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Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 48 -Report No. 17
April 24-28, 2023
Copyright © 2023 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.
By Bob Katzen
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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: BHRC records local representatives votes on six roll calls from the week of April 24-28. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week. All roll calls in the House were on matters relating to House passage of a $56.2 billion fiscal 2024 state budget.
A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE BUDGET “DEBATE”
Most of the decisions on which representatives’ amendments are included or not included in the budget are made behind closed doors. Of the 1,573 budget amendments proposed, most of them were bundled into consolidated “mega” amendments. This year there were seven mega amendments and all but one, which had just one vote against it, were approved unanimously. There is no real “debate” on the House floor. Everyone who spoke on any of the consolidated amendments spoke in favor of them.
The system works as follows: Individual representatives file amendments on various topics. All members then pitch their amendments to Democratic leaders who draft consolidated amendments that include some of the individual representatives’ amendments while excluding others.
The categories of consolidated amendments include many subjects including programs relating to public safety, judiciary energy, environmental affairs, housing, labor and economic development.
Supporters of the system say that any representative who sponsored an excluded amendment can bring it to the floor and ask for an up or down vote on the amendment itself. They say this system has worked well for many years.
Opponents say that rarely, if ever, does a member bring his or her amendment to the floor for an up-or-down vote because that is not the way the game is played. It is an “expected tradition” that you accept the fate of your amendment as determined by Democratic leaders.
Rep. Russell Holmes (D-Boston) was the only member who voted against one of the consolidated amendments – the one that added an estimated $10.5 million in spending on Public Safety and the Judiciary.
HOUSE APPROVES $56.2 BILLION FISCAL 2024 STATE BUDGET (H 3900)
House 156-0, approved and sent to the Senate a $56.2 billion fiscal 2024 state budget after adding an estimated $120 million in spending during three days of debate. The House version now goes to the Senate which will approve a different version. A House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and then sent to the governor.
“From critical investments in health care and workforce development, to funding for new initiatives that are designed to increase educational opportunities, better support working families, and provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system, the House’s fiscal year 2024 budget will help to make Massachusetts more affordable for residents, while allocating support for the commonwealth’s most consequential institutions,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy).
“This budget builds off the successes of the last few years by prioritizing our residents. Whether it is greater investments into programs like housing stability, food security or early education, these initiatives are a reflection of our shared values,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “By reinvesting in the people of the commonwealth, we will continue to assist those recovering from this pandemic while making our economy more competitive and equitable for years to come.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the budget.)
Rep. Jessica GianninoYes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes
TAX REVENUE FROM MILLIONAIRE’S TAX (H 3900)
House 25-132, rejected an amendment that would remove a section in the budget that exempts tax revenue generated from the recently voter-approved Millionaire Tax from counting toward the allowable state tax revenue limitations, under Chapter 62F, which provides that whenever revenue collections in a fiscal year exceed an annual cap tied to wage and salary growth, the excess is returned to taxpayers. Last year, $3 billion in refunds were returned to taxpayers when the law was triggered for just the second time since its passage in 1986. The revenue from the Millionaire Tax is deposited into the new Education and Transportation Stabilization Fund.
“There is no justification for excluding the Millionaire Tax revenues from the Chapter 62F calculations, as all other taxes including taxes constitutionally designated towards specific uses like the gas tax, are included in the current calculation, and tax rate increases have not been held aside from the formula previously,” said amendment sponsor GOP House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “Attempting to exclude these revenues is a slap in the face to the state’s taxpayers and the voters who supported this ballot question.”
Amendment opponents said the amendment will put the new revenue in jeopardy and argued this new revenue is earmarked for education and transportation and must be protected and treated differently than other tax revenue.
Revenue Committee House chair Mark Cusack (D-Braintree) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on why he urged representatives to vote against the amendment.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that favors tax revenue generated from the recently voter-approved Millionaire Tax counting toward the allowable state tax revenue limitations. A “No” vote is against the amendment and supports exempting the revenue from the allowable state tax revenue limitations.)
Rep. Jessica GianninoNo Rep. Jeff Turco No
CONSOLIDATED AMENDMENT ON LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (H 3900)
House 157-0, approved a $31.5 million consolidated amendment that funds labor and economic development programs.
“We are continuing to see positive data with jobs, unemployment rates and the labor market,” said Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury), House chair of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “These datapoints tell us that the investments we’ve made in our workforce are having a positive impact. This House budget we approved … continues this trajectory by investing more resources in our people.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the consolidated amendment.)
Rep. Jessica GianninoYes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes
CONSOLIDATED AMENDMENT ON ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND HOUSING (H 3900
House 158-0, approved a $7.3 million consolidated amendment that funds energy, environmental affairs and housing programs.
