Massachusetts
Massachusetts pols advancing bill eliminating religious vaccination exemption for school kids
Beacon Hill lawmakers were in the process of advancing legislation Friday that would eliminate religious vaccination exemptions for children entering public, private, or charter K-12 schools.
The measure was among six bills the Legislature’s Public Health Committee was in line to stamp its approval on and ship to the House for consideration during a stretch of time when legislators typically do not take up controversial legislation, according to an email sent to committee members that was obtained by the Herald.
The two Democratic chairs of the committee, Sen. Julian Cyr of Provincetown and Rep. Marjorie Decker of Cambridge, recommended lawmakers on the panel give the measure a favorable report, the email said.
The bill would still need to clear both the House and Senate and earn the signature of Gov. Maura Healey to become law. The two-year session covering 2023 and 2024 ends later this month.
Rep. Andy Vargas, a Haverhill Democrat and chief sponsor of the bill, did not provide a comment when contacted by the Herald.
But at a July 2023 legislative hearing, Vargas said there has been a “rapid rise” in the use of religious exemptions since the 1980s while religious affiliation has been on a “downward trend.”
“So you could say the spirit of the law is being violated,” he said. “… Evidence from other states shows that removing religious exemptions increases vaccination rates without impacting school attendance.”
State law requires parents or guardians of children being admitted to schools to submit a physician’s certificate showing the child has been successfully immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, and poliomyelitis, among other communicable diseases.
A child can be exempted from the requirement if a physician determines their health would be endangered by the vaccinations or a parent or guardian states in writing that vaccinations or immunizations conflict with their “ sincere religious beliefs,” according to state law.
The bill would eliminate the religious option.
The legislation also requires the Department of Public Health to issue a public report each year on the total number of students who have been immunized and students who have received a medical exemption.
The proposal drew criticism from one state lawmaker.
Rep. Marc Lombardo, a Billerica Republican, said religious exemptions for school-aged children are a “longstanding” option available to residents of Massachusetts.
“We don’t force people based on religious beliefs to have to take certain actions at the penalty of not being allowed in a K through 12 private or public institution,” he told the Herald. “Religious freedom is a foundation of our nation and here in Massachusetts, we’re going to trample on that because left-wing activists believe they know better than individuals when it comes to their medical situations?”
At the July 2023 hearing, Vargas said his bill is constitutional.
“The Supreme Court of the United States has already decided and reaffirmed that mandatory vaccination laws are constitutional,” he said. “… Our neighboring states have removed the religious exemption. I hope we can here in Massachusetts as well.”
The Public Health Committee was also in the process of moving three other bills related to vaccines and “community immunity” and two measures covering a “coordinated stroke care system,” according to the email to committee members.
Three months after the death of a trooper from injuries he suffered during a training exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree, his family is continuing to demand answers.
With heavy hearts, the family of Enrique Delgado-Garcia is struggling to make sense of the 25-year-old police cadet’s death.
“It’s been 90 days, and we haven’t heard anything, nothing,” his mother, Sandra Garcia, said in Spanish Friday to Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra. “Nothing has happened. My heart is in such great pain and I want them to at least give me an answer, to tell me something, anything.”
In Foxboro, a billboard paid for by Brian Bardsley shows the trooper’s photo, reading, “What happened to Trooper Delgado-Garcia? We want answers!”
“If this truly was a medical crisis during a training exercise, then why not have an answer in a few days?” Bardsley asked. “If that is the truth to all this, then here we go, we’re now 90 days out.”
The family says it was told Delgado-Garcia lost consciousness after being hit in the head, and that all of his teeth were broken, with bruises on his body.
The office of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell told NBC10 Boston Friday that the investigation is ongoing.
Campbell previously named attorney David Meier to lead an outside investigation. Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said his office would not handle the investigation due to a conflict of interest, as Delgado-Garcia spent 18 months working for the office as a victim witness advocate.
Enrique Delgado-Garcia died two weeks ago after sustaining serious injuries during a boxing training exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree.
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“Enrique Delgado-Garcia was loved by everyone in our office,” Early said in September, flanked by members of the trooper’s family.
Standing beside his memorial three months later, those family members are calling for justice.
“This case cannot be left like this,” his stepfather, Jose Perez, said in Spanish. “We have to find someone to blame and seek justice, because this was not an accident.”
“It cannot be left like this, it cannot go unpunished,” his mother added. “I want it to be clear to my own people, what happened with my son.”
The ninth Sobriety Checkpoint for 2024 has been announced for the area by Massachusetts State Police.
Colonel Geoffrey Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, announced that a “Sobriety Checkpoint” will be implemented by the Massachusetts State Police on a Public Way in Bristol County.
According to John Mawn Jr., the purpose of the checkpoints is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways. It will be operated during varied hours, the selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary, safety will be assured, and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety.
The checkpoint will take place in Bristol County starting Thursday, December 19th, 2024, into Friday, December 20th, 2024, due to a grant by the Highway Safety Division of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
Massachusetts
OPRAH WINFREY, CAITLIN CLARK, GOV. HEALEY, AND MORE INSPIRE AT MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN
Nearly 11,000 Gathered for the 20th Anniversary of the Nation’s Largest Conference for Women
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BOSTON, Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The 20th annual Massachusetts Conference for Women, the largest women’s conference in the nation, attracted nearly 11,000 attendees and an extraordinary lineup of speakers to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center yesterday.
Highlighting the event, Oprah Winfrey encouraged women to focus on listening to their intuition and the intention behind their goals and actions.
“I want to leave you with the idea not to do anythng that does not come from yourself,” Oprah said. “That’s sometimes hard to do in business, but you can find the thread of what is the next right thing for you.”
In conversation with Gayle King, Co-Host of CBS Mornings and Editor-at-Large at Oprah Daily, she also encouraged women to act in service of things greater than themselves and recognize that purpose is not the result of one thing but everything they do.
“What is your way to create an offering of your life, your life force, and give that in such a way that you are rewarded in your spirit and every life you touch is rewarded by your touch and the power of your touch?” she asked. “That’s the goal.”
The Massachusetts Conference for Women is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that provides professional and personal development and community building. Nearly 11,000 women attended this year’s 20th annual event, which was held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
While celebrating women’s progress and addressing ongoing challenges in the workplace and beyond, this year’s event focused on the theme of “Power in Unity.”
Women’s basketball legend and 2024 Time Magazine Athlete of the Year Caitlin Clark spoke about the power of confidence, not backing down, and exceeding expectations.
Saying her mother never backed down from anything, which rubbed off on her, Clark urged women to “go after things people say you can’t do because more times than not you can do it. But believe you can because the power of belief is instrumental.”
In conversation with Robin Roberts, Co-Anchor of Good Morning America and president of Rock’n Robin Productions, Clark also discussed pay equity in sports.
The future of pay equity “will continue to improve,” she said, because of the growing interest in women’s basketball. “People always ask where women’s sports will go. It is hard to say because we’re exceeding expectations. No one ever expected us to be where we are now, and I think we will continue to skyrocket.”
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