THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 15 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 influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Chris Van Buskirk and Keith Regan who introduce each article in their own clever and inimitable way. 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: www.massterlist.com/subscribe. THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of January 10-14. There were no roll calls in the House last week. MAKE ADOPTION BY FAMILY MEMBERS EASIER (S 2616) Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would repeal a current law which prohibits adoption of children by family members including older siblings, aunts and uncles. The proposal would allow these family members, with the permission of the county probate courts, to legally adopt their family members. Current law only allows these family members to apply to become a guardian. Sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) said that this archaic law was put in place at the beginning of the last century to prevent the potential for inheritance abuse, but the commonwealth has since adopted legal protections, such as conservatorships, to prevent this from occurring. “Our families are often our largest sources of support and what a family looks like can mean different things to different people,” said Lovely. “I filed Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen [the bill] to better reflect the realities of the lives of Massachusetts residents who love and care for one another … our most vulnerable youth deserve to be cared for by the people who know and love them, and who can best assess their needs.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill). Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes MAKE OBTAINING ID CARDS EASIER FOR HOMELESS PERSONS (S 2612) Senate 39-0 approved and sent to the House legislation that would make it easier for homeless youth and adults to secure free state ID cards. The measure would allow homeless service providers or other state agencies to provide the individual with documentation to prove residency. Supporters said that currently, a person experiencing homelessness faces prohibitive fees and documentation requirements when trying to obtain an ID card. They noted that ID cards are necessary for applying for jobs, enrolling in school, interacting with law enforcement, accessing government buildings, opening financial accounts and many other basic services that many take for granted. “As the state begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn, the Legislature must ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness have the same fundamental opportunities to live happily,” said the measure’s sponsor Sen. Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester). “One fundamental key to accessing basic services are state-is7. January 23 is Nation1. On Jan. 21, 1789, the novel “The Power of Sympathy: or, The Triumph of Nature” by William Hill Brown – thought to be the first American novel – was first published in what city? 2. Can yodeling trigger an avalanche? 3. To make sugar on snow, to what stage is maple syrup boiled: thread, soft ball or hard crack? 4. On Jan. 22, 2021, what pro baseball player died who had ended his career with 755 home runs? 5. Years ago, where in Massachusetts would you have found the wooden roller coaster called the Cyclone, which was once the tallest roller coaster ever built? 6. What mythical winged horse was Mobil’s trademark? al Pie Day; what two flavors predominate in grasshopper pie? 8. Why was the Baltimore NFL team named the Ravens? 9. Historically, what ingredient separated Boston baked beans from other baked beans? 10. On Jan. 24, 1848, gold was discovered in El Dorado County in what state? 11. What novel set in Salem, Mass., has a first chapter titled “The Old Pyncheon Family”? 12. Why are the Olympics held every four years? 13. What is the largest National Park in the continental United States? 14. On Jan. 25, 1961, what dog-centric film was released sued IDs. Currently, people experiencing homelessness face significant financial and bureaucratic barriers when they attempt to obtain an ID. Now is the time to break down bureaucratic barriers that fuel the cycle of poverty and to ensure equality for all the commonwealth’s residents as we look towards a post-pandemic world.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill). Sen. Brendan Crighton 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 filed. 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 January 10-14, the House met for a total of 39 minutes and the Senate met for a total of three hours and nine minutes. Mon. Jan. 10 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:13 a.m. Senate 11:16 a.m. to 11:26 a.m. Tues. Jan. 11 No House session No Senate session Wed. Jan. 12 No House session No Senate session Thurs. Jan. 13 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:28 a.m. Senate 11:21 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Fri. Jan. 14 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com in the USA? 15. When did the first commercial rice cooker for home use debut: 1933, 1945 or 1962? 16. On Jan. 26, 1802, what group created one room for all government books and established the oldest U.S. Joint Committee, the Joint Committee on the Library? 17. How do frogs hibernate in winter? 18. How are Auric Goldfinger, Baby Jane Hudson and Cruella De Vil similar? 19. How many children did Paul Revere have: four, eight or 16? 20. On Jan. 27, 1813, what book by Jane Austen with the characters Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy was published? ANSWERS 1. Boston 2. No 3. Soft ball 4. Hank Aaron 5. Revere Beach 6. Pegasus 7. Mint and chocolate 8. “The Raven” is the name of a poem by Boston native Edgar Allan Poe, who died in Baltimore. 9. Molasses 10. California (the first California gold claim to be endorsed by the President, James Polk) 11. “The House of the Seven Gables” by Nathaniel Hawthorne 12. Because the ancient games at Olympia, Greece, were held every four years. 13. Death Valley 14. “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” 15. 1945 16. The U.S. Congress 17. Many go below water in ponds and obtain oxygen through the skin 18. They are film villains. 19. 16 20. “Pride and Prejudice”
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