By Bob Katzen

Senate 35-4, upheld the ruling of Sen. Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont), the acting Senate president at the time of the ruling, that ten amendments which proposed tax reductions will be prohibited from being debate and voted on by the Senate.

The proposed tax reductions include a reduction in the income tax, short term capital gains tax, estate tax, tax on overtime work and tax on tips.

Sen. Brownsberger said the ten tax reduction amendments would technically turn the state budget into a money bill and noted that under the Massachusetts Constitution, all money bills must originate in the House of Representatives.

Opponents of the ruling said the ruling is misguided and inappropriate and argued this is simply a way to avoid Democrats going on record as voting “No” on tax cuts. They noted that amendments that raise, not lower taxes, would make the bill a money bill.

(A “Yes” vote supports the ruling that prohibits the tax reductions amendments from being debated and voted on by the Senate. A “No” vote is against the ruling and favors allowing the tax reduction amendments to be debated and voted upon.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes