7-05-2026 4:21am

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.

Volume 51 - Report No. 27

June 29-July 3, 2026

By Bob Katzen

GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 30,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday and Saturday mornings with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications.

MASSterList will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Saturday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: www.massterlist.com

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives' votes on roll calls from the week of June 29-July 3.

$63.4 BILLION FISCAL 2027 STATE BUDGET (H 5555)

House 142-6, Senate 39-1, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a $63.4 billion fiscal 2027 conference committee version of a state budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2026. The House and Senate had approved different versions of the budget and a conference committee hammered out this compromise version. The price tag is 4 percent higher than last year’s package.

“Our budget is a chance each year to make life more affordable for residents while strengthening the public services we all rely on, including our schools and transit systems—and the Senate delivered for fiscal year 2027,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “As a longtime advocate for expanded public education from cradle to career, I am especially proud of our commitment to reexamining how we address K-12 costs at the very moment we fulfill the promise of the Student Opportunity Act. Overall, this final budget protects our residents, grows opportunities, supports our municipalities and cuts costs for individuals and families.”

“As a result of the Trump Administration’s sweeping federal funding cuts, reckless trade policies and war with Iran, this budget has come during a period of significant economic uncertainty.” Said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “That’s why I’m incredibly proud of the investments that this budget makes despite those challenges, from funding for free school meals and for the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, to robust support for the MBTA, to nearly $10 billion for cities and towns across the commonwealth – all without raising taxes.”

“Grounded in fiscal responsibility, the fiscal year 2027 budget leads with a steady hand and delivers a spending plan that does not raise any taxes or fees on residents and businesses of the commonwealth, while making major investments in education and local aid, emphasizing our continuing commitment to supporting all 351 cities and towns,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Not everyone agreed.

"At a time when Massachusetts families and small businesses are pleading for affordability and meaningful tax relief, this budget delivers virtually neither,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “Instead, it continues the commonwealth's perpetuated pattern of unsustainable spending growth while failing to prioritize the core services that residents rely on every day. Our focus should be on strengthening local communities, supporting municipal services, improving public safety and providing relief to hardworking taxpayers—not funding special interest initiatives such as legal defense funds for individuals who are unlawfully present in our state. Massachusetts can and must do better. We should be delivering a budget that reflects fiscal responsibility, affordability and the priorities of the people we were elected to serve. For those reasons, I was compelled to vote No."

"Legislative leaders will point to a smaller rate of spending growth as evidence of fiscal restraint, but the underlying budget tells a different story," said Paul Craney, executive director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. "Rather than confronting structural spending problems, this budget depends on one-time funding sources and accounting shifts while continuing to expand programs that will place increasing pressure on taxpayers in the years ahead. Massachusetts has benefited for years from generous federal funding while failing to improve oversight and accountability. As those federal dollars become less certain, taxpayers could be left paying the price for years of poor fiscal management.”

“The State Legislature did it again—they passed a budget that prioritizes illegals over middle-class taxpayers, failed to do anything about the cost of living and neglected to provide any tax relief,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver). ”That’s why I unapologetically voted No on this boondoggle. Billions of dollars continue to flow to those who broke the law to come here. If you come to Massachusetts illegally, you can get legal counsel, shelter—even college tuition paid for on the taxpayers’ dime. That money is coming at the expense of local aid to our town governments. At a time when municipalities across the state are strapped and facing property tax overrides, the State Legislature preferred to shift aid from local government and instead give it to illegals.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the budget. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy Yes Sen. Rebecca Rausch Yes Sen. Karen Spilka Yes

TOXIC MEDICAL DEVICES (H 5550)

House 139-0, approved a bill that would ban the use of DEHP, a toxic chemical which is commonly added to plastic intravenous bags and tubing and linked to breast, liver, lung and testicular cancer. Many IV bags currently contain DEHP, which is added to improve the plastic’s flexibility but can pose serious health dangers to patients. The measure also prevents manufacturers from replacing DEHP with similar ortho-phthalates and encourages the transition to safer alternatives while preserving limited exemptions for specialized blood collection and cell therapy products.

The Senate has approved its own version of the measure, and the House version now goes to the Senate for consideration.

“An Act relative to toxic-free medical devices is a straightforward bill that aims to protect patients — especially infants, children, pregnant women and those with cancer from being unnecessarily exposed to harmful chemicals,” said House sponsor Rep. Jim O’Day (D-West Boylston). “Long-term exposure to DEHP in medical instruments like IV bags and tubing has long raised concerns in the medical community, particularly when safer alternatives are available … Our state has never waited for others to set the standard on patient safety.”

