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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 15, 2023 Page 13 BEACON HILL | FROM PAGE 12 quire that, eff ective July 1, 2026, every school bus transporting students to or from a public, vocational, private or parochial school be equipped with a seatbelt for each permanent seating accommodation. The bill permits a municipality to enact an earlier implementation date. It also prohibits lawsuits against cities and towns based on the failure of a school bus operator, school or municipality to ensure a passenger was wearing the restraint. “Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children throughout the commonwealth is one of my top priorities,” said sponsor Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “This commonsense proposal will protect countless kids on their way to and from school each day without placing any signifi cant fi nancial burdens on our school districts.” BAN DISCRIMINATION BASED ON HEIGHT AND WEIGHT (H 1705) – A bill that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s height or weight, unless for the purpose of compliance with any established state, federal or industry safety standard, was heard by the Judiciary Committee. “This bill takes an important step towards rectifying biases about a person’s height and weight factors often beyond their control,” said sponsor Rep. Tram Nguyen (D-Andover). “Body size discrimination aff ects all aspects of an individual’s life, from the workplace, to healthcare, to their education. By safeguarding individuals from discrimination based on their lookswe not only promote equal opportunities but also foster a healthier and more equitable community.” . INVESTIGATE WHY WOMEN PAY MORE FOR THE SAME PRODUCTS BOUGHT BY MEN (H 1639) – Another bill heardby the Judiciary Committee would establish a working group on gender equity to investigate the price diff erentiations between products marketed to males versus those marketed to females. Supporters said this so-called “pink tax” refers to a markup on goods and services marketed to women in which men pay less for similar or even identical products and services. They said price discrimination, especially when based on gender, is unjust and should not be tolerated. Everyday transactions, including purchases for jeans, haircuts, children’s toys and hundreds of other products, are marked up for women. “The price of similar goods and services offered to men and women suff ers from an embedded disparity along gendered lines,” said sponsor Rep. Jay Livingston (D-Boston). “I have proposed this legislation to start a commission that will examine potential solutions that will address this pricing discrimination issue.” APPLY CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS TO TOWN MEETING ARTICLES (H 4173) – A bill before the Election Laws Committee would apply the state’s campaign finance election laws to political entities or expenditures made to infl uence the outcome of articles that appear on Town Meeting warrants. “Local policy decisions should be made by town residents, but a loophole in campaign fi nance law allows for unfettered spending by outside groups to sway town decisions,” said co-sponsor Rep. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “Our bill closes the loophole and stems the fl ow of dark money that too often drowns out the voice of locals. It’s time to give power back to the people.” “Political spending on issues before Town Meetings should be required to follow the same rules of the road as candidates, ballot questions and other political campaigns,” said co-sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “It’s bewildering and distressing that people with deep pockets and fi nancial interests think they can buy their way into our local governance. We’re done with monied interests trying to sway town politics on the Cape and Islands. Voters deserve to know who is behind campaigns seeking to infl uence local policies that will impact those of us who live here year-round. Our robust laws on political spending have served the commonwealth’s representative democracy well for a half century — those should apply to lobbying at Town Meeting.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “Well, I’m proud of the things that we were able to get done this year. You know, as I look back, and it’s a time of refl ection to a certain extent, as I look back on the year, I mean, the budget that we passed that I signed,[had] really, really important investments, education, workforce, climate initiatives, housing. Tax cuts for the fi rst time in over 20 years.” ---Gov. Maura Healey refl ecting on her fi rst year in offi ce. “The Digital Equity Partnerships Program supports organizations across Massachusetts that help residents build their digital skills and get online so they can participate fully in our state economy, access modern health services, get connected to loved ones and so much more. We are excited to announce today’s grants through the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, which will help make technology more accessible for everyone across the state.” --- Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao announcing $20 million in new grants through the state’s Digital Equity Partnerships Program, which supports high-impact and scalable initiatives that reach residents most aff ected by the digital divide. “These benefi ts help all Massachusetts residents, whether they are taking leave for themselves, a