9-29-2024 4:47am

Beacon Hill Roll Call

Alan Earls Editor

If you have any questions about this
week's report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at
(617) 720-1562.

Beacon
Hill Roll Call

Volume
49 - Report No. 39

September
23-27, 2024

By
Bob Katzen

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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no
roll calls in the House and Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill
Roll Call reports on the number of times each representative sided
with Gov. Maura Healey on her 20 vetoes of state budget items in the
2024 legislative session.

A two-thirds vote is required to
override a gubernatorial veto. In a full 160-member House, the
governor needs the support of 54 representatives to sustain a veto
when all 160 representatives vote—and fewer votes when some members
are absent or a seat is vacant. Healey fell far short of that goal as
25 votes was the most support she received on any veto. The House
easily overrode all 20 vetoes.

No Democrats voted with Healey to
sustain any vetoes. All 133 voted to override all the vetoes.

Of the 25 Republican members, only
two voted with Healey 100 percent of the time to sustain the vetoes:
Reps. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) and Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica).

The two GOP members who supported
Healey the least number of times were Reps. David Vieira (R-Falmouth)
and Kelly Pease (R-Westfield) who each voted with Healey only six
times (30 percent of the time).

NUMBER
OF TIMES REPRESENTATIVES SUPPORTED GOV. HEALEY’S VETOES IN THE 2024
SESSION

Here is how your representative
fared in his or her support of Gov. Healey on the vetoes.

The percentage next to the
representative’s name represents the percentage of times that he or
she supported Healey. The number in parentheses represents the actual
number of times the representative supported Healey.

Rep.
Jeffrey Roy 0 percent (0)

ALSO
UP ON BEACON HILL

USE INTEREST FROM STATE’S “RAIN
DAY FUND” TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDS (S 2954) - Gov. Maura Healey
signed into law legislation that would leverage the interest from the
state's Rainy Day Fund to better compete for federal dollars, to
ensure the state receives the maximum possible share of federal funds
and to pay down the state’s long term debt liabilities. The Rainy
Day Fund currently has a historic balance of $8.2 billion.

Supporters said the bill would
require the state comptroller to transfer interest from the Rainy Day
Fund to the Commonwealth Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund on
a quarterly basis if the Rainy Day balance contains a healthy amount
of money. The Secretary of Administration and Finance would then
pursue federal funds for infrastructure, resiliency and economic
development.

“From day one of our
administration, we’ve been committed to competing aggressively to
win more federal investments in Massachusetts," said Gov.
Healey. "We know that every federal dollar we pull in is vital
to repairing our bridges and roads, improving transportation
infrastructure in all parts of the state, leading the clean energy
revolution, and supporting our workforce at every step. With this
legislation, we will be able to provide unprecedented tools for our
communities to seek the federal support they need.”

“We are constantly competing with
49 other states for our share of limited federal dollars,” said
Rep. Matt Muratore (R-Plymouth). “Leveraging the interest on our
Rainy Day Fund will give us a significant advantage by better
positioning Massachusetts to successfully secure much-needed federal
dollars that will help pay for a wide range of infrastructure
projects.”

“This legislation puts
Massachusetts in a position to take full advantage of federal grant
opportunities to ensure we don’t leave a single dollar on the
table,” said Sen. John Cronin (D-Fitchburg). “This bill will help
our commonwealth partner with the federal government to meet our
challenges and build for the future.”

“Remaining competitive, equitable
and affordable as a commonwealth means thinking creatively about our
state’s finances and seizing opportunities,” said Senate
President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “We have been fiscally prudent
in building up the largest rainy day fund in Massachusetts’
history, and with the governor’s signature, our communities will
now be able to leverage our robust interest earnings to compete for
federal dollars to fund transformative projects.

FOSTER HOMES AND DOGS (H 4911) –
The Senate approved a House-approved bill that prohibits the
Department of Children and Families (DCF) from prohibiting placement
of a child in a foster home solely based on the presence of any
specific breed of dog in the home. The bill also updates animal
cruelty and abuse reporting regulation for human services employees
or contractors.

Supporters said that currently, DCF
is allowed to prohibit placement of a child in a home with German
Shepherds, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers.

