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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE - Friday, February 15, 2019 Page 19 pher Markey (D-Dartmouth), Joseph McGonagle (D-Everett), Rady Mom (D-Lowell), Frank Moran (D-Lawrence), James Murphy (D-Weymouth), David Nangle (D-Lowell), Harold Naughton (DWorcester), James O’Day (D-West Boylston), Jerald Parisella (D-Beverly), Smitty Pignatelli (D-Lenox), Dave Robertson (D-Tewksbury), Paul Schmid (D-Westport), Alan Silvia (D-Fall River), Theodore Speliotis (D-Danvers), Thomas Stanley (D-Waltham), Jose Tosado (DSpringfield), Paul Tucker (D-Salem), Chynah Tyler (D-Roxbury), Andres Xavier Vargas (D-Haverhill), Aaron Vega (D-Holyoke), John Velis (D-Westfi eld), RoseLee Vincent (D-Revere), Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody), Susannah Whipps (U -Athol) Beacon Hill Roll Call sent an email to and asked the opinion of the 94 representatives who had not switched their votes and seemed to vote “yes” from the beginning and to the three members who were absent from the vote. Only four of those members responded. Beacon Hill Roll Call also asked some lobbying groups what they thought. Here a re some responses: Rep. L indsay Sabadosa (DNorthampton): “I was proud to have voted in favor of this amendment along with a handful of other Democrats and several Republicans from the get-go. I was as surprised as many watching from the gallery that many changed their vote after the speaker’s vote was cast. As a fi rst-year representative at my fi rst formal session, I had not witnessed something like that before. I fi rmly believe we should always vote on bills, and amendments, based on their merit and, thankfully, I can say that each vote I cast was done with my district’s best interest at heart. My district has been very vocal in its support of making the legislative process clearer with more room for civic participation and greater transparency.” Rep. R ussell Holmes (D-Boston): “Welcome to the House of Representatives. This is exactly how the House runs itself and the members should be ashamed. The speaker is like a shepherd leading a fl ock of sheep. Some members may have known what they were voting on and may have even agreed with Brad Jones. However, agreement with Brad does not matter if it confl icts with the speaker. This is particularly the case in the rules debate as the speaker has given orders to all Democrats that he wants no changes and that he is taking notice for consideration of leadership and committee assignments. We term the statements and speeches in rules debate as ‘community auditions.’ The public is well informed. Many know that the only reason these Democrats changed their votes is because they await their instructions on all votes from the speaker. Members do not think of what is in the best interest of their districts but instead they consider what is in the best interest of themselves by voting with the speaker. This disenfranchises the voters who sent them to the Statehouse. I refuse to arrive in the building and hand over the voice and power of my constituents to the speaker. The best way to eliminate this hypocrisy is to bring pay equity to the building and pay all the members the same regardless of positions in leadership or committee. I was a ‘yes’ vote and voting with Brad before seeing how the speaker voted. Ideas should rule the day.” Rep. Joe McKenna (R-Webster): “I think that every representative has had the experience at one time or another of casting a vote only to have a colleague come and talk to them and explain an issue perhaps in different terms which may cause them to change their mind. I think that is okay. Unfortunately, what we saw during the rules debate is entirely different and is something that we have seen numerous times in my two plus terms. It’s simply a ‘follow-the-leader’ mentality where members seem to take their sole direction from the color of the light next to the speaker’s name with apparently little awareness or concern for the matter being voted on or its content. Leaning on colleagues for guidance and advice is okay; but the type of blind following we saw takes it too far.” Rep. Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk): “Thanks for doing a story on this. Seen it happen quite a few times during my tenure. I think the fact that this happened during the rules debate, while only a handful of legislators were fi ghting for greater transparency and communication, was quite ironic.” Rep. Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge):“I cannot speak for anyone else’s decision-making process, but I am proud to say that I immediately voted in support of this amendment based on its merits and therefore was one of the few Democrats who voted in support of it before the speaker changed his position.” Chip Ford, Executive Director of Citizens for Limited Taxation: “Captured red-handed on video doing what The Best Legislators Money Can Buy do best – mindlessly following the leader. What a real-time votes tote board exposed through an embarrassing glitch is revealing of what’s so wrong on Beacon Hill. Good catch Beacon Hill Roll Call.” Paul Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance: “Even during the important rules debate, when issues of transparency and process are supposed to be debated out in the public, some