“We are on the front lines of the climate crisis and if we are to minimize irreversible impacts, we must make unparalleled changes,” said State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. “The House budget and adopted energy and environmental amendment together commit 1.25 percent of the state’s total budget to implement the policies and strategies stemming from robust climate bills passed over the past few sessions.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the consolidated amendment.)
Rep. Jessica GianninoYes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes
CONSOLIDATED AMENDMENT ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUDICIARY (H 3900)
House 157-1, approved a $10.5 million consolidated amendment that funds Public Safety and Judiciary.
“The budget is a testament to our unwavering dedication towards criminal justice reform, reducing recidivism, providing access to justice and essential services for inmates, as well as improving police and fire departments in municipalities, and supporting directed patrols by the State Police,” said Rep. Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield), chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Rep. Russell Holmes (D-Boston) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on why he was the only representative who voted against the amendment.
(A “Yes” vote is for the consolidated amendment.)
Rep. Jessica GianninoYes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes
CONSOLIDATED AMENDMENT ON CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, STATE ADMINISTRATION AND TRANSPORTATION (H 3900)
House 157-0, approved a $5.2 million consolidated amendment that funds Constitutional Officers, State Administration and Transportation.
This amendment includes a $9,000 pay raise, from $36,025 to $45,025, for the eight members of the Governor’s Council which provides advice and consent on gubernatorial appointments, pardons and prison sentence commutations.
Rep. John Lawn (D-Watertown) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on why he proposed the section of the consolidated amendment that provides the 25 percent pay hike.
“The budgeting process at the Statehouse is completely broke,” said Paul Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “This is just one example of how taxpayer dollars get thrown around with no account. There’s absolutely no excuse why the amendment sponsor or a member of the House leadership team couldn’t have made their case as to why they feel these pay increases are necessary. Why even bother having a House chamber if they’re going to conduct all of their debates in rooms that the press and public are barred from entering,” asked Craney.
(A “Yes” vote is for the consolidated amendment that includes the $9,000 pay raise.)
Rep. Jessica GianninoYes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
LAURA’S LAW: NEW SIGNAGE, LIGHTING, SECURITY FEATURES NOW ORDERED FOR MASS EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS – In 2021, former-Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law “Laura’s Law” that would require all hospitals to meet minimum criteria and standards that ensure safe, timely and accessible patient access to hospital emergency departments. The Department of Public Health has finally established a set of regulations for “Laura’s Law” that hospitals must comply with by Jan. 1, 2024.
“Laura’s Law” was named in memory of Laura Levis, a 34-year-old woman who, on September 16, 2016, went to CHA Somerville Hospital while suffering a fatal asthma attack, but was unable to get inside.” Peter DeMarco, Levis’s husband, has led the campaign for passage of the legislation. He is a journalist who wrote about Laura’s death almost five years ago for the “Boston Globe” in a story called “Losing Laura.”
According to DeMarco’s story, “Laura chose a locked door to try to access the emergency room because the correct door was not properly marked. Though Laura was on surveillance video, the hospital security desk was left unattended all night, so no one saw her. When a nurse from the emergency department eventually looked out the door for Laura, she did not see her, as the spot where Laura collapsed was in near darkness.” Laura had called 911 but by the time first responders found her, she had collapsed in cardiac arrest and died a few days later.
“I know Laura’s name is on these new regulations, but they are not just for the rare case of someone collapsing outside an emergency department door—far from it,” said DeMarco at a Statehouse news conference last week. “These new regulations will help all of us find and get inside emergency departments faster, and for some people the difference between getting to a doctor ten minutes faster or wasting ten minutes trying to find the emergency department due to poor signage, confusing layouts, going to the wrong door, could be life changing. It was for Laura.”
“I hope so much these new regulations serve as a stepping stone for other states to take a serious look at whether their residents could benefit by establishing rules for emergency department signage, lighting, wayfinding and security monitoring as well,” continued DeMarco. “Maybe that starts with every state in New England.”
“There is no way to change the past, but we have done our best to expect a future with optimal outcomes when any of us visits a hospital emergency department,” said Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), co-sponsor of the legislation. “I continue to thank Peter, the Department of Public Health and other advocates committed to honoring Laura’s memory by collaborating on this new set of regulations that I believe will save lives.”
“After years of advocacy, I am grateful to Peter for his extensive research and willingness to share Laura’s story, which led to the passage of our bill, Laura’s Law, in early 2021,” said co-sponsor Rep. Christine Barber (D-Somerville). “After more than two years of additional work, new regulations and guidance from the Department of Public Health reflect a number of new requirements to ensure all hospitals in Massachusetts will follow appropriate safety measures on lighting, security and wayfinding. Particularly in an emergency situation, patients need clear and obvious information about how to get to care quickly, no matter where people are seeking emergency care.”
