Is Massachusetts planning to track how much you drive? A new bill sparks debate.
There's a mandate in Massachusetts to drastically reduce emissions. A new transportation bill to get the state there has lit up social media, with claims that lawmakers on Beacon Hill want to limit your driving.
As written, the bill aims to align the state's transportation plans "with its mandates and goals for reducing emissions and vehicle miles traveled." It's that last part that has some opponents concerned that the Commonwealth might track how much you drive.
Back in 2021, the state passed a law that requires Massachusetts reach zero emissions by 2050.
"It's not a goal. It's not wishful thinking. It is actually a law," said Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance executive director Paul Craney. "They have different metrics the state needs to meet or have to comply with."
Craney was one of the loudest critics of the bill currently being discussed at the Massachusetts State House.
"Ultimately what this is about is control and limiting transportation and if you do need to transport yourself, doing public transportation," Craney said. "Specifically, vehicles. Cars and trucks. What they are trying to do is put mechanisms in place to limit mobility."
"This bill doesn't impose restrictions"
"This bill does not do that," said Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem, a Democrat. She's a lead sponsor of the bill. Creem was on the receiving end of a majority of the backlash that followed a committee meeting earlier this year.
"This bill doesn't impose restrictions on how much Massachusetts residents can drive nor where they can drive. It doesn't include fines, penalties, taxes on personal vehicle use and it was never the intent of myself or any of the advocates to put any strain on a person's individual liberties."
Creem said the goal of the bill is to expand walking, biking, or train options for people in areas that don't have them, to get more cars and truck off the road. She said the language referring to "reducing vehicle miles" is a metric to keep the state in line with its zero emissions mandate.
"We can all kind of figure out where this is going," Craney said.
"It's really about options," Creem said. "It's not about telling people what to do. This is not big brother watching you. This is the little guy and the little woman having choices, so it's the opposite of that."
What's next?
The bill has not reached a committee and is expected to undergo several rounds of edits.