(A “Yes” vote us for the bill.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy Yes

REQUIRE MORE PUBLIC DISCLOSURES OF FUNDRAISING AND SPENDING BY BALLOT QUESTION GROUPS (H 5549)

House 149-0, approved a bill requiring more frequent public reporting of fundraising and spending by groups supporting or opposing ballot questions. Under the bill, ballot question committees would be required to provide monthly reports on their finances. After September of that year, campaigns would have to file biweekly reports until Election Day. The bill would hold ballot question campaigns to the same standard of disclosure already followed by candidates for office. Currently, ballot committees don’t have to report on their finances between Jan. 20 and September.

The bill also establishes a thirteen-member special legislative commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the statewide initiative petition process and to submit recommendations, including proposed constitutional amendments where appropriate, by December 31, 2027.

The Senate has approved its own version of the measure, and the House version now goes to the Senate for consideration.

“This Act will bring ballot question committees and their campaign reporting requirements in line with the reporting schedule that we, as duly elected representatives of the people, adhere to,” said Rep. Dan Ryan (D-Boston), primary House sponsor of the bill. “These requirements allow voters to see who is influencing the messages they are hearing leading up to Election Day.”

"Massachusetts voters deserve to know who is behind the campaigns asking for their vote,” said Rep. Daniel Hunt (D-Boston), House Chair of the Committee on Election Laws. "This legislation ensures voters have access to timely, meaningful information before they head to the polls, helping cut through the confusion that can surround statewide ballot question campaigns. By modernizing reporting requirements, increasing transparency, strengthening accountability and making campaign finance information easier to access, we are giving voters the tools they need to make informed decisions and greater confidence in the integrity of our elections."

(A Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy Yes

ILLUMINATING PUBLIC SPACES (S 3145)

Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that supporters say would improve how public spaces are illuminated and would help protect public health and safety; reduce energy consumption; safeguard wildlife and ecosystems; and lower long-term costs for municipalities.

Provisions include requiring all new and replacement publicly funded outdoor lighting fixtures to meet industry standards and best practices for reducing light pollution and minimizing glare; directing the Department of Energy Resources to establish regulations governing the brightness, shielding and design of public outdoor lighting; establishing a cheaper electric rate for low-wattage street lamps which would help cities and towns trim their electric costs if they use the low-wattage lights; cutting down on extra light poles to ensure the number of streetlamps along a roadway matches the level needed for traffic and pedestrian safety; and exempting light fixtures related to safety or security needs, including lights related to aviation and nautical safety, and temporary emergency, repair and construction lighting.

"Light pollution poses real challenges for public health, public safety and environmental protection," said sponsor Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem (D-Newton). "It can disrupt sleep, create dangerous glare for drivers and pedestrians, waste energy and interfere with wildlife and natural ecosystems. [The bill] is a commonsense measure that will help municipalities save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public lighting by prioritizing warmer, properly shielded fixtures.”

“This legislation strikes a vital balance of reducing unnecessary light pollution, conserving energy, and protecting both wildlife and the night sky,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “By introducing a lower electric rate for streetlights, mandating fully shielded fixtures and setting a warmer color temperature, we're helping cities and towns cut costs while improving public safety and environmental health. It’s a cost-effective, science-based step to ensure future lighting installations respect our dark skies—and to ensure future generations are able to experience the natural wonder of gazing up at our starry skies.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Sen. Rebecca Rausch Yes Sen. Karen Spilka President rarely votes

ENERGY COSTS (S 3143)

Senate 32-8, approved legislation that supporters said would save people money; repair the climate; grow the economy; tackle rising energy costs head-on by cutting unnecessary fees; even out price spikes that hit households during high-demand months; crack down on predatory sales practices by energy suppliers and steer the state away from expensive infrastructure projects that don’t deliver value for ratepayers.

“The cost of energy in Massachusetts has placed a real strain on family budgets,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “This legislation reflects the Senate’s commitment to addressing that strain in a serious and sustained way while continuing our deeply held commitment to lead on our climate goals.”