loved one or to welcome a new member of their family. Eliminating language barriers for these benefi ts can be lifesaving for people, and I applaud the Paid Family and Medical Leave team for their commitment to accessibility.” ---Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on the Healey administration launching accessibility and equitability enhancements to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave including allowing applicants for benefi ts to now select Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian, Creole or Chinese, in addition to English, when applying for benefi ts. “When people walk into the governor’s offi ce, I want them to feel seen, represented and empowered. An important way to do this is by hanging artwork that is representative of the diverse Massachusetts experience.” --Gov. Maura Healey announcing that she has selected two paintings by artists of color to hang in the governor’s executive offi ce suite. “The Massachusetts Department of Correction recognizes the importance of incarcerated individuals maintaining bonds with their loved ones. No cost calls will alleviate the fi nancial burden and remove barriers for an individual in … custody to stay connected with their outside support system. Strong family support helps to advance the rehabilitative process, reduces recidivism and contributes to successful reentry upon release.” ---Department of Corrections Commissioner Carol Mici announcing the implementation of no cost phone calls in its 14 correctional facilities to provide equitable access to sustained communication between incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. 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 S Sa vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brieflength of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad BEACON HILL | SEE PAGE 17 Sa n i r y nior y Senior Senionior by Jim Miller How to Ease the Winter Blues Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about seasonal affective disorder? I’ve always disliked winter, but since I retired and am home a lot more, the gray, cold winter months make me feel really blue. Sad Sam Dear Sam, If you get depressed in the winter but feel better in spring and summer, you may indeed have seasonal aff ective disorder, or SAD, a wintertime depression that aff ects roughly 5 percent of Americans. In most cases, SAD is related to the loss of sunlight in the winter months. Reduced sunlight can upset natural sleep-wake cycles and other circadian rhythms that can aff ect the body. It can also cause a drop in the brain chemical serotonin, which aff ects mood, and can increase the levels of the hormone melatonin, which can make you feel more tired and lethargic. If you think you may have SAD, a trip to your doctor’s offi ce is the best way to diagnose it or you can take a SAD “self-assessment” test at the Center for Environmental Therapeutics website at CET.org/ assessments. If you fi nd that you have SAD, here are several treatment options and remedies that can help. Light therapy: The most eff ective treatment for SAD is sitting in front of a specialized light therapy box for 20 to 30 minutes a day, within the fi rst hour of waking up in the morning. Light therapy mimics outdoor light to cause a change in brain chemicals linked to mood. While you can buy a light box without a prescription, it’s best to use it under the guidance of a health care provider and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Most health insurance plans do not cover the cost. The best light therapy lamps provide 10,000 lux of illumination, many times stronger than typical indoor light, and have a diff user screen that fi lters out ultraviolet rays and projects downward toward the eyes. Some top-rated light therapy products include the Carex DayLight Classic Plus Bright Lamp ($145); Northern Light Technology Boxelite-OS ($205); and the budget friendly Verilux HappyLight Luxe ($70), all of which are available at Amazon.com. Cognitive behavioral therapy: Even though SAD is considered to be a biological problem, identifying and changing thought and behavior patterns can help alleviate symptoms too. To help you with this, choose a therapist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and who has experience in treating SAD. To locate someone in your area, Psychology Today off ers a search tool at PsychologyToday.com/us/therapists/cognitive-behavioral-cbt. Antidepressants: Some people with SAD benefi t from antidepressant treatments too. Some proven medications to ask your doctor about are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the extended-release antidepressant bupropion. But keep in mind that it may take several weeks to notice full benefi ts from an antidepressant. In addition, you may have to try diff erent medications before you fi nd one that works well for you and has the fewest side eff ects. Lifestyle remedies: Some other things you can do to help alleviate your SAD symptoms include making your environment sunnier and brighter. So, open up your blinds, sit closer to bright windows and get outside as much as you can. Even on cold or cloudy days, outdoor light can help, especially if you spend some time outside within two hours of getting up in the morning. Moderate exercise such as walking, swimming, yoga and even tai chi can also help alleviate SAD symptoms, as can social activities. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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