ITEM PHOTO BY JIM WILSON
State Sen. Thomas McGee speaks with The Item.
By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN — It might be one of the few times when you talk and politicians listen.
Two dozen state senators are expected to attend the latest Commonwealth Conversations next Tuesday at the J. Henry Higgins Middle School in Peabody at 6:30 p.m.
But don’t expect speeches, these Town Hall-style forums put the microphone in your hands.
“We don’t talk, we listen,” said state Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn). “You get two minutes to make a comment, ask a question or both.”
The Massachusetts Senate launched the statewide listening tour in 2015 designed to connect legislators with constituents to hear their ideas, concerns and suggestions.
“On that tour, we got input from the public that helped us develop our legislative priorities for the session,” McGee said.
Two years ago, legislators heard from the public about the cost of higher education, mounting student debt, college affordability and income inequality.
“As a result of those listening tours in eight Massachusetts regions, we passed legislation to create the college savings plan and expanded the earned income tax credit,” said Sen. Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport).
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So far, the common denominator at forums in Greater Boston, the South Coast, South Shore, MetroWest and Western Massachusetts have brought out voters who are fired up about immigration issues, global warming and renewable energy.
“We’ve been surprised at how energized people are about what’s happening in Washington,” said Rodrigues. “We expected that in the more progressive parts of the state, like MetroWest, Northampton and Amherst, but we heard the same in Ashland.”
The sessions have had anti-President Donald Trump undertones, the senators said.
“There hasn’t been much speaking directly at the president, but clearly they oppose his policies on immigration and climate change,” said McGee. “That has been universal.”
A separate transportation forum will be on the same day from noon to 2 at the Lynn Museum. Sponsored by the Barr Foundation, the Boston-based nonprofit with assets of $1.6 billion, will explore ways to improve and increase investment in transportation.
“We need to transform our state so that it has a fair and equitable transportation system that benefits everyone,” McGee said.
The senators acknowledge the biggest challenge on transit and infrastructure improvements is raising the money.
“It all boils down to dollars,” Rodrigues said. “It’s difficult to have an adult conversation around taxes because there’s an innate mistrust of government that we don’t spend tax dollars wisely. Everyone thinks about tax policy on their own wallet … it’s challenging.”
Thomas Grillo can be reached at [email protected].
