I had a good week.

"Senator buoyed by new federal, state climate legislation."

There are grounds for hope on the climate front. We've had two amazing turnarounds: The Inflation Reduction Act, federal legislation that seemed dead in the water but is now in effect; and a new state climate law, which once seemed destined for a Baker veto but survived to provide a strong foundation for the Healey era.

"Mass. locked up people with mental illness for decades. Now advocates want their stories told."

The past can be a guide, but only if we truly know it. The Senate and House just approved a commission to study the history of state institutions in Massachusetts. The work will deepen our appreciation of lives marred by government insensitivity and led in hiding.

"Massachusetts should require gun liability insurance."

San Jose has set an example, by requiring gun owners to purchase liability insurance. This is a moderate approach, no different than our approach to rectifying the damage done by cars. As with the operation of automobiles, good gun stewardship will mean modest premiums, while at-fault behavior will bring higher premiums. The idea is to ensure that victims of property damage and physical injury receive fair compensation, paid for not just by the healthcare system, meaning all of us, but also by the users of inherently dangerous things.

Dear Friend,

I hope the new year is off to a promising start for you and your family.

All of us, I know, are aghast at what has been unfolding down in Washington. My thoughts are with Massachusetts' members of Congress, who had to put up with a lot in order to do their jobs.

For me, last week was quite different.

On Wednesday, at the exact moment House Republicans were forcing Kevin McCarthy to slice his soul into little pieces, Democrats in the State Senate of Massachusetts nominated an outstanding woman, Karen Spilka, to be our President.

Even as the national Republicans were laying out their issues, which apparently have to do with which faction will control what, Senator Spilka was laying out hers, which have to do with making community college free for students, making basic improvements to mental healthcare, and increasing funding for early education.

And picture this: After Karen spoke in her capacity as the Democrats’ nominee for Senate President, the Minority Leader of the State Senate, in a show of goodwill, withdrew his own competing candidacy and moved, without any dissent from the other Republican senators, to make her nomination unanimous. No ugly words, no near-physical confrontation. Democrats and Republicans alike affirmed her election together.

That was my Wednesday.

On Thursday, again in the State House, an even more remarkable scene: One strong woman, Karen Spilka, swore in another strong woman, Kim Driscoll, to be Lt. Governor, and then swore in another strong woman, Maura Healey, to be Governor.

Despite all the challenges this country will face, anyone who saw those three women together, up on that podium, cannot help but feel optimistic.

And then my Friday: The Governor, in her first public act, issued an Executive Order creating a new Climate Chief for Massachusetts. This ups the Administration’s ability to make things happen. To get the Department of Transportation onboard. To sync up housing policy with energy policy. To translate climate ideas in the public sector into economic opportunity in the private sector.

I’ve seen, up close, what happens when a Chief Executive prioritizes something -- or doesn’t. In terms of access to resources, and access to power, Maura Healey just gave climate a big upgrade.

So, unlike our Congressional delegation, I had a pretty good week.

The arc of history can take longer than we expect to come back our way, but it still bends toward justice. Our task is to do the work, so the arc meets the earth a little sooner.

Looking forward to working with all of you in 2023.

Mike

Visit Mike's website