Our taxpayer dollars should be used to fight the public health crisis, not to prop up polluters. Call on your U.S. representative to oppose bailing out the plastics industry.
Our taxpayer dollars should be used to fight the public health crisis, not to prop up polluters. Call on your U.S. representative to oppose bailing out the plastics industry.
COVID-19
Shut down, start over, do it right
MASSPIRG and top health experts from Massachusetts and across the country have called on Gov. Baker to be prepared to shut down again in response to national surges in COVID-19 cases. While Massachusetts is doing relatively well in controlling the spread of the virus, new infections from regions around the country where COVID-19 is out of control could jeopardize this progress.
Public Health
Responding to the COVID crisis
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever, we need to work together to ensure that our government has a coordinated, strategic response to safeguard the public’s health, protect consumers from emerging dangers and ensure people can still participate fully in our democracy.
Solid Waste
Massachusetts resumes bans on single-use plastic bags
Gov. Charlie Baker has rescinded an emergency order from March that paused the use of reusable bags in the commonwealth. The decision will allow bans on single-use plastic bags to resume in 139 cities and towns across Massachusetts.
Democracy
Voting this fall in Massachusetts is now safer
Gov. Charlie Baker has signed into law new plans to make the September primary and November general election as safe and inclusive as possible for all voters, including: universal vote-by-mail, expanded early voting, an online portal for voters to track the progress of their absentee ballots, public health safeguards at polling places, and more.
We can't do it without you.
MASSPIRG is your advocate for the public interest, speaking out for healthier, safer, more secure lives for all of us.
News & Research
News Release | MASSPIRG
BOSTON -- In a survey of 15 Massachusetts cities, researchers at MASSPIRG found that, despite Gov. Charlie Baker’s July 13 executive order that allowed for the reinstatement of plastic bag bans and the use of reusable bags again, local delays and confusion remain in some jurisdictions.
News Release | MASSPIRG
Under the landmark legislation signed into law last month providing Massachusetts residents with more voting options during COVID-19, the Secretary of the Commonwealth was required to issue a number of new regulations related to safe voting during the pandemic. Specifically, the law required him to “promulgate emergency regulations” regarding the processing of mail ballots in local communities by August 1, 2020, and further obligated him to issue regulations on safe in-person voting and electronic poll books. The electronic poll book regulations were due by July 15.
Blog Post
In the spring, we shut down our lives and our economy in hopes of reducing the spread of COVID-19 enough to be able to manage it through widespread testing and contact tracing. In spite of that shutdown, today the virus is raging virtually uncontrolled. We didn’t stick with it until the job was done.
News Release | MASSPIRG
Boston-- Amid uncontrolled spread of the novel coronavirus across the country, MASSPIRG and top health experts delivered a letter Wednesday to Governor Baker, noting that Massachusetts is in the “Yellow” column, according to COVID Exit Strategy, and calling on him to be prepared to shut down again if new COVID 19 outbreaks emerge.
RESOURCE
Coronavirus update
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve taken steps for all of our staff to work remotely for safety reasons. But rest assured, we’ll keep advocating for you as we work for a healthier, safer world.
Learn more about how we can work together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.