Rep. Kathy LaNatra is currently serving her second term as State Representative of the 12th Plymouth District. It has been the honor of her life to work on behalf of her constituents to find resources, common sense solutions, and legislative pathways that will improve lives. She serves as Vice Chair on the Joint Committee on Export Development; she also serves on the Joint Committee on Ways & Means, the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, and the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight.
Economic development creates more opportunities for workers and businesses in our community for today and tomorrow. I will support policies that will bring more businesses to the South Shore, which means more jobs and revenue to keep our economy sustainable. Strengthening our economy allows us to help reign in escalating increases in real estate taxes, better fund quality education for our children, and invest in our local infrastructure.
I owned a small business with over a dozen employees for ten years, so I understand the difficulties of starting and growing a company. Government needs to reduce those difficulties, not create more of them. Bringing businesses to the South Shore requires investments and tax policies that prime our area for business and workforce development. In this vein, I will support targeted funding for infrastructure, housing, and workforce development. Furthermore, education grant programs to train students for skilled work in new economic sectors help attract more businesses to our area. By taking these steps, we can lessen the tax burden on homeowners and create sustainable work opportunities for our community.
It certainly goes without saying that the pandemic has had a devastating effect on the small businesses community in our district. I am in frequent communication with the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce to relay information and answer questions and provide resources for support. And I was pleased to secure $100,000 for the Kingston Business Association to help with recovery efforts.
As your State Representative, I will advocate for long-term support of programs such as the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, Community Development Block Grants, Downtown Initiative Grants, and Economic Development Fund Community Grant and work to ensure that Duxbury, Halifax, Kingston, Middleboro, Plymouth, and Plympton can utilize these sources of funding.
I am the proud parent of public school students. My children have attended high-quality schools and learned from some of the nation’s best teachers. Our strong public schools are the key to the success of all Massachusetts students, so I will fight for policies that ensure Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in public education. And because today’s students are tomorrow’s professionals, bolstering our education system is the single greatest step we can take for the long-term strength of the Massachusetts economy.
The Foundation Budget formula, which calculates annually the minimum each district should spend on K-12 education, is sorely out of date. Rising costs of health care and special education mean the state is drastically underestimating the funding needs of our schools. When this happens, our students lack the tools they need to thrive academically, and our towns must pick up the burden by raising taxes. I will advocate for changes to the formula to make sure our schools have the funding they need to prepare all of our students to be informed participants in our society and workforce.
Additionally, we need to ensure that our schools always remain safe. I support state funding for School Resource Officer programs to keep our schools free of drugs and violence. Our children deserve the chance to focus on learning to their highest potential and should not have to worry about their safety in school.
Effectively preparing our students for the future starts before they even enter elementary school. Unfortunately, the rising costs of childcare and pre-school make these crucial years of child development financially out of reach for too many families. In high school, our students must have opportunities to prepare for jobs in a changing world. Technological developments—from automation to green technology—signal big changes to come in the global economy and we must prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow.
The opioid epidemic is the greatest public health crisis we face. As a community, we must unite to help those struggling with addiction and educate the next generation to prevent drug use. At its core, this epidemic is about our neighbors, our communities, and our families. With children moving in with relatives or foster parents because so many parents struggle with addiction, the epidemic threatens the fabric of our community for generations to come. I will advocate for a comprehensive solution to combat this crisis today and prevent drug abuse going forward.
Education: I will advocate to expand comprehensive drug education in our public schools. Helping today’s students understand the dangers of drug use is the best way to prevent addiction in the next generation. Effective education starts with safe schools.
Prevention: Preventing addiction begins with the medical professionals who serve patients in pain. I support comprehensive pain management guidelines to prevent over-prescription and ensure we manage pain responsibly.
Treatment: We cannot arrest, adjudicate, or stigmatize our way through this crisis—that strategy has failed. I support funding to expand access to long-term, comprehensive treatment. By building these programs, we can rebuild communities and help addicts and their families regain control of their lives.
