Submitted by Rep. Ken Gordon (D) Bedford
Among a flurry of veto overrides on Wednesday, State Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) was especially proud to joined his House colleagues in striking out a few of Governor Charles Baker’s planned cuts that would have effected his district, iincluding restoration of funds for early childhood education, Middlesex Community College and the arts community.
Gordon voted to restore more than $2.3 million that was cut from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which funds local cultural counsels such as Bedford. These funds are distributed to local artists, musicians, performers, educators, scientists and others devoted to the culture in the area. “As a former chair of the Bedford Cultural Council, I consider it a priority to protect funding for this important aspect of our community,” said Gordon. “Along with adding to the distinction of our towns, I look it as an economic development priority. People come to Bedford, Burlington and Wilmington not for the weather, but for access to a trained workforce and the culture of our region.” The Senate was expected to join the House in supporting the override later in the day.
On the topic of education, Gordon was proud to restore $74,000 to the budget of Middlesex Community College. “Each time a new business opens in our towns, I ask the owner why he or she chose Bedford, Burlington or Wilmington,” said Gordon. “The answer always includes our educated workforce, including the middle-skill jobs where our community colleges are so important. If we cut funding to these schools, we send our economy into a downward spiral.”
Gordon joined a unanimous vote of the House to restore funding for full-day kindergarten programs, an increase of $17 million. We all know that the benefits of early childhood education are immeasurable. We will save our school systems substantial money if we invest in our children when they are at the earliest grades. This cut was unwarranted, and the unanimous vote of the House demonstrates it was not supported by members of either party,” said Gordon.
“After fighting for Bedford’s Military Mitigation Funding, I was proud to join my colleagues in protecting my district and the state from several of the Governor’s risky budget cuts” said Rep. Gordon.
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