This Week’s QUOTABLE QUOTES on Beacon Hill

By Bob Katzen

“One of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, not only among low-income individuals but also for youth, is to significantly increase the tax on all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Multiple studies have shown that every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4 percent among adults and about 7 percent among youth.”
—The American Lung Association recommending that Massachusetts lawmakers increase the state’s current $3.51 per pack tax on cigarettes by at least $1. Continue reading This Week’s QUOTABLE QUOTES on Beacon Hill

RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE FROM $15 PER HOUR TO $20 PER HOUSE (HD 3965)

By Bob Katzen

This bill would increase, over a 4-year period (2024-2027), the minimum wage from $15 per hour to $20 per hour; and the tipped worker minimum from $6.75 to $12, increasing it from 45 percent of minimum wage to 60 percent of it. Another provision beginning in 2028, would index the minimum wage for inflation, using the consumer price index. Continue reading RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE FROM $15 PER HOUR TO $20 PER HOUSE (HD 3965)

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

By Bob Katzen

6,403 BILLS FILED FOR CONSIDERATION IN 2023-2024 SESSION – Legislators filed 6,403 pieces of legislation by the January 20 deadline. The 159 House members filed 4,050 while the 40 senators filed 2,353. Here are some of the 6,403:

HEARING AIDS (HD 3777) – Would require all health care plans to provide hearing aid coverage of up to $500 per hearing aid and then 80 percent coverage of the next $1,500 for each hearing aid.
Continue reading ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

POST HOW REPRESENTATIVES VOTED ON BILLS IN COMMITTEE (H 3930)

By Bob Katzen

The House 38-121 and 41-117, rejected two similar amendments that would require that committees make public how each legislator on the committee voted on whether or not to favorably report a bill to the House. This would replace a section that would only post the names of legislators who voted against the bill and list the aggregate vote tally without names, of members voting in the affirmative or not voting. Continue reading POST HOW REPRESENTATIVES VOTED ON BILLS IN COMMITTEE (H 3930)

SOMERVILLE Comcast License Renewal Public Hearing Mon, February 13, 2023, 6 p.m.

Comcast License Renewal Public Hearing

Monday, February 13, 2023, 6 p.m.

All interested persons are invited to a public hearing on the draft proposal for the license renewal of Comcast Cable. The proposal sets guidelines for operations, service provision, licensing fees, and in-kind and capital contributions to the City via a federally regulated process for municipal issuance of local cable franchise licenses. Continue reading SOMERVILLE Comcast License Renewal Public Hearing Mon, February 13, 2023, 6 p.m.