“With the passage of this comprehensive energy affordability bill, the Senate acted decisively today, laying the foundation for affordable and renewable energy for generations to come,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “Homeowners, renters and small businesses across my district consistently cite expensive energy costs as one of the single biggest issues they face, and this legislation levels the playing field and provides a pathway to a more affordable future for consumers of the commonwealth. This bill will drive down monthly utility bills and flatten out sudden price spikes, and our proposal will lead to long-term savings that will be felt by residents across the commonwealth.”

“Baystaters want to power their lives without polluting our air and water, harming our health, changing our climate or emptying our wallet,” said MASSPIRG’s Legislative Director Deirdre Cummings. “This bill will help them do that. By removing costly and cumbersome red tape, this bill makes it easier and quicker for residents to go solar. Alongside new municipal solar options, this means more people will be able to tap the abundant, clean energy of the sun’s golden rays. The bill also prioritizes energy efficiency and adopts common sense consumer protections.”

“The systems run by the gas and electric companies are sprawling and complicated,” said Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Senate Chair of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. “The Senate sees no greedy masterminds behind the scenes, but we do identify pockets of overspending and overcharging that have accumulated over the years. My colleagues and I want to go after the excesses and save people some serious money.”

Not everyone was on board with the bill.

"This Massachusetts Senate bill asks families and businesses to pay more money for a less reliable electric grid,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “It would dramatically expand offshore wind mandates while shifting the financial risk from developers to ratepayers. The proposal could cost an estimated $20 billion, leading to even higher electric bills at a time when Massachusetts is already one of the most expensive states in the country in which to live and do business. Energy affordability and reliability must be the objective—not increasing costs for hardworking families. My goal is to make Massachusetts more affordable, not less, and this proposal misses the mark."

“Tonight’s vote is a profound disappointment for the hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts consumers who exercise their right to choose who supplies their electricity,” said Chris Ercoli, president of the Retail Energy Advancement League. “Rather than standing with their constituents, members of the Senate voted today to cede control of the Legislature to local government over a decision that belongs to consumers.”

“While we appreciate the complexity of the issue, we are deeply concerned that the bill the Senate produced is missing an opportunity to make meaningful reforms that lower energy costs – and follow the lead of other climate leaders across the country who have balanced climate innovation with the ability of residents to afford the transition,” said a statement by the Massachusetts Coalition for Sustainable Energy. “Specifically, the bill doubles down on a strategy other states are walking away from that has failed to realize its promise of abundant clean and affordable energy. The members of the coalition are deeply concerned that several sections of this bill increase the cost of energy in Massachusetts.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)

Sen. Rebecca Rausch Yes Sen. Karen Spilka Yes

BIOMASS (S 3143)

Senate 35-4, approved an amendment that would remove woody biomass as an eligible fuel under the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standard for Massachusetts municipal light plants. Supporters explained that while biomass was removed from the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard in 2022 because it is not considered clean energy, it remained eligible under a separate section of state law governing municipal light plants. They said the amendment would close that inconsistency by ensuring public clean energy standards are aligned with current science and Massachusetts climate policy, preventing municipal light plants from counting electricity generated by burning woody biomass toward their greenhouse gas reduction requirements.

"For too long, Massachusetts law treated a polluting energy source as if it were clean,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield). “This amendment closes that loophole, aligns our statutes with science and ensures our clean energy policies reflect our climate commitments and environmental justice values. It's an important step for communities like Springfield that have spent years fighting to protect public health and cleaner air."

Opponents of the amendment did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they opposed the amendment.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment removing woody biomass as an eligible fuel. A “No” vote is against the amendment.)

Sen. Rebecca Rausch Yes Sen. Karen Spilka President rarely votes

GAS LINE EXTENSIONS (S 3143)

Senate 19-20, barely rejected an amendment that supporters said would end ratepayer-backed subsidies for new gas line extension allowances. They noted that the current system allows utilities to distort the market and undermine competition by charging ratepayers for costly new gas connection infrastructure, which ratepayers pay for decades in their utility bills. They argued that ending these subsidies will help reduce costs for ratepayers while allowing lower-cost clean energy alternatives to compete on a level playing field, including electrifying the grid in new neighborhoods, and the use of heat pumps and solar panels in homes.

“I voted for this amendment because if Massachusetts is really serious about meeting its carbon emissions reductions goals, while also delivering long-term energy savings to residents, we need more tools in the toolbox to end the continued expansion of costly gas infrastructure, which we all pay for decades,” said Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough). “I do not support subsidizing utility companies to maintain the status quo, while climate change continues to bring weather extremes, infrastructure damage and ever-rising electric bills to Massachusetts residents.”

