NOTES BETWEEN PRINTED EDITIONS
Waltham, MA – This evening’s state of the Commonwealth response was a masterclass in political spin as Governor Healey presented a version of Massachusetts distant from the reality families face every day. When confronted with unspinnable truths, Governor Healey immediately chose the only mechanism she knows…blame the federal government.
Leading Republican Gubernatorial candidate, Mike Kennealy, offered the following in response to the Governor’s alternative reality:
Maura Healey’s so-called “Energy Relief:”
“Governor Healey’s ‘plan’ for energy relief, is basically a payday loan scam. Get cash now, pay it back later with interest. Your next Governor should lead with integrity, not lie to you about providing ‘relief.’ This does nothing to address the real root of the problem, which is that Governor Maura Healey is financing a climate agenda through our utility bills, sticking Massachusetts families with the third highest utility rates in America. She talks about bringing more energy to the state, while in reality she has blocked two natural gas pipelines that would have driven costs down.
When I’m Governor we’ll have an energy policy that’s rooted in affordability not a climate agenda. I will strip the unnecessary green surcharges out of our utility bills, providing immediate and lasting relief to rate payers. I will implement an all-of-the-above approach that includes expanded natural gas capacity and investment in next generation nuclear energy.”
SNAP Protection:
“Governor Healey’s claims that she worked to protect SNAP benefits couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth is, when presented with a problem in need of a solution, Governor Healey chose partisan political opportunism, using hunger as leverage in an effort to further ingratiate herself with the far-left establishment.
In stark contrast, I presented an 11-point plan to allocate the rainy day fund dollars to protect SNAP benefits for citizens in need and later seek federal reimbursements to recoup those funds. Governor Healey likes to play politics – I like getting results.”
Tax Cuts:
“Let’s be clear, Governor Healey is no tax cutter. In fact, she has consistently proposed new taxes – including taxes on cable boxes, prescription drugs, charitable deductions, and even candy – at the state level. And on the local level, she pushed the Municipal Empowerment Act, which would triple the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, and should more accurately be called the Municipal Tax Hike Act. The tax cuts she claims were Governor Baker’s proposal to the Legislature, held hostage by the Democratic supermajority, in an effort to later give Governor Healey credit. Regardless of these tax cuts, Massachusetts is still one of the least affordable states in the country. We need to go further – not just with tax cuts, but with slashing regulations, stripping our budget of waste, fraud, and abuse, and unleashing the full potential of the people of Massachusetts and our economy. When the government’s budget is growing year after year and families’ budgets are shrinking year after year, we’re doing something wrong.”
“Number 1 in Education:”
“She bragged about being number one in education, but what she fails to mention is that half of our 3rd graders can’t read proficiently, our kids’ reading scores peaked in 2011, and their math scores peaked in 2013. To put it simply – we are not number one by our own standards, and we’ve been headed in the wrong direction for years. That’s unacceptable, and when I’m Governor, we’ll get serious about education, just like I did as part of the leadership team in the turn around of Lawrence Public School System when, in just two short years, we raised graduation rates from 52% to 72%.”
Outmigration:
Perhaps the most telling indicator of Governor Healey’s failures: people are leaving. Massachusetts ranks 47th in the nation in affordability. That’s why we are currently 4th in the nation for outmigration, according to U-Haul’s Growth Index. That disheartening statistic is fueled in large part by working adults ages 26–44. When you drop off your kids at college, that may be the last time you see them other than on holidays, because young people are voting with their feet – they simply can’t see a pathway to prosperity here in Massachusetts. It’s high time we get serious about affordability and that’s done by unleashing the Massachusetts economy and addressing an affordability crisis with pragmatic solutions.
Economy:
“Governor Healey is underestimating the intelligence of Massachusetts voters with her ridiculous claims that our economy is improving. It’s not – scapegoating the federal government is not a plan; it’s a pathway to a continued decline. Businesses are leaving the state for greener pastures – we rank dead last in job creation. We are among the worst in the country for business friendliness, and that’s because we’re prioritizing political ideology over the people of this Commonwealth. I assure you that will change when I’m Governor.”
Housing Crisis:
“Governor Healey boasted about the creation of 100,000 new homes. That may sound like a nice number, but when you zoom out, reality strikes quickly. We’re being outpaced by Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. In my final year as Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, we issued 18,940 building permits. In 2024, under Governor Healey’s regulations, and counterproductive green energy policies, that number dropped by 23%. She effectively kneecapped our housing market, leaning on her climate agenda to make it even more expensive to build new housing.
When I’m Governor, I will bring developers and builders to the table, listening to what they need, and driving a results-oriented administration to build housing rapidly, bring down costs, and allow young people to start families in our Commonwealth. And of course, unlike Governor Healey, I won’t sue and strip funding from municipalities to force housing in communities where it’s not wanted and doesn’t make sense – I will work with cities and towns to build housing they want.”
Enough with the Blame Game:
“No matter how you feel about President Trump, blaming him for all of Massachusetts’ problems isn’t the answer – it’s not what real leaders do. Governor Healey’s attempt to deflect responsibility and turn this race into a referendum on federal politics is nothing more than dodging accountability.
Massachusetts needs a Governor with integrity – someone who takes responsibility, builds partnerships with all levels of government, and works collaboratively instead of creating enemies for political convenience.
Governor Healey wants to make this election about President Trump. I want to make this election about the people of Massachusetts and restoring affordability, building a stronger future for every family, and delivering a government you can trust again.”
Audit of the Legislature:
“What Governor Healey conveniently chose not to address this evening – and what she has consistently ignored – is the will of 72% of Massachusetts voters: an audit of the Legislature. In 2024, the people of this Commonwealth spoke overwhelmingly. We demanded transparency. We demanded an audit to finally lift the veil of secrecy on Beacon Hill.
And what happened? Nothing.
The Democratic supermajority is ignoring the will of the voters. Attorney General Campbell refuses to challenge the Legislature and enforce the audit. And Governor Healey remains silent.
Beacon Hill’s message has been clear: ‘We know better.’
Well, I believe it’s time we return to ‘We the people.’
As Governor, I will fight relentlessly to deliver the audit Massachusetts demanded. The most important responsibility in public life is to listen to the people. It’s time to restore the will of the people on Beacon Hill, and I look forward to continuing that fight for transparency.”
Leading with Integrity:
“Governor Healey wants citizens to believe that Massachusetts is on the right track, that things are getting more affordable, that education outcomes are improving and our streets are getting safer. Tonight, I ask you to trust your experience. Trust what you see when you open your bills. Trust what you feel when you worry about your kids’ future.
Massachusetts is a great state. We are home to some of the finest institutions in the world, and some of the smartest, hardest-working people anywhere. Our potential is limitless. But that potential has been constrained by a state government that has lost touch with the people it serves.
I know from experience how to work with business, government community leaders at every level to unleash the full power of this Commonwealth. It’s time to get Massachusetts back on track. It’s time to make this a state we can afford, a state that offers a great future for everyone, and a government you can once again believe in. Over the next year, I look forward to continuing to earn voters’ trust. Together, we can restore integrity, common sense, and accountability to the Governor’s office.”