lawmakers don’t even have the interest in knowing what they are voting on and instead rely on the speaker for instruction. This type of blind voting by some lawmakers is how the Legislature fi nds itself as the least transparent legislative body in America.” Jonathan Cohn, Chair of the Issues Committee of Progressive Massachusetts: “Too often, House Democrats will vote in lockstep with the speaker, whether he’s right or wrong, without doing their own due diligence about what they are, in fact, voting on. Legislators should come to their own conclusions about bills and amendments based on their own promises and principles and the input from advocates, policy experts, and their own constituents -- not just on how the speaker chooses to vote … The House had a long debate about its rules, but for the rest of the session, there needs to be a serious debate about the norms by which the chamber operates and how badly they are in need of a change.” 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 fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible latenight sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of February 4-8, the House met for a total of 57 minutes while the Senate met for a total of two hours and 23 minutes. Mon., February 4 House 11:03 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. Senate 11:03 a.m. to 11 29 a.m. Tues., February 5 No House session No Senate session Wed., February 6 No House session No Senate session Thurs., February 7 House 11:09 a.m. to 11:59 a.m. Senate 11:04 a.m. to 12:01 p.m. Fri., February 8 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com by Do I Need to File a Tax Return This Year? Dear Savvy Senior, What are the IRS income tax filing requirements for retirees this tax season? My income dropped way down when I had to retire last year, so I’m wondering if I need to fi le a tax return this year. Retired Ron Dear Ron, Whether or not you are required to fi le a federal income tax return this year actually depends on several factors: how much you earned last year (in 2018); the source of that income; your age; and your fi ling status. Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax fi ling requirement thresholds. For most people, this is pretty straightforward. If your 2018 gross income – which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefi ts, unless you are married and fi ling separately – was below the threshold for your fi ling status and age, you may not have to fi le. But if it’s over, you will. • Single: $12,000 ($13,600 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2019). • Married filing jointly: $24,000 ($25,300 if you or your spouse is 65 or older; or $26,600 if you’re both over 65). • Married fi ling separately: $5 at any age. • Head of household: $18,000 ($19,600 if age 65 or older). • Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: $24,000 ($25,300 if age 65 or older). To get a detailed breakdown on federal fi ling requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the “Tax Guide for Seniors” (publication 554) or see IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p554.pdf. Check Here Too There are, however, some other fi nancial situations that can require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS fi ling requirements. For example, if you earned more than $400 from self-employment in 2018, owe any special taxes like an alternative minimum tax, or get premium tax credits because you, your spouse or a dependent is enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace (Obamacare) plan, you’ll need to fi le. You’ll also need to file if you’re receiving Social Security benefi ts, and one-half of your benefi ts plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest exceeds $25,000, or $32,000 if you’re married and fi ling jointly. To fi gure all this out, the IRS offers an interactive tax assistant tool on their website that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to fi le, or if you should fi le because you’re due a refund. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete. You can access this tool at IRS.gov/fi ling – click on “Do I Need to File?” Or, you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800829-1040. You can also get face-to-face help at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. See IRS. gov/localcontacts or call 800829-1040 to locate a center near you. Check Your State Even if you’re not required to fi le a federal tax return this year, don’t assume that you’re also excused from fi ling state income taxes. The rules for your state might be very different. Check with your state tax agency before concluding that you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state tax agencies see Taxadmin.org/state-taxagencies. Tax Preparation Help If you fi nd that you do need to fi le a tax return this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TEC provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 or visit IRS.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate a service near you. Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at around 5,000 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP Tax-Aide site call 888-227-7669 or visit AARP.org/fi ndtaxhelp. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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