John R. Hine

Civil Rights

I was pleased to see the state House come together in a bipartisan way to pass a bill that banned conversion therapy in the state of Massachusetts. Learn more

No person should be denied the right to adopt based off of their sexual orientation. I will steadfastly oppose any effort that would seek to deny same-sex couples their right to adopt children. Learn more

I believe that the Massachusetts Transgender Equal Rights bill enacted by the legislature needs to be protected and cannot be rolled back. Learn more

I wholeheartedly support the updated equal pay law passed by the Massachusetts legislature that went into full effect on July 1, 2018. This law seeks to provide additional “clarity as to what constitutes unlawful wage discrimination and adding protections to ensure greater fairness and equity in the workplace.” Learn more

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

I support the Violence Against Women Act STOP Grant Program, and the continued funding for the Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors Formula Grant program which seeks to “develop and strengthen effective responses to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.” Learn more

I would support the strict enforcement of the laws surrounding the prescribing and use of opioids, so that the opportunities for addiction to arise are prevented. Learn more

Drug Policy

I would support the strict enforcement of the laws surrounding the prescribing and use of opioids, so that the opportunities for addiction to arise are prevented. Learn more

I strongly believe that the Opioid Crisis in the Commonwealth needs to be viewed as a health issue, rather than a criminal one. We need to advocate a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of addiction so that health care providers, social workers, and law enforcement personnel can work together to provide the assistance that is needed for so many of our citizens. Learn more

I will fight to ensure that existing treatment opportunities can be expanded, with more funding, and by primary care physicians so that those affected by this crisis can begin to seek help from the doctors they trust most. Learn more

Economy

I support the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve historic farmland from development, and on Beacon Hill I would seek to expand funding for the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program so that it can be utilized by more farmers. Additionally, we need to review existing regulations and determine how they can be updated to better reflect the current needs of our farmers. Learn more

Education

I would also support initiatives to address the issues of bullying, harassment, and mental health that are often associated with violent behavior. As well, we need to explore the link between social media and cyberbullying, so that the hidden side of harassment can be discovered and programs that seek to limit or reduce them can be created. Learn more

I would support the expansion of School Resource Officer programs, not only to establish an on-site safety presence, but to immerse themselves in the school community and to develop less-threatening relationships with at-risk students, and lead educational initiatives aimed at reducing substance abuse, promoting safe discussions of mental health, and resolving conflict between students peacefully. Learn more

I support maintaining the cap on the number of charter schools. Learn more

I support expanded funding for Pre-K and Kindergarten education. Learn more

We need to provide our students with the skills to be productive and valued workers. Our vocational schools and community colleges should be collaborating with local business to make sure the skills taught to our students match the skills needed by those businesses. Learn more

I support efforts to reevaluate our current school funding formula. Learn more

Environment / Energy

It is my position that natural gas utilities should be fixing the leaks through the distribution system instead of looking to build more pipelines. Learn more

I will advocate for increased support for the research and development of utility-scale battery storage, so that excess electricity from solar and wind generators can be used when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing. Learn more

I support removing the cap on solar net-metering for investor-owned utilities. Likewise, I support increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standards (which defines how much renewable energy utilities must purchase) from 1% annually to 3% annually, again for investor-owned utilities. Learn more

I was committed to preserving open space in the town, and would continue to advocate for the right to open space in the district as a whole. Maintaining open space is a quality of life issue, and access to it enhances life, improving the overall health and well being of a community, as well as furthering the efforts to prevent climate change. Learn more

Climate change is a real issue that we have to address.  We as a society need to more quickly move away from fossil fuels towards renewable sources of energy. Learn more

Guns

I also support funding for research into gun violence, and the treatment of arms proliferation in our schools and on our streets as a public health crisis. Learn more

I support regulations requiring that weapons are stored safely and cannot be accessed by anyone but the owner. I support expanded safety regulations that would require trigger locks and smart gun technology to further protect the youngest members of our society. Learn more

I also support the recent introduction of legislation that would require all private dealers in the Commonwealth to make transactions at licensed dealers, so that all purchasers are required to undergo background checks, with the understanding that those who do not will be subject to criminal prosecution. Learn more

I support the initiatives Massachusetts took in the 1990s to ensure that the manufacture of firearms was regulated to make weapons safer to the user, and would support further legislation that would require more safety features to be included, specifically methods which would decrease accidental self-inflicted injuries of gun owners. Learn more

I support gun licenses issued at a local level, giving local police chiefs the authority for approving or denying licenses. I also support the Extreme Risk Protective Order introduced to the State Legislature by the Joint Public Safety Committee Learn more

Healthcare

I would support increasing the scope of existing assistance programs for at risk students in our schools, and residents of our District. I would also support efforts to expand the education surrounding issues of mental health, individual identity, bullying, harassment, and substance abuse. Learn more

I would support efforts to determine what a single-payer system would look like and how we could transition such a system from the current system. Learn more

I support efforts that have begun to create Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) or groups of health care providers that are given funding to manage the health care needs of a local population, incentivizing them to keep the population healthy overall instead of just treating patients when they are already sick. Learn more

I strongly believe that the Opioid Crisis in the Commonwealth needs to be viewed as a health issue, rather than a criminal one. We need to advocate a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of addiction so that health care providers, social workers, and law enforcement personnel can work together to provide the assistance that is needed for so many of our citizens. Learn more

I will fight to ensure that existing treatment opportunities can be expanded, with more funding, and by primary care physicians so that those affected by this crisis can begin to seek help from the doctors they trust most. Learn more

Housing

I believe that supporting the expansion of affordable housing projects will bring many benefits to our district, by creating diverse and talented populations that will attract new businesses, and ensure that existing ones can make use of the many talented individuals into our towns and cities. Learn more

I supported efforts to encourage new mix-used and high density zoning districts to raise the available number of affordable units in the town. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

I support fully funding public transportation services in the Valley. I urge community residents to fight against cuts to agencies like the PVTA, which affect the lives of low income families, but also reduce the mobility of the majority of seniors who no longer drive or do not own their own car. Learn more

It is my position that natural gas utilities should be fixing the leaks through the distribution system instead of looking to build more pipelines. Learn more

Social Services

I support the initiatives of our local town governments to expand opportunities for social interaction amongst the elderly population, which reduce loneliness and can have a very tangible effect on the overall health of our older residents. Learn more

I support initiatives for communities to reassess the public services they already provide to take into account their impact and accessibility to the elderly. Learn more

I will fight to ensure WestMass ElderCare receives the funding and resources necessary to continue working on behalf of our seniors. Learn more