Improving access to high-quality mental health services is critical to the wellness of people of all ages. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation for so many of our neighbors. Lost opportunities and connections, drastic changes to lifestyle, and the death of loved ones has many of us grieving something. Suicide is on the rise, and addiction issues have escalated. I was pleased to host a five-part Mental Health Series on PACTV this spring that addressed many of these issues, and I was honored to be named Legislator of the Year by the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association earlier this year.
At the State House, I will work toward increased access to telehealth services that have been a crucial touchpoint during this challenging time. I will also advocate for better mental health counseling services for our first responder community.
My husband, Mike, has served as a Kingston Police Officer for 12 years and was with the NYPD during the 9/11 terrorist attack and its aftermath. I understand firsthand the sacrifices of those who devote their lives to protecting our communities. As a former personal trainer, I helped prepare many local firefighters for duty. First responders consistently put themselves at risk to save lives and keep us safe, and it is our duty to support their work.
For me, that means advocating on Beacon Hill for high-quality training and better healthcare for first responders. Police officers and firefighters face immediate risks every day, and they often deal with long-term health problems because of their work. I applaud Governor Baker and the Legislature for the recent law designating cancer as a work-related injury. This means that first responders, particularly firefighters, will receive coverage for the care they need.
Properly covering work-related injuries is the least we can do. By allocating more funding to healthcare and training, we can make sure that first responders receive the support they deserve both on and off the job. As challenges to public health and public safety mount, properly training and funding our emergency services departments is one of the most important steps we can take to protect our community.
By embracing this approach to public safety, we can ensure that those who serve our communities have our support. I will advocate for them because I know that protecting our first responders is key to protecting everyone in our community.
Racial inequality in this country dates back hundreds of years to our founding. While we have made good progress toward racial justice under the law, systemic racism still exists throughout our society and we have a ways to go to reach true equality for all. Black Americans and People of Color have faced barriers to the economy, to housing, to education, and to voting access. Massachusetts, and more specifically the 12th Plymouth district, is not immune to systemic racism and there are many unfair barriers that People of Color must overcome each and every day.
On Beacon Hill, I will advocate for and work to create a more equitable Massachusetts. A study done by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston ("The Color of Wealth in Boston", 2015) found that non-immigrant black households in our very own Boston have a median net worth of $8, while white households nationally have a median net worth of $247,500. We must work to bridge the wealth gap between black and white households, while understanding that the problem lay not with Black Bostonians, but with the systemic barriers they face every day. Increasing economic opportunities for African Americans means creating access to better, affordable housing as well as access to high quality education, both in elementary and secondary education as well as higher education.
I will fight to ensure that our ballot boxes remain open and available to all. Many voter suppression tactics are aimed at keeping Black Americans away from the polls. Not only will I oppose all measures to suppress votes, I will support legislation that enhances voting rights and makes it easier for all legal citizens to vote in elections. Voting is the most fundamental right we have as citizens, and no citizen should be turned away for any reason. On a personal level, I will be working to further educate myself on how systemic racism persists at many levels as I strive to become a better, more informed ally to the Black community, and will represent them with sincerity, honesty and integrity.
Climate change is a threat to our neighborhoods, our wallets, and our planet. We see the impacts throughout our community. Rising sea levels are driving up flood insurance rates, ocean acidification threatens our local shellfishing industry, coastal erosion threatens our barrier beaches and our watersheds. In the face of Federal inaction and reductions in regulations we must lead at the state level.
I applaud the decision of the Massachusetts legislature and Gov. Baker to uphold the Paris Climate Accord and I support continued investments in clean energy and pollution reduction policies that will put Massachusetts on track to cut greenhouse emissions by 80% in 2050. By taking these steps, we can ensure Massachusetts becomes a national leader in the journey towards a greener future. Investing in safe energy means we can guarantee that our air is clean and our community continues to thrive on the Massachusetts coast for generations to come. Green energy also means green jobs. By making these investments, we will create valuable, long-term jobs to ensure Massachusetts workers have sustainable opportunities in the changing environmental and economic climate.
