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Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 31, 2024 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 influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. 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/aPTLucKs THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ and representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of May 20-24. All Senate roll calls were related to the Senate version of a $55.9 billion fiscal 2025 state budget. “BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE SENATE BUDGET DEBATE” Of the 1,100 amendments filed by senators, only 41 came to a roll call vote. Many others were simply approved or rejected one at a time on voice votes, some with debate and some without debate. To move things along even faster, the Senate also did its usual “bundling” of many amendments. Instead of acting on each amendment one at a time, hundreds of the proposed amendments are bundled and put into two piles—one pile that will be approved and the other that will be rejected, without a roll call, on voice votes where it is impossible to tell which way a senator votes. Senate President Karen Spilka, or the senator who is filling in for her at the podium, orchestrates the approval and rejection of the bundled amendments with a simple: “All those in favor say ‘Aye,’ those opposed say ‘No.’ The Ayes have it and the amendments are approved.” Or: “All those in favor say ‘Aye,’ those opposed say ‘No.’ The No’s have it and the amendments are rejected.” Senators don’t actually vote Yes or No, and, in fact, they don’t say a word. The outcome was predetermined earlier behind closed doors. Supporters of the system say that any senator who sponsored an amendment that is in the “No” pile 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. VETERANS BENEFITS (H 4661) House 156-0, approved and sent to the Senate a package designed to benefit veterans in the Bay State by broadening the - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Middlesex Probate and Family Court 10-U Commerce Way Woburn, MA 01801 (781) 865-4000 Docket No. MI24C0495CA In the matter of: BELLA ALEXANDRA MORETA CITATION ON PETITION TO CHANGE NAME A Petition to Change Name of Minor has been filed by: Bella Alexandra Moreta of Everett, MA requesting that the court enter a Decree changing their name to: Bella Alexandra Moreta Cine. IMPORTANT NOTICE Any person may appear for purposes of objecting to the petition by filing an appearance at: Middlesex Probate and Family Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 06/20/2024. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance if you object to this proceeding. WITNESS, Hon. Terri L. Klug Cafazzo, First Justice of this Court. Date: May 22, 2024 TARA E. DeCRISTOFARO Register of Probate May 31, 2024 definition of a veteran, increasing tax credits and state benefits for which they are eligible and modernizing the services on which they rely. Provisions include providing a medical assistance benefit, behavioral health assistance benefit and dental benefit beyond other benefits available to veterans; increasing from $2,000 to $2,250 and then to $2,500 the annuity for blind, paraplegic or veterans with disabilities; allowing municipalities to annually increase local property tax abatements for veterans in an amount equal to the increase in cost of living determined by the Consumer Price Index for the year; increasing from $2,000 to $2,500 the amount of a tax credit for each qualified veteran hired by an employer and for subsequent years of continued employment of each veteran; creating a working group to study and make recommendations on the use of psychedelics as an alternative therapy for mental health treatments for veterans; and allowing certain veteran’s organizations to be approved by the Gaming Commission and their local licensing authority for up to five slot machines on their premises. “[The bill] is a transformative package of reforms that will make sure our veterans and their families have access to the benefits, resources and support they deserve,” said Gov. Maura Healey. Rep. Gerard Cassidy (D-Brockton), House Chair of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, called the measure a historic piece of legislation that addresses critical quality of life issues faced every day by veterans. “It is important that we continue to honor those who served our country, and this bill highlights our commitment to their wellbeing,” said Cassidy. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes SENATE APPROVES $57.999 BILLION FISCAL 2025 BUDGET (S 3) Senate 40-0, approved a $55.9 billion fiscal 2025 state budget after adding an estimated $89.6 million in spending during three days of debate. The House has already approved a different version and a House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and sent to the governor. “[The budget includes] universally free community college and record public higher education investments,” said Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Senate chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “Significant funding for rural roads and bridges, local public health, K-12 schools, Unrestricted Government Aid, Regional Transit Authorities, food security and more.” “Today our chamber took a vote of confidence in every Massachusetts resident going to school, raising