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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 mornings 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 writers Keith Regan and Matt Murphy 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: BHRC records local representatives votes on six roll calls from the week of April 24-28. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week. All roll calls in the House were on matters relating to House passage of a $56.2 billion fiscal 2024 state budget. A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE BUDGET “DEBATE” Most of the decisions on which representatives’ amendments are included or not included in the budget are made behind closed doors. Of the 1,573 budget amendments proposed, most of them were bundled into consolidated “mega” amendments. This year there were seven mega amendments and all but one, which had just one vote against it, were approved unanimously. There is no real “debate” on the House floor. Everyone who spoke on any of the consolidated amendments spoke in favor of them. The system works as follows: Individual representatives file amendments on various topics. All members then pitch their SOFTBALL | FROM PAGE 18 has a 2.33 earned run average. The team’s leaders in batting average are so far: Emilia Maria-Babcock (.641), Ashley Seward (.515) and Alexa Uga (.514). Seward (5), Bryanna Mason (4), Maria-Babcock (3), Uga (2), Gianna Masucci (2), Kayley Rossi (2), Emma Longmore (2) and Skane (1) amendments to Democratic leaders who draft consolidated amendments that include some of the individual representatives’ amendments while excluding others. The categories of consolidated amendments include many subjects including programs relating to public safety, judiciary energy, environmental affairs, housing,labor and economic development. Supporters of the system say THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 5, 2023 (D-Quincy). “This budget builds off the that any representative who sponsored an excluded amendment can bring it to the floor and ask for an up or down vote on the amendment itself. They say this system has worked well for many years. Opponents say that rarely, if ever, does a member bring his or her amendment to the floor for an up-or-down vote because that is not the way the game is played. It is an “expected tradition” that you accept the fate of your amendment as determined by Democratic leaders. Rep. Russell Holmes (D-Boston) was the only member who voted against one of the consolidated amendments - the one that added an estimated $10.5 million in spending on Public Safety and the Judiciary. HOUSE APPROVES $56.2 BILLION FISCAL 2024 STATE BUDGET (H 3900) House 156-0, approved and sent to the Senate a $56.2 billion fiscal 2024 state budget after adding an estimated $120 million in spending during three days of debate. The House version now goes to the Senate which will approve a different version. A House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and then sent to the governor. “From critical investments in health care and workforce development, to funding for new initiatives that are designed to increase educational opportunities, better support working families, and provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system, the House’s fiscal year 2024 budget will help to make Massachusetts more affordable for residents, while allocating support for the commonwealth’s most consequential institutions,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano are the homerun leaders. Seward (18), Uga (17), Rossi (16), Maria-Babcock (15), Longmore (15), Masucci (11), Skane (11) and Bryanna Mason (10) lead the way in RBI. Maria-Babcock (9) and Longmore (7) are the two top base stealers. Longmore (17) has garnered the most walks on the team throughout the first half of the regular season. successes of the last few years by prioritizing our residents. Whether it is greater investments into programs like housing stability, food security or early education, these initiatives are a reflection of our shared values,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “By reinvesting in the people of the commonwealth, we will continue to assist those recovering from this pandemic while making our economy more competitive and equitable for years to come.” (A “Yes” vote is for the budget.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes TAX REVENUE FROM MILLIONAIRE’S TAX (H 3900) House 25-132, rejected an amendment that would remove a section in the budget that exempts tax revenue generated from the recently voter-approved Millionaire Tax from counting toward the allowable state tax revenue limitations, under Chapter 62F, which provides that whenever revenue collections in a fiscal year exceed an annual cap tied to wage and salary growth, the excess is returned to taxpayers. Last year, Page 19 $3 billion in refunds were returned to taxpayers when the law was triggered for just the second time since its passage in 1986. The revenue from the Millionaire Tax is deposited into the new Education and Transportation Stabilization Fund. “There is no justification for excluding the Millionaire Tax revenues from the Chapter 62F calculations, as all other taxes including taxes constitutionally designated towards specific uses like the gas tax, are included in the current calculation, and tax rate increases have not been held aside from the formula previously,” said amendment sponsor GOP House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “Attempting to exclude these revenues is a slap in the face to the state’s taxpayers and the voters who supported this ballot question.” Amendment opponents said the amendment will put the new revenue in jeopardy and argued this new revenue is earmarked for education and transportation and must be protected and treated differently than other tax revenue. Revenue Committee House chair Mark Cusack (D-Braintree) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on why he urged representatives to vote against the - LEGAL NOTICE - CITY OF EVERETT amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that favors tax revenue generated from the recently voter-approved Millionaire Tax counting toward the allowable state tax revenue limitations. A “No” vote is against the amendment and supports exempting the revenue from the allowable state tax revenue limitations.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No CONSOLIDATED AMENDMENT ON LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (H 3900) House 157-0, approved a $31.5 million consolidated amendment that funds labor and economic development programs. “We are continuing to see positive data with jobs, unemployment rates and the labor market,” said Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury), House chair of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “These datapoints tell us that the investments we’ve made in our workforce are having a positive impact. This House budget we approved … continues this trajectory by investing more resources in our people.” BEACON | SEE PAGE 20 PUBLIC HEARING FOR PETITION FROM MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A NATIONAL GRID OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS To all parties interested in the public hearing. Be it hereby ordered: Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid of North Andover, Massachusetts, that it desires to construct a line of underground electric conduits, including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures, under and across the public way or ways hereinafter named. The following are the streets and highways referred to: Plan # 30737609 Boston St - National Grid to install beginning at a point approximately 50 feet southwest of the centerline of the intersection of Boston St and Vale St and continuing approximately 15 feet in a southeast direction. Install 2-4” Conduits 15’ +/- from proposed Pole # 3145 on Boston St to customer’s property at 85 Boston St for new service. Wherefore it prays that after due notice and hearing as provided by law, it be granted permission to excavate the public highways and to run and maintain underground electric conduits, together with such sustaining and protecting fixtures as it may find necessary for the transmission of electricity, said underground conduits to be located substantially in accordance with the plan filed herewith marked: Boston Street - Everett - Massachusetts. Hearing to be held with the Everett City Council, held on Monday at 7:00PM, on the 22nd of May, 2023 at the Everett City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, Everett City Hall. May 05, 2023

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