Locally, the responsible use of our lakes and waterways is vital to our community’s well-being. Brockton’s overreliance on Silver Lake has caused dangerously low water levels in the lake and unsafe algae blooms in nearby Monponsett Pond. While progress has been made with Brockton's signing of a new Administrative Consent Order (ACO) in 2017, the enforcement of those regulations on their water management practices will be among my top priorities, and I will advocate for further state funding as needed to combat toxic algae in Monponsett Pond.
I am the proud daughter of a veteran of the United States Navy. My dad taught me firsthand about the sacrifices made by those who serve our country, and his example has inspired my involvement in public and community service throughout my life. My son, Nick, is carrying on his legacy as he serves in the Army overseas now.
I am grateful to all military service members and veterans for their sacrifices and efforts to keep our country safe and free, particularly in today’s troubling world. Our veterans deserve the highest quality care and support after they are discharged. Massachusetts has been a leader in the nation for veterans' benefits, and as your State Representative, I will continue to advocate for those who have fought for our country by supporting facilities and programs that are well-funded, modern, and safe.
For several years, I have volunteered regularly for the Council on Aging and Meals on Wheels. Working with seniors has heightened my awareness of the many challenges that older members of our community face, from balancing expenses on a fixed income to rapidly rising healthcare costs. Throughout their lives, our seniors have built and sustained our communities, and each time I meet with them, I learn so much by listening to their experiences. Our parents and grandparents have cared for us, and it is our duty to care for them.
With growing reports of elder abuse and rising costs of healthcare, I know our state government must continue to work on behalf of our seniors. As your State Representative, I will support expanded access to affordable health care for all seniors, and funding for care to the elderly will be one of my top priorities as I look at the state budget. Our seniors have worked hard for our communities, and I am working hard for them.
I support the efforts of the Massachusetts legislature and Gov. Baker to ensure that state laws protect women’s healthcare and reproductive freedom, and I will advocate for policies that improve availability and access to these vital services for all women. With upcoming changes in the Supreme Court that could mean even greater threats to women’s rights and economic protections, the stakes are higher than ever. We need strong leaders in the State House to continue pushing our state forward in this area.
The Massachusetts Office of Economic Empowerment reports that women in Massachusetts make 82 cents on the dollar compared to men. We can do better; we must do better. Regardless of income or type of work, all women need to be safe from harassment in the workplace, and all women deserve an equal opportunity to advance. The paid family leave legislation passed in June is a significant step towards protecting women, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for women in the face of new economic and social challenges.
An innovative, affordable higher education system is vital to Massachusetts’ future as an economic leader. But students and their families worry more and more each year about how to pay for college. Tuition and fees at Massachusetts Universities have increased significantly since 2009. In the 2015-2016 academic year, 73% of graduates from Massachusetts public colleges and universities had taken out loans, and the amount borrowed has risen substantially since 2004. The financial effects of student debt last for decades. Graduates must devote financial resources to paying down debt, so they wait longer to buy homes, start families, and open businesses. As college debt can frequently take decades to pay off, families struggle to plan for retirement and fund their own children’s education. The result is a drain on our economy and fewer opportunities for future generations.
I will advocate for increases in funding to our public colleges and universities and state scholarship programs. To address current debt, I will advocate for programs that encourage employers to help their workers with debt assistance programs. By implementing these two solutions, we can help Massachusetts families pay for college and pave a path to financial stability for past and future graduates.
Massachusetts has the best K-12 public schools in the nation, but since 2008, a growing number of our high school graduates have chosen to attend college out-of-state. Building a strong economy in Massachusetts requires making sure the bright minds of tomorrow don’t take their talents out of state when they graduate from high school. By increasing investment in our colleges and universities and making higher education more affordable, we can keep the innovators of tomorrow here in Massachusetts today to carry our state forward.