Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 ten to the show from anywhere in the world: • If you have a smart speaker, simply say, “Play WMEX on RADIO.COM” • Download the free RADIO.COM app on your phone or tablet • Listen online at: www.wmexA note from Bob Katzen, Publisher of Beacon Hill Roll Call: Join me this Sunday night and every Sunday night between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST for my talk show “The Bob Katzen Baby Boomer and Gen X Show.” Jump in my time capsule and come back to the simpler days of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. There are many ways you can lisboston.com • Tune into 1510 AM if you still have an AM radio THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records the votes of local representatives and senators from the week of March 22-26. HELP BUSINESSES AND WORKERS (H 90) House 157-0, Senate 40-0, apRevere Housing Authority Section 8 Leased Housing Coordinator Position: Primary function is competent administration of HUD’s Regulations governing the Section 8 program for applicants, voucher holders and Landlords. The coordinator is responsible for communications to tenants and landlords, reporting to HUD, and performance compliance. Reports to: Joan Ambrosino Director of Leased Housing Management Salary: $45,000.00 to $48,000.00 (depending of experience) Primary Responsibilities: • Critically review information provided by applicants and tenants for legitimacy, completeness and compliance with HUD program requirements and RHA Administrative Plan. • Verify, via third party to the extent possible, all household family members, sources and amounts of income and assets. • Work with HUD-provided reporting systems (EIV), other public agencies, private institutions and employers as appropriate. • Contact program participants as appropriate to ensure timely completion of program requirements, annual • to HAB software. • Understand key documents and publications issued by HUD and incorporate into day-to-day program administration. • Complete, issue, obtain signatures and send executed HAP contracts to landlords. • Establish monthly landlord (HAP) payments in the RHA software systems. • Serve as liaison with current and new landlords. • Assist, provide information and help resolve landlord and tenant issues relating to program participation. • Other duties as assigned. Applicant should have the capability to work independently and to assume responsibility for completion of complex workload without close supervision, demonstrated time management and organizational skills. This position requires the ability to research, problem solve and propose recommended solutions. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to compose professional correspondence representing the department and the agency. Experience with PHA web Must be a high school graduate or GED recipient. Contact Information: Please submit cover letter and Revere Housing Authority, 70 Cooledge Street, Revere, MA 02151. Employer. proved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a bill that supporters said will stabilize the state’s unemployment system and provide targeted tax relief to employers and workers. Provisions exclude Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from being taxed by the state in 2020; exclude $10,200 of unemployment compensation received by an individual with a household income of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level from gross income for tax purposes; and create a mechanism ensuring all employees will be able to access 40 hours of paid sick time for any COVID-related issues, including testing positive, needing to quarantine or caring for a loved one. Other provisions waive penalties on unemployment insurance taxes; freeze unemployment insurance rates paid by employers and extend the state’s tax fi ling deadline from April 15, 2021 to May 17, 2021. Businesses would also face a new surcharge, in the form of an excise tax on employee wages, through December 2022 to help repay interest due in September on the federal loans. “With more people getting vaccinated by the day, and our economy re-opening, this bill will bring much needed relief to small businesses, keep our essential front line workers safe, and target tax relief to lift up low-income families who lost jobs during this pandemic,” said Senate Ways and Means chair Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport). “I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting legislation that seeks to ease the economic burdens brought on by the pandemic,” said Rep. Bill Driscoll (D-Milton), House chair of the Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management. “The Legislature has a commitment to the commonwealth’s workers, and I am glad to see funds go to those who need it most during these challenging times.” «I am proud to vote for legislation that will support workers and advance an equitable recovery,” said Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Senate chair of the Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency INTERNET | FROM Page 16 VID-19, the Internet First program provides affordable internet options to families and students in low-income households. The program delivers reliable access to RCN, Grande and Wave’s award-winning internet for eligible customers, enabling them to continue school and work, access educational resources and more. “With continued COVID-19 safety protocols in place for many schools and businesses, the need for reliable access to the internet at home is just as important in 2021 as it was at the onset of the pandemic, and keeping people connected remains our priority,” said RCN, Grande and Wave Chief OperPreparedness and Management. “In Western Massachusetts, main street businesses and nonprofi ts are the foundation of our economy and rightfully targeted for relief in this bill.» “The House and Senate enacted legislation to make important updates to our state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which has provided an economic lifeline for so many families in need,” said Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury), House chair of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “Our actions today will prevent a sharp increase in rates on our businesses, help stabilize the fund over the longer term, provide tax relief to lower income jobseekers and ensure that needed jobless benefi ts continue to fl ow.” “Massachusetts employers faced a signifi cant increase in their unemployment insurance costs, with employers’ experience rates scheduled to jump from $539 to $858 per worker this year,” said Republican House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This legislation mitigates that increase by freezing the rate schedule. Restaurants and small businesses, already struggling fi nancially during the COVID-19 pandemic, secured federal Paycheck Protection Program loans to keep their businesses afl oat and save employees’ jobs during the pandemic faced a collective tax bill of $150 million. This legislation will make sure their forgiven loans will not be subject to state taxes.” “Hundreds of thousands of people received benefi ts last year without taxes being withheld,” said Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), Senate chair of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “They have no idea that they owe taxes on those payments and are going to be hit hard in April. The bill will give them more time to pay taxes owed, eliminate usual penalties, and most importantly create a tax exemption for our most vulnerable families.” “Over the past year, thousands of Massachusetts workers have lost pay, or even lost their jobs, because they needed to stay home from work due to COVID symptoms, or ating Offi cer Chris Fenger. “Faster access at the same aff ordable price will provide relief for families still adjusting to the sustained shift of work, school and entertainment to the internet, and accommodate the uptick in bandwidth that comes with having everybody at home.” RCN, Grande and Wave’s Internet First off ering includes: • Double the speed with up to 50Mbps internet • Free internet and standard Wi-Fi for fi rst 60 days through enrollment in the Internet First Program, for all qualifying lowincome households who do not already subscribe to their internet service • No activation or installation fees for equipment • Option to add Whole Home to recover after receiving a vaccine,” said Steve Tolman, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “Countless other workers have gone to work even when they might be sick because they can’t aff ord not to get paid. Workers need Emergency Paid Sick Time today, and we urge Gov. Baker to sign this critical legislation immediately.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Sen. Joseph Boncore Yes 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 March 22-26, the House met for a total of eight hours and 54 minutes while the Senate met for a total of eight hours and 56 minutes. Mon. March 22 House 11:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Senate 11:09 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. Tues. March 23 No House session No Senate session Wed. March 24 No House session No Senate session Thurs. March 25 House 1:02 p.m. to 2:11 p.m. Senate 1:18 p.m. to 2:36 p.m. Fri. March 26 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Wi-Fi powered by eero for $9.95 per month, including one eero Pro and one eero Beacon RCN, Grande, Wave continue to see excellent performance of their networks with engineers, fi eld technicians and operations centers on point 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet shifts in usage patterns and increased traffi c. While many are still working, learning and connecting from home, the organization remains vigilant in keeping everyone connected and safe. RCN, Grande and Wave have pledged to ensure their workforce continues to follow safety protocols, such as wearing masks and social distancing, to keep employees, customers and the communities they serve healthy in these challenging times.
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