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Marjorie Decker

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Marjorie Decker
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 25th Middlesex district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 7, 2013
Preceded byAlice Wolf
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBahij Bandar
Children2
Parent(s)Catherine Curley Decker
Tim Decker [1]
ResidenceCambridge, Massachusetts
Alma materUniversity of Massachusetts (B.A.)
University of Massachusetts (M.P.A)
Harvard University (M.A.)
OccupationLegislator

Marjorie C. Decker is an American politician serving as the State Representative for the 25th Middlesex district in the Massachusetts General Court.[2] She is also House chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health.[3] Since 2016, she has also been employed by the class action law firm Berman Tabacco.[4]

In 2024, she faced a primary challenge from Evan MacKay, a labor leader and graduate student at Harvard University. Hand recount results indicated that Decker narrowly defeated MacKay.[5]

Early life and education

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Decker was born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is a third generation Cantabrigian. Her father was a disabled Vietnam war veteran who worked as a security guard, while her mother was a nursing assistant.[3] She grew up in public housing in Cambridgeport, and graduated from the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.

Decker received her Bachelor of Arts in social thought and political economy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, an MPA from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a Master of Science from the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University in 2007.[citation needed]

Political Career

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She served seven consecutive terms on the Cambridge City Council in Cambridge, Massachusetts[6] from 1999 to 2013 and was the youngest woman ever to be elected to the Cambridge City Council, and served as Vice Mayor from 2004-2006.[7]

In 2012, she was elected as a state representative to the Massachusetts legislature, succeeding her former employer Alice Wolf.[8] She is the co-chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health.[9] Decker has written legislation[citation needed] to ban toxic chemicals in firefighter protective gear, which was signed into law.[1] She has also sponsored a bill which has not yet passed for the transition the commonwealth to 100 per cent clean energy for electricity by 2035.[10]

H. 4773 Maternal Health Bill

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As lead House negotiator,[11] Decker developed legislation to create resources on maternal health, which was signed by the Governor in August 2024.[12] The maternal health bill expands access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital births, and bill mandates insurance coverage for midwifery services while expanding MassHealth coverage to services for pregnancy and post-partum care including doula services. The bill also regulates freestanding birth centers, and mandates postpartum depression screenings and data collection on pregnancy loss.[13][14]

Police Accountability Legislation

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In 2018, Decker co-authored legislation aimed at closing a loophole in Massachusetts law to ensure that police officers cannot claim consensual sexual conduct with individuals in their custody. The proposal seeks to eliminate ambiguity regarding consent in such situations, which would align state law with zero-tolerance federal policies. This initiative followed high-profile cases where officers were accused of sexual misconduct.[15]

2024 Democratic Primary Challenge

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In 2024, she faced a primary challenge from Evan MacKay, a graduate student in Sociology at Harvard University. Official recount results from the Cambridge Election Commission indicated that Decker defeated MacKay by 41 votes.[5]

Endorsements

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She has received the endorsement of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, the Teamsters, and more than a dozen other labor unions.[16][17][18], as well as the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus.[19] A majority of Cambridge City Council members have signed an opinion letter endorsing her, describing her as a "trusted partner".[20]

She received the endorsements of Governor Maura Healey, Senator Ed Markey, and local Congressional Representatives Katherine Clark and Ayanna Pressley.[21][22][23][24]

In August 27, she received the endorsement of The Boston Globe.[25]

Notable criticisms and disputes

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Opposition to committee roll call amendment

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House rules currently require committee votes to be kept at the State House in the committees' respective offices and available for public inspection during regular office hours. An amendment to make committee roll call votes available on the Legislature's website has been proposed and voted down along party lines since 2011.[26][27][28][29] Decker voted against such amendments in 2018,[30] 2019[31] Roll call vote, and 2021[32] Roll call vote in the annual Massachusetts House rules bill. All amendments failed to pass a large majority, with the 2021 vote failing by a vote of 41-117.

In 2022, a non-binding ballot question organized by her later political opponent[33] was presented to voters in her district, asking whether their representative should support changes to House rules to make each legislator's committee vote available on the Legislature's website. 94.2% of voters in Decker's district supported the measure.

In 2024, Decker said that committee votes "should be online".[34]

Memorial Drive closure controversy

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In 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) expanded Riverbend Park along Memorial Drive in Cambridge to include Saturdays.[35] After considerable public debate and a Cambridge City Council vote in support of expanded hours,[36] the DCR limited the park space to Sundays only in April 2023.[37] In June 2023, Decker emailed constituents, stating, "I have not ever publicly or privately advocated against Saturday closings."[38]

However, emails released as part of a Freedom of Information Act request in July 2023 appeared to contradict this account. In a March 25 email, Rebecca Tepper, Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, noted a "falling out" between Decker and fellow Representative Mike Connolly, who supported the extended closures. Tepper twice described Decker as "staunchly opposed" to the Saturday closures and indicated that Decker had "reiterated her position that she was opposed to the park and hoped that none of her colleagues would attempt to force this on her district."[39]

This incident was covered in multiple episodes of a Cambridge Community Television program 'What's that about?'.[2][3][4] Following these revelations, Decker publicly denied the claims, stating on X (formerly Twitter): "The email from Secretary Tepper does not, and never has, reflect my current position or any position I have articulated in the past. The fact is that I have never stated any personal opposition to the closure of Memorial Drive on Saturdays."[40]