The rules are aimed at eliminating as much confusion as possible for patients in crisis who rush to an emergency department, and to provide fail safes should they have difficulty getting inside. They were finalized in early April, more than six years after Laura’s passing from an asthma attack on the doorstep of a Somerville emergency department where she was unable to get inside, in part because the hospital lacked a single “Emergency” sign above any door for her to have followed. The regulations now specifically require such signs.
Other regulations include requiring any prominent door that is locked at night, as well as a hospital’s main door and Emergency Department door and ambulance-bay door, has to have an audio-video intercom connecting a lost patient to a live operator as well as a duress alarm; requiring hospitals to set up directional signs to their emergency departments, starting the moment you reach the property, so that after you pass one sign another is already within your sight; requiring doors and patient drop-off and pick-up areas must be brightly lighted and on surveillance 24 hours a day; and requiring each emergency department to have its own GPS address for navigation purposes if its doors are not located at the hospital’s main address.
ALLOW JAILED FELONS TO VOTE (H 26) – The Election Laws Committee has recommended passage of a proposed constitutional amendment to restore the right to vote for incarcerated felons. Under a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2000, these felons were stripped of the right to vote.
“We’ve had this fundamental right in one of the oldest constitutions, the constitution that our U.S. constitution is based on, up until the 2000s,” said sponsor Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven (D-Somerville). “And it was taken away in our lifetime. That didn’t fall out of the sky. It came from the context of the tough on crime era in the ‘90s as a response to civic engagement and organizing among people who are incarcerated, and civic engagement and the right to vote are fundamental human rights.”
“I think [this proposed amendment] fits into what is becoming a recurring theme for this session, which is ‘we really don’t care what the voters do, we can do what we want,’” said House GOP Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading), one of three legislators on the committee who voted against the measure. He added that a majority of voters in all of the state’s counties voted for the measure in 2000.
Jones continued, “During the period of your incarceration, because if you’re incarcerated then you’re separated from society, you should not necessarily be involved in electing the officials and crafting the laws that govern that society.”
The proposed constitutional amendment needs the votes of a majority of the 200-member Legislature in the 2023 to 2024 session and the same in the 2025 to 2026 session in order to appear on the November 2026 ballot for voters to decide.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
“Massachusetts has a real opportunity to close the digital divide and ensure all people in our state can participate in the digital economy. These grants will help residents build their digital skills and get online affordably, thereby expanding their connections to job and training opportunities, healthcare resources, social connections and so much more.”
— Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao announcing $14 million in new grants from the state’s Digital Equity Partnerships Program to address statewide digital equity gaps.
“Thanks to a number of forward-thinking supporters and partners, Tech Goes Home has been working for more than 20 years to advance digital equity in Greater Boston and beyond and has a proven model for how to address the challenges facing individuals and families. Today’s announcement represents a major step forward in expanding our work across the commonwealth and bringing greater attention to the economic, educational, and health disparities that are connected to digital inequity.”
— Dan Noyes, CEO of Tech Goes Home upon receiving a historic $4.5 million dollar grant to expand its programming and help build stronger systems to equitably and sustainably close the digital divide.
“The court’s decision today is welcome and important news, and it affirms what we already knew: the leaders and managers of facilities like the Soldiers’ Home share responsibility for the health and safety of their residents. Today’s decision allows us to focus once again on securing accountability for the tragic and preventable deaths at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke.”
—Attorney General Andrea Campbell on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that a criminal trial can proceed against two former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home officials accused of negligence that led to the deaths of elderly veteran residents early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The dedicated men and women who keep our communities safe too often hide the significant stress and trauma they incur from the job. Every officer in the commonwealth must have access to quality mental health services and peer support to combat this stigma, improve policing, and enhance the lives of our police and their families.”
—Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) on the program he created that this year will deliver $1 million in grants that will provide police officers across Massachusetts access to mental health services, peer support and critical incident stress management.
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.
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 April 24-28, the House met for a total of 26 hours and 30 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 38 minutes.
Mon. April 24 House 11:00 a.m. to 9:07 p.m.
Senate 11:16 a.m. to 11:24 a.m.
Tues. April 25 House 11:02 a.m. to 8:37 p.m.
No Senate session
Wed. April 26 House 12:02 p.m. to 6:21 p.m
No Senate session
Thurs. April 27 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:31 a.m.
Senate 11:18 a.m. to 11:48 a.m.
Fri. April 28 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.
