Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 20, 2023 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST: Start off following the 20232024 Legislature with something that you will read every weekday morning. There aren’t many things out there that are free and valuable. But MASSterlist is a rarity. Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writer Matt Murphy with help from Keith Regan who introduce each article in their own clever and inimitable way. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what ’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/ aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House and Senate last week. “THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW” – Friday, January 20 at 5 p.m. is the “soft deadline” for legislation to be filed for consideration by the Legislature during the 2023-2024 legislative session. However, under House and Senate rules, bills filed after January 20 can still be admitted to the Legislature following the deadline if the Legislature agrees to admit it by a four-fifths vote of the members of the branch where the bill is introduced. Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that give citizens the “right of free petition”—the power to propose their own legislation. A citizen’s proposal can be filed in conjunction with his or her representative or senator or any other representative or senator from another district. Sometimes a legislator will support the legislation and sponsor it along with the constituent. Other times, a legislator might disagree with the bill but will file it anyway as a courtesy. In those cases, the bill is listed as being filed “by request”— indicating that the legislator is doing so at the request of the constituent and does not necessarily support it. Citizens that are interested in filing legislation should conPUBLIC AUCTION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH AT 2:00 PM MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE • MELROSE • 8 ROOM / 4 BEDROOM 2-STORY COLONIAL STYLE HOME ±1/3 ACRE ON 662 Franklin Street FEATURES: MELROSE, MA TO BE SOLD ON THE PREMISES • 2 Story Colonial Style Home • ±13,052 S/F Of Land • • Total Of (8) Rooms w/ (4) Bedrooms & (2 ½) Baths • • ±3,932 S/F of Gross Living Area Above Grade • Oil Hot Water Baseboard Heat • • Full Basement • Fireplace • Open Porch • Public Water & Sewer • • Clapboard Siding • Zoned: URA • Assessor’s Parcel # B12-0000068 • % ONE CAR BUILT-IN GARAGE % SALE PER ORDER OF MORTGAGEE Attorney Oscar L Suarez Of The Firm Of Halloran & Sage, LLP, 225 Asylum Street, Hartford, CT Attorney for Mortgagee TERMS OF SALE: $20,000.00 Aaron Posnik AUCTIONEERS • APPRAISERS Deposit Cash Or Certified Funds 5% Buyer’s Premium Applies Other Terms To Be Announced At Time Of Sale West Springfield, MA • Philadelphia, PA 413-733-5238 • 610-853-6655 TOLL FREE 1-877-POSNIK1 • (767-6451) MA Auc Lic #161 • PA Auc Lic #AY000241L Web: www.posnik.com • Email: info@posnik.com tact their own or any other representative or senator. The legislator will likely help you draft the language of the bill. Perhaps one of the most famous bills filed “by request” goes all the way back to 1969 when a constituent opposed to the Vietnam War asked the late Newton Democratic Rep. James Shea to file a bill prohibiting Massachusetts citizens from being forced to fight in an “undeclared war.” The bill challenged the constitutionality of sending Bay State men to fight without a Congressional declaration of war. It was approved by the House and Senate and signed by the late Gov. Frank Sargent. The new law made national headlines. To comply with the new law, Massachusetts initially filed a complaint in the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court declined to hear the case, which was later refiled in the U.S. District Court federal court and dismissed— rejecting the state’s argument that President Richard Nixon had usurped the war-making powers of Congress. In a tragic footnote, Rep. Shea committed suicide in the fall of the year the legislation passed. ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL FOOD INSECURITY EVENT - As the costs for basic necessities rise, more Massachusetts residents living on the economic margins must choose between buying groceries and paying for housing, transportation, childcare and other basic utilities. It’s a dilemma that plays out in hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts households every day. Hunger and access to proper nutrition remain pervasive, with nearly 1 in 3 adults experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts in 2021. Join a State House News Service/MASSterList forum featuring leaders, advocates, and experts for a discussion of opportunities and obstacles for Massachusetts to stem food insecurity. The event is at Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)in Boston’s Downtown Crossing at 10 Winter Place, Suite #4751 at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, January 25. U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern will provide keynote remarks. All ticket proceeds benefit The Greater Boston Food Bank. Tickets are available at MASSterList.com/ BEACON | SEE PAGE 19 Sa nir Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller When Can I Change Wh C I Ch My Medicare Coverage? Dear Savvy Senior, Is it possible to make changes to my Medicare coverage now? I know we’ve passed the fall open enrollment period, but I’ve heard that there are other times of the year benefi ciaries can make changes. What can you tell me? Changed My Mind Dear Changed, Yes! The annual Medicare open enrollment period isn’t your only opportunity to swap out Medicare coverage. There are other opportunities, but the timing of when you can make those changes depends on your specifi c circumstances and the kind of Medicare coverage you have. Here’s what you should know. Medicare Advantage Change If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may be able to use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which occurs each year from Jan. 1 through March 31. During this period, you can switch from your current Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan or to original Medicare with or without a prescription drug plan. You can only make one change during this period, and it will be eff ective the fi rst of the next month after you make the change. Special Enrollment Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to change your Medicare health and drug coverage. There are a number of circumstances in which you may have a Special Enrollment Period, such as if you moved outside of your plan’s service area, your Medicare Advantage Plan terminated a signifi cant amount of its network providers, or you are enrolled in a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program. Those with Extra Help – the federal program that helps pay for drug costs – also have a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in a Part D plan, or switch between plans once per quarter in the fi rst three quarters of the year. If you need to make changes to your coverage but aren’t sure whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free Medicare counseling. To fi nd a SHIP counselor in your area visit ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2675. Also, be aware that if you’re enrolled in a Medicare plan by mistake or because of misleading information, you may be able to disenroll and change plans. Typically, you have the right to change plans if you joined unintentionally, joined based on incorrect or misleading information, or, through no fault of your own, were kept in a plan you did not want. To get help, call Medicare at 800-633-4227 and explain to a customer service representative how you joined the plan by mistake and to request retroactive disenrollment or a Special Enrollment Period. Fall Open Enrollment As you noted in your question, there’s also the Fall Open Enrollment Period that allows all Medicare benefi ciaries – those with original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans – to make changes. The Fall Open Enrollment Period occurs each year from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. During this period, you can join a new Medicare Advantage Plan or stand-alone prescription drug plan (Part D) plan. You can also switch between Original Medicare with or without a Part D plan and Medicare Advantage. You can make as many changes as you need during this period, and your last coverage choice will take effect Jan. 1. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior
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