Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, August2, 2019 Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes Sen. Jason Lewis Yes AMENDMENT TO ALLOWING UNIONS TO CHARGE NON-UNION MEMBERS FOR SOME COSTS (S 2273) House 29-128, Senate 5-34, THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records the votes of local senators and representatives from the week of July 22-26. SUBSCRIBE TO MASSTERLIST–IT'S FREE! Join more than 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 email address and in 15 seconds you will be signed up for a free subscription. With no strings attached. $43.1 BILLION FISCAL YEAR 2020 STATE BUDGET(H 4000) House 159-0, Senate 391, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker the conference committee compromise version of a $43.1 billion fiscal 2020 state budget. Baker has ten days to sign the budget and to veto sections of it. It would then take a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to override any vetoes. The conference committee version was hammered out after the House and Senate each approved different budgets. The package raises spending by $1.6 billion, or 4 percent over fiscal 2019. “The strategic investments that are made in this budget reflect the shared priorities of the Legislature,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chair Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston). “By incorporating the input from our colleagues, this document has been made stronger. I am proud that key services in the areas of education, housing, homelessness and the environment will see significant funding increases in this budget.” “This consensus fiscal year 2020 budget strikes a balance between maintaining fiscal responsibility and making targeted investments that benefit our commonwealth’s economic well-being,” said Senate Ways and Means Chair Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport). “I was the sole vote against the acceptance of the conference committee report because I was concerned the report’s language on offshore wind procurement left key terms undefined,” said Sen. Mark Pacheco (D-Taunton). “I brought my concerns to the Senate floor and I hope the administration was listening. The conference committee report also did not contain language for the reauthorization of simulcasting, which will end at the close of business on July 31st. Despite my concerns about the conference committee report, however, I was proud to vote along with my colleagues unanimously in favor of enacting the budget because the citizens of Massachusetts depend on the resources it provides for public education, local aid, and countless other vital functions and services.” Beacon Hill Roll Call notes that there actually was not a roll call that was unanimous on the enactment (final approval) of the budget. Enactment was approved by a voice vote. (A “Yes” vote is for the budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes rejected Gov. Charlie Baker’s amendments to a House and Senate-passed bill that would allow public sector unions to charge non-members for the cost of some services and representation. The bill was filed as a response to the Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that public employees cannot be forced to pay fees or dues to a union to which he or she does not belong. Freedom of speech advocates hailed the decision while labor advocates said it was an unjust attack on unions. In his message to the Legislature, Baker said his amendments would protect the privacy rights of public employees and correct statutory inconsistencies. “Although a portion of this bill addresses issues raised in the Janus decision … other provisions in the bill go beyond what the Janus decision required,” said Baker in a message to the Legislature. “These provisions would jeopardize the privacy rights of public employees and prevent the commonwealth and public sector unions from negotiating certain terms and conditions of employment.” “The House and Senate engaged in a serious debate regarding the substance of the governor’s amendments, and ultimately decided on a bipartisan basis to overwhelmingly support language which did not include them,” said Rep. Paul Brodeur (D-Melrose). “Ensuring that we do everything we can in Massachusetts to protect workers’ rights continues to be a top priority. I’m eager to have these worker protections become law.“ “The governor tried to strike a balance,” said Paul Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance which was in favor of the amendments. BEACON | SEE PAGE 11 New member needed for License Board M ayor Gary Christenson is reaching out to Malden residents in an effort to fill a vacancy on the License Board. The three-member Board regulates the sale and distribution of alcohol beverages in the city. In conjunction with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, the License Board grants licenses, establishes standards and regulates hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be consumed both on and off premises. The License Board meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Police Station Community Room (800 Eastern Ave.). To apply to the Malden License Board, please complete the online Boards and Commissions Application in full on the City website: www.cityofmalden.org/BCApplication. The City of Malden actively seeks applicants with diverse backgrounds. Proficiency in a language or languages in addition to English is preferred. The deadline for accepting applications is Friday, Aug. 9 at noon. Please email kmanninghall@ cityofmalden.org for additional questions. Beer and Wine Garden opens at Encore T here are beer gardens and then there is the new Beer and Wine Garden at Encore Boston Harbor’s South Lawn. With August already here, it’s time to squeeze in as much summer as possible without running out of beer, wine, sunshine, and entertainment. From now until Labor Day, the Beer and Wine Garden at the new $2.6 billion resort and casino will open Saturday and Sunday from 1pm until 30 minutes after sunset. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of Labor Day weekend, the garden will be open from noon until 30 minutes after sunset. The outdoor waterfront garden provides a perfect summer outing along the newly restored Mystic River shoreline and Encore Harborwalk, complete with beer, wine, cocktails, and a number of lawn games. Soft drinks and snacks can also be found on the menu. Getting to the Encore Beer and Wine Garden is almost as fun as being there. Guests can take the luxury motor yachts from the Seaport or Long Wharf, or many of the other transportation options Encore has to offer. Whether for beer, wine, cocktails, the ornate floral displays or millions of dollars of fine public art, the Encore Beer and Wine Garden is the perfect way to spend what’s left of your summer weekends.
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