THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 Page 13 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen A note from Bob Katzen, Publisher of Beacon Hill Roll Call: Join me this Sunday night and every Sunday night in our new time slot between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for my talk show “The Bob Katzen Baby Boomer and Gen X Show.” Jump in my time capsule and come back to the simpler days of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. There are many ways you can listen to the show from anywhere in the world: If you have a smart speaker, simply say, “Play WMEX on Audacy.com ” Download the free www.Audacy.com app on your phone or tablet Listen online at www.wmexboston.com Or tune into 1510 AM if you have an AM radio THE HOUSE AND SENATE: In keeping with tradition, there were no formal sessions of the House and Senate last week which was April vacation week for Bay State students. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on proposed amendments filed by representatives and senators to amend the state constitution. Any proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by legislators needs the votes of a majority of the 200-member Legislature in the 2021-2022 session and the same in the 2023-2024 session in order to appear on the November 2024 ballot for voters to decide. None of these proposals have yet been approved, but hearings have already been held on most of them. LIMIT JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS TO SEVEN YEARS (H 81) – Limits judicial appointments to seven years but allows judges to be re-appointed by the governor for an unlimited number of years every seven years. The appointment would have to be approved by the Governor’s Council as required under current law. “The people of Massachusetts should have the power to remove government offi cials in any position who are not doing or are unable to do their jobs,” said the measure’s sponsor Rep. Tom Golden (D-Lowell.) “Establishing term and tenure limits would help to ensure that judges do not stay in offi ce beyond the point at which they are eff ective.” PROHIBIT EMINENT DOMAIN TAKINGS OF LAND (H 82) – Prohibits the state from taking land by eminent domain from property owners for private commercial or economic development. “The right to own property is a widely recognized principle in the commonwealth, and one I believe should be fi rmly protected,” said GOP House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading), the sponsor of the amendment. “[The bill] will ensure that eminent domain proceedings are limited to those instances where it is necessary for the good of the entire community, and not for the economic benefi t of a limited class of persons. This bill strikes a balance between two competing but legitimate realities—the need of the government to acquire land to serve the public good and the rights of private citizens to own property.” PROHIBIT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS FROM RESTRICTING FREEDOM AND EQUALITY (S 20) – Prohibits the proposal of any future constitutional amendment that would restrict the rights to freedom and equality that are in the constitution, or the right of each individual to be protected by society’s laws in the enjoyment of life, liberty and property. “Under the current constitutional scheme there is nothing to stop a group from attempting to repeal or abridge certain constitutional rights through the initiative process,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “Subjecting such important rights to a popular vote or a fl eeting change in political winds is unconscionable and should not be allowed.” EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW (S 21 and H 83) – Expands a part of the constitution that currently provides that equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed or national origin. The measure adds “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the section. Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-WeyBHRC | SEE PAGE 14
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