Beacon Hill Roll Call

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Beacon
Hill Roll Call

Volume
49 - Report No. 49

December
2-6, 2024

Copyright
© 2024 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.

By
Bob Katzen

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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill
Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from
budget vetoes by Gov. Maura Healey. There were no roll calls in the
House or Senate last week.

$3
MILLION FOR EDUCATION OF EARLY EDUCATORS (H 4800)

House 154-2, overrode Gov. Healey’s
veto of $3 million (reducing funding from $8 million to $5 million)
for a program that provides professional development and higher
education opportunities and supports for statewide recruitment and
training needs of early educators.

“I am reducing this item to the
amount projected to be necessary,” said Healey in her veto message.
"Due to substantial resources made available in this budget for
MassEducate, critical wrap-around supports for students and new early
educator scholarship and loan forgiveness programs, the portion of
funding vetoed here is no longer needed to meet the purpose of this
item.”

The Senate did not act on the veto
so the veto stands and the $3 million was eliminated.

(A “Yes” vote is for the $3
million. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep.
Jeffrey Roy Yes

$300,000
FOR UMASS CENTER IN SPRINGFIELD (H 4800)

House 134-24, overrode Gov. Healey’s
veto of the $300,000 for a reserve fund for the UMass Center in
Springfield, a satellite of UMass Amherst, where academic programming
is offered.

Healey said the veto brought the
budget for this line-item back in line with her fiscal 2025 budget
recommendation and what the administration understood to be necessary
for the operation of the center in fiscal 2025.

The Senate did not act on the veto
so the veto stands and the $300,000 was eliminated.

Sen. Adam Gomez and Reps. Carlos
Gonzalez and Orlando Ramos, the three legislators who represent
different parts of Springfield, did not respond to repeated requests
by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on the veto and
override by the House and why the Senate did not act on the override,
resulting in the loss of $300,000.

(A “Yes” vote is for the
$300,000. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep.
Jeffrey Roy Yes

ALSO
UP ON BEACON HILL

AUDIT THE LEGISLATURE – State
Auditor Diana DiZoglio sent a letter last week to top Beacon Hill
Democrats, including House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) and Senate
President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), demanding that they comply with
her plans for an audit of the Legislature. DiZoglio’s letter comes
after voters in November approved Ballot Question 1 asking them if
they favor allowing the state auditor to audit the Legislature.

“Our audit will cover all of the
topics we were unable to fully review in our previous audit, due to
your [earlier] refusal to participate in the audit process,” wrote
DiZoglio. “Our work will start with a review of high-risk areas,
such as state contracting and procurement procedures, the use of
taxpayer-funded nondisclosure agreements and a review of your balance
forward line item - including a review of all relevant financial
receipts and information.”

Mariano’s opposition to the audit
goes back several years. In March 2023, he said in a letter to
DiZoglio, “That your office has the legal authority to conduct an
audit of the General Court is a claim entirely without legal support
or precedent, as it runs contrary to multiple, explicit provisions of
the Massachusetts Constitution and is wholly unnecessary as the
public currently has full and ready access to the House's financial
information.”

A new debate began last week about
when the voter-approved law actually takes effect. DiZoglio at a
press conference said that it takes effect on Dec. 5, marking 30 days
from the November 5th election. Secretary of State Bill Galvin
disagrees and maintains the law takes effect on January 4th -- 30
days from the December 4 certification of the November election
results.

RAISE THE REQUIRED MINIMUM AUTO
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE AND BODILY INJURY (H 5100) –
The Senate adopted and sent to the House a Gov. Healey amendment
changing the effective date of a new law that increases the minimum
amount of liability auto insurance a driver must purchase, from
$5,000 for property damage to $30,000; and for bodily injury from
$20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident to $25,000/$50,000. The law
approved by the Legislature was scheduled to take effect immediately.
Healy’s amendment would delay the effective date to July 1, 2025.

Gov. Healey said she supports the
increases. “The current amounts have not been updated in over 30
years and the proposed increases would provide meaningful coverage
for those who experience personal injury or property damage due to a
motor vehicle accident,” said Healey. “But I also recognize that
the language as currently drafted would become effective immediately
upon my signature, providing insurance companies inadequate time for
implementation. Insurers must update current policies and submit new
forms and rates to the Commissioner of Insurance for review and
approval before implementing these changes. Based on feedback from
industry stakeholders, pushing out the effective date to July 1, 2025
will ensure that these changes take place in an orderly way.”

$294.8 MILLION FOR CLEAN WATER - The
Massachusetts Clean Water Trust approved $294.8 million in new
low-interest loans and grants to help communities build or replace
water infrastructure that enhances ground and surface water
resources.

Supporters said the funds will
ensures the safety of drinking water, protect public health and
develop resilient communities.

$5 MILLION TO PROTECT FOREST LANDS -
The Healey Administration announced more than $5 million in grants to
protect forest land which will be managed as reserves. These projects
are designed to fight climate change and allow forests to mature,
strengthening how these habitats store carbon. The grant program, a
result of the Forest as Climate Solutions Initiative, aims to
designate 10 percent of Massachusetts forests as reserves, where
active management is limited and natural processes play out.

