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Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 26, 2021 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen A note from Bob Katzen, Publisher of Beacon Hill Roll Call: Join me this Sunday night and every Sunday night between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST for my talk show “The Bob Katzen Baby Boomer and Gen X Show.” Jump in my time capsule and come back to the simpler days of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. There are many ways you can listen to the show from anywhere in the world: • If you have a smart speaker, simply say, “Play WMEX on RADIO.COM” • Download the free RADIO. COM app on your phone or tablet • Listen online at: www.wmexboston.com • Tune into 1510 AM if you still have an AM radio THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records the votes of local representatives and senators from the week of March 15-19. CLIMATE CHANGE (S 9) House 145-14, Senate 391, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a lengthy climate change bill. A key section makes the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal net zero by 2050. The House and Senate both voted to adopt many of the amendments that Gov. Baker proposed to the original measure approved by the Legislature in February. Other provisions in the measure codify environmental justice provisions into Massachusetts law by defining environmental justice populations and providing new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods; provide $12 million in annual funding for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to create a pathway to the clean energy industry for environmental justice populations and minority-owned and women-owned businesses; require an additional 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind and increase the state’s total authorization to 5,600 megawatts; set appliance energy efficiency standards for a variety of common appliances including plumbing, faucets, computers and commercial appliances and set benchmarks for the adoption of clean energy technologies including electric vehicles, charging stations, solar technology, energy storage and heat pumps. “History has been made today with the passage of the Next-Generation Roadmap bill,” said Rep. Tom Golden (D-Lowell). “The roadmap sets us on a strong course to net zero by 2050 and significantly advances offshore wind, truly representing the best ideas from both chambers. Hats off to the House and the Senate for holding firm on ambitious emissions targets.” “Massachusetts leads the nation in reducing carbon emissions, of which there are some measures that I have supported,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman who was the only senator who voted against the measure. “However, this legislation, often described as ‘far reaching’ by the media and economic experts, will ensure the costs of building homes and commercial economic development dramatically increase, making us the most expensive state in the nation to live and do business. In this time of economic recovery from COVID-19, this is not only inad~ Legal Notice ~ Malden Housing Authority Request for Quotes MHA #010821 The Malden Housing Authority (MHA) is seeking quotes to move tenant furniture from point A to point B, and the occasional office furniture move. This contract is for an Indefinite Quantity of work and is Federally and State funded, and is subject to MGL c.30B and MGL c. 149 and will require an insurance certificate naming Malden Housing as additionally insured, a 5% Bid Deposit of the total bid value and a 50% payment bond is required with the bid. Certified payroll using Prevailing Wage determination, on jobs involving Office Furniture, if any. The MHA will contract with one or more vendors for one (1) year with the option in MHA’s sole discretion to extend for up to four (4) more consecutive one-year terms. MHA is requesting quotes to move furniture and personality from tenant current units to other designated properties and/ or MHA properties in Malden, MA 02148. MHA also intends to apply this contract to any relocation project need the MHA plans, for construction or major rehab work, as part of its Relocation Plan. The Service provider will furnish all travel, labor, materials, supervision, equipment, insurance and bonding necessary for the work requested. MHA is also requesting separate quotes to move office furniture as MHA may require, the Service provider will furnish all travel, labor, materials, supervision, equipment, insurance and bonding necessary, inclusive of prevailing wage rates, for the work requested, wage determinations will be updated per office furniture move requests. Bid documents will be available by email request at efahey@maldenhousing.org from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and may be examined at the MHA’s Main Administrative Offices, 630 Salem Street, Malden, MA from 3/29/21, the bid documents are available by mail for $45.00 each (or $65.00 per set for overnight), in the form of a certified check made payable to Malden Housing Authority, to cover handling and shipping. A pre-bid conference will be held if allowed by COVID-19 rules of the State and Malden’s BOH at: 9:30 am beginning at 630 Salem Street, Malden, MA on 4/6/2021. This meeting is scheduled and intended to follow any, and all COVID 19 protocols in place at the time and date scheduled. Bids may be mailed, or hand delivered to Malden Housing Authority, 630 Salem Street, Malden, MA 02148, before the stated deadline 5/4/21 at 2:00 PM. Bids will be time stamped when received. Bids must include forms provided in the RFQ. The MHA is an Equal Employment Opportunity and a Drug Free Workplace March 26, 2021 visable, it is detrimental to the long-term interests of keeping Massachusetts affordable and prosperous.” “Today, the Legislature will take an important step toward a cleaner, healthier future by putting the climate bill back on the governor's desk,” said Ben Hellerstein, State Director for Environment Massachusetts. “I applaud House and Senate leaders for preserving the key elements of last session’s bill, including energy efficiency standards for appliances, expanded offshore wind procurements, and a requirement for at least 40 percent of Massachusetts’ electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. If Gov. Baker vetoes the bill, I hope legislators move quickly to override the veto and turn this bill into a law.” A new study by the Beacon Hill Institute says that legislation calling for a net-zero emissions policy by 2050 is flawed and unrealistic. “In this study, we conclude that this legislation is misconceived,” said co-author David Tuerck, president of the institute. “The ‘absolute zero’ approach embodied in the legislation would be economically ruinous. It would increase costs to the average Massachusetts household to unacceptable levels. If the commonwealth sought to reduce emissions by 100 percent, the price of a gallon of gasoline would have to rise above $14.10.” “The Next-Generation Climate Roadmap Act reflects the concerns of people of every age, from every part of the state,” tweeted Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington). “There is little doubt the legislation that passed today, if it becomes law, will cost taxpayers and businesses greatly in the future,” said Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Executive Director Paul Craney. “The only questions that remain are just how much it will cost them and how ordinary, working-class families will be able to pay for it moving forward. Today’s legislation puts ideology ahead of common sense. It asks nearly every resident to make economic sacrifices in order to achieve unrealistic and ideologically driven climate goals.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul DonatoYes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes Sen. Jason LewisYes HELP BUSINESSES AND WORKERS (S 35) Senate 40-0, approved a bill that excludes Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from being taxed by the state in 2020; excludes $10,200 of unemployment compensation received by an individual with a household income of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level from gross income for tax purposes; and makes employees eligible for up to five days of paid leave, at their regular rate of pay, capped at $850 per week. Other provisions waive penalties on unemployment insurance taxes; freeze unemployment insurance rates paid by employers; create a mechanism ensuring all employees will be able to access 40 hours of paid sick time for any COVID-related issues, including testing positive, needing to quarantine or caring for a loved one; and extend the state’s tax filing deadline from April 15, 2021 to May 17, The day after this vote, the Department of Revenue (DOR), citing powers it says it can use when the U.S. president declares a disaster, unilaterally moved the Massachusetts tax filing deadline to conform with the postponed federal deadline of May 17. DOR said Massachusetts individual personal income tax returns and payments for the 2020 tax year that would have been due April 15 are now due May 17 under this automatic extension. Businesses would also face a new surcharge, in the form of an excise tax on employee wages, through December 2022 to help repay interest due in September on the federal loans. BHRC | SEE PAGE 15

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