Commonwealth Peace & Justice Agenda

Commonwealth Peace and Justice Agenda

2023 Commonwealth Peace and Justice Agenda

The Massachusetts Peace & Justice Network has partnered with allied legislators to submit a set of bills to the Massachusetts state legislature concerning nuclear disarmament, transparency in politics, and the budget. Below are the 6 bills that we have submitted to the state legislature.

Watch this video of legislators talking about each of the 6 bills and 2 bills we oppose!

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative

The Massachusetts Peace & Justice Network is introducing a three-part Nuclear Weapons initiative to protect Massachusetts citizens from the threat posed by nuclear weapons. The three parts are as follows:

1. Back from the Brink Initiative (S.1487)

RESOLUTIONS RELATIVE TO THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT POSED BY NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS: Officially congratulate the 51 countries which have signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as well as commend the state and local authorities which have supported the treaty and Back from the Brink platform.

Lead Sponsor: Sen. Jo Comerford 

Advocate Coordinator: Ira Hefland 

Co-Sponsors: Rep. Tackey Chan, Rep.  Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. Erika Uyerthoeven, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. David LeBoeuf  

Joint Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security

Back from the Brink Fact Sheet

 

2. Nuclear Weapons and Climate Commission  ( S.1488/H.738

RESOLVE PROVIDING FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION RELATIVE TO THE EXISTENTIAL THREATS POSED BY NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND CLIMATE CHANGE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS: Establish a citizen’s commission to research and recommend actions for the state to take to better protect its citizens from nuclear weapons and climate change.

Lead Sponsors: Sen. Jo Comerford, Rep. Linsday Sabadosa

Advocate Coordinator: Timmon Wallis 

Co-Sponsors: Rep. Jack Lewis, Rep. Erika Uyerthoeven, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. David LeBoeuf, Joseph Kearney

Bill S.1488 has been assigned to Joint Committee Public Safety & Homeland Security 

Bill H.738 has been assigned to Joint Committee Emergency Preparedness & Management  

Nuclear Weapons and Climate Commission Fact Sheet

 

3. Nuclear Weapons Divestment ( S.1651/H.2480)

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE DIVESTMENT OF STATE PENSION FUNDS FROM NUCLEAR WEAPONS: Divest state pension funds from corporations involved in the manufacture or maintenance of nuclear weapons. #DivestNuclearWeapons

Lead Sponsors: Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Rep. Mike Connolly 

Advocate Coordinator: Jonathan King 

Co-Sponsors: Rep. Michelle DuBois, Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. Rebecca Rausch, Rep. Joseph Kearney, Rep. Erika Uyerthoeven, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. David LeBoeuf 

Endorsed by Progressive Mass

Joint Committee: Public Service 

Nuclear Weapons Divestment Fact Sheet

 

Budget & Taxes

 

Moral Budget for Massachusetts (S.1820H.2875)

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO REPORT ON THE MORAL BUDGET TO REVIVE, REPAIR AND REBUILD OUR ECONOMY: This Act calls on Congress to pass a federal MORAL BUDGET that creates millions of jobs, invests in infrastructure, moves towards single-payer healthcare, makes college free, expands housing, makes corporations and those with high incomes pay their fair share, and reduces military spending. This Act also forms a commission to report on the impact this re-prioritized budget would have on Massachusetts.

Lead Sponsors: Sen. Paul Feeney, Rep. Jay Livingstone 

Advocate Coordinator: Jonathan King 

Co-Sponsors: Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. Erika Uyerthoeven, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. David LeBoeuf 

Joint Committee: Revenue 

Moral Budget Fact Sheet

 

Taxpayers’ Right to Know (S.2054/ H.3015)

AN ACT PROVIDING FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGET INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH: Send Massachusetts residents a summary of where their tax dollars have gone each year in an effort to educate citizens on how their money is being spent.

Lead Sponsors: Sen. Marc Pacheco, Rep. Carol Doherty 

Advocate Coordinator: Jonathan King 

Co-Sponsors: Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. Erika Uyerthoeven, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. David LeBoeuf, Rep. Joseph Kearney  

Joint Committee: State Administration & Regulatory Oversight 

Taxpayers’ Right to Know Fact Sheet

 

Ethics & Transparency

 

Travel Conflict of Interest (H.3120)

A MEASURE TO REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN STATE POLITICS: Ban travel paid for by lobbying interests for Massachusetts legislators.

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven 

Advocate Coordinator: Jeff Klein

Co-Sponsors: Rep. Carol Doherty, Rep. David LeBoeuf 

Endorsed by Progressive Mass

Joint Committee: State Administration & Regulatory Oversight

Travel Conflict of Interest Fact Sheet