“Forests are our best natural
carbon sinks,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary
Rebecca Tepper. “As trees age, they absorb and store more carbon
dioxide – crucial in helping us fight climate change. By supporting
community and land trust efforts to limit land conversion and
increase permanent land conservation, we are preserving forests for
generations to come.”

“Few things are more important
than protecting our environment, and I'm elated that our state is
preserving these beautiful pieces of land in Ashland and around the
entire commonwealth," said Senate President Karen Spilka
(D-Ashland).

TEACHER OF THE YEAR - Gov. Healey
announced that that Luisa Sparrow, a special education teacher for
fifth- and sixth-grade students at the Oliver Hazard Perry School in
South Boston, is the 2025 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year.

The Massachusetts Teacher of the
Year is the state’s top award for educators and annually recognizes
excellence in teaching across Massachusetts through the selection of
a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment and positive
contributions of educators statewide. The award is sponsored by
Wellpoint, a Woburn-based health benefits company which is giving a
$10,000 grant to Sparrow’s school.

“My mom was a school nurse and my
stepdad was a public school teacher, so I have a deep appreciation
for the incredible work that our educators and staff do day in and
day out for their students,” said Gov. Healey. “It was so special
to have the opportunity to congratulate and celebrate Ms. Sparrow
today for her commitment to creating an inclusive learning
environment that helps all of her students grow and succeed
together.”

“Ms. Sparrow is an example of the
exceptional educators we have in Massachusetts who go above and
beyond to support all of their students and foster an inclusive
learning environment,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler.
“It’s a pleasure to celebrate with her, her dedicated team,
students and school community today.”

“My students, just like all others
with significant disabilities, deserve the opportunity to learn
alongside their neurotypical peers not because they are able do
many of the same tasks, but simply because everyone deserves a chance
to belong,” Sparrow said upon accepting the award.

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE - The
Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care (Mass-Care)
announced the official results of its Question 6 (or 7), depending on
the district, which was on the November ballot in eleven state
representative districts. The question was approved in all eleven
districts with an average Yes vote of 64 percent.

The ballot question specifically
asked, “Shall the representative for this district be instructed to
vote for legislation to create a single-payer system of universal
health care that provides all Massachusetts residents with
comprehensive health care coverage including the freedom to choose
doctors and other health care professionals, facilities and services
and eliminates the role of insurance companies in health care by
creating an insurance trust fund that is publicly administered?”

UOTABLE
QUOTES

“As soon as we heard the news
about Trump's election, it really sent huge shockwaves through
immigrant communities. We heard in the days following the election
just so much fear. People are afraid of what's coming. They're
afraid, for some folks, that they could lose a status, that they
could be at risk for being arrested, potentially detained,
potentially deported and could be facing family separation.

--- Elizabeth Sweet, executive
director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy
Coalition (MIRA), in an interview with the State House News Service.

"Massachusetts residents have
been kept in the dark about the conditions within emergency housing
shelters for migrants. The shocking stories coming to light
underscore just one reason why the Healey-Driscoll Administration
needs to put an end to its open door policy welcoming migrants.”

---Mass GOP Chair Amy Carnevale on
reports that Jon Fetherston, the former Director of a Massachusetts
migrant shelter, has come forward as a whistleblower, exposing deeply
disturbing and inhumane incidents within the state’s emergency
shelter system.

“The survey’s findings highlight
just how prevalent speeding is, especially among drivers who take
other risks behind the wheel. Enforcement, community outreach and
education continue to be absolutely critical to curbing a wide range
of risky driving behaviors and ultimately lowering the number of
traffic crash fatalities in the U.S.”

---Mark Schieldrop, spokesperson for
AAA, on its study that a higher proportion of American drivers admit
to speeding, driving distracted and engaging in other risky behaviors
than those who steadfastly follow the rules of the road

“The latest revenue numbers offer
clear evidence that the ultra-wealthy are remaining in Massachusetts
and paying more in state taxes. Because the ultra-rich are finally
paying closer to their fair share of state taxes, Massachusetts can
afford to invest in the well-educated workforce and reliable
transportation system our economy depends on. Thanks to the voters
who amended our Constitution to establish a fairer tax system, we can
make Massachusetts more affordable for working families and start
building an economy that works for everyone."

--- Andrew Farnitano, spokesperson
for the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition, which led the campaign to
pass the 2022 ballot question which imposed an additional 4 percent
income tax, in addition to the flat 5 percent one, on taxpayers’
earnings of more than $1 million annually.

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 December 2-6, the
House met for a total of two hours and 53 minutes 37 minutes and the
Senate met for a total of two hours and 50 minutes.

.

Mon
Dec. 2 House 11:02 a.m. to 1:01 p.m.

Senate 11:01 a.m. to
1:09 p.m.

Tues.
Dec. 3 No House session

No Senate session

Wed.
Dec. 4 No House session

No Senate session

Thurs.
Dec. 5 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:56 a.m.

Senate 11:13 a.m. to
11:55 a.m.

Fri.
Dec. 6 No House session

No Senate session

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at
bob@beaconhillrollcall.com

Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in
1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press
Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019.