THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2022 Page 15 BEACON | FROM Page 14 by the secretary of state said the House should not implement SDR without having suffi cient facts on its eff ects. Others expressed concerns about the ability of cities and towns to implement SDR rules without disruption. (Beacon Hill Roll Call urges readers to read the following carefully and understand what a “Yes” and “No” vote mean on this roll call. The roll call was on replacing SDR with a study. Therefore, a “Yes” vote is in favor of the study of SDR. A “No” vote is against the study and in most cases in favor of SDR itself.) Rep. Jessica Giannino No PROOF OF VACCINATION (H 4359) House 31-127, rejected an amendment that would prohibit any city or town from requiring that a voter show proof of vaccination as a condition of entering a polling place to vote or to register to vote. “If any voting location required a vaccination, then a sizable portion of the population would be prevented from entering the facility to exercise their constitutional right,” said sponsor Rep. Peter Durant (R-Spencer). “Since statistically the majority of people not vaccinated are minorities, a major constituency this bill sought to protect, any vaccine requirement would not only be unconstitutional, but also seen as an eff ort to suppress the vote.” Amendment opponents said this is a solution in search of a problem. They noted that voters are not being asked to show proof of vaccination. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment banning cities and towns from requiring voters to provide proof of vaccination. A “No” vote is against the ban.) Rep. Jessica Giannino No REQUIRE VOTER ID (H 4359) House 32-126, rejected an amendment that would require voters to show a federal or Massachusetts picture identifi cation at their polling places in order to be allowed to vote. The state would also be required to establish a waiver of the fee for obtaining the ID for indigent persons. Supporters said it is illogical that all voters are not required to show identifi cation prior to voting and noted that 24 other states have laws requiring IDs. They argued that people cannot cash a check, rent a car, fl y on a plane or even enter some government buildings without showing an ID. “I fi led this amendment to protect the integrity of every U.S. citizen’s vote in Massachusetts while providing the opportunity to get a free picture ID for those who don’t have one,” said sponsor Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn) “A free ID avoids the issues and barriers of a so-called poll tax, while making sure each voter is who they say they are when voting.” Opponents of the amendment said it would disenfranchise thousands of voters including people who do not have a current address because they are in a homeless shelter or domestic violence facility. Other opponents said there have been no widespread reports of voter fraud in Massachusetts. (A “Yes” vote is for requiring a voter ID to vote. A “No” vote is against requiring it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino No $76 MILLION FOR COVID-19 (S 2622) Senate 40-0, approved a $76 million COVID-19 response bill. Key provisions provide $30 million to increase the number of COVID-19 testing sites and purchase COVID-19 tests and $5 million earmarked to expanding vaccination rates among kids ages 5 to 11 whose vaccination rates remain low in comparison to older residents Another $25 million would be used for the acquisition and distribution of high-quality personal protective masks, including N95s and KN95s, to be distributed to health care workers and children and faculty in elementary and secondary public-school districts. The measure also mandates that the Baker administration pursue the highest allowable rate of federal reimbursement for the $76 million package. “With the passage of today’s bill, the Senate confronts the challenges brought upon us by the Omicron surge and prioritizes urgently needed additional resources to expand access to rapid testing, masks, vaccines and boost our COVID-19 response eff orts,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Today’s investments refl ect the Senate’s commitment to center equity in the state’s ongoing pandemic response,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “In addition to maintaining public health, key aspects of this bill, like the distribution of masks, will ensure that our COVID mitigation strategy is fair.” “Today the Senate is acting decisively and strategically to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Senate Chair of the Committee on Covid-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management. “I’m proud that this bill makes targeted investments in community organizations that are working hard to get more residents vaccinated and keep them protected from severe illness due to COVID-19,” said Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate Vice Chair of the Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management. The House has already approved its own version of the bill. A HouseSenate conference committee will try to hammer out a compromise version. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes STATE SHOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO NURSING HOMES (S 2622) Senate 9-31, rejected an amendment that would require the state to provide COVID-19 funding, until the end of the federal public health emergency, to nursing homes to support infection control standards, including staff training and wages; temporary labor costs; hiring new staff ; procuring personal protective equipment (PPE); and costs associated with establishing single occupancy isolation rooms. The funds would be equal to at least 15 percent of the average monthly MassHealth Fee-For-Service payments made to nursing facilities for the purpose of supporting infection control standards, including staffi ng, PPE and isolation of residents, through the duration of the federal public health emergency. “Massachusetts nursing facilities are in the midst of a historic fi nancial and workforce crisis, which has only been exacerbated by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic,” said sponsor Sen. Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen). “This crisis impacts all nursing facilities—not-for-profi t, for profi t, family owned—and is directly attributable to a MassHealth payment system that has not kept pace with the cost of nursing facility care over the last decade.” “It is critical that nursing facilities have the resources to remain vigilant against the unpredictable COVID-19 virus,” continued DiZoglio. “The stark reality is that nursing facilities across the state are faced with an immediate and urgent workforce crisis resulting in over 7,000, or 1 in 5 direct-care positions unfi lled. Given the acute staffi ng crisis, to meet the ongoing care needs of their residents, the vast majority of nursing facility staff are working overtime and over half of nursing facilities are intermittently denying new resident admissions and hospital referrals resulting in disruptions in access to care.” Senate Ways and Means chair Sen. Mike Rodrigues said he agrees that nursing homes need help but that “this was a very narrow bill focused on access to testing, masks and vaccines for communities disproportionately aff ected by COVID-19.” Rodrigues said, “We absolutely know that nursing homes are hurting, “We absolutely know that nursing homes are hurting and we will consider supports for nursing homes in future legislation.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Lydia Edwards No HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to ~ Home of the Week ~ View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 185 of the Acts of 1983, and Chapter 13 of the Acts of 1984, that Commission will conduct a Public Hearing on February 17,2022 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Councilor Joseph A. Del Grosso Council Chambers of Revere City Hall relative to the following proposed amendments to the parking City of Revere: 1. Amend Schedule IV of Title 10-Isolated Stop Signs by adding a three way stop at Ellerton St and Argyle St. 2. Amend Schedule IV of Title 10-Isolated Stop Signs by adding: Burbank St at Mountain Ave for southbound 3. Amend Schedule XI of Title 10 Handicapped Person Parking Areas by adding-34 Page St and 12 Hichborn St. 4. Amend Schedule IV of Title 10-Isolated Stop Signs by adding Mill Street at Vinal St a four way stop. 5. Amend Schedule IX of Title 10-Resident Parking Streets by adding Haddon St 24-7. Attest: Paul V. Argenzio, Commission irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of January 2428, the House met for a total of 11 hours and two minutes and the Senate met for a total of six hours and 12 minutes. Mon. Jan. 24 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:07 a.m. Senate 11:28 a.m. to 11:34 a.m. Tues. Jan. 25 No House session No Senate session Wed. Jan. 26 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:52 a.m. Senate 12:01 p.m. to 5:55 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 27 House 11:03 a.m. to 9:08 p.m. Senate 11:16 p.m. to 11:28 a.m. Fri. Jan. 28 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall. com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019.
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