Volume 37-Report No. 31  •  August 6, 2010
Copyright © 2010 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. By Bob Katzen
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THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records the votes of local representatives on two votes and senators on three roll calls from prior sessions during the week of July 26-31.

Our Legislators in the House and Senate for Somerville:

Rep. Denise Provost
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Twenty-seventh Middlesex. – Consisting of precinct 3 of ward 2, all precincts of ward 3, precinct 3 of ward 4, and all precincts of wards 5 and 6, of the city of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex.

Rep. Carl Sciortino
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Thirty-fourth Middlesex. – Consisting of all precincts in wards 4 and 5, precinct 1 of ward 7, and precinct 2 of ward 8, of the city of Medford, precincts 1 and 2 of ward 4, and all precincts of ward 7, of the city of Somerville, both in the county of Middlesex.

Rep. Timothy Toomey
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Twenty-sixth Middlesex. – Consisting of all precincts of ward 1, precinct 1 of ward 2, precincts 1 and 2 of ward 3, and precinct 1 of ward 6, of the city of Cambridge, and all precincts of ward 1 and precincts 1 and 2 of ward 2, of the city of Somerville, both in the county of Middlesex.

Sen. Sal DiDomenico
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: MIDDLESEX, SUFFOLK AND ESSEX. – Cambridge, ward 3, precinct 2, wards 6 and 7, ward 8, precincts 1 and 2, ward 9, precinct 1, ward 10, precinct 2, Everett and Somerville, ward 1, precinct 1, ward 2, precinct 1, in the county of Middlesex; Boston, ward 2, ward 21, precincts 4, 6 and 7, ward 22, precincts 1, 2 and 5, Chelsea and Revere, ward 6, in the county of Suffolk; and Saugus, precincts 2, 6 and 10, in the county of Essex.

Sen. Patricia Jehlen
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: SECOND MIDDLESEX. – Medford, Somerville, ward 1, precincts 2 and 3, ward 2, precincts 2 and 3, and wards 3 to 7, inclusive, Woburn, ward 2, and Winchester.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REORGANIZATION (S 2582)
House 151-2, Senate 39-0, approved and Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law the conference committee version of a bill that would reorganize the state’s economic development agencies.
Provisions consolidate agencies that play a role in attracting business to the state into the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership, which would act as the state’s central marketing organization; eliminate the Massachusetts Sports and Entertainment Commission and the Massachusetts Industrial Development Authority; create a state sales tax-free holiday on August 14 and 15; reduce from 5.3 percent to 3 percent the capital gains tax rate on investments made by individual investors in Massachusetts-based start-up companies that are held for more than three years and raise from the current $2,000 to $7,000 the maximum amount for which a plaintiff is allowed to sue in small claims court.
The package does not repeal the 2008 law that prohibits drug firms from giving gifts and meals to doctors and other health care professionals. That repeal was in the House version of the bill but was taken out by the conference committee.
Supporters said that the bill would streamline the state’s economic development system and ensure accountability and efficiency from all agencies. They noted that the measure is designed to make it easier for small businesses to communicate and interact with the state by eliminating redundant state agencies and restructuring state services so they are better in line with the needs of small businesses. They argued that all these important changes would make the state more business-friendly and create jobs.
Opponents offered no arguments. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against the bill.)
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Rep. Denise Provost        Yes
Rep. Carl Sciortino          Yes
Rep. Timothy Toomey    Yes
Sen. Sal DiDomenico      Yes
Sen. Patricia Jehlen        Yes

REQUIRE OBAMA APPROVAL OF BAY STATE IRAN SANCTIONS (H 4297)
House 19-134, rejected an amendment to the bill requiring the $50 billion state pension fund to divest its holdings in foreign companies doing business related to petroleum with Iran. The amendment prohibits the divestiture from taking place until the state receives written communication from President Obama declaring that this act is compatible with the conduct of United States foreign policy.
Amendment supporters said that the federal government is responsible for determining foreign policy and that the state should not be involved in this area.
Amendment opponents said that the state has a right to determine where to invest its employees’ retirement money. They noted that Iran is one of the most evil and dangerous nations in the world and is working toward developing a nuclear bomb and the destruction of Israel. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment requiring presidential approval. A “No” vote is against requiring presidential approval.)
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Rep. Denise Provost        Yes
Rep. Carl Sciortino          Yes
Rep. Timothy Toomey    No

