Marie-Frances Rivera
President
Marie-Frances Rivera is President at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.
Marie-Frances is leading MassBudget at a time when the people of Massachusetts are reimaging ways to achieve a truly equitable and inclusive economy and society. Her experience guiding powerful, multidisciplinary teams around a collective vision and action is transforming the organization and policy discussions in Massachusetts. Under her leadership, the organization continues to build bridges and partnerships with community leaders, elected officials, labor and business leaders to ensure state policy helps achieve equitable outcomes for all.
Marie-Frances, a native of New Bedford, MA and of Afro-Boricua descent, joined MassBudget in 2014. The daughter of an immigrant mother, she grew up in public housing, attended public schools, and deeply understands the need to invest in the public good – so children and families can thrive.
Her professional experiences in the non-profit and philanthropic sectors have grounded her in the power that race-forward policy research can have when coupled with authentic civic engagement to move the needle on racial and economic justice issues.
Marie-Frances has written on tax policy and other economic issues. She earned a master’s degree in Law and Public Policy from Northeastern University and has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Babson College.
Recent
Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward for the Children and Families of Massachusetts
Data describing our communities document that opportunity is not equally available to children and families across the Commonwealth. While effective public policy removes obstacles along the road to opportunity, good jobs play a central role in paving that road. Yet economic policies have allowed wages to stagnate, and important work support programs and other essential benefits that allow children and families to thrive are at risk, especially as a result of recent federal policy.
Statement on the Senate Ways and Means Budget Proposal
The state budget process continues on as the Senate Ways and Means Committee (SWM) released its proposal for the State budget today. With recent news that year-to-date tax revenue collections are lower than expected, the Senate grapples with hard choices about the Commonwealth’s priorities.
Statement on the House Budget
The final House version of the budget, at $56.2 billion, is $154 million larger than the Governor’s proposal. It includes notable amendments to the House Ways and Means proposal, but remains similar at its core.
Statement on the House Ways and Means Budget Proposal
While this proposal includes some important investments and policies, both it and the Governor’s proposal are limited by a set of proposed regressive tax cuts.
Statement on the House Tax Reform Bill
Meaningful credits for working families mixed with benefits solely for the wealthy – MassBudget reacts to House of Representatives’ recently released tax proposal.
Testimony to the Joint Committee on Revenue on the Governor’s Tax Proposals
Testimony presented to the Joint Committee on Revenue on March 28, 2023, regarding Governor Healey’s tax proposals.
Memo to Governor Healey on Ways to Ensure Effective Implementation of the Fair Share Amendment
As Massachusetts voters have amended the state constitution to include a 4 percent surtax on taxable income over $1 million, MassBudget would like to offer policy suggestions to assist the Commonwealth in protecting this revenue and ensuring that it is directed to education and transportation, as specified in the amendment.
Fair Share: Best First Step to Building an Equitable Commonwealth
The passage of Questions 1 and 4 are powerful steps in the right direction for our communities, and the work continues.
We’re Not Out of the Woods Yet
“Yesterday, Senate President Karen Spilka rightfully noted the need to balance “targeted spending investments to a number of crucial areas, such as housing, childcare and …
House Budget Sets the Stage for Equity in Massachusetts
Statement by Marie-Frances Rivera, President of MassBudget, on the FY 2023 House budget released on April 27, 2022
