Massachusetts Republican Governor Charlie Baker, the most popular governor in America with a 75% approval rating, is joining a coalition of mayors and governors to bypass Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.
Massachusetts, a very blue state, has a long history of electing moderate Republican governors, a good thing, since the state legislature is run by the Democrats. This has maintained a balance of power. The difference between our state politics and Washington DC, is that our Republican governors are not ideologues who put party above state -- these men (and one woman Republican governor) work together to solve state issues.
I don't agree with Governor Baker on every issue, but I have confidence that he has the best interests of our Commonwealth when he approaches solving our problems. Cooperation and compromise have helped this state in achieving high marks in education, health care (Romneycare), the economy, in being business friendly, and many other quality of life issues. We have our problems, but we have a governor and legislature that work together to solve them. We're not a divided state even if our state government is headed by a moderate Republican with a Democratic legislature.
And here's the upside to finding ways to work together instead of demonizing political rivals.
Interesting fact: Massachusetts was one of only two states where every single county rejected Trump and went for Hillary Clinton. The other state was Hawaii.
Massachusetts is also the best educated state in America. You can draw your own conclusions from that fact.
February 2017
“Its vibrant academic environment, innovative and supportive health care policies and modernizing economy, measure for measure, make this small New England powerhouse with a population of 6.8 million the strongest state of all,” the study reads.
Gov. Charlie Baker couldn’t agree more. He joined US News & World Report editor-in-chief Brian Kelly on CBS This Morning Tuesday to react to the honor of being ranked first in the country.
Here's Governor Baker's response to Trump (whom he declined to support in the 2016 election) and his withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement:
Gov. Baker Enters Mass. Into Multi-State Climate Alliance After U.S. Withdraws From Paris Agreement
Gov. Charlie Baker and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, two of the four Republican governors in New England, announced late Friday afternoon that they would join a coalition of states committed to fulfilling the tenets of the Paris Climate Agreement despite President Trump's decision this week to withdraw from the international pact.
Baker had said he was disappointed in Trump's decision and committed to promoting clean energy and reduced carbon emissions in Massachusetts, but demurred when asked earlier in the day about joining the coalition.
Over the course of the day, Baker's office said the governor was able to connect with Scott and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, one of the founding members of the U.S. Climate Alliance.
"As the Commonwealth reiterates its commitment to exceed the emission reduction targets of the Paris Climate Agreement, today we join the U.S. Climate Alliance to expand on our efforts while partnering with other states to combat climate change," Baker said in a statement.
"After speaking with Governors Cuomo and Scott, our administration looks forward to continued, bipartisan collaboration with other states to protect the environment, grow the economy and deliver a brighter future to the next generation."
Baker and Scott wrote to Energy Secretary Rick Perry last month urging the Trump administration to remain in the pact, and Perry was reportedly one of the officials who advised the president not to withdraw.