$12.5 MILLION FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING (H 4800)
Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Patrick’s $12.5 veto reduction (from $24 million to $11.5 million) in funding for workforce training grants. These funds come from the Workforce Training Fund that was established in 1998 and is financed by Massachusetts employers.
Supporters of keeping the $12.5 million said it is important during this time of high unemployment to fund these grants that provide resources to Massachusetts businesses to train employees and improve their skills.
In his veto message, Patrick said there is $10 million for this program that was not spent last year. He noted that combined with the $11.5 million that remains following his veto, there would still be $21 million left for this important program. (A “Yes” vote is for overriding Patrick’s reduction and for keeping the $12.5 million.)
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Sen. Sal DiDomenico      Yes
Sen. Patricia Jehlen        Yes

LIMIT DEBATE ON CASINO GAMBLING (H 5000)
Senate 24-15, approved a motion to limit debate on the bill that would authorize three resort casinos and two slot parlors in the state to 30 minutes.
Supporters of the limit said the bill has been debated extensively for weeks. They noted it is time to move ahead with the vote on the proposal.
Opponents of the limit said this new version of the bill has not been debated at all. They argued that members should be given ample time to read and debate the bill. (A “Yes” vote is for limiting debate to 30 minutes. A “No” vote is against the limit.)
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Sen. Sal DiDomenico      Yes
Sen. Patricia Jehlen        No

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

CASINO BILL STUCK (H 5000) – Gov. Patrick refused to sign the bill creating three resort casinos and two slot parlors in the state. The governor instead proposed to replace the Legislature’s proposal with one that provides for the three casinos but no slot parlors.
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The governor last week signed into law the following bills:
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CHANGE CORI AND SENTENCING LAWS (S 2583) – This bill makes changes in the state’s Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and mandatory sentencing laws. The measure allows certain entities access to CORI information on felony convictions for ten years after the offender’s release from jail and on misdemeanor charges for five years. Currently, records are sealed after 15 years for felonies and ten years on misdemeanors. Other provisions allow some non-violent offenders sentenced to mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related crimes to be eligible for parole upon serving one-half of their sentences in a house of corrections; add certain illegal gun possession charges to the list of crimes for which a prosecutor may move for pre-trial detention based on dangerousness and prohibit convicted sex offenders from working as ice cream truck vendors.

AUTISM (H 4935) – This bill requires health insurance plans to include coverage for some treatments of autism.  Supporters said it is unfair and irresponsible that Massachusetts does not mandate this coverage. Opponents said that they sympathize with children with autism but argued that the mandate would further increase the rising cost of health insurance for businesses.

NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE (H 4156) – This legislation makes Massachusetts a member of the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote. The agreement requires states that join the pact to cast all of their electoral votes for the presidential candidate who wins a majority of the national popular vote in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The pact would become effective when states representing at least 270 electoral votes – a majority of the 538-vote Electoral College – join this compact.

DIVEST FROM IRAN (H 4297) – This measure requires the $50 billion state pension fund to divest its holdings in foreign companies doing business related to petroleum with Iran.
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QUOTABLE QUOTES – SPECIAL CASINO GAMLING ISSUE

“This is a great guy and a great speaker.” – Gov. Patrick complimenting House Speaker Robert DeLeo on WTKK Radio

“By failing to sign this compromise gaming legislation or allowing it to become law, Gov. Patrick has decided to kill the prospects of 15,000 new jobs and immediate local aid revenue for cities and towns.” – House Speaker Robert DeLeo

“Make no mistake, it is absolutely the governor’s responsibility to deliver jobs and Patrick is throwing away the prospect of creating 15,000 of them in the Commonwealth. When I am governor, that is going to change.” – State Treasurer and Independent gubernatorial candidate Timothy Cahill

“Gov. Patrick has been a completely ineffective leader and this is the latest proof that it’s time for new leadership.” – GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker

“It’s a pathetic commentary on the mentality on Beacon Hill, that this is all they can come up with.” – Green-Rainbow gubernatorial candidate Jill Stein

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.
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During the week of August 2-6, the House met for a total of 33 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 22 minutes.

Monday August 2

No House session
Senate  11:00 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.

Tuesday August 3

No House session
No Senate session

Wednesday August 4

House  11:02 a.m. to 11:20 a.m
No Senate session

Thursday August 5

House 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Senate  11:05 a.m. to 11:17 a.m.

Friday August 6

No House session
No Senate session

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Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com