“This legislation will open the
door for seemingly countless additional families to potentially
become foster families addressing the great need for emergency,
short-term and permanent supportive housing for the commonwealth’s
children,” said sponsor Rep. Jack Lewis (D-Framingham). “From my
work as the co-chair of the bipartisan Protecting Animal Welfare
Caucus and my own personal experience of becoming a pre-adoptive
foster parent, I know the power of this legislation.”

The bill needs final approval in the
House and Senate before it goes to Gov. Healey for her signature.

$12.4 MILLION FOR ROAD SAFETY –
The Healey administration announced it has awarded some $12.4 million
in federal traffic safety funds for programs to promote safer roads
in across the state.

“These programs, taken together,
represent a holistic approach to addressing road safety concerns,”
said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “No one agency or approach can resolve
these issues, but the combination of prevention, enforcement,
education and outreach initiatives funded through these grants will
ensure safer roads for all in Massachusetts.”

“The initiatives funded through
these grant programs will ensure that drivers in communities across
the state are better informed and safer behind the wheel,” said
Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “These grants
promote strong partnerships between nonprofits, community members and
public safety officials. Those relationships are key to our public
safety strategy.”

$5 MILLION FOR FIREFIGHTER SAFETY
GRANTS – The Healey administration announced that $5 million in
grant are available to support the purchase of firefighter turnout
gear, fire suppression equipment, and other related items by local
cities and towns.

“Modern firefighters do much more
than fight fires,” said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. “They
perform technical rescues, mitigate the release of hazardous
materials and treat traumatic injuries. Many of their day-to-day
activities expose them to carcinogens and other health hazards. These
grants give local fire departments the flexibility to purchase the
safety equipment that will best serve their needs, from small rural
towns to large urban areas. It’s an investment in the safety of our
firefighters and all our communities.”

QUOTABLE
QUOTES

"I was a little bit outraged by
the fact that her opponent declared himself the winner when he knew
there were ballots that had to be counted.”

---House Speaker Ron Mariano
(D-Quincy) commenting on a statement on primary election night on
September 3 by challenger Evan MacKay declaring a 40-vote victory
over incumbent Rep. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge). After all the
ballots were counted, Decker in fact was declared the winner.

"We're outlining and preparing
our final draft framework with an internal working team. We are
targeting before the end of the year for the public presentation.
Then we'll engage in the promulgation process and continue ongoing
outreach."

---Acting Cannabis Control
Commission Chair Bruce Stebbins announcing the progress the
commission has made in establishing the rules that will govern
creation of cannabis cafes where adults could use marijuana together
in a social setting.

“Johnny Appleseed may be one of
the most enigmatic figures in American history. People near and far
from his Leominster birthplace, know of his journey. Those treks not
only included planting apple seedlings for pioneers but also the
spreading of his religious beliefs and minimalist lifestyle. One of
America’s most unusual characters, Johnny Appleseed’s legacy
speaks to us today as a gentle reminder of slowing down, consuming
only what is necessary, and remaining steadfast in one’s personal
beliefs despite popular opinion.”

---Mark Bodanza, historian and
author of “Johnny Appleseed – the Man Behind the Folklore,” on
commemorating the 250th birthday of John Chapman, known as Johnny
Appleseed, who was born in the city of Leominster on September 26,
1774.

“Our shared history and traditions
should be on full display here at the State House, where we are
celebrating the strength and culture of our Hispanic and Latino
community in Massachusetts. These pieces will enrich the experience
of thousands of visitors who come to the State House to see our
shared roots on display.”

---Gov. Maura Healey hosting a
celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month, at which she unveiled a
temporary art installment by Hispanic and Latino artists living in
Massachusetts.

HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION?

Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the
length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week.
Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of
the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done
outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs
also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other
matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the
Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote
in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have
been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of
sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions
and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately
preceding the end of an annual session.

During the week of Sept.23-27, the
House met for a total of 16 minutes and the Senate met for a total of
20 minutes.

Mon.
Sept. 23 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.

Senate 11:26 a.m. to
11:32 a.m.

Tues.
Sept. 24 No House session

No Senate session

Wed.
Sept. 25 No House session

No Senate session

Thurs.
Sept 26 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:08 a.m.

Senate 11:20 a.m. to
11:34 a.m.

Fri.
Sept. 27 No House session

No Senate session

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at
bob@beaconhillrollcall.com