“The bill contains provisions that should produce significant energy cost savings for residents,” said Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy). “I voted against the amendment to ensure that the commonwealth will build all new types of housing, including affordable housing, as part of an overall approach that balances mitigating the effects of climate change on the one hand and incentivizing needed residential development on the other.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)

Sen. Rebecca Rausch Yes Sen. Karen Spilka President rarely votes

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

COME AND “MEET THE MEDIA” - Join MASSterList and the State House News Service, in partnership with Axios Boston and Commonwealth Beacon, for the “Meet the Media” event. Now in its fourth year, this timely gathering brings together journalists and professionals in the communications and government affairs fields for a morning of connection, conversation and community.

The event is on Thursday July 16 from 8 a.m. (networking), and 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (program) at the MCLE Conference Center, Downtown Boston - 10 Winter Place.

Get tickets and more information at: https://events.humanitix.com/massmedia

CHANGE “HEARING IMPAIRED” TO “DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING” (S 3142) – The House gave initial approval to a measure, already approved by the Senate on June 23, that would strike outdated language from state laws that refer to people who are deaf or hard of hearing as being “hearing impaired.” The legislation replaces the term “hearing impaired” with the phrase “deaf or hard of hearing.”

The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “Words shape how we see one another, and our laws are no exception,” said Creem when the Senate first approved the measure on June 23. “This bill takes a simple but important step toward ensuring that the words we use reflect respect, accuracy and the preferences of the communities they describe. I’m proud the Senate is taking decisive action to help modernize our statutes and affirm the dignity of deaf and hard of hearing individuals across Massachusetts, and I’m grateful to the students of Newton’s CAPS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program for bringing this issue to my attention.”

“Members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community have been advocating for this change for years, and they made a compelling case that the language currently found in our laws no longer reflects the people it is meant to describe,” said Sen. Nick Collins (D-South Boston) when the measure was considered by the Senate. “This legislation makes a commonsense update to our statutes and reflects the respect that community deserves. Our laws should evolve alongside the people they serve, and it is important that the language we use reflects both the dignity of all residents and the commonwealth’s commitment to treating every person with respect. It is a small change on paper, but an important step in ensuring our laws continue to reflect the values of Massachusetts.”

BAN MEDICAL DEBT FROM BEING REPORTED TO CONSUMER CREDIT AGENCIES – A proposed regulation filed by Gov. Healey and the Department of Public Health (DPH) would prohibit licensed health care providers and debt collectors working on their behalf from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus. Supporters said this will help protect patients from long-term financial harm after an unexpected illness or medical emergency.

"Getting sick is hard enough.” said Healey. “It shouldn't ruin your credit. No one should have to worry that seeing a doctor, filling a prescription or taking their child to the emergency room will damage their financial future. Medical debt shouldn't make it harder to buy a home, rent an apartment or get a loan years after you've recovered and when you’re working hard to make your payments. This action will help protect patients while we continue our work to lower health care costs and ensure all Massachusetts residents can afford to get the care they need when they need it."

“Today’s action by the governor is a much needed first step in preventing disastrous debt spirals,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah. “Families in Massachusetts should be able to access the health care they need free from the worry that their credit could be ruined – potentially impacting their housing and other finances. Regardless of the federal government’s approach, in Massachusetts we’re committed to building a more affordable, more sustainable health care system that puts consumers first.”

The Department is now accepting written public comments on the proposed regulations and will hold public hearings on July 27 and 28 before finalizing the rules. After these hearings, the Department will evaluate all comments received and finalize the proposed regulation.

For more information or to sign up to testify remotely and/or with written testimony, go to: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/medical-debt-reporting-requirements-f…

MAKE IT EASIER TO CANCEL SUBSCRIPTIONS - A proposed law that would require companies to make it easier to cancel subscriptions was included in Gov. Healey’s version and the Senate’s version of the fiscal 2027 state budget, but the House did not include it in their version. The conference committee that hammered out a compromise version of the budget chose not to include the requirement in its version which was approved by the House and Senate and sent to Gov. Healey. The proposed law would have required that methods of canceling a subscription are as simple as the methods of signing up for that one. The idea has gathered support as many entertainment options shift into monthly subscription models, leaving individuals to manage a portfolio of differing payment cycles.

