13

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 4, 2024 Page 13 share of limited federal dollars,” said Rep. Matt Muratore (R-Plymouth). “Leveraging the interest on our Rainy Day Fund will give us a signifi cant advantage by better positioning Massachusetts to successfully secure much-needed federal dollars that will help pay for a wide If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall. com or call us at (617) 720-1562. Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 49 - Report No. 39 September 23-27, 2024 Copyright © 2024 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. 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 influence. 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: There were no roll calls in the House and Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on the number of times each representative sided with Gov. Maura Healey on her 20 vetoes of state budget items in the 2024 legislative session. A two-thirds vote is required to override a gubernatorial veto. In a full 160-member House, the governor needs the support of 54 representatives to sustain a veto when all 160 representatives vote—and fewer votes when some members are absent or a seat is vacant. Healey fell far short of that goal as 25 votes was the most support she received on any veto. The House easily overrode all 20 vetoes. No Democrats voted with Healey to sustain any vetoes. All 133 voted to override all the vetoes. Of the 25 Republican members, only two voted with Healey 100 percent of the time to sustain the vetoes: Reps.Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) and Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica). The two GOP members who supported Healey the least number of times were Reps. David Vieira (R-Falmouth) and Kelly Pease (R-Westfi eld) who each voted with Healey only six times (30 percent of the time). NUMBER OF TIMES REPRESENTATIVES SUPPORTED GOV. HEALEY’S VETOES IN THE 2024 SESSION Here is how your representative fared in his or her support of Gov. Healey on the vetoes. The percentage next to the representative’s name represents the percentage of times that he or she supported Healey. The number in parentheses represents the actual number of times the representative supported Healey. Rep. Jessica Giannino 0percent (0) Rep. Donald Wong 45 percent (9)ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL USE INTEREST FROM STATE’S “RAIN DAY FUND” TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDS (S 2954) - Gov. Maura Healey signed into law legislation that would leverage the interest from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to better compete for federal dollars, to ensure the state receives the maximum possible share of federal funds and to pay down the state’s long term debt liabilities. The Rainy Day Fund currently has a historic balance of $8.2 billion. Supporters said the bill would require the state comptroller to transfer interest from the Rainy Day Fund to the Commonwealth Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund on a quarterly basis if the Rainy Day balance contains a healthy amount of money. The Secretary of Administration and Finance would then pursue federal funds for infrastructure, resiliency and economic development. “From day one of our administration, we’ve been committed to competing aggressively to win more federal investments in Massachusetts,” said Gov. Healey. “We know that every federal dollar we pull in is vital to repairing our bridges and roads, improving transportation infrastructure in all parts of the state, leading the clean energy revolution, and supporting our workforce at every step. With this legislation, we will be able to provide unprecedented tools for our communities to seek the federal support they need.” “We are constantly competing with 49 other states for our range of infrastructure projects.” “This legislation puts Massachusetts in a position to take full advantage of federal grant opportunities to ensure we don’t leave a single dollar on the table,” said Sen. John Cronin (D-Fitchburg). “This bill will help our commonwealth partner with the federal government to meet our challenges and build for the future.” “Remaining competitive, equitable and aff ordable as a commonwealth means thinking creatively about our state’s fi nances and seizing opportunities,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “We have been fi scally prudent in building up the largest rainy day fund in Massachusetts’ history, and with the governor’s signature, our communities will now be able to leverage our robust interest earnings to compete for federal dollars to fund transformative projects. FOSTER HOMES AND DOGS (H 4911) – The Senate approved a House-approved bill that prohibits the Department of Children and Families (DCF) from prohibiting placement of a child in a foster home solely based on the presence of any specifi c breed of dog in the home. The bill also updates animal cruelty and abuse reporting regulation for human services employees or contractors. Supporters said that currently, DCF is allowed to prohibit placement of a child in a home with German Shepherds, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. “This legislation will open the door for seemingly countless additional families to potentially become foster families addressing the great need for emergency, short-term and permanent supportive housing for the commonwealth’s children,” said sponsor Rep. Jack Lewis (D-Framingham). “From my work as the co-chair of the bipartisan Protecting Animal Welfare Caucus and my own personal experience of becoming a pre-adoptive foster parent, I know the power of this legislation.” The bill needs fi nal approval in the House and Senate before it goes to Gov. Healey for her signature. $12.4 MILLION FOR ROAD SAFETY – The Healey administration announced it has awarded some $12.4 million in federal traffi c safety funds for programs to promote safer roads in across the state. “These programs, taken together, represent a holistic approach to addressing road safety concerns,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “No one agency or approach can resolve these issues, but the combination of prevention, enforcement, education and outreach initiatives funded through these grants will ensure safer roads for all in Massachusetts.” “The initiatives funded through these grant programs will ensure that drivers in communities across the state are better informed and safer behind the wheel,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy.“These grants promote strong partnerships between nonprofi ts, community members and public safety offi cials. Those relationships are key to our public safety strategy.” $5 MILLION FOR FIREFIGHTER SAFETY GRANTS – The Healey administration announced that $5 million in grant are available to support the purchase of fi refighter turnout gear, fire suppression equipment, and other related items by local cities and towns. “Modern fi refi ghters do much more than fi ght fi res,” said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. “They perform technical rescues, mitigate the release of hazardous materials and treat traumatic injuries. Many of their day-to-day activities expose them to carcinogens and other health hazards. These grants give local fi re departments the fl exibility to purchase the safety equipment that will best serve their needs, from small rural towns to large urban areas. It’s an investment in the safety of our fi refi ghters and all our communities.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “I was a little bit outraged by the fact that her opponent declared himself the winner when he knew there were ballots that had to be counted.” ---House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) commenting on a statement on primary election night on September 3 by challenger Evan MacKay declaring a 40-vote victory over incumbent Rep. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge). After all the ballots were counted, Decker in fact was declared the winner. “We’re outlining and preparing our final draft framework with an internal working team. We are targeting before the end of the year for the public presentation. Then we’ll engage in the promulgation process and continue ongoing outreach.” ---Acting Cannabis Control Commission Chair Bruce Stebbins announcing the progress the commission has made in establishing the rules that will govern creation of cannabis cafes where adults could use marijuana together in a social setting. “Johnny Appleseed may be one of the most enigmatic fi gures in American history. People near and far from his Leominster birthplace, know of his journey. Those treks not only included planting apple seedlings for pioneers but also the spreading of his religious beliefs and minimalist lifestyle. One of America’s most unusual characters, Johnny Appleseed’s legacy speaks to us today as a gentle reminder of slowing down, consuming only what is necessary, and remaining steadfast in one’s personal beliefs despite popular opinion.” ---Mark Bodanza, historian and author of “Johnny Appleseed – the Man Behind the Folklore,” on commemorating the 250th birthday of John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed, who was born in the city of Leominster on September 26, 1774. “Our shared history and traditions should be on full display here at the State House, where we are celebrating the strength and culture of our Hispanic and Latino community in Massachusetts. These pieces will enrich the experience of thousands of visitors who come to the State House to see our shared roots on display.” ---Gov. Maura Healey hosting a celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month, at which she unveiled a temporary art installment by Hispanic and Latino artists living in Massachusetts. 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 Sept.2327, the House met for a total of 16 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 20 minutes. BEACON | SEE PAGE 22

14 Publizr Home