Chelsea S. Kline

Civil Rights

I support a ban on so-called “conversion therapy,” a hateful and abusive practice that pushes shame and self-doubt on young LGBTQ people in an ignorant attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Learn more

I support law enforcement transparency with aggregate information on arrest records, traffic stops, and other activities to ensure our system is working properly and that certain groups are not unfairly targeted by our criminal justice system. Learn more

I support a right to privacy, including the Electronic Privacy Act, which would require law enforcement to have a warrant in order to access electronic records and information like a personal cell phone or Internet use. Learn more

I support the transgender public accommodations law that the far right is seeking to appeal. This law finally gave the transgender community more protections in our public spaces, including hospitals, movie theaters, and restaurants. Learn more

I oppose establishing a “Muslim registry” or assisting the federal government in creating one. Learn more

I support the creation of an independent commission to examine fatal police-involved shootings. We need to say clearly and loudly that Black Lives Matter! Learn more

Strengthening the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) to hold companies accountable for discrimination of any kind Learn more

Protecting our strongest-in-the-nation Pay Equity bill that ensures equal pay for equal work Learn more

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

I support law enforcement transparency with aggregate information on arrest records, traffic stops, and other activities to ensure our system is working properly and that certain groups are not unfairly targeted by our criminal justice system. Learn more

I support a full repeal of the state’s mandatory minimums. Mandatory minimums make our criminal justice system more racist, more expensive, and less effective by restricting the discretion of judges in complex and ethically ambiguous cases. Learn more

I support raising the age of criminal majority, restricting solitary confinement practices, and ensuring that incarcerated people retain their rights even after they’re sentenced. Learn more

I support the creation of an independent commission to examine fatal police-involved shootings. We need to say clearly and loudly that Black Lives Matter! Learn more

I support providing funding for training to support community policing, diversity training, and other programs that help build trust between local law enforcement and the diverse communities they serve. Learn more

Ending the school-to-prison pipeline by supporting policies (like PBIS) that approach student behavioral issues with support and compassion. Learn more

Economy

Allowing drivers for Uber, Lyft, and other TNCs to unionize Learn more

Legislative solutions to help insulate or reverse union-busting and the Janus decision Learn more

Advocating for our farms and farmers by making sure our state agencies are supportive, and by funding programs like Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) that encourage locally-sourced foods Learn more

Passing strong laws against wage theft Learn more

Indexing our new $15 minimum wage to inflation, so the gains we make this year are not lost for future workers Learn more

Education

I support providing in-state tuition rates to undocumented students who meet other state residency requirements. Learn more

Funding Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs that help adults earn their high school diploma. Learn more

Restoring collective bargaining rights to school department employees in districts under state receivership. Learn more

Greater flexibility for educators and school districts in meeting the diverse needs of students who are learning English. Learn more

Comprehensive, medically-accurate, age-appropriate and LGBTQ inclusive sexual health education, so that every student has access to the information they need to make informed, respectful and consensual decisions as they grow. Learn more

Redirecting funding currently spent on standardized tests to the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovation Education Assessment (MCIEA), which works with school districts to build better assessment options that are not punitive, and provide communities with useful information about real learning goals. Learn more

Ending the school-to-prison pipeline by supporting policies (like PBIS) that approach student behavioral issues with support and compassion. Learn more

Improving state funding for special education and school transportation so that school districts can focus on meeting the needs of all students. Learn more

Fully funding full-day kindergarten and universal pre-K so that every child can succeed. Learn more

I oppose linking teacher evaluations to state standardized test scores, and I oppose denying students a high school diploma based on state-administered exams. Learn more

I strongly support the rights of all teachers, in all schools, to organize and to collectively bargain. Learn more

I support legislation requiring local approval of charter schools, and support holding charter schools to the same standards as public schools. Learn more

I oppose the expansion of charter schools, and support significant changes to the laws that currently govern them. Learn more

