Statements, Op-Eds, & LTEs

Senate Healthcare Bill Overview

Cindy Friedman

On Thursday, the Senate passed the HEALTH Act (S.2202) by a vote of 33-6. The bill focuses on both short and long term goals to lower costs, improve outcomes, and expand access to care.

Key elements of the legislation include:

  • More effective care delivery, including increased access to telemedicine and mobile integrated health services.
  • Strategies for reducing avoidable hospital readmissions and unnecessary emergency department use, including measures to improve access to behavioral health services.
  • Greater provider versatility, including expanded scope of practice for many practitioners including dental therapists, optometrists, podiatrists, and advanced practice nurses.
  • Greater oversight and transparency in drug costs. Opportunity for lower costs through bulk purchasing arrangements, including a multistate drug purchasing consortium.

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Statement on Bail Reform Provisions included in S.2185

Cindy Friedman

I am in strong support of the bail reform provisions included in the Senate’s comprehensive criminal justice bill, S.2185 – An Act relative to criminal justice reform.

Under our current cash-based bail system, we incarcerate too many individuals before their trial – not because they are likely to flee or pose a danger to society, but because they are poor and unable to afford their cash bail. A person’s freedom should never be based on their ability to pay.

The Supreme Judicial Court’s (SJC) recent decision in the Brangan case, which states that a court may not impose excessive cash bail that the court knows a person is unable to pay without a formal written or oral finding, is a significant step in the right direction. However, this decision alone does not address the full range of problems created by the Commonwealth’s reliance on a cash-based bail system.

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EMILY’s List Endorses Cindy Friedman for State Senate

Cindy Friedman

Emily's List

Statement of EMILY’s List Endorsing Cindy Friedman for State Senator in the 4th Middlesex District

Cindy Friedman is a dedicated public servant who will be ready to lead on the issues of criminal justice and mental health the moment she steps back into the Massachusetts State​h​ouse as Senator Friedman​.

Behind the scenes, she has been a tireless advocate for the women and families of Arlington, ​​Billerica, Burlington, Woburn and Lexington, and EMILY’s List is excited to support Cindy Friedman as she continues to fight for them as ​s​tate ​s​enator.

– Geri Prado EMILY’s List senior director of state and local campaigns

 

Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Endorse Cindy Friedman

Cindy Friedman

Below is a statement submitted to the Friedman campaign on behalf of the Mass Retirees prior to the special primary election on June 27th:

Mass Retirees logoDear Candidate Friedman:

On behalf of the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association, we take great pride in endorsing your candidacy for the 4th Middlesex Senatorial District, a seat formerly held by the late Senator Ken Donnelly.

As you know, we lost a very good friend with Senator Donnelly’s passing. He will always be remembered by us as one of our most ardent supporters and defenders in the State House. While Senator Donnelly’s shoes will be difficult to fill, his path must certainly be followed and his remarkable legacy continued.

Read the full statement here

Massachusetts Must Respond to the Paris Accord Withdrawal

Cindy Friedman

“I’m shocked and disappointed by the President’s decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Not only will this damage our environment on a colossal level, it will also put the jobs of those working in the clean energy industry at risk. Now more than ever, we have to come together as activists, communities, and legislators to preserve and protect our planet because, as many of us say: “There is no Planet B.”

Friedman submitted an Op-Ed to the press in response to President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement, consisting of initiatives she believes Massachusetts must act on to protect the environment.

View the Op-Ed via the Lexington Patch here

Donnelly family endorses Cindy Friedman in a letter to district residents

Cindy Friedman

“We are reaching out to you today to ask you to join our family, as well as thousands of your friends and neighbors, in casting your vote on Tuesday, June 27 for Cindy Friedman as our next State Senator in the special primary election to succeed our husband and father — the late Senator Ken Donnelly.

Ken loved serving the people of the 4th Middlesex district with all of his heart and soul, and nobody did more for the past decade to help him do his job than Cindy.

Working as his Chief of Staff, Cindy partnered with Ken to tackle the issues that face our district and our state. The thousands of hours Ken and Cindy spent together working on behalf of the people of the 4th Middlesex district, the thousands of hours they invested to move Ken’s agenda forward, and the thousands of hours they dedicated to helping individuals navigate the often overwhelming state bureaucracy are just three of the many reasons we as a family are voting for Cindy and are urging you to do the same.”

Read the full letter from the Donnelly family here