In State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Healey spotlights affordability

Politics

“Fixing that and lowering costs should be the focus of every elected official in America. It’s certainly mine.”

During her State of the Commonwealth address Thursday night, Gov. Maura Healey mostly focused on a single issue: whether due to housing, energy, or food costs, Massachusetts is unaffordable for families. 

“Then, you had a sense that if you worked hard, things were going to be okay. Right now, it doesn’t feel that way,” Healey said. “Fixing that and lowering costs should be the focus of every elected official in America. It’s certainly mine.”

The address which hosted former Governors Michael Dukakis and William Weld, as well as Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey as guests, included a Patriot’s shoutout amid the team’s playoff run.

Healey, a first-term Democrat in a campaign year, wove in jabs at President Donald Trump throughout the speech. She condemned the administration’s immigration action and blamed the affordability crisis on tariffs and widespread federal cuts, including to SNAP benefits. She noted that her budget next year will increase funding for local food banks.

“We have a president who throws temper tantrums like a 2-year-old. No disrespect to 2-year-olds,” Healey said. “He’s driving up costs and prices with tariffs. He’s cutting trillions of dollars out of health care, and Congress can’t seem to do anything.”

Addressing immigration issues in Massachusetts, she shouted out Milford high schooler Marcelo Gomes da Silva who was detained on his way to volleyball practice and a Babson College student who was deported to Honduras on her way to visit family in Texas for Thanksgiving. 

But, besides brief mentions of ICE’s actions nationwide, Healey’s speech mostly addressed how to combat Trump policy at home, promising to accelerate home building, lower energy prices, and fix bridges and decrease traffic.

Standing up to Trump, Healey said, includes ensuring access to vaccines and protecting thousands from increasing health insurance premiums under the administration. 

“In this moment, part of my job as governor is to help us provide what the federal government isn’t: stability, security, and how about a little common sense,” she said.

But, Healey’s affordability agenda, she said, starts with housing. 

She said the state will “beat” the goal to build around 220,000 homes by 2035. She pointed to more efficient environmental approvals, shortening the permitting process from a year to a month, and a first-time homebuyer program to give families $25,000 for a down payment.

“The problem is we really haven’t been building homes in a big way since the 90s. That’s why prices and rents are so high,” Healey said. “We’re going to build more and build faster.”

Earlier Thursday, the governor announced a 25 percent reduction for electricity bills and 10 percent reduction for gas bills in February and March, amounting to $180 million in rate reductions.

“Middle class families need the breathing room. Everybody needs the breathing room,” Healey said during the address. She said a hydroelectric line opened last week, providing 20 percent of the state’s electricity needs and saving $50 million.  

Her other plans included new social media restrictions for children and a ban on medical debt affecting credit reports, she said.  

“Massachusetts will lead again as a place where everyone can be safe and have their rights protected where, if you work hard, you can afford to live,” Healey said. “People from around the world will look to us for learning, innovation, opportunity and freedom. That’s what we work for. That’s what America needs at this moment.”

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.