By Bob Katzen
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Both houses of the Legislature overrode dozens of Gov. Charlie Baker’s 256 vetoes of spending and other items in the recently signed $38.92 billion fiscal 2017 state budget.
This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports how local senators and representatives voted on some of those roll calls. There was virtually no floor debate on any of the vetoes as legislators overrode them at high speed back-to-back.
CUT $500,000 FROM “TURNING 22” PROGRAM (H 4450)
House 144-10, Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Charlie Baker’s $500,000 veto reduction (from $7.5 million to $7 million) in funding for the Turning 22 Program. The program provides two years of transitional services to people with severe mental disabilities who lose their entitlement to special education services upon graduation or reaching age 22.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $500,000. A “No” vote is against the $500,000.)
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Denise Provost Yes Rep. Timothy Toomey Yes Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
CUT $200,000 FROM MASS COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING (H 4450)
House 131-23, Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Baker’s $200,000 veto reduction (from $5,611,403 to $5,411,403) in funding for the operation of and services provided by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $200,000. A “No” vote is against the $200,000).
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Denise Provost Yes Rep. Timothy Toomey Yes Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
CUT $917,485 MILLION FROM AIDS/HIV SERVICES AND PROGRAMS (H 4450)
House 129-25, Senate 35-4, overrode Gov. Baker’s $917,485 veto reduction (from $33,134,598 to 32,217,113) in funding for AIDS/HIV services and programs and related services for persons affected by the associated conditions of viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $917,485. A “No” vote is against the $917,485).
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Denise Provost Yes Rep. Timothy Toomey Yes Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
CUT ENTIRE $150,000 FROM SENIORS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (H 4450)
House 140-14, Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $150,000 in funding to identify the best practices for providing services to aging individuals with developmental disabilities, including those with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $150,000. A “No” vote is against the $150,000).
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Denise Provost Yes Rep. Timothy Toomey Yes Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
CUT ENTIRE $750,000 FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRAINING PROGRAM (H 4450)
House 136-18, Senate 38-1, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $750,000 in funding for the Community College Training Incentive Program grants that are awarded to expand vocational course offerings and develop partnerships with Bay State employers. According to its description on the state government’s website, the program “encourages public community college training opportunities that promote workforce development, minimize the shortage of skilled workers and raise economic opportunity.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the $750,000. A “No” vote is against the $750,000.)
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Denise Provost Yes Rep. Timothy Toomey Yes Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
CUT $30,487 FROM MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION (MCAD) (H 4450)
House 126-28, Senate 33-6, overrode Gov. Baker’s $30,487 veto reduction (from $3,048,657 to $3,018,170) in funding for the MCAD which was established in 1946 to investigate and prosecute cases of discrimination in employment housing, credit, education and public accommodations. The commission protects individuals from discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, age, disability, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $30,487. A “No” vote is against the $30,487).
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Denise Provost Yes Rep. Timothy Toomey Yes Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
CUT ENTIRE $200,000 FOR POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION (H 4450)
House 142-11, Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $200,000 in funding for post-partum depression pilot programs at community health centers in Jamaica Plain, Holyoke, Lynn and Worcester.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $200,000. A “No” vote is against the $200,000).
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Denise Provost Yes Rep. Timothy Toomey Yes Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
$300,000 CUT FOR PROSTATE CANCER (H 4450)
House 150-3, Senate 39-0, overrode the governor’s veto of $300,000 (from $600,000 to $300,000) for a prostate research program focusing on men with African-American, Hispanic or Latino heritage, family history of the disease and other men at high risk of prostate cancer.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $300,000. A “No” vote is against the $300,000).
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Denise Provost Yes Rep. Timothy Toomey Yes Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
DECAL FOR DRIVERS ON LEARNER’S PERMIT (H 3114) – The House approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would require a learner’s permit decal to be clearly visible to law enforcement officers on the window of any vehicle being operated by a driver with a learner’s permit. The size, cost and other details would be determined by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. A violation of the requirement would result in up to a $50 fine.
Supporters said this would warn other drivers that the novice driver is inexperienced and encourage them to take extra caution. They said the requirement would reduce the frustration of and honking by other motorists.
Opponents said the bill is a solution in search of a problem that doesn’t exist. They noted that families with more than one car would have to get one decal for each car. They argued that experienced drivers would often be driving the car with the decal and mistaken for a novice.
