Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, May 24, 2019 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ vote on the only roll call from the week of May 1317. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week. A note from Bob Katzen to Beacon Hill Roll Call readers: MASSTERLIST IS FREE! Join 17,000 other people from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens who start their morning with a copy of MASSterList! MASSterList is a daily ensemble of news and commentary about the Legislature, Politics, Media and Judiciary of Massachusetts drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced editor Jay Fitzgerald. Jay introduces each article in his own clever and never-boring, inimitable way. Go to: www.massterlist.com/ subscribe Type in your e-mail address and in 15 seconds you will be signed up for a free subscription. Advocate 1. What comic said in several films, “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into”? 2. What holiday was first called Decoration Day? 3. On May 24, 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus died, who believed that what was not the center of the universe? 4. The 1866 poem “The Blue and the Gray” was inspired by what action by Mississippi women? 5. “Pac-man” derived from the term “paku-paku,” which means a mouth’s eating movement in what language? 6. On May 25, 1948, mass production of what antibiotic was first patented? (Hint: start with P.) 7. In poker what hand is higher than a Straight Flush? 8. In “Peanuts” what girl coached a baseball team? 9. In which national park is Ribbon Falls, the country’s highest waterfall? 10. On May 27, 1907, what environmentalist was born? (Hint: initials RC.) 11. What spring vegetable did Louis XIV call the “king of vegetables”? 12. What country and western artist was nicknamed the Drifter? (Hint: initials HW.) 13. What is the world’s tallest obelisk? (Hint: DC.) 14. On May 29, 1917, what first Roman Catholic president was born? 15. What sports hall of fame is in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.? 16. In May 2002 what former U.S. president visited Cuba? 17. What are the four major U.S. entertainment awards? 18. What is Superman’s girlfriend’s name and occupation? 19. In May 1927 what famous Hollywood theatre opened? 20. In May 2000 what TV reality show premiered? Answers on page 21 BAN HAND-HELD CELL PHONES (H 3149) House 152-2, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would prohibit drivers from using a hand-held cell phone or other electronic device to make a call or access social media. The measure allows drivers to use only a hands-free phone but allows the driver to perform a single tap or swipe to activate or deactivate the hands-free mode feature. Use of a handheld phone would be permitted in emergencies including if the vehicle was disabled; medical attention or assistance was required; police, fi re or other emergency services were necessary for someone’s personal safety; or a disabled vehicle or an accident was present on a roadway. Violators would be fi ned $100 for a fi rst off ense,$250 for a second off ense and $500 for a third off ense and subsequent off enses. The violation would not count as a surchargeable off ense that could lead to higher insurance rates for the violator. If the law is approved by the Senate and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker, police officers would only issue warnings to violators instead of fi nes until December 31, 2019. The Senate will debate a similar bill on June 6 and supporters are confi - dent that it will be approved by the Senate. Gov. Baker is on record in favor of a ban which was part of a road safety bill he fi led in January. Supporters say that the bill would save lives and prevent accidents. They note that the measure does not ban cellphone use but simply requires the use of hands-free ones. They pointed to accidents, deaths and injuries involving handheld cell phones. “I am pleased that this bill passed the House and I am cautiously optimistic that the Senate will give its approval and the governor will sign it into law,” said Rep. John Barrett (D-North Adams). “Too many lives have been lost in recent years by distracted drivers.” “The Senate is ready to fi nally deliver this to the governor’s desk so that we can end the needless destruction and loss of life on our roadways,” said Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) in a statement to the State House News Service. Montigny who has fi led the bill for 15 years will take the lead in getting the measure approved in the Senate. Similar legislation has been approved by the Senate in the 2015-2016 and 20172018 sessions and the 2017-2018 sessions but never made it to the governor’s desk. Some opponents say that the restriction is another example of government intrusion into people’s cars and lives. Others note that there are already laws on the books prohibiting driving while distracted. “Studies on the eff ectiveness of hands-free vs. handheld cellphone operation of a motor vehicle are inconclusive at best,” said Rep. Peter Durant (R-Spencer), one of the two members who voted against the measure. “The real culprit in distracted driving is texting, which was already banned in 2010 but are still at staggeringly high levels. This bill doesn’t solve the problem of distracted driving and we could have used the money spent in this bill to provide better public awareness of the dangers and consequences of texting and driving.” The other member who voted against the measure was Rep. David DeCoste (R-Norwell). DeCoste did not respond to repeated attempts by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking why he voted against the bill. “With widespread cell phone use, a traffi c hazard has exploded on the roads of t commonwealth and frankly around the country over the last 10 to 15 years,” said Rep. William Straus (D-Mattapoisett) House chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “This legislation makes clear that drivers must keep their hands and eyes on the road and not on cell phones. Cell Phone use while driving is a threat to safety not only to the driver but also to others that share the roads with those who choose to use a cellphone while driving. With the passage of this important legislation, I’m hopeful all motorists will focus on driving safely without cell phone distractions.” “I thought of my constituent Katie Brannelly who had a beautiful life dedicated in service to others,” said Rep. John Rogers (D-Norwood). “She studied child psychology, held three jobs, made the dean’s list and just three weeks prior to her graduation, before fulfi lling her promise of going out and changing this world that needed her help with troubled youth, she was struck by a driver who never saw her.” “I hope and I pray that when this bill becomes law it will cause all of us to stop, to think, and to focus behind the wheel, and pre~ Public Notice ~ Malden Board of Health At a Board of Health Meeting held on May 16, 2019 and amended the Malden Board of Health Rules & Regulations, Section 21, Restricting the Sale and Use of Tobacco & Nicotine Delivery Products in the following way: Section 21, Q, b, No permit holder shall sell, gift or distribute or cause to be sold, gifted or 50 Product Sales Permits issued in Malden, reduced by the number of permits not renewed pursuant to subsection except any permit holder who has failed to renew his or her permit within above, there shall be no more than 4 May 24, 2019 vent families and communities from enduring future tragic loss of life,” concluded Rogers. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes Yes 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 May 1317, the House met for a total of ten hours and four minutes while the Senate met for a total of 20 minutes. Mon. May 13 House 11:03 a.m. to 12:32 p.m. Senate 11:00 a.m. to 11:06 a.m. Tues. May 14 No House session No Senate session Wed. May 15 House 11:04 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. No Senate session Thurs. May 16 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:08 a.m. Senate 11:03 a.m. to 11:17 a.m. Fri. May 17 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com
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