By Bob Katzen
“Massachusetts has the opportunity to be a global leader in Applied AI – but it’s going to take us bringing together the brightest minds in tech, business, education, health care and government.
That’s exactly what this task force will do. Members of the task force will collaborate on strategies that keep us ahead of the curve by leveraging AI and GenAI technology, which will bring significant benefit [to] our economy and communities across the state.”
—Gov. Maura Healey upon signing an Executive Order establishing the Artificial Intelligence Strategic Task Force to study AI and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technology and its impact on the state, private businesses, higher education institutions and constituents.
“This latest report proves that Massachusetts is not immune from 21st century anti-abortion attacks—this data privacy crisis is right here in our backyard. If these extremists are able to use our location data to target abortion seekers with digital advertising, they can also use it to harass, threaten or litigate against patients and providers in our state. Massachusetts has a responsibility to protect our location data and ensure that this personal information cannot be sold to hostile, out-of-state actors.”
—Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, on reports that a data broker company allegedly tracked people’s visits to nearly 600 Planned Parenthood locations across 48 states, including Massachusetts, and provided that data to inform one of the nation’s largest anti-abortion ad campaigns.
“These programs will put Massachusetts further on the path to greater food security and economic prosperity and achieving our climate goals. The more food grown here, the less reliance we will have on importing from other parts of the country and world, ultimately decreasing our carbon footprint.”
—Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper announcing $8.2 million to support greater food access to residents in underserved Massachusetts communities in order to help strengthen the local food system and address food insecurity.
“Given that candidates are already able to draw nomination papers for the regularly scheduled state election for the 6th Plymouth House District, the House will not call a special election, as doing so would burden communities with the added costs associated with holding a special election, only to hold another election a few months later for that same seat.”
—House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) telling the State House News Service why he will not call for a special election for the South Shore House seat vacated by former Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Plymouth) who resigned from the House to become Gov. Maura Healey’s Undersecretary of Apprenticeship, Work-based Learning and Policy in the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
“Amidst the legislative session’s peak, Speaker Mariano apparently prioritizes politics over delivering tangible legislative outcomes for the residents of Pembroke, Duxbury, Marshfield, Hanson and Halifax. Should a constituent raise concerns regarding bills or community issues, Speaker Mariano and the Beacon Hill leadership bear full responsibility as those phone calls and e-mails are met with a limited response from staff or go unanswered all together.”
—MassGOP Chairwoman Amy Carnevale on Marian’s decision not to hold a special election.