Paul R. Feeney

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

Safety and security in our homes, neighborhoods and communities is an issue that must be a priority for all elected officials and it certainly is for me. I have consistently advocated for additional public safety resources as well as funding and legislation that is important to the women and men that keep our families safe. Throughout my life, I have been a supporter of law enforcement personnel that risk their lives to serve and protect our communities. I believe strongly in community policing and believe that our neighborhoods are best served when we foster a respectful, positive relationship between citizens and first responders. Learn more

Defense / Veterans

Throughout our National history, each generation has asked men and women to leave the comfort of their communities and the embrace of their families to fight for those communities and to protect those families. Our responsibility on the Homefront is to ensure that our commitment to each of them is met. Whether young or old, our veterans must be a priority in every city and town in the Commonwealth. It is our collective obligation as well as a priority for me personally to fight for housing, healthcare, employment, and services for veterans and their families. I am proud to come from a family of veterans and will never forget the responsibility that I have as a public servant to fight for those that fought for us. Learn more

Drug Policy

Recent data shows that this public health crisis continues to grow throughout Massachusetts. Though deaths attributed to opioid overdose are declining slowly, substance abuse in general is trending upward. The presence of deadly fentanyl in our communities presents a major hazard to those addicted to drugs and to the first responders that protect and serve us. Our approach cannot be strictly punitive as this is a mental health issue more than a criminal justice issue. I believe we must increase the amount of beds and treatment facilities in Massachusetts, mandate expanded insurance coverage and ensure the accessibility and affordability of treatment services for those that are suffering the grip of addiction. I have been on the other end of that phone as those caught in the grip of addiction and those that love them have reached out for help. This is not an abstract issue to so many of us in our district. It’s real, it’s painful, it’s frightening and we must do more. Learn more

Economy

I will continue to work to increase employment opportunities by advocating for investment in high-growth fields such as renewable energy and life sciences. I believe in mandating a living wage, safe working conditions and equal pay for equal work. I believe companies have an obligation to keep jobs here in Massachusetts and in the United States of America where they make their wealth and do not support corporate decisions that shift jobs out of State in the name of increased profit. Learn more

I just don’t believe that the economy is working for everyone these days and for many working people in our district, it’s still tough out there. While the Massachusetts unemployment rates are consistently below the National average, job growth and wages have been largely stagnant in our region. As our traditional economic engines continue to shift, we must seek new employment opportunities in emerging fields. I have been blessed to build a middle-class life in a wonderful community because of the opportunity that a steady job of over 20 years provided for me. Sadly, many of those jobs that come with economic security, competitive benefits and the promise of a secure retirement have gone the way of the blacksmith. We must reverse course on our shift to a “gig” economy that forces people to work harder for less wages and little benefits. Learn more

Education

We owe it to our kids to provide a safe, comfortable, nurturing and well-rounded environment that incorporates civics education, music and the arts in their education. Additionally, though I support the mission of charter schools and have seen great success in many, we must not allow precious resources to be funneled away from traditional public schools. Learn more

Beyond just K through 12, I have consistently advocated for debt-free public colleges and universities and the elimination of student debt. My family didn't have the resources to afford my college tuition, even at a State college and I feel strongly that no aspiring student should be in that position. It's time for us to close corporate tax loopholes, pass the fair-share amendment, and find a way to provide higher-education, including vocational and trade school, to every person that wishes to attend. Learn more

Environment / Energy

I also believe in science, and though some may deny the connection between our energy consumption and climate change, I would be negligent in my work as a Senator if I did not strongly support policy that moves us toward one-hundred percent renewable energy. I am proud of my work in the last year on bills that increase our renewable portfolio standards, protect our communities from pipelines and compressor stations, provide funding for local projects and incentivize job-heavy growth in the renewable energy sector. Learn more

I cannot sleep at night if I don’t do everything in my power to protect our environment and move our Commonwealth toward asustainable future. While others may use this issue as a political talking-point, I believe that action is required immediately. A defining moment in my life came at a young age when my family learned that our home’s water supply, along with that of dozens of our neighbors, had been contaminated by a nearby business. Enforceable regulations must be put in place to ensure the protection of our natural resources. Learn more

Healthcare

I have consistently supported policy measures that move us toward universal coverage that is affordable and accessible by every person, regardless of their wealth. I am a co-sponsor of an Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts and believe that for-profit health insurance companies have left working class people with unaffordable and many times unaccessible healthcare. A Massachusetts medicare for all plan will save people money year after year. Learn more

Additionally, I will continue to advocate for transparency in the pharmaceutical industry and take steps to lower the exorbitant costs of prescription drugs. It is now more important than ever that our state legislators stand up to protect medicaid, medicare and other Federal programs that are being threatened by the administration in Washington. I will fight every day to protect healthcare for the people of Massachusetts! Learn more

With the disappearance of defined benefit pensions, skyrocketing healthcare costs and a constant threat to social security and medicare, the most vulnerable population in our district continues to be seniors. We are failing as a society when the people that built our neighborhoods are driven out economically from those neighborhoods in their senior years. I am fully supportive of expanding the State’s “circuit breaker” tax credit that has helped tens of thousands of seniors in the last 16 years. Many seniors are faced with coverage gaps in their medicare coverage that forces them to choose between paying for prescriptions or heating their homes. As your Senator, I am working with my colleagues to identify ways to bridge that gap, lower costs and increase assistance. I will continue to advocate for legislation that increases eligibility to medicare savings programs. Learn more

We must act now and we must do so boldly. The unsustainable rise in healthcare and prescription costs across the board, is the defining issue of our time. Working-class families, seniors and others on a fixed income are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing costs of what I believe is a basic human right; access to quality affordable healthcare. Simply, the current system is broken and people are sick and dying because of the lack of action and courage from elected officials at all levels. Learn more