I will support legislation that updates the Chapter 70 formula, and will prioritize funding for regional school transportation and other education line items in the state budget. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Ongoing offshore wind-power developments and increased state investments in clean energy efforts throughout the Commonwealth Learn more

I will fight to increase equitable access to green energy by supporting legislation to remove caps and fees on its usage, and increase the state’s renewable portfolio standard in order to ensure our ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more

A legislated target of at least 50% renewable energy by 2030 Learn more

Enactment of Deval Patrick’s 2014 Executive Order on Environmental Justice, which requires that state agencies devote resources toward the protection of the health, safety, and environment of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations Learn more

I will call on DPU, DEP, and other EEA agencies to hold local hearings before making decisions that would burden or harm marginalized communities, and support legislation that requires impact studies to determine the effects of new project proposals on the health of these communities Learn more

I will cut down on this unnecessary and damaging waste by supporting legislation that sets a strict moratorium on waste incineration, bans single-use plastic bags, and prevents state funds from being used to buy plastic water bottles except in extreme situations such as natural disasters. Learn more

I will support legislation that progressively funds the maintenance, improvement, and expansion of the MBTA and other regional transit authorities in order to ensure that Massachusetts residents have access to the jobs and services they need while reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation that it takes to get them there. Learn more

I will support legislation to set strict limits on annual greenhouse gas emissions, reduce and eliminate leaks in natural gas delivery systems, and put a price on carbon emissions so that those who pollute our state pay for the damage they’ve done. Learn more

Government Reform

I support same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration because we should be making it easier for more people to vote and participate in our democracy. Learn more

Healthcare

I support taking measures to improve elder care in Massachusetts, including adequately paying home care aides and personal care attendants to recruit and retain essential caregivers who can keep seniors healthy and in their homes. I also support providing culturally competent elder services so that LGBTQ and other underrepresented seniors can be treated with dignity, and served without discrimination. Learn more

I support raising income eligibility thresholds for home care and MassHealth so that people who are struggling can access the services they need. I support increasing funding for home care, enhanced homecare, elder protective services, and elder homelessness prevention and support. Learn more

I vehemently oppose Governor Baker’s attempts to kick 140,000 low-income people off MassHealth and rollback a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, which would hurt vulnerable communities in Western Massachusetts and elsewhere. Learn more

I support safe nurse staffing levels so that every patient gets the care they need and deserve, and every nurse has an appropriate and manageable number of patients. Learn more

I support fair community hospital pricing so that our community hospitals are sustainable in the long-term, and are not reimbursed at lower rates than bigger hospitals for the same procedures. Learn more

Medicare for All legislation that will lower overall healthcare costs and help our farms and small businesses budget healthcare expenses more predictably Learn more

Immigration

I support providing in-state tuition rates to undocumented students who meet other state residency requirements. Learn more

I support the Safe Communities Act, which will protect the civil rights, safety and well-being of all residents by drawing a clear line between immigration enforcement and public safety. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

The creation of new commuter rail routes that reach further West and expand the opportunities available to Western Massachusetts residents Learn more

Local referendums to vote on local revenue raising for public transportation, in order to temporarily supplement the current lack of devoted state funds Learn more

I will support legislation that progressively funds the maintenance, improvement, and expansion of the MBTA and other regional transit authorities in order to ensure that Massachusetts residents have access to the jobs and services they need while reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation that it takes to get them there. Learn more

Public funding for the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles Learn more

Social Services

Strengthening our unemployment insurance program Learn more

Protecting our new Paid Family Medical Leave program Learn more

Taxes / Budget

Increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) so that lower-income workers have a smaller tax burden Learn more

Ending tax breaks for multinational corporations and Fortune 500 companies that don’t create jobs in our communities Learn more

The Fair Share Amendment, which will raise much-needed revenue for public schools and other public needs by instituting a 4% surtax on annual incomes over $1 million. Learn more

I will support legislation that updates the Chapter 70 formula, and will prioritize funding for regional school transportation and other education line items in the state budget. Learn more