an official commitment to reducing the number of its residents without healthcare coverage. When Health Care Reform became law, everyone in Massachusetts - from state officials to employers to ordinary citizens - stood up for the hundreds of thousands of people living in our communities without the security they need.
The victories achieved in April did not mark the end of the fight for health care coverage in Massachusetts. To build on the success of the new legislation, leaders from every part of the health care community came together to realize the goals that Health Care Reform laid out. They formed the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Coalition to begin a grassroots campaign of education and outreach across the Commonwealth, and to provide every single uninsured individual the safety and security of health insurance. If you want to join their efforts to bring health care into every home and business in Massachusetts, visit their website today: www.masshealthreform.org