THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 17, 2025 Page 17 “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from several budget vetoes made by Gov. Maura Healey to the $60.9 billion fiscal 2026 state budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2025. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week. The House override more than $70 million of Healey's $130 million worth of budget vetoes. The vetoes now go to the Senate which is expected to follow the House and override the vetoes. “The House shares the governor's commitment to fiscal prudence amid the Trump Administration’s devastating budget cuts,” said House Ways and Means Chair Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston). But he noted that he continues to believe that the fiscal year 2026 budget vetoes can be overridden in a financially responsible manner. Michlewitz continued, "This belief is supported by the hundreds of millions of dollars in expected revenue that we set aside during conference committee negotiations, providing the commonwealth with the necessary flexibility to manage our finances through this ongoing period of economic uncertainty." “Beacon Hill politicians spent the better part of a year warning about fiscal uncertainty from Washington, and now that those cuts have arrived, they’re ignoring their own warnings,” said Paul Craney, Executive Director for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “Instead of learning to live within our means, the Legislature is proving once again that its only solution to a budget problem is more spending.” Craney added, “The governor’s vetoes were an extremely small step toward restraint, but the Legislature can’t even handle that. When state spending increases by billions year after year, even small, reasonable cuts become politically impossible. That’s why Massachusetts keeps lurching from one budget crisis to the next racking up one of the highest debts-per capita in the country.” $1.5 MILLION FOR SEWER RATE RELIEF (H 4240) House 143-11, override Gov. Healey’s veto ofthe entire $1.5 million for the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund which was established in 1993 to help reduce the rising costs of sewer services in the Bay State. Override supporters said this fund has helped, and continues to help, thousands of people pay for expensive sewer costs. In her veto message, Gov. Healy said, “I am vetoing this item to an amount consistent with my House [budget] recommendation.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1.5 million. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes $300,000 FOR PROGRAMS FOR THE BLIND (H 4240) House 155-0, overrode Gov. Healey’s $300,000 veto reduction (from 8,864,721 to 8,564,721) in programs for the blind. $2.5 MILLION FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE (H 4240) House 147-8, overrode Gov. Healey’s $2.5 million veto reduction (from 8,864,721 to $6,364,721) in programs for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. Override supporters said the cut will hurt the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services which oversees the statewide system of prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery support services for individuals, families and communities affected by substance addiction. In her veto message, Gov. Healey said, “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary to support continued programming. This operating funding overlaps with significant alternative funding sources to support expansions in low-threshold housing units and related supports.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $2.5 million. A Override supporters said this funding is important to help the thousands of blind people in the state live better lives, whether they are experiencing current vision loss or have been blind since their youth. In her veto message, Gov. Healey said, “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary. This reduction is not expected to impact planned programming.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $300,000. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes $1.5 MILLION FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES (H 4240) House 139-16, override Gov. Healey’s $1,530,735 veto reduction (from $39,250,384 to 37,719,649) in early intervention services. Override supporters said the $1,530,735 cut will hurt this program which helps infants and toddlers (from birth to 3 years old) who have developmental delays or are at risk of a developmental delay. In her veto message, Gov. Healey said, “I am reducing this item to align with current utilization trends.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1,530,735. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes $700,000 FOR CUMMINGS SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY (H 4240) House 148-7, overrode Gov. Healey's $700,000 veto reduction (from $6,200,000 million to $5,500,000 million) in funding for the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton. Override supporters said that the funding is important to Cummings and its four-year academic programs which offer a degree in veterinary medicine. They noted that the school conducts groundbreaking research that benefits animals and people and also has hospitals that treat an estimated 28,000 animals annually ranging from cats and dogs to pet rabbits, parrots, iguanas and fish. In her veto message, Gov. Healey said, “I am vetoing this item to an amount consistent with my House [budget] recommendation.” Some supporters of the veto questioned whether the state should be providing millions of dollars to a private university. (A "Yes" vote is for spending the $700,000. A "No" vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL SUNSCREEN LOTION (H 600) – The House gave initial approval to legislation that would allow any person, including students, parents and school personnel, to possess and use a topical sunscreen product without a physician’s note or prescription while on school property or at a school-related event or activity, to avoid overexposure to the sun. “Exposure to sun during childhood and adolescence is a significant risk factor for skin cancer later in life,” said sponsor Rep. Kate Hogan (D-Stow). “Regular use of sunscreen substantially reduces the risk associated with the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Outdated policies treat sunscreen as an over-the-counter medication requiring medical authorization. This antiquated policy creates barriers to a basic, preventative health practice.” Hogan continued, “[My bill] ensures that sunscreen is not to be treated as medication for the purposes of school policy and that sunscreen can be used, without imposing on school staff. The bill also gives school districts the opportunity to incorporate sun safety education into their wellness efforts, which will foster lifelong healthy habits. This legislation is particularly important as outdoor school activities such as recess, athletics, field days and field trips expose students to the sun. Enabling access to sunscreen is a common sense and evidence-based step that supports student health.” EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION FOR ABUSE VICTIMS (H 2143/S 1294) – The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would prohibit discrimination against an employee based on their status as a victim of abusive behavior. The measure requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure employees are able to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and address the situation, while remaining productive in the workplace. "I filed this legislation because Massachusetts needs stronger employment protections for individuals in the commonwealth who are either experiencing abusive behavior or have a family member experiencing abuse," said Senate Majority Leader Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton), the Senate sponsor of the bill. "The BHRC | SEE PAGE 19
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