Page 28 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, NOVEmbER 3, 2023 BEACON | FROM PAGE 23 –The Revenue Committee held a hearing on legislation that would give taxpayersthe option to indicate on their state income tax return that they do not want any portion of their income tax liability to be utilized for abortion services. “I believe that taxpayers should have the option to not have their money used - directly or indirectly - to fund abortion activities that they find morally reprehensible,” said Rep. Joseph McKenna (R-Webster). “People should not be forced, through the use of their taxes, to support this industry that has taken the lives of millions of unborn babies.” USE INCOME TAX RETURN TO MAKE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO FIREFIGHTERS ACADEMY TRUST FUND (S 2446) – Another proposal before the Revenue Committee would give taxpayers the option on their tax return to donate to the Massachusetts Fire Fighters Academy Trust Fund. According to its website, the academy “trains municipal fire service personnel at no cost to cities and towns … and also offers fire officer training and over 300 continuing education courses.” “I filed the legislation because firefighters, including in my district of Western Massachusetts, provide a critical service and are the safety backbones of our communities,” said Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow). “Passing this legislation will contribute to a more robust workforce. “ CREATE A STATE-OWNED BANK (S 682/H 975) –Legislation that would establish a publicly owned, state-run Bank of Massachusetts was the subject of a hearing before the Financial Services Committee. The bank would be capitalized with $200 million in state funds deposited over four years. Its deposits of approximately $1.4 billion would be drawn from existing state revenues currently invested out-of-state. The bank would provide affordable financing to small and medium-sized businesses, especially in under-served communities; assist businesses and municipalities in recovering from the economic repercussions of external shocks, including pandemics, recessions and natural disasters; respond to the unmet affordable financing needs of cities and towns in the commonwealth; address the historic and current disadvantages experienced by the state’s minority and women-owned enterprises by providing affordable financing; and increase available affordable housing options for all Bay State residents. “I sponsored [the bill] to ensure that more working families, underserved communities including women and minority owned small businesses and farms, cities and towns interested in infrastructure and climate resiliency projects and housing and worker cooperatives have better access to capital,” said Senate sponsor Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). “Too many residents, entrepreneurs and municipalities do not have access to loans from financial institutions, creating a barrier for job creation, limiting the ability to address the housing and climate crises and maintaining the status quo for improving communities. Establishing a public bank will help Massachusetts overcome these challenges and help address wealth and racial inequities that were only made worse as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.” “Notably, our public bank GRAND OPENING SPECIAL! GO TO REVERESELFSTORAGE.COM TO RESERVE ONLINE OR SCAN QR CODE • 100% Climate Controlled Facility • Newly Constructed Facility • 5000 Lb. Oversized Elevator • Secure Units–Various Sizes • State-Of-The-Art Surveillance Cameras • Secure Units–Various Sizes would not compete with the existing commercial banking sector,” said House sponsor Rep. Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge). “Rather, this bank would smartly leverage state resources to address needs that the commercial banking sector is often unable to meet. In fact, the bank would look to partner with commercial banks, thereby helping to make more projects and small businesses ‘bankable’ when they otherwise wouldn’t be.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “The death of four Massachusetts workers in the last three weeks is a clear sign that more must be done to protect workers on the job.” ---Statement from the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health. “MGM Springfield’s failure to provide its employees, especially service workers earning an hourly wage and relying on tips, with their full wages and benefits made it more difficult for these employees to take care of themselves and their families. My office will continue to hold accountable those who violate our wage and hour laws.” ---Attorney General Andrea Campbell on her office reaching a settlement with MGM Springfield totaling $6.8 million in the form of restitution and penalties for wage and hour violations. “Our audits exist to help make government work better. When our audit findings and recommendations are ignored, as was the case here, it’s not only a waste of taxpayer dollars but can be a threat to public safety. It is imperative that these matters be addressed immediately.” ---Auditor Diana DiZoglio on her finding that the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) has not yet implemented prior recommendations by the previous auditor to ensure that SORB have current addresses for sex offenders in violation. “I didn’t have the option to take paid leave when I had my kids or when I was taking care of my sick mother late in her life—and I was not the only one. Generations of mothers, fathers, caretakers and people who were ill, had to choose between getting a paycheck and spending time taking care of themselves or their loved ones.” ---Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) celebrating two years of the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program which more than 200,000 Massachusetts workers have used to take paid time off work to care for their own health, or to care for a sick family member or a new child. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible latenight sessions. During the week of October 23-27, the House met for a total of 25 minutes while the Senate met for a total of one hour and 46 minutes. MON.OCT. 23 House11:02 a.m. to 11:08 a.m. Senate 11:08 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. BEACON | SEE PAGE 29
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