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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 23, 2023 Page 15 Outdoor Family Movie Night in the Park at River’s Edge J oin us for a “Movie Night in the Park at River’s Edge” on Thursday, June 29. The movie will be at the Park at Rivers Edge Great Lawn adjacent to 200 River’s Edge Dr. in Medford. The Great Lawn section of the Park will be transformed into an outdoor movie theatre where residents and visitors of all ages are welcome to gather and enjoy a free movie night featuring “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” The event is free and open to the public – sponsored by Preotle, Lane & Associates and the Malden Public Library. Attendees should bring their own blankets and chairs for use. There will be free snacks and water provided. Wellington Station is just 0.4 miles from River’s Edge. Free parking is available at the River’s Edge Garage. Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 25,000 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 influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by MASSterlist’s editor, Erin Tiernan, with help from Matt Murphy. Both are pros, with a wealth of experience, who introduce each article in their own clever way. 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://lp. constantcontactpages.com/su/ aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of June 12-16. There were no roll calls in the House last week. SENATE APPROVES $590 MILLION TAX REDUCTION PACKAGE (S 2397) Senate 39-0, approved a package Movie Night Flyer Origami Night at the Library L earn the art of Origami when the Malden Public Library hosts an Origami Night at the Library on Tuesday, June 27, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The program is limited to 15, so call 781-324-0218 to register. All supplies will be provided but please bring along your own ruler. that provides $590 million in tax relief. The House has already approved its own tax reduction package and a House-Senate conference committee will hammer out a compromise version. Key provisions of the Senate package include raising the Earned Income Tax Credit from 30 percent of the federal credit to 40 percent of the federal credit; raising the cap on the rental deduction from $3,000 to $4,000;increasing from $1 million to $2 million the value of a person’s estate that is exempt from the the state’s estate/death tax that a person is required to pay following their death before distribution to any beneficiary; increasing from $1,200 to $2,400 the maximum senior circuit breaker credit; increasing the statewide cap for the Dairy Tax credit from $6 million to $8 million; and doubling the credit for lead paint abatement to $3,000 for full abatement and $1,000 for partial abatement. The package also provides that student loan payment assistance offered by employers will not be treated as a taxable salary and gives cities and towns the option to adopt a local property tax exemption for real estate that is rented to a person below a certain area-dependent income level. “As I have said from the outset, Origami Night with Carol at the Library tax relief should go to the workers, families and elderly residents of the commonwealth who need it most,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “Massachusetts doesn’t need just any tax relief, we need permanent, progressive, smart and sustainable tax relief. Too many families have been caught between the rising costs of healthcare, housing, education and basic goods.” “Consistent with the views of the Senate membership, our Senate tax package is forward-looking, fiscally sustainable, comprehensive and progressive,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “It puts money back into the pockets of our residents, providing permanent tax cuts for low-income workers, families, renters, seniors and persons with disabilities, while focusing on the largest issue that is undercutting our commonwealth’s overall competitiveness – which is the affordability and availability of housing.” "Working families aren’t leaving the commonwealth because of taxes on day-traders," said Sen. Susan Moran (D-Falmouth), Senate chair of the Committee on Revenue. "They are leaving because they can’t find housing they can afford. This package aimed at growing housing will also grow our workforce and the commonwealth’s competitiveness." (A “Yes” vote is for the $590 million tax reduction package.) Sen. Jason Lewis Yes 25 PERCENT MUST BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING (S 2397) Senate 9-30, rejected an amendment to a section of the bill that funds the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP). The amendment would require that HDIP projects must make 25 percent of their units affordable. HDIP, according to its state website, "provides Gateway Cities with a tool to develop market rate housing while increasing residential growth, expanding diversity of housing stock, supporting economic development and promoting neighborhood stabilization in designated areas." “This amendment ensures that HDIP leads to construction of units for everyone,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). “It ensures that HDIP is not exclusively used for high-rent luxury apartments. And this is not a theoretical concern. An excellent report from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute explains that [while] HDIP is titled a market rate credit, the rents usually exceed prevailing rents and prices, some by 50 percent to 70 percent with no limit on future increases. Rents in many HDIP subsidized developments are excessively high cost as described in current apartment advertisements.” “The HDIP program is the primary tool for Gateway Cities to expand housing stock, revitalize downtowns and attract and retain a middle class in cities where low rents do not support new housing development projects,” said Sen. John Cronin (D-Fitchburg) who opposed the amendment. “While affordability requirements may work in some communities, forcing a one-size-fits-all requirement on others will diminish the program’s utility by disincentivizing development—completely contrary to the objective of the program. The Senate got this vote right.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment requiring that 25 percent of the units be affordable. A “No” vote is against the amendment.) Sen. Jason Lewis No FILE TAXES JOINTLY (S 2387) Senate 33-5, approved an amendment that would require Massachusetts couples who file income tax returns jointly at the federal level do the same at the state level. Supporters said this amendment will close a loophole that allows some married couples to file individually – an action that could be used to minimize or avoid the person’s state tax obligations under the newly approved 4 percent surtax which is in addition to the current flat 5 percent one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million annually. Opponents said if filers are forced to file jointly at the state level, the 4 percent surtax will apply to many more filers which is not what the voters approved on the November 2022 ballot question imposing the 4 percent surtax. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment requiring joint filing. A “No” vote is against the amendment.) Sen. Jason Lewis Yes REDUCE SHORT TERM CAPITAL GAINS TAX (S 2397) Senate 5-32, rejected an amendment that would reduce the shortterm capital gains tax from 12 percent to 5 percent. Amendment supporters said that there are 26 states that currently tax short-term capital gains at a rate of 5 percent or lower, including all of our surrounding states. They noted that both the House and the governor favor the reduction. They asked why the capital gains tax or any tax imposed should be charged at a higher rate than earned income. Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), the sponsor of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his amendment. Amendment opponents said the state cannot afford the $117 million loss in revenue that this tax cut would cost this year. They argued the cut would do nothing to help the costs of housing and living. Senate Ways and Means Chair Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his opposition to the amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the reduction to 5 percent. A “No” vote is against the reduction.) Sen. Jason Lewis No INCREASE ESTATE/DEATH TAX EXEMPTION (S 2397) Senate 5-33, rejected an amendBHRC | SEE PAGE 17

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