Page 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2022 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen 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 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 representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of April 25-29. APPROVE $49.7 BILLION FISCAL 2023 STATE BUDGET (H 4700) House 155-0, approved and sent to the Senate a $49.7 billion fi scal 2023 state budget after adding nearly $130 million in spending during three days of debate. The House version now goes to the Senate which will approve a diff erent version. A House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and sent to the governor. Provisions include $18.4 billion to fully fund MassHealth caseloads; $70 million in rate increases for subsidized child care providers; $3 million for early childhood mental health grants; $110 million for a year-long extension of universal school meals; $243 million for charter school aid; $60 million for adult education to support English Language Learners and adults working towards their GED; $15 million to support teachers of color, including $7.5 million for Tomorrow’s Teachers program to provide scholarships to people committed to teaching in public schools and $7.5 million for loan repayment for teachers of color; $188.6 million for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Service; and $653 million for the University of Massachusetts system. Another provision would require the Department of Correction (DOC), sheriff s and the Department of Youth Services (DYS) to provide phone calls free of charge to persons receiving and initiating phone calls and other services such as video or electronic communications, who are currently paying $14.4 million per year to communicate. The package also would outlaw child marriage of children under the age of 18 and empower minors currently in marriages to seek divorce or annulment on their own. “The House budget responds to the economic challenges curFOR RENT OFFICE or RETAIL SPACE 750 sq. ft. 617-389-6600 PARKWAY LOCATION rently facing Massachusetts residents by balancing a focus on immediate needs such as workforce development, with a focus on long-term investments that are designed to grow our economy in a sustainable way,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). (A Yes” vote is for the budget.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes PRESCRIPTION REBATE FOR SENIORS OVER 67 (H 4700) House 28-127, rejected an amendment making seniors, aged 67 or older, who are at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, eligible for a prescription drug rebate on their total out-of-pocket expenses of up to $2,500 for the 12 months from July 1, 2022 until June 30, 2023. Amendment supporters said this rebate will help low-income seniors on fi xed incomes. They noted some of these seniors currently have to choose between paying for prescription drugs, food and heating costs. Amendment opponents said there are several bills being worked on that would help seniors pay for their prescription drugs. They said this proposal should be fi led as a separate bill in order to hold public hearings on the measure. Reps. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick), sponsor of the amendment and Tom Stanley (D-Waltham), the main opponent of the amendment did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment. (A “Yes” vote is for the up to $2,500 rebate. A “No” vote is against it). Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Donald Wong Yes FARM FUEL TAX REBATE (H 4700) House 29-127, rejected an amendment that would provide a tax rebate to farmers for the cost of fuel taxes paid for the operation of farm equipment from July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. Amendment supporters said the rebate will help hardworking farmers during this diffi cult economic time. They noted it will also help combat food shortages. Amendment opponents said this rebate is a new idea and should be fi led as a separate bill in order to hold public hearings on the measure. Reps. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick), the sponsor of the amendment and Mark Cusack (D-Braintree), the main opponent of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment. “Farmers, like everyone in this ‘Bidenfl ation’ economy, are struggling to survive, and with the state’s historic surplus revenue bonanza (aka, over-taxation), the state can certainly aff ord to lighten some of their burden easily,” said Chip Ford, executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation. “Every small savings for producers will reduce the infl ated endcost for beleaguered consumers.” (A “Yes” vote is for the rebate. A “No” vote is against it). Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Donald Wong Yes REDUCE ESTATE/DEATH TAX (H 4700) House 30-126, rejected an amendment that would exempt the fi rst $2 million of the value of a person’s estate from the state’s estate/death tax that a person is required to pay following their death before distribution to any benefi ciary. Under current law, only the first $1 million is exempt. Under the current $1 million threshold and under the proposed $2 million threshold, the tax on anything over the threshold is a graduated one that ranges from 0.8 percent to 16 percent. This tax applies to the entire estate value, not just the portion above the threshold. Most Republicans are against any such tax and coined the name “death tax” to imply that the government taxes you even after you die. Most Democrats support the tax and call it an “estate tax” to imply that this tax is only paid by the wealthy. Amendment supporters said that in light of the rising value of houses, with the average home price more than $500,000, the $1 million threshold of this unfair regressive tax is too low and noted the federal tax exempts the fi rst $12 million. They noted that Massachusetts is losing many residents, who move to Florida and other states where this tax does not even exist. “Massachusetts has the most aggressive estate tax in the entire country,” said Paul Craney, Executive Director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “This tax is very unpopular in every state that still has it and many states are eliminating it completely. The estate tax drives people out of the state and even President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware recently repealed it completely. Only the Massachusetts Legislature would be willing to keep the country’s most aggressive estate tax, which hurts our elderly population the most.” Amendment opponents said that this proposed tax reduction is one of many that are included in a separate stand-alone piece of legislation fi led by Gov. Charlie Baker. They argued the amendment is premature and that the House should not act on this or any other tax reduction piecemeal here in the state budget but rather should wait until the Revenue Committee holds a public hearing on the governor’s package as a whole. Reps. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick), the sponsor of the amendment and Mark Cusack (D-Braintree), the main opponent of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment. (A “Yes” vote is for exempting the fi rst $2 million of the value of a person’s estate from the state’s estate/death tax. A “No” vote is against it) Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Donald Wong Yes REDUCE CAPITAL GAINS TAX FROM 12 PERCENT TO 5 PERCENT (H 4700) House 29-127,rejected an amendment that would reduce the short-term capital gains tax from 12 percent to fi ve percent. Chip Ford, executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation said that anything that can help the investors in Massachusetts keep up with mounting infl ation is a positive step for the commonwealth’s economy, “Why should the capital gains or any tax imposed be charged at a higher
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