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Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 9, 2026 BHRC | FROM PAGE 9 Berg Powers, chair of Voter Rights MA told Beacon Hill Roll Call.“The overwhelming majority of this campaign's funding comes from obscenely wealthy individuals, which is why this isn't a grassroots movement. It's a hedge fund with a ballot question. Independent voters are not shut out of party primaries today, because unenrolled voters can already choose either party's ballot without joining a party.” Berg continued, “And Question 3 doesn't fix the real competition problem in Massachusetts, where people don't run for office because of time and money, since it makes campaigns longer and more expensive. Unions, community groups and everyday activists from across the political spectrum have come together to urge a No vote on 3, and as voters learn what's at stake, they'll join the people and groups they trust most.” OFFICIAL ARGUMENTS: Here are the official arguments, gathered by the secretary of state, from both sides of the question. Each side was allowed to submit up to a 150word statement supporting their position. IN FAVOR: “Massachusetts elected officials should work for us, not insiders. But for years insiders have held the advantage. Many elections are over before most of us ever cast a ballot. Candidates can be blocked at party conventions. Today, two-thirds of the legislature is running unopposed. They can take voters for granted and ignore important issues like affordable housing, energy costs, better schools and the audit 72% of us demanded. All-party primaries will bring accountability and transparency to Massachusetts politics by making elections more competitive, forcing politicians to listen. All candidates appear on your primary ballot, and the top two advance to November where they need a majority of votes to win. Insiders have less control and we get fresh voices running for office. More competition means more accountability. Legislators who know voters can replace them. Listen to us and deliver real results. Vote Yes on Question 3 for accountability and competition.” AGAINST: “Similar top two systems in California and Washington have favored wealthy, self-funded candidates who can out-advertise crowded fields and the corporate PACs seeking to purchase offices, while sidelining grassroots candidates and historically marginalized and underrepresented groups such as candidates of color and women. Third-party and independent candidates would be shut out of the general election, and working-class candidates would lose out on institutional support and access to party resources. This proposal would limit voter choice by allowing only two candidates to advance to November — even if they belong to the same party — reducing competition, lowering voter participation, worsening inequities and narrowing debate. Massachusetts voters deserve real choices, not a system that rewards money and name recognition over community support. Vote No.” WHAT YOUR VOTE DOES: A “Yes” vote would eliminate separate party primaries for state elections and require a single all-party primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot, voters can vote for any candidate, and the top two candidates would advance to the general election. A “No” would make no change to the laws governing primary elections. ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL STATE AUDITOR DIZOGLIO UNCOVERS $10.6 MILLION IN PUBLIC BENEFITS FRAUD – State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s Bureau of Special Investigations revealed that it has flagged $10.6 million in public benefit fraud in the second half of fiscal year 2026. The investigation showed that the most fraud found was more than $6 million in MassHealth fraud and some $3.9 million in SNAP fraud. MassHealth is the state’s Medicaid program that provides health care for low-income and disabled persons. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as food stamps, is a federal nutrition program administered by the state to provide food and other nutrition-related benefits to qualified low-income Massachusetts residents. Other fraud includes $538,330 tied to the Personal Care Attendant program; $130,480 in the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children program; and $38,460 in the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children program. "These important programs are meant for the people who need them – not for those looking to game the system," DiZoglio said. "When someone commits fraud, they're taking resources away from the people these programs were created to serve. Our office will continue to work with our partners to identify fraud because taxpayers deserve to have their hard-earned money protected." CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN FALL RIVER, SPRINGFIELD AND WORCESTER CATHOLIC DICOCESES - Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell released a report detailing the findings of her office’s investigation into child sexual abuse in the Catholic Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield and Worcester. The investigation found evidence that more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children at the three dioceses. The report documents decades of failures by diocesan leaders to adequately respond to allegations of child sexual abuse and protect children from further harm. The investigation found instances in which diocesan leaders failed to act on allegations and warning signs; transferred accused and offending priests to other parishes without disclosing the reasons for their transfers; returned priests to ministry following treatment without adequate supervision; failed to meaningfully enforce restrictions; concealed the reasons priests were removed from ministry; and failed to consistently report allegations to law enforcement. “For decades, survivors of clergy sexual abuse, including those who are no longer alive, have carried the devastating consequences of abuse, while the institutions entrusted with their care too often failed to protect them,” said Campbell. “This report provides for the first time a public accounting of the unimaginable harms afflicted on children in the Fall River, Springfield and Worcester dioceses. While important reforms have been made, the report documents decades of failures by diocesan leaders to adequately respond to allegations of child sexual abuse and protect children from further harm.” Campbell continued, “As a woman of deep faith, it is my prayer and profound hope that this report honors the courage and stories of survivors and serves as a renewed catalyst for Massachusetts to finally do all that is necessary to ensure the safety of our children. No institution should ever put its own reputation and interest above the safety and wellbeing of its constituents, especially children.” SUSPEND THE GAS TAX – House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) was non-committal but pessimistic about whether the House will approve one of the pending proposals to suspend the state’s 24-cent-pergallon gas tax. Mike Monogue, the Republican candidate for governor, proposed a suspension of the gas tax whenever prices climb above $4 per gallon. Gov. Maura Healey filed a supplemental budget that includes a twomonth suspension of the gas tax. Mariano told the State House News Service, “I think we've taken votes on this conversation in the past ... going to work with -- to find where the membership is on it going forward. But you know, obviously those votes were pretty significantly against previously." Supporters of the suspension say that gas tax relief would help individuals with the rising costs of gas, transportation, groceries, goods and services. Opponents say the state cannot afford the revenue loss and that the suspension would affect the state’s bond rating and possibly also result in cuts in state spending for programs that help many people. The House has voted overwhelmingly several times in the past against similar proposals. DECEASED ANIMALS ON STATE HIGHWAYS (H 3678) – Legislation that would require any State Department of Transportation (DOT) highway employees who find deceased dogs or cats on roads with identification, to either attempt to directly contact the owner or to notify local animal control officers or the police department, was given initial approval by the House in February. The House has not taken any further action on the measure which has since been languishing in the Committee on Bills in Third Reading. "Losing a pet is hard enough,” said sponsor Rep. Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn) when the bill was approved in February. “Not knowing what happened to them makes it even harder. Right now, if a DOT employee finds a dog or cat, with an ID tag or microchip, which has been hit and killed on a state highway, there is no requirement for them to let the owner know. Families are left waiting and wondering, sometimes never getting answers. It is a straightforward, compassionate step that asks very little of the state but gives grieving families the one thing they need most -- closure." QUOTABLE QUOTES "We have repeatedly tried to get Mass General Brigham to negotiate and avoid a second strike, but the billionaires who run MGB have shut the door on us. There is still time to reach an agreement that protects patient care and respects nurses. MGB needs to come back to the table and negotiate without preconditions." --- Kelly Morgan, chair of the Brigham bargaining committee, announcing that 4,000 nurses at MGB plan to start their open-ended strike on Wednesday, Oct. 14 unless a contract deal is reached. "We take seriously the union’s decision to issue a strike notice and are fully prepared to continue providing safe, high-quality care for our patients throughout a strike. BHRC | SEE PAGE 15

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