House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), who led budget talks on the part of the House, said that the proposal still needs some work but added that he's sure the issue will resurface, possibly very soon. “From the House side, I don't think it's that we were averse to the discussions” he said. “I think it was just more about the mechanics, how to make it actually be meaningful and work, and I don't think, from our end, we were there yet.”

"I think the attorney general has already put some regs out there,” continued Michlewitz, referring to subscription rules issued by Attorney General Andrea Campbell last year. “I'm not saying that those are the final decision or the final direction to go, but I do think we're examining that, while also having a further conversation related to how to put this into statute. He noted that the proposed regulations will be considered soon as part of an upcoming Economic Development bill this year or early next year.

AG CAMPBELL WINS $475,000 SETTLEMENT AGAINST FOOD COMPANIES – Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced a settlement agreement with two food provision companies for violating Massachusetts’s Animal Cruelty Prevention Law. The agreement resolves allegations that the companies misled Massachusetts consumers and unfairly competed in the marketplace by selling products derived from farm animals confined in a cruel and unlawful manner.

The companies, Connecticut-based City Line Distributors LLC and New Hampshire-based Poultry Products Company of New England LLC, each operating in Massachusetts as Prime Source Foods, will pay $495,000 in penalties to the state and must refrain from selling noncompliant meat and eggs to Massachusetts consumers. The settlement also requires Prime Source to implement resource planning systems to prevent future noncompliance.

“Massachusetts consumers deserve to know that the meat and egg products they purchase do not come from cruelly treated farm animals,” said Campbell. “I will continue working to ensure that all products sold in the commonwealth comply with our legal standards and that no company gets an unfair advantage by breaking the law.”

“MDAR has long recognized that animal welfare is directly tied to animal health,” said Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle. MDAR has long recognized that animal welfare is directly tied to animal health. Massachusetts residents overwhelmingly support the humane treatment of animals within our food system to promote high-quality food and ethical agricultural practices,” said Randle. “We are grateful for our partnership with the Attorney General’s Office to enforce these vital standards on behalf of our consumers and farmers.”

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“We are thrilled to award grants to this latest group of nonprofit organizations. Together, these organizations will pay almost $275,000 less in electricity costs each year, providing more financial resources for their important missions.

--- Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony announcing a $2.4 million grant that will help ten nonprofit organizations install rooftop solar systems that will reduce each organization’s electricity costs by between 70 and 100 percent, resulting in more resources for the nonprofits’ critical work.

"Massachusetts is uniquely positioned to lead the next generation of defense innovation because of the strength of our companies, research institutions, entrepreneurs and workforce. The report lays out a strategy to bring those partners together, grow the defense ecosystem, advance critical technologies and create high-quality jobs across the commonwealth."

---Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley on the Healey Administration releasing the Strategic Hub for Innovation, Exchange and Leadership in Defense (SHIELD) report, a statewide strategy to strengthen Massachusetts' defense innovation ecosystem, drive economic growth, create high-quality jobs and reinforce national security.

“As fantasy contests and the online sports gaming landscape continue to evolve, our regulations must evolve with them. These updated regulations strengthen consumer protections, promote fairness and assure Massachusetts residents that they can participate in fantasy contests knowing that appropriate safeguards are in place.”

---Attorney General Andrea Campbell announcing that she has released for comment, updated Fantasy Contest Regulations to protect Massachusetts consumers from unfair and deceptive practices that may arise in connection with fantasy contests, while also safeguarding families from financial harm that can result from unaffordable losses.

“Every family deserves access to affordable, high-quality childcare, and every child deserves the strong start that comes with it. This investment will help more families get off waitlists and into the childcare programs they need so parents can work, children can learn and our economy can continue to grow. We’re proud to have delivered on historic investments in childcare affordability with the Legislature, and we know there is more work to be done. We’re going to keep working to lower costs, expand access and support the providers who make it all possible.”

---Gov. Healey announcing a $31.2 million investment to help families afford childcare and get off waitlists through the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.

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 June 29-July 3, the House met for a total of 11 hours and 34 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 14 hours 55 minutes.

Mon. June 29 House 11:00 a.m. to 2:27 p.m.

Senate 11:18 a.m. to 2:33 p.m.

Tues. June 30 No House session.

No Senate session

Wed. July 1 House 11:00 a.m. to 7:02 p.m.

Senate 11:04 a.m. to 10:29 p.m.

Thurs. July 2 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:05 a.m.

Senate 11:17 a.m. to 11:32 p.m.

Fri. July 3 No House session.

No Senate session.

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com