By Bob Katzen

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. Continue reading HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? →

By Bob Katzen

“Taxpayers are experiencing the largest inflation spike in 41 years and our Statehouse leaders have a pile of money they could give back to help taxpayers with these high costs. Instead, they are choosing to hold onto the vast majority of the money and they even have the nerve to continue to push for their graduated income tax surcharge amendment which will increase the state income tax by 80 precent on some high-income earners and small businesses.”
—Paul Craney, spokesman for the Mass Fiscal Alliance. Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

The House and Senate approved a new version of a bill that would prohibit any person or entity including educational institutions workplaces and public spaces from implementing any policy that would explicitly target someone who wears their natural hairstyle. The measure defines natural hairstyle as hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyles including braids, locks, twists and other formations. Only final Senate approval is needed prior to the measure going to Gov. Baker for his signature. Continue reading “CROWN ACT” – FORBID DISCRIMINATION AGAINST A PERSON WITH A NATURAL HAIRSTYLE →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to legislation that would repeal current state laws which created professional licensure consequences for anyone who defaults on their student loan. Under existing law, a borrower’s state-issued professional or occupational certificate, registration or license can be suspended, revoked or cancelled if the borrower is in default on an education loan. Continue reading PROHIBIT REVOCATION OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES IF A PERSON DEFAULTS ON A STUDENT LOAN →

By Bob Katzen

The House and Senate gave final approval to and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker $56 million in funding for the families of the victims of the COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.
Continue reading $56 MILLION FOR FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF HOLYOKE SOLDIERS’ HOME →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill that would regulate poaching—the illegal hunting that harms or kills wildlife including fish, birds, mammals and endangered or threatened species. Other provisions elevate the fines and penalties for poaching; align Massachusetts poaching regulations with other states; and bring Massachusetts into the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which helps states to work together to prevent illegal hunting across state lines. Continue reading POACHING →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved and sent to the House legislation designed to protect the health and safety of puppies and kittens in cities and towns by addressing inhumane practices relating to the transfer of pets. Continue reading PROTECT PUPPIES AND KITTENS (S 2994) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved a bill that would require research labs to make every effort to offer healthy animals up for adoption by registered non-profit animal rescue organizations rather than euthanizing them when the research is done.
Continue reading ADOPT ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH – “THE BEAGLE BILL” →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved a nearly $11 billion transportation and infrastructure package that includes $1.375 billion for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) modernization; $400 million for MBTA safety projects; $275 million for the East-West rail project; $1.27 billion for non-federally aided roads and bridges; and a provision that directs the MBTA and allows Regional Transit Authorities across the state to create a low-income fare program. The House has approved a different version of the package and a House-Senate conference committee will likely hammer out a compromise version.
Continue reading $10.9 BILLION TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 40-0, approved a bill designed to further protect reproductive health care and those who perform abortions in the Bay State. The measure specifically declares that both reproductive health care and gender-affirming care are rights secured by the constitution or laws of Massachusetts and would shield providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care and their patients from out-of-state legal action.
Continue reading REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE →

By Bob Katzen

The House 154-0, approved and sent to the Senate a $4.2 billion economic development package. The bill provides $500 million one-time tax rebates to an estimated 2 million eligible people. A $250 rebate would go, by September 30, to individual taxpayers and a $500 rebate to married taxpayers. Eligibility will be determined by annual income reported in 2021, with the minimum income required to be $38,000, and the maximum $100,000 for individual filers and $150,000 for joint filers. Continue reading $4.2 BILLION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE AND TAX CUTS (H 5077) →

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding Can Be Used to Address Systemic Public Health and Economic Challenges

(MEDFORD)—The City will be distributing surveys to engage and solicit feedback from the public on where to invest federal COVID-19 response funding as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced.
Continue reading Medford-City is Asking for Community Feedback on How to Spend COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Funds →

Learn more at an Info Session on July 28

The City of Somerville is hiring polling place workers for the upcoming 2022 election cycle. Hundreds of poll workers will be needed this year to conduct a successful election. Interested residents are encouraged to attend an information session on Thursday, July 28, to learn more.
Continue reading Somerville Hiring Polling Place Workers for 2022 Election Cycle →

Lemmons, Ray W. – Of Medford July 13, 2022.
Former husband and friend of Michelle Lemmons.
Loving father of Christopher Lemmons and his partner Nicole Smith of Stoneham, Shayla, Safiya and Jayson Lemmons all of Medford. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Ray Lemmons →

“Yart” Sale (yard sale + art show) returns this year on Saturday, August 13, to transform yards, stoops, and porches into one giant open-air art sale and display. Continue reading “Yart” Sale – August 13 →

Somerville’s Municipal Scholarship Committee is seeking to fill one vacancy for a three-year term, and all Somerville residents are invited to apply. This committee awards scholarships to high school graduates to use toward their higher education expenses. Funding for the scholarships comes from voluntary contributions made by Somerville taxpayers. Continue reading Join the Municipal Scholarship Committee →

Starting Saturday, July 16, the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will be available 24/7, 365 days a year in Massachusetts and across the country. 988 is a direct three-digit phone line to trained National Suicide Prevention Lifeline call takers. With an easy to remember number like 988, the Lifeline hopes to reach many more people in emotional crisis and connect those to services if needed.
Continue reading 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Starts July 16 →

I Voted stickers spread out on a wooden table
The City of Somerville is hiring polling place workers for the upcoming 2022 election cycle. Hundreds of poll workers will be needed this year to conduct a successful election. Here are the basics: Continue reading Work at a Polling Place This Election Season →

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 5 City Councilor Beatriz Gómez Mouakad, and City staff invite you to a virtual community meeting to discuss the expansion and renovation of Junction Park, located off of Central Street near the Community Path extension. Continue reading Somerville Junction Park Expansion & Renovation Virtual Meeting, July 26 →

$293 million FY23 budget delivers on urgent needs and lays foundation for longer-term progress across all departments
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Major investments include largest increase in history for Somerville Public Schools, nearly $8.3 million for affordable housing, and $1 million for participatory budgeting Continue reading Somerville Enters New Fiscal Year with Historic Investments Planned for Youth, Affordable Housing, Sustainability, & More →

Denise Donahue Foscarota, born on April 22, 1966, passed peacefully at home with her family by her side on July 16, 2022 at the age of 56.
Denise was truly loved by all who knew her. Cherished daughter of the late Philip C. and Sandra Donahue, Denise was the beloved wife of John Foscarota and loving mother to son, Richard Foscarota of Somerville, MA. She was a dear sister to Philip R. Donahue and wife Janice, Mark Donahue and wife Maureen, and Keith Donahue and a special godmother to Renee Marzullo and Jessica Colleameno. She was a loving aunt to Renee Marzullo, Patrick, Connor, Julia, John, Paul, and Rachel Donahue, Kayla and John Foscarota, and Emily Hight. Denise will be deeply missed by the many aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and lifelong friends who all loved her dearly. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Denise Donahue Foscarota →