Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2023 BEACON | FROM Page 14 are struggling with mental health symptoms are not penalized, and that they receive the support they need to succeed in school. State government must rise to meet the needs of our students, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the mental health crisis many face.” ALLOW NON-CITIZENS TO VOTE (HD 3946) – Would permit cities and towns to allow noncitizens over age 18 to vote in local municipal elections. The elections in which non-citizens could vote include an election for mayor, school committee, city council, town council, board of selectmen, select board elections, a school committee referendum and a local ballot referendum. “Non-citizen residents of Massachusetts are already participating deeply in civic life by attending parent-teacher conferences, working toward college degrees, donating their time for community projects, running local businesses, and of course, paying their taxes,” said sponsor Rep. Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge). “That is why I am proud to refi le this legislation to extend voting rights in municipal elections to noncitizen voters of the commonwealth.” A similar bill fi led by Connolly last year was shipped off to a study committee where bills are rarely actually studied and are essentially defeated. It is a way to kill a proposal without holding a vote on the bill itself. CREATE COVID-19 REMEMBRANCE DAY (HD 3281) – Would designate the first Monday in March as COVID-19 Remembrance Day to honor and remember people who have died or suffered from COVID-19; the frontline and essential workers; and residents of the state who volunteered to support their neighbors and local communities. Co-sponsors Reps. Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) and Natalie Blais (D-Sunderland) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they sponsored the bill. A similar bill fi led by the same duo died from inaction in the House last year after it had received a favorable report from the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight which recommended its passage. DECLARE RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS (HD 3703) – Would declare racism as a public health crisis and direct the Offi ce of Health Equity to develop policies to dismantle systemic racism impacting health and establish programs focused on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases disproportionately impacting communities of color. Sponsor Rep. Jon Santiago (DBoston), did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him why he fi led the bill. DIVEST FROM COMPANIES THAT SELL FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION (HD 3225) Would require the state’s Pension Reserve Investment Management (PRIM) fund to divest state funds from companies that derive more than 15 percent of revenues from the sale or manufacturing of ammunition, fi rearms or fi rearm accessories used for civilian, non-military, non-police purposes. PRIM handles and pays retirement benefi ts to state employees and teachers. “When the treasurer’s Office brought this bill to me for consideration, I thought it was important legislation for Massachusetts to refl ect its values with its investments,” said sponsor Rep. Jay Livingston (D-Boston). “Massachusetts has enacted some of the strictest gun laws in the United States and has one of the lowest rates of gun violence as a result. The divestment proposed in this legislation would generate awareness of the dangers of fi rearms and send a clear message to gun violence victims and survivors everywhere that we stand with them by divesting from these firearm companies that have failed to demonstrate a willingness to engage with shareholders and address the safety of their products.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “My office will always advocate for consumers, especially when they are preyed on by a company that engages in unfair and unlawful business practices. We were able to hold Safe Home Security and its sister companies accountable for their alleged deceptive tactics, securing millions in debt relief for consumers, and we will continue to hold bad actors accountable.” — Attorney General Andrea Campbell on her offi ce’s $6.5 million settlement, including $4.7 million in debt relief, with a Connecticut-based home security services company to resolve allegations that the company violated state consumer protection laws by deceptively trapping Massachusetts consumers in long-term auto renewal contracts and engaging in illegal debt collection practices. “Every day I hear from families in my district who are facing eviction, rent increases and housing instability. I am committed to using every tool available to address the housing crisis, deliver immediate relief to families in need and to work collaboratively to create a system that makes housing truly aff ordable for all.” — Sen. Lydia Edwards who, along with Rep. Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge), last week launched the Housing for All Caucus in the Massachusetts Legislature. “MassDOT is pleased to work collaboratively with municipal leaders, Metropolitan Area Planning Councils and Regional Planning Agencies to further the goals of Safe Streets for All. We will continue to support the development of safety action plans and continue to work with our partners to improve transportation infrastructure to help make travel safer for the public whether people choose to walk, bike, take public transportation or drive.” — Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca announcing $30.6 million has been awarded to 17 municipalities and Regional Planning Agencies through the fi rst round of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program. “This is a hard conversation to have right now, because the consensus is, ‘hey, we have lots of money, let’s cut taxes.’ And then times get bad, and they’re coming real fast, when times get bad, we can’t raise taxes. So we cut services.” — Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville) cautioning about reducing state taxes. 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 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 February 6-10, the House met for a total of two hours and 27 minutes while the Senate met for a total of six hours and 21 minutes. Mon. Feb. 6 House 11:03 a.m. to 11:04 a.m. Senate 11:08 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Tues. Feb. 7 No House session No Senate session Wed. Feb. 8 No House session No Senate session Thurs. Feb. 9 House 11:05 a.m. to 1:31 p.m. Senate 11:03 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. Fri. Feb. 10 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 Retiring Abroad? Tips and tools to help you make an informed decision Dear Savvy Senior, What are the key factors to consider when contemplating retiring abroad? My husband and I will soon be retiring and are interested in moving abroad to a country that’s cheaper and warmer than the U.S. Looking Ahead Dear Looking, Whatever your reasons for aspiring to retire abroad – a lower cost of living, a better climate or a desire for adventure – you need to do your homework and learn everything you can about the country you’re interested in because it’s not an easy move. Here are some diff erent tips and tools to help you make an informed decision. Researching Tools If you’re in the decision-making process of where to retire, InternationalLiving.com and LiveAndInvestOverseas.com are two excellent websites that provide articles, information and lists of the top retirement destinations abroad based on cost of living, climate, health care, housing, visas, infrastructure and more. Once you pick a country or two that interest you, a smart move is to talk or network with some expats who have already made the move you’re thinking about making. They can give you tips and suggestions on many issues, as well as the advantages and disadvantages and day-to-day reality of living in a particular country. Facebook is a good resource for locating expat groups. But before committing, experts recommend visiting multiple times during diff erent seasons to see whether you can envision yourself living there and not just exploring the place as a tourist. Here are some other factors you need to look into. Cost of living: Retiring abroad used to be seen as a surefi re way to live beyond your means, and for many countries it still is. But depending on where you move, the U.S. dollar may not stretch as far as you think. To compare the cost of living in hundreds of cities and countries use Numbeo.com. Visa requirements: If you want to spend just part of the year living abroad or are willing to move from country to country, most countries offer a three or six-month tourist visa, which is easy to get. But if you want to set up permanent residence abroad you might have to jump over a few more hurdles depending on where you want to retire. To research visa requirements in the countries that interest you, visit VisaGuide.World. Health care: Most U.S. health insurance companies do not provide coverage outside the U.S., and neither does Medicare. Check with the embassy (see USembassy.gov) of your destination country to see how you can be covered as a foreign resident. Many countries provide government-sponsored health care that’s inexpensive, accessible and just as good as what you get in the states, or you may want to buy a policy through Medibroker.com or BupaGlobal.com. Also know that most people who retire abroad eventually return to the U.S., so experts recommend paying your Medicare Part B premiums. If you drop and resume Part B, or delay initial enrollment, you’ll pay a 10 percent premium penalty for every 12-month period you weren’t enrolled. Housing: Buying a home in a foreign country can be complicated, so it’s almost always better to rent fi rst until you’re sure you want to permanently reside there. Money matters: Opening or maintaining a bank account abroad can also be diffi cult. You may have to establish a checking account with an institution that has international reach like Citibank or maintain a U.S. bank account that you can access online. Claiming your Social Security benefi ts, however, should not be a problem as they off er direct deposit to almost every country in the world. See SSA.gov/international/payments.html. Taxes: You also need to research tax rules in your prospective countries and be aware that even if you’re living in another country, as a U.S. citizen you’ll still most likely need to fi le an annual U.S. tax return – see IRS.gov/pub/ irs-pdf/p54.pdf. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
17 Publizr Home