Berman Tabacco

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Since 2016, Decker has worked for the class action law firm Berman Tabacco, which paid her over $100,000 annually.[4] Decker has not commented on the nature of the employment since it was revealed through a public records request in 2024,[4] brushing off criticism about the second job and explaining that she is producing sufficiently for her constituents.[5] Decker's opponents have cited the employment as a potential conflict of interest.[41]

Personal life

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Decker lives with her husband and two children in Cambridge.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Obituary: Timothy J. Decker" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, April 17, 2012
  2. ^ Galvin, William Francis. "Return of Votes For Massachusetts State Election 2012" (PDF). Boston Globe. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b Dumcius, Gintautas (2024-08-27). "In Cambridge rep race, a liberal showdown". CommonWealth Beacon. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  4. ^ a b c Flannelly, Sean (2024-08-19). "Between state rep salary and pay at law firm, Decker's take-home is highest in delegation". Cambridge Day. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  5. ^ a b Recount returns Rep. Decker to State House, Cambridge Day, Marc Levy, September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  6. ^ Cambridge, City of. "Cambridge City Council Members". Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Vote Smart | Facts For All". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  8. ^ Levy, Marc, "Decker wins (unofficial) 84 percent in state rep primary; it's Rogers in the 24th, Curtatone as register", Cambridge Day, Thursday, September 6, 2012
  9. ^ Kunitz, Allison (2024-06-26). "State House Unanimously Approves Maternal Health Bill". The Boston Globe.
  10. ^ Decker, Marjorie. "Bill H.3689 - An Act transitioning Massachusetts to clean electricity, heating and transportation". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  11. ^ "Maternal health bill headed to Healey's desk". Greenfield Recorder. 2024-08-18. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  12. ^ Kunitz, Allison (2024-06-26). "State House Unanimously Approves Maternal Health Bill". The Boston Globe.
  13. ^ "Bill H.4773". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  14. ^ "Governor Healey Signs Maternal Health Bill, Expanding Access to Midwifery, Birth Centers and Doulas in Massachusetts". mass.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  15. ^ "Bill would bar police from claiming sexual contact with anyone in custody is consensual". Boston Globe. 2018-03-25. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  16. ^ "Marjorie Decker", Blue Voter Guide
  17. ^ https://x.com/massaflcio/status/1827023460222054721 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ^ Teamsters Local 25. "#Teamsters Local 25 is proud to endorse Marjorie Decker for State Representative, a proven leader for working families".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Vargas, Andy. "We know @MarjorieDecker is a fighter for working people and she has the receipts to prove it. She fights for equity, but more importantly, builds coalitions to realize it via legislation signed into law. Members of the Black and Latino Caucus proudly support her".
  20. ^ "City councilors back colleague Decker for reelection to Legislature on Sept. 3". Cambridge Day. 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  21. ^ Dumcius, Gintautas (2024-08-27). "In Cambridge rep race, a liberal showdown". CommonWealth Beacon. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  22. ^ Pressley, Ayanna. "@MarjorieDecker has delivered for her constituents on issues of real consequence, including gun violence prevention, maternal health, addressing poverty, and housing".
  23. ^ "In Harvard's Backyard, A State Representative Fights For Her Political Life". The Harvard Crimson. August 30, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  24. ^ Maura Healey & Kim Driscoll Endorse Marjorie Decker.
  25. ^ "In Cambridge race, Globe endorses Marjorie Decker for state representative". The Boston Globe. August 27, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  26. ^ Publishing, Nashoba (2015-01-30). "Beacon Hill Roll Call". Nashoba Valley Voice. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  27. ^ Sentinel; Contributor, Enterprise; Sentinel; Enterprise (2011-01-24). "Legislators vote on rules-change proposals". Sentinel and Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-09-06. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  28. ^ CALL, BOB KATZEN BEACON HILL ROLL (2013-01-27). "Rules votes divided along party lines". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  29. ^ "Beacon Hill Roll Call". Alliance Review. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  30. ^ "Order H.2019". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  31. ^ "Order H.2019". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  32. ^ "Order H.68". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  33. ^ Dumcius, Gintautas (2024-08-27). "In Cambridge rep race, a liberal showdown". CommonWealth Beacon. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  34. ^ "In Harvard's Backyard, A State Representative Fights For Her Political Life". The Harvard Crimson. August 30, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  35. ^ Levine, Julia (2024-02-06). "Opponents of Riverbend Park meet in Riverside with state official, demanding support on traffic". Cambridge Day. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  36. ^ "POR 2023 #33 That the City Manager is requested to confer with the appropriate departments and agencies to ensure the continuation of Riverbend Park closures on Saturdays and Sundays. - Cambridge City, MA". cambridgema.iqm2.com. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  37. ^ "It's Official: State 'Conservation' Agency Will Reduce Park Access to Bring Back Motor Vehicle Traffic - Streetsblog Massachusetts". mass.streetsblog.org. 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  38. ^ Gajda, Mike (2023-07-26). "Release of document trove about Riverbend Park raises questions on Decker account, DCR decision". Cambridge Day. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  39. ^ "Mass DCR / Riverbend Park 2023". MuckRock. 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  40. ^ https://x.com/MarjorieDecker/status/1684245083304996878. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  41. ^ MacKay, Evan (2024-08-24). "Challenger for State House seat on 'revelations about Rep. Marjorie Decker's second job'". Cambridge Day. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
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