Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2025 BHRC | FROM Page 15 changes aimed at promoting responsible driving habits among young drivers. “This legislation aims to protect the safety of young drivers and the public by promoting early education, reinforcing responsible driving behavior and establishing clearer consequences for violations,” said sponsor Rep. Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy). “By strengthening the junior operator licensing process, we can help prevent avoidable accidents and save lives.” PROHIBIT BUYING ALCOHOL AT SELF-CHECK OUT (H 366) — The Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on a proposal that would prohibit customers from buying alcohol beverages in a selfcheckout line at retailers and require the sale be conducted through a face-to-face transaction with a store employee over the age of 18. “This bill is about keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors,” said sponsor Rep. Mike Finn (D-West Springfi eld). “By requiring face-to-face transactions, we ensure that a trained employee checks IDs every time, closing a loophole that’s made it too easy for underage buyers to slip through at self-checkouts. It’s a commonsense step to promote public safety and responsible alcohol sales.” ALLOW ALCOHOL SALES ON THANKSGIVING (H 428) — Another measure heard by the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee would allow for the sale of alcohol on Thanksgiving. “This is a common-sense bill that is intended to be a convenience to the public,” said sponsor Rep. David Linsky (DNatick). “How many of us have needed to pick up a bottle of wine on Thanksgiving, only to fi nd out that liquor stores were closed? Stores wouldn’t have to be open — it would be their option. The current law is a vestige of the blue laws and needs to be repealed.” BAN STATE FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD (H 1389) — The Public Health Committee held a hearing on a measure that would prohibit the use of state funds for Planned Parenthood. “Planned Parenthood is a non-government, non-profi t that has broad and signifi cant capacity to generate revenue through private fundraising from individuals who support its mission,” said sponsor Rep. Joseph McKenna (R-Sutton). “According to its annual 2023-2024 report it raised over $684.1 million from private contributions. Additionally, Planned Parenthood is exceedingly active politically. I do not believe that any organization or non-profi t engaging in such overt and direct political actions while also maintaining the ability to raise signifi cant funds through private contributions, should be paid by taxpayer funded earmarks — especially one whose primary mission is as extraordinarily divisive and controversial as Planned Parenthood’s mission of providing abortions.” “The public funding of abortion has received majority support in the Massachusetts Legislature since the repeal of the Doyle/Flynn law in 1996,” said C. J. Doyle, the Executive Director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts. “Realistically, there is no path forward for Rep. McKenna’s proposal. Nonetheless, the issue ought to be raised.” Doyle continued, “ The Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is the principal perpetrator of abortions in the commonwealth. According to a July 3rd story in The Boston Globe, it was responsible for 9,462 abortions in the state in 2024. Pro-life citizens of the Bay State understand that abortion is the deliberate destruction of innocent human life. These citizens are forced, through the use of their tax dollars, to subsidize procedures which off end their consciences and which contravene their sincerely held moral principles and religious beliefs. One possible benefi t of a public debate on taxpayer support for Planned Parenthood is that it might fi nally oblige the leadership of the Catholic Church---after five decades of silence---to confront the fact that a majority of Catholics in the Legislature support a practice which their religion describes as an abominable crime.” Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington) and the groups Reproductive Equity Now and Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts, all supporters of pro-choice, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on McKenna’s bill. QUOTABLE QUOTES “We should never ask people to make sacrifi ces we are unwilling to make ourselves. If it comes to that, I will be the first to vote for a legislative pay cut so that lawmakers feel the same burden our communities are feeling. These cuts were not our choice, but the burden is ours as much as it is for our constituents.” ---Rep. Francisco Paulino (D-Lawrence) pledging that if Massachusetts families are forced to sacrifice because of the fi scal year 2026 federal budget, also known as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” he will be the fi rst to vote for a legislative pay cut for all 200 members of the Legislature. “I chaired a school committee, and I know what these federal dollars mean for our kids locally — high-quality educators, adult education that helps families succeed and access to after school programs. The Trump Administration’s actions will impact every school district in our state and have far-reaching eff ects today and into the future.” ---Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll condemning the Trump Administration for its unprecedented withholding of billions of dollars in education funding across the country, including $108 million for Massachusetts schools. “With tropical storms becoming more frequent and intense, I encourage everyone living in or visiting Massachusetts to use Hurricane Preparedness Week to make the plans necessary to stay safe. Last year’s hurricane season was devastating to parts of the southeast, and Hurricane Helene demonstrated how hurricanes can have severe impacts far from coastal areas.” ---Gov. Healey declaring the week of July 6 to July 12, 2025, as “Hurricane Preparedness Week,” to emphasize the importance of planning and preparing for hurricanes and tropical systems, which most often impact New England during the months of August and September. “The real push behind this effort is definitely coming from folks who are currently incarcerated, who want to be able to participate fully in what exists of our democracy.” ---K. Melchor Quick Hall, a Women’s Studies Research Center scholar at Brandeis University who is working on a campaign to put a question on the 2028 ballot that would once again allow thousands of people serving prison time on felony convictions to vote in state elections while 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 July 7-11, the House met for a total of 26 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 21 minutes. Mon. July 7 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:21 a.m. Senate 11:16 a.m. to 11:32 a.m. Tues. July 8 No House session. No Senate session. Wed. July 9 No House session. No Senate session. Thurs. July 10 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:07 a.m. Senate 11:22 a.m. to 11:27 a.m. Fri. July 11 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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