a family and working to make ends meet,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “Today we took a vote for an affordable, competitive and equitable commonwealth, This budget is an investment in our people, and it is an investment in our collective future.” “The fiscal year 2025 budget overwhelmingly passed by the Senate makes transformative investments in education, regional equity and builds upon the commonwealth’s workforce economy,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “These historic measures enable residents to remain in the state, solidifying our economic future for generations to come. The budget is also a balanced and responsible plan, centered on sustainability and regional equity by maximizing revenues and building upon the progress we’ve already made in key sectors of the state economy. With a transparent and inclusive amendment process, we were able to improve our original budget and make even further strides in our education, economic development, environmental and health and human services priorities.” Although no one voted against the budget, it wasn’t without its critics. “The State Senate seems to have only one thing on their mind: spend more, reform less,” said Paul Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. The Senate President kicked off that theme when she proposed new ‘free’ community college, which would add an unstoppable ballooning mandate for future generations of taxpayers. The Senate’s questionable priorities were also reflected in the late hours of last night, as they adopted an amendment to spend $250,000 on a new state seal and motto, when previous attempts proved unfruitful. What a colossal waste of taxpayer money. There’s no other way to view this.” Craney continued, “Senate leadership had a great opportunity to do something beneficial for the state’s economic competitiveness, but they failed to act. The income surtax was advertised to the public as a tax just for high income earners making over $1 million dollars. Then last year, the Legislature added a ‘marriage penalty’ to impose the $1 million dollar income surtax for all ‘combined’ incomes for married couples. This change in the tax policy penalizes married couples just for being married and significantly lowers the threshold from what tax proponents campaigned on. At a time when Massachusetts is desperate to keep high income earners and productive taxpayers from moving out of state, the State Senate missed probably their most important opportunity to be helpful. They had a great opportunity to strike out the marriage penalty, but instead, they chose to keep taxes high by penalizing families.” (A “Yes” vote is for the budget.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes SALES TAX HOLIDAY (S 4) Senate 5-34, rejected an amendment that would establish a 2-week sales tax holiday, from August 6, 2024 to August 19, 2024, allowing consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 without paying the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax. State law currently calls for a 2-day sales tax holiday every year. “There is no doubt that Massachusetts residents and small businesses are feeling the weight of inflation,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “By giving a 2-week tax reprieve through an extended sales tax holiday, we provided families and individuals an opportunity to make purchases without the added burden of taxes which also helps small businesses.” Amendment opponents said the Legislature has provided extensive tax relief in recent years and argued the 2-week holiday would cost $210 million which the state cannot afford. They noted that current state law already provides a 2-day sales tax holiday annually. They noted that extending the holiday is more of a feel-good policy that does little to help families. They noted the extension would actually generate little additional revenue for stores because consumers typically buy the products even without the tax-free days. (A “Yes” vote is for the 2-week sales tax holiday. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico No ABOLISH REQUIREMENT THAT COUPLES MUST FILE TAXES JOINTLY (S 4) Senate 10-29, rejected an amendment that would abolish the current requirement that Massachusetts married couples who file income tax returns jointly at the federal level do the same at the state level. Amendment supporters said that since these mararied couples are currently required to file jointly at the state level, their combined income can total more than $1 million and the 4 percent surtax applies to them and many more filers which is not what the voters approved on the November 2022 ballot question imposing the 4 percent surtax. “This amendment would have restored the original language of the surtax which would have allowed married couples in Massachusetts to file state taxes separately despite filing jointly for federal taxes,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “In doing so, couples in Massachusetts would have had the opportunity to keep more of their hard-earned income versus sending it over to the state.” Amendment opponents said requiring married couples who file jointly at the federal level to file jointly with the state is reasonable and is working well. They noted the surtax is raising more money than predicted and is alBHRC | SEE PAGE 19

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