Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024 By Bob Katzen If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562 GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST — Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and infl uence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://massterlist.com/subscribe/ THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators votes on roll calls from the week of November 11-15. $3.9 BILLION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE (H 5100) House 137-8 and then 139-4, Senate 39-1, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a $3.9 billion economic development package that supporters say would make bold investments in life sciences, climate tech, AI and small businesses, “building on Massachusetts’ national leadership and creating an environment where businesses and workers thrive.” The package increases the annual tax credit authorization for the life sciences industry from $30 million to $40 million. Other provisions include $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to support public infrastructure projects and create jobs; $150 million for library construction projects; $103 million for AI in systems across the state; $100 million for infrastructure improvements in rural communities; $21 million for resilience in agriculture and fi shing; and $40 million for food science innovations. “This economic development bill maximizes assets and opportunities and ensures Massachusetts will continue to lead the way toward a robust, adaptable and innovative future,” said Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover), Senate Chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “The bill provides meaningful investments in life sciences, climatetech and small businesses.” “This legislation will ensure the commonwealth can inject millions of dollars into critical sectors, develop the state’s workforce, grow our economy and make Massachusetts more competitive,” said Rep. Jerry Parisella (D-Beverly), House Chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “Policy provisions include permitting reforms, educator diversity, consumer protections around ticketing and home improvement contractors, workforce training and rural development. These, along with meaningful tax credits and incentives for life sciences and climatetech will help keep Massachusetts a leader in vital industries.” “This well-rounded economic development package makes signifi cant, targeted investments into major sectors of the commonwealth’s economy,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, (D-Boston), chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “By renewing our commitment to the life sciences industry, and by making signifi cant new investments into climatetech, we will be elevating the commonwealth’s economy to be able to compete and thrive for years to come.” Rep. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) said this “so-called economic development” bill contains major education and civil service reforms. “That alone is enough for a ‘No’ vote,” said Boldyga, “They should be separate bills. But regardless of that, this bill will continue to march the commonwealth down a destructive path of reckless government spending. It’s full of pork, tax breaks for special interest groups and over $400 million in more subsidies for off - shore wind that is destroying our coastline, killing our whales and decimating our fi shing industry.” Boldyga continued, “[It] also includes dangerous DEI language that would allow for exemptions of certain certification tests for public school teachers in order to meet diversity goals, incorporates ‘culturally responsive training,’ requires schools to create ‘diversity plans,’ and creates DEI offi cers and other mandatory DEI roles within our schools.” “While I support many of the funding initiatives in the bill, I have concerns with outside sections of the bill that have nothing to do with economic development which I simply cannot support,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “For example, the SAPHE act, which is about public health and dramatically expands the power of state health offi cials while diminishing local control and leading to lower levels of accountability which could cause severe economic impacts on businesses and individuals.” Fattman continued, “I do not agree with the portions of the bill that lower the standards of licensure for teachers and physicians, especially at a time where we should expect nothing but excellence from our teachers and doctors. Where too many of the sections were unrelated to economic development, it led to my ‘No’ vote, and these sections are troubling and distracting from the intended purpose of this legislation. Quite frankly, I believe the public is tired of this approach to legislating. Instead, we should have included practical ways to reduce the cost of living for Massachusetts residents struggling to make ends meet because of aff ordability issues in the state, such as tax breaks for childcare and/or middle class families.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it. The House held two separate roll calls on the same bill so there are two votes listed for each representative.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes/Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes/Yes Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE (S 2967) House 128-17, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey climate/energy legislation that supporters say will make systemic changes to the state’s clean energy infrastructure which will help the state achieve its net zero emissions by 2050 goals. They say it will also expand electric vehicle use and infrastructure and protect residents and ratepayers. A House-Senate conference committee drafted the compromise version to resolve the diff erences in the competing versions approved by the House and Senate earlier this year. “Today the Legislature once again took decisive action to address the climate crisis,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “While achieving the shared goal of reforming siting and permitting so that we can ensure that clean energy projects get approved and built at the rate necessary to meet our state’s ambitious emissions reduction goals, we are also expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure and incentives, addressing the high cost and long lifespan of gas infrastructure projects as we strive to move towards cleaner energy sources, and protecting rate payers from bearing the costs of this transformational shift.” “This legislation represents the Legislature’s continued commitment to meeting Massachusetts’ long-term emission reduction targets, as it builds on the work that is being done to modernize the commonwealth’s energy grid, increase clean energy generation and combat the climate crisis,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “The reforms related to siting and permitting of clean energy infrastructure will be critical in the process of transitioning the commonwealth’s energy grid away from fossil fuels over time.” “I voted against the [bill] because of the stance it takes on natural gas,” said Rep. Kelly Pease (RWestfi eld), one of only 17 members, all Republicans, who voted against the measure. “This bill wants to put an end to the use of natural gas in our state. Natural gas is not only abundant in the United States, but it is one of the cleanest burning energy sources. Increasing the use of natural gas would help our planet, while not having a detrimental impact on our economy. Unfortunately, this bill is just another nail in the coffi n for using natural gas as an energy source.” “While I and many others in the 5th Barnstable District support alternative energy, my primary responsibility as a state representative is to prioritize the health, safety and best interests of my constituents,” said Rep. Steve Xiarhos (R-Barnstable). “These interests would be significantly undermined by [the bill] because it would dramatically reduce state and local oversight of clean energy projects and the infrastructure to support them. Communities I represent have been directly and negatively aff ected by this infrastructure, and I have been pushing for more state and local oversight of these projects, not less, to
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