DUCK BOAT TOURS (S 2473) – The Senate approved a measure that would prohibit a driver of any amphibious sightseeing vehicle, commonly known as Duck Boats, from providing commentary about the tour while driving. Companies would have to add a second worker to narrate the tour.
The proposal would require the vehicle to be equipped with safety equipment including blind spot cameras and proximity sensors. Violators would be fined up to $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for any subsequent offenses.
The bill was filed in June in response to the tragic death in April in which a Duck Boat struck and killed Allison Warmuth. The vehicle ran over Allison’s moped near her Beacon Hill residence, killing the graduate of Messiah College, a Christian school in Pennsylvania, who was a senior underwriter for hospitals and medical practices.
BOSTON SNOW REMOVAL PENALTIES (H 3326) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would increase the maximum fines levied on Boston property owners who fail to shovel their sidewalks or throw their “private snow” onto the street or any other public property. Current fines are capped at $200. The bill would increase the maximum fine to $1,500.
The measure, already approved by the Boston City Council, requires that unpaid fines are added to property tax bills.
Supporters said that the illegal dumping of residential or commercial snow on public roads makes the already difficult snow removal process worse, raises the city’s costs and increases safety risks for drivers. They noted that failure to remove snow from sidewalks is dangerous and can seriously injure or even result in the death of seniors, the disabled and children.
Opponents said a $1,500 fine is excessive.
GUNS IN COURTHOUSES (S 940) – The House gave initial approval to a Senate-approved bill that would impose up to a 1-year prison sentence and/or $1,000 fine on anyone, except law enforcement personnel or a person with the court’s prior permission, caught with a loaded or unloaded firearm in a courthouse. The punishment would increase to up to a 5-year prison sentence and/or $5,000 fine if there is intent to use the firearm during the commission of a crime. Further approval is needed in both branches before the measure goes to the governor.
TASK FORCE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT (S 2471) – The Senate approved the creation of a task force to develop a model sexual assault climate survey to be issued to private and public college students in order to determine the prevalence and perception of sexual assault on college campuses. The survey would include the number of reported incidences of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking on campuses; student knowledge of institutional policies and procedures; the involvement of force; incapacitation or coercion; and demographic factors that could be used to identify at-risk groups.
BAN DISCRIMINATION IN ORGAN TRANSPLANTS (H 4332) – The House gave initial approval to a bill prohibiting consideration of a patient’s intellectual or physical disability when determining who is eligible for an organ transplant and who should be highest on the waiting list. The bill allows the disability to be considered only if it is determined to be medically significant in a negative way to the transplant.
Supporters said a survey of nearly 90 transplant centers revealed that 85 percent of pediatric transplant centers have at least once considered intellectual or physical disability when determining eligibility for a transplant. They argued it is long past time to end this discrimination.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
“It’s time we got this over with. The prohibition approach to the control of marijuana use just has not worked.”
Sen. Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont), announcing his support for the November ballot questions legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the pot edibles market is dangerous for our kids and a huge part of the profit model for the marijuana industry. We believe the edibles issue alone is a reason to reject this ballot question.”
Safe and Healthy Massachusetts campaign manager Nick Bayer pointing out that the ballot question allows the sales of pot edibles — food and drinks that contain marijuana.
“Individuals with disabilities have the right to fully access, use and enjoy housing accommodation. This is an issue of basic dignity and economic security.”
Attorney General Maura Healey on bringing a lawsuit against some landlords who have discriminated against tenants by failing to reasonably accommodate their disability.
“For decades, our organizations have partnered to address the leading cause of preventable death and disease in our country — tobacco, which kills close to half a million people each year. This bill would get us further toward our collective goal of reducing tobacco use and protecting public health.”
Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, on her support of a bill that would prohibit sales of e-cigarettes to minors, increase the age of sale for tobacco products from 18 to 21 and ban the sale of tobacco in pharmacies.
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 July 18-22, the House met for a total of five hours and nine minutes while the Senate met for a total of five hours and 36 minutes.
Mon. July 25 House 11:04 a.m. to 11:21 a.m.
No Senate session
Tues. July 26 No House session
Senate 11:09 a.m. to 11:24 a.m.
Wed. July 27 No House session
Senate 11:03 a.m. to 12:23 p.m.
Thurs. July 28 House 11:01 a.m. to 3:53 p.m.
Senate 11:17 a.m. to 3:18 p.m.
Fri. July 29 No House session
No Senate session
Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com