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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 25, 2023 Page 11 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 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 widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Keith Regan and Matt Murphy who introduce each article in their own clever and inimitable 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: There were no roll call votes in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives’ roll call attendance records for the 2023 session through August 18. The House has held 32 roll calls so far in 2023. Beacon Hill Roll Call tabulates the number of roll calls on which each representative was present and voting, and then calculates that number as a percentage of the total roll call votes held. That percentage is the number referred to as the roll call attendance record. In the House, 78.8 percent (126 representatives out of 160) did not miss any roll calls and have 100 percent roll call attendance records while 21.2 percent (34 representatives out of 160) have missed one or more roll calls. There were 12 representatives who missed three or more roll calls. The representative who missed the most roll calls is Rep. Kenneth Gordon (D-Bedford) who missed 12 roll calls (62.5 percent roll call attendance record). Right behind him is Rep. Mary Keefe (D-Worcester) who missed 11 roll calls (65.6 percent roll call attendance record); and the following four representatives who each missed nine roll calls for a 71.8 percent roll call attendance record: Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfi eld); Adam Scanlon (D-North Attleborough); Kimberly Ferguson (R-Holden); and Fred Barrows (R-Mansfi eld). Rounding out the list of 12 representatives who missed three or more roll calls are the following representatives who each missed three roll calls for a 90.6 percent roll call attendance record: Reps. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth); Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury); Christopher Markey (D-Dartmouth); Samantha Montano (D-Boston); Mathew Muratore (R-Plymouth); and James Arciero (D-Westford). Beacon Hill Roll Call contacted the 12 representatives to ask why they missed some roll calls. Only three of the 12 responded. The other nine were contacted three times but did not respond including Reps. Gordon, Keefe, Scanlon, Ferguson, Barrows, Fernandes, Gentile, Muratore and Arciero. Rep. Montano responded: “I did miss a day of voting [on three roll calls] due to illness.” Rep. Markey responded:“I missed two votes on March 23 because I had surgery … I missed a vote on April 25 out of respect to the UMass Dartmouth basketball coach who I had hosted in the House Chamber that afternoon. In recognition of his success at the university … I spent time with him, his family and former student athletes.” Rep. Farley-Bouvier responded: “Ironically, on the day we were debating this session's rules package, which included the end of remote voting in the House, I tested positive, and was rather ill with COVID. I missed several votes on that day as there is no provision for remote voting when a member has COVID.” REPRESENTATIVES’ 2023 ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE RECORDS THROUGH AUGUST 18, 2023 The percentage listed next to the representatives’ name is the percentage of roll call votes on which the representative voted. The number in parentheses represents the number of roll calls that he or she missed. Rep. Paul Donato 100 percent (0) Rep. Steven Ultrino 100 percent (0) ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL STATE AUDITOR DIANA DIZOGLIO UNCOVERS $1 MILLION IN PUBLIC BENEFITS FRAUD – The Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) in State Auditor’s Diana DiZoglio’s office has uncovered more than $1 million in public benefi ts fraud from the latest quarter of April through June, with the majority linked to cases involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to DiZoglio’s offi ce, “BSI’s goal is to ensure taxpayer dollars used to fund Massachusetts’ public benefi ts programs are managed eff ectively so that programs are available to residents who truly need them.” The BSI detected fraud in 89 out of 1,552 cases it looked into during the fourth quarter of fi scal 2023 including $843,705 in SNAP; $101,905 in Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program; $46,049 in the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children Program; and $22,996 in the Supplemental Security Income Program. “Our offi ce works to ensure families in need maintain access to services by helping to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse,” said DiZoglio. “As a result of our investigations, fraud cases are referred to relevant agencies for administrative action. Overpayments may then be recovered so tax dollars benefi t those truly in need.” SECRETARY OF STATE GALVIN ANNOUNCES NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GRANTS – Secretary of State Bill Galvin announced the creation of a new $100,000 grant program for providers of services to victims of domestic violence including people who have been abused, sexually assaulted or stalked. “It is clear to anyone who has been following the news over the past year that we are facing a statewide crisis of domestic violence,” Galvin said. “This new grant program is targeted at increasing awareness, not only of this upsurge in violence, but also of the services available to those trying to leave an abusive situation.” Galvin said he hopes that the program will be successful in reaching victims who fear they will be without help or resources if they try to leave a violent situation. He also hopes to increase overall participation in the existing Massachusetts Address Confi dentiality Program to help keep those who have already left abusive relationships safe. “Our program helps hundreds of people every year,” he said. “While I wish the program were unnecessary, the fact remains that there are many more people in Massachusetts who could be helped, if only they knew more about these services.” GREEN ENERGY BANK (S 2170) – The Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee has scheduled a hearing on September 28 on a proposal that would require the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center to conduct a study of fi nance gaps in clean energy projects; and based on that study, to establish a “Green Bank” to provide the investment "This a commonsense piece of legislation that would give drivers the ability to access their driving record and address any issues before they become a larger issue,” saidsponsor Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham). "This would be a time and cost saving measure for drivers, police and our courts." BILL RUSSELL-BOB COUSY HIGHWAY (H 3367) – Another bill on the Transportation Committee’s agenda for August 29 would pay homage to celebrate Boston Celtics teammates and NBA champions, Bob Cousy and the late Bill Russell by naming the portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike between Boston and Worcester “The Bill Russell and Bob Cousy Highway." “I sponsored this bill to honor the legacies of Bill Russell and Bob Cousy," said sponsor Rep. David Linsky (D-Natick). 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"To meet emission reduction requirements set forth by the commonwealth we need to provide fi nancing options upfront for renewable residential and commercial energy projects,” said sponsor Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton). “Parties interested in moving forward are held back because of the lack of dedicated fi nancial resources to bring the projects to fruition.” MAKE DRIVING RECORDS AVAILABLE ONLINE (H 3381) – The Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on August 29 on legislation that would require the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to make a person’s driving record available to him or her online, including suspensions, outstanding tickets and citations.

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