John was born the fourth of seven children of Philip and Loretta Keenan. His father worked in the mailing room of the Record American, and then the Boston Herald, while his mother worked at Filene’s department store and then CNA Insurance. John was raised in Quincy and attended the Quincy Public Schools, graduating in 1982 from North Quincy High School. He went to Harvard University, earning his way through by working in the athletic department equipment room. He also worked the Saturday overnight shift at the Herald. John graduated with honors from Harvard in 1986, with a government concentration. Three years later, he graduated from Suffolk University Law School. A lifelong learner, in May 2019 John graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Masters in Public Administration.
Massachusetts cannot maintain an economy that allows full-time, adult workers to remain impoverished. Poverty is devastating to individuals and families, and costly to society in immeasurable ways.
I clearly remember the days when my father’s salary, as a middle class worker employed as a newspaper mailer, was sufficient to secure a stable livelihood and a healthy environment to raise a family of seven children. We have lost those days, with today’s wages leaving working adults still in poverty, still struggling to advance, and still creating heavy costs on public assistance programs – costs that are borne by every taxpayer.
I support policies to create stability and fairness among our working class and I am opposed to the outsourcing and privatization of essential public sector jobs. Last session, I was proud to vote in favor of paid family and medical leave, a $15 minimum wage, and the pregnant workers fairness act. I’m also proud to be part of an institution that has led the nation, with the strongest steps to date towards pay equity for women.
Providing for a decent wage and a fair tax system are the right things to do for our middle class individuals and families. As your State Senator, I will continue to advocate for the working class, and for an economy built on fairness and opportunity for every family.