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Page 22 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2022 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – 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 infl uence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Chris Van Buskirk and 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: www.massterlist.com/subscribe THE HOUSE AND SENATE. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on recent roll calls from January 27. All the roll calls are on proposed amendments to the bill making changes in the state’s election laws including making permanent the mail-in and early voting options used in Massachusetts in 2020. The House and Senate have approved different versions of the legislation and a conference committee has been appointed to hammer out a compromise version that would then be sent to Gov. Charlie Baker for his signature. RAISE PENALTIES FOR VOTER FRAUD (H 4359) House 32-126, rejected an amendment to a current law that imposes up to a $10,000 fi ne and/or up to a 5-year prison sentence on anyone who knowingly engages in any type of voting fraud including illegally registering to vote; illegally voting or attempting to vote; voting more than once; and aiding and abetting a person who is illegally voting. The amendment would raise the fi ne to up to $20,000. “Maintaining the integrity of our elections is of paramount importance and is not a partisan issue,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading), the sponsor of the amendment. “Expanding the existing fi - nancial penalties for those individuals who knowingly attempt to engage in voting fraud will provide a strong deterrent to help prevent this type of illegal activity.” “We’re in agreement,” said Rep. Dan Ryan (D-Charlestown), the House chair of the Elections Laws Committee. “Of course we all want safe and secure elections. That’s why we are here … there are safeguards already in place, in Massachusetts General Law, to prevent such fraud and abuse of our electoral system. And study after study has also shown that election fraud is not as prevalent as some might think it is, or as folks purport it to be. So therefore $10,000 seems like an appropriate deterrent to election fraud. So I ask for a ‘No’ vote on the amendment, as what is in place is currently working.” (A “Yes” vote is for raising the fi ne to up to $20,000. A “No” vote is against raising it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF RESIDENCY (H 4359) House 28-130, rejected an amendment that would require that any polling place that requires a voter to prove he or she is vaccinated, by presenting his or her vaccination card, to also show suitable identifi cation to demonstrate proof of residence to the local election offi cer. “The amendment would require that if vaccination status was required to enter a polling location, then the poll officials would be required to verify the identity of the card holder,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Peter Durant (R-Spencer). “The reasoning behind the amendment was to ensure that if the local officials required a vaccine, then they should verify that the person was indeed the one named on the card.” “Thank you for the spirited debate,” said Election Laws Committee House chair Dan Ryan. As I mentioned in a previous response to [this] amendment, mandates requiring proof of vaccination have not been extended to voting sites. Therefore, I would ask for a ‘No’ vote on this amendment.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment requiring a voter to show suitable identifi cation. A “No” vote is against requiring it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No SECURE VOTING MACHINES (H 4359) House 29-128, rejected an amendment that would require that any voting software or voting machine that is used to process early, absentee or mail-in voting prior to Election Day must be secured at all times once the processing has begun. At the end of each processing period, the machine, software and ballots must be secured by a police offi cer and an election offi cial either in a secured vault at the city or town hall or at the police station in a private cell—and must remain under video surveillance. Amendment sponsor Rep. Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk) said BHRC | SEE PAGE 23 OBITUARIES Gerardo M. Picardi Gerardo M., “Jerry” 83, passed away, February 9, 2022, at home surrounded by his loving family. He leaves his beloved wife of 62 years, Carmela (DiPierro), their children, Natalina Colucci and her husband Stefano of Stoneham, Doris Picardi of Everett, Maria Ingrando and her husband Jeff rey of Everett, Lisa Picardi of Everett and her fi ance Max, his loving grandchildren, Angelo, Daniela, Gerardo, Julianna, Geoff rey, Gina and Sophia; his brothers Giovanni and his late wife Letizia, Carlo and his wife Caterina, all of Chiusano San Domenico, Italy; his sister Francesca “Nina” and her husband Emidio of Florence, Italy; his sister-in-law Giuseppina also of Chiusano San Domenico, Italy. He is predeceased by his parents Michele and Natalina (Santoro), his brother Antonio and his wife Carmela and his brother Soccorso. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews that he adored. When Gerardo was well you would fi nd him in his notorious garden at the house on the corner among the many vegetables he grew, feeding his bunnies, or in front of Square Drug after picking up the Italian newspaper discussing the daily news with his friends. He was an avid Inter Milan soccer fan and spent his Sunday mornings in the North End watching soccer games. He was passionate about his yearly collection for San Michele that he did for his hometown in Italy. He made sure every person he collected from was listed and their names were read during the feast back home. His funeral Service will be held Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Saint Anthony’s Church, 38 Oakes St., Everett. Burial will be immediately following at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Salvatore Rocco and Sons Funeral Home, 331 Main Street, Everett from 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 14, 2022. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 or www.alz.org. GREATER BOSTON LEAGUE NOTEBOOK: GBL Fall All-Star Teams feature some solid performers Everett, Malden and Revere players are named to League All-Star Teams By Steve Freker T he Greater Boston League named its Fall All-Star Teams and many players from the Advocate's readership area of Everett, Malden and Revere. Following are the GBL Football All-Stars: Everett — Jayden Clerveaux– MVP, Ismael Zamor, Cam Mohammed, Moses Seide, Jaylen Murphy, Jayden Biggi, Marcus Scott, Syeed Gibbs Revere — Augusto Goncalves, Mark Marchese, Max Doucette, Wilmer Rodriguez Mejia, Elmahdi El Kaouakibi Malden — Justin Desimone, Mackenley Anasthal Coach of the Year: Rob DiLoreto (Everett) ***** Following are the Boys Soccer All-Stars: Everett— Luan Cruz, Guilherme Moraes Malden— Ama Chettri, Josh Angulo-Gonzlaez GBL | SEE PAGE 24

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