Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 26, 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 infl uence. 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:// massterlist.com/subscribe/ THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of July 15-19.. APPROVE $58 BILLION FISCAL 2025 STATE BUDGET (H 4800) House 154-3, Senate 400, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a $58 billion fi scal 2025 state budget for the fi scal year that began July 1, 2024. The price tag represents a 1.97 billion or 3.5 percent increase over last year’s fiscal 2024 budget. The package uses more than $1 billion in one-time revenues to support the spending bill. Aside from the spending, the package makes policy changes including authorizing free community college, free rides on regional transit agencies, allowing the Massachusetts Lottery to sell its products online. A portion of the new revenue collected from online Lottery sales, estimated to be $100 million in in fi scal year 2025, would fund a permanent CommonLEGAL NOTICE City of Everett PLANNING BOARD 484 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 wealth Cares for Children grant program which provides longterm stability for high-quality and aff ordable care for families. Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) said, “This budget is a vote of confi dence in every Massachusetts resident going to school, raising a family and working to make ends meet—as well as a strong blueprint for bringing equity and opportunity to every region and resident of our state.” “This budget takes a fi scally responsible approach to making meaningful investments in areas of significant need,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “I’m proud of the fact that the … budget allocates key funding to better support Massachusetts students and families, to increase access to aff ordable health care and to provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system.” “This year’s budget includes a $2 billion spending hike with $208 million less in tax revenues,” said Rep. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) one of only three members to vote against the budget. “So Democrats dug into reserve funds to balance this budget boondoggle. Even the Massachusetts Municipal Association said this year’s budget wasn’t based in reality. The budget ‘freebies’ include free school meals, free tuition at community colleges and no-charge rides on the state’s 15 regional transit authorities. The people stuck footing the bill are the working-class and from what I’ve seen they’re struggling to pay their bills and buy groceries. I’m not sure they can withstand more tax increases when these bloated budgets eventually go belly up.” “Once again, the MassachuLEGAL NOTICE EVERETT PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Public Hearing on an application by Roland D. Hughes Property located at: 66-68 Tileston Street Site Plan Review In accordance with the provisions of M.G.L Chapter 40A and with Sections 4 and 19 of the Everett Zoning Ordinance, the Everett Planning Board will conduct a public hearing on Monday, August 5, 2024 at 6:00 PM in the Speaker George Keverian Hearing Room, Everett City Hall, Room 37, to consider the above-listed application for Site Plan Review. This proposal is for the demolition of an existing two-family dwelling and the construction of a 9-unit multifamily dwelling with 15 parking spaces. The proposed work will also include new utilities, including fire service and roof infiltration system as well as landscaping and incidental site work. 66-68 Tileston Street is a parcel of land located in the Dwelling District and is referenced by Assessor’s Department as G0-01-000074. A copy of the application and plans are on file and available in the Office of the City Clerk and the Department of Planning and Development, both located at City Hall, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 and can be inspected online anytime at: http://www.cityofeverett.com/449/Planning-Board and/or by request during regular City Hall business hours by contacting The Planning and Development Office at 617-394-2334. All persons interested in or wishing to be heard on the applications may attend and participate in the hearing by attending the hearing in Room 37 in Everett City Hall. The Agenda for the meeting will be posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law under Planning Board at: http://www.cityofeverett.com/AgendaCenter. Questions and comments can be directed in advance of the public hearing to Matt Lattanzi of the Department of Planning & Development at Matt.Lattanzi@ci.everett.ma.us or 617-394-2230. Frederick Cafasso Chairman July 19, 26, 2024 setts Legislature is the last state in the country to pass its annual budget, and once again it is the largest budget in state history,” said Paul Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “Legislators are already putting their thumb on the scale when determining the spending ratio for the income surtax funds, in which education spending is 17 percent greater than transportation, a ratio that was included in neither chamber’s original budget. House and Senate leaders also included multiple new and costly programs at a time when state revenue collections have been underperforming and a new billion dollar migrant crisis is growing. Long term, this will be very diffi cult to fi x unless these same big government spenders decide to cut the spending priorities they are passing in this budget.” (A “Yes” vote is for the budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes APPROVE FIREARMS CHANGES (H 4885) House 123-33, Senate 355, approved and sent to Gov. Healey a bill that would change some of the state’s gun laws. Provisions include cracking down on untraceable “ghost guns;” banning firearms in additional public spaces like schools, polling places and government buildings; expanding the 2018 “red fl ag” law that allows school administrators and licensed health care providers to petition a court to temporarily take firearms away from someone deemed a threat to themselves or others; closing loopholes that allow the modifi cation of legal fi rearms into illegal automatic weapons; and providing a legacy clause so all fi rearms legally owned and registered in Massachusetts as of the eff ective date of the bill will continue to be legal and may be bought and sold within the state. “Today, as we consistently do in the area of fi rearm safety, we take the lead in making the commonwealth a safer place to live by giving law enforcement the tools they need to go after ghost guns, keeping battlefi eld weapons out of our neighborhoods and keep our schools, homes, town halls and polling locations safe,” said Rep. Mike Day (D-Stoneham), House Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary. “While Washington is paralyzed by dysfunction that endangers Americans across the country, we in Massachusetts address our challenges directly and take the steps necessary to modernize our fi rearm laws to keep us safe.” “In the decade since we last updated Massachusetts’ gun statues, our nation and our commonwealth have continued to be rocked by mass shootings and gun tragedies at an alarming rate,” said Majority Leader Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “This legislation proactively addresses the root causes of gun crime to curb the epidemic of violence and prevent tragedy before it strikes. It does so by ensuring that ghost guns, Glock switches and assault-style firearms are kept off our streets and out of the wrong hands.” “While we all share the same fundamental goal: to ensure the safety and well-being of our families, our neighbors and our communities, it is critical that we approach it with a balanced perspective that respects Constitutional rights while striving for eff ective solutions that target violent crime,” said Rep. Joe McKenna (R-Sutton). “Unfortunately, the legislation passed, while well-intentioned, did not achieve that goal. The reality is that the commonwealth already has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. As a result, those who choose to exercise their Second Amendment Constitutional rights have jumped through hoops for decades to remain law-abiding citizens. Meanwhile, those intent on committing violence -- and doing so with a fi rearm -- will continue to have no regard for these proposed laws or for those already on the books.” “We were given less than 24-hours to read a 116-page bill with potentially serious legal repercussions for lawful fi rearm owners in a state that already has some of the most stringent gun laws in the country,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman BEACON | SEE PAGE 15
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