THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 Page 21 HILL ROLL | FROM PAGE 18 ence agreement did not address the well-documented and growing concern of surprise billing in a comprehensive way,” continued Pellegrini. “Congress passed legislation which may result in higher premiums for employers and consumers, making it more important than ever that the Massachusetts Legislature establish a policy for out of network providers that is fair, but does not provide an excessive rate of payment. We look forward to working with the House and Senate on this important issue in the next session.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. RoseLee VincentYes Rep. Donald WongYes Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes COVID SPENDING WEBSITE (H 5187) House 31-126, Senate 4-35, rejected Gov. Baker’s amendment to a bill requiring the state to create a searchable website that will show how the state spends the federal funds it receives to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Baker’s amendment made several changes including deleting a section that requires the site to be updated on a weekly basis and replacing it with a requirement it be updated on a “regular” basis. “I am supportive of the intent of this section and the Office of Administration and Finance is currently developing such a website,” said Baker in a letter attached to his amendment. “However, some of the requirements included in the section are unable to be implemented or are administratively burdensome, such as a requirement that the website be updated weekly. Additionally, I am recommending that the February 1, 2021 deadline to implement this section be extended until March 30, 2021 in order ensure that the site is fully operative.” Opponents of the amendment said a weekly update is important, so people know where these millions of dollars are being spent. They said requiring a “regular” report is too vague and doesn’t mean anything. READERS: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY WHAT A YES AND NO VOTE MEAN. (In the House, a “Yes” vote is for Baker’s amendment. A “No” vote is against Baker’s amendment.) (In the Senate, the vote was on a motion to REJECT Baker’s amendment. Therefore, a “Yes” vote is against Baker’s amendment. A “No” vote is for Baker’s amendment.) Rep. RoseLee VincentNo Rep. Donald WongYes Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes VETOES GALORE Gov. Baker vetoed millions of dollars in funding in the $46.2 billion fiscal 2021 state budget. This is in sharp contrast to last year when, in an unusual situation, the governor signed the fiscal 2020 state budget into law without vetoing any of the $43.3 billion in spending approved by the House and Senate. Beacon Hill Roll Call talked to several Statehouse veterans at that time and not one could remember any other time in the last four decades that the governor did not veto funding in the budget. Baker said his reason for vetoing most of the funding in this fiscal 2021 budget was because it was not consistent with the budget he had filed. Override supporters defended the funding and the programs and said cutting them would be irresponsible and result in a cut in services. Here are some of the vetoes: $500,000 TO HELP LEGAL PERMANENTS RESIDENTS BECOME CITIZENS (H 5164) House 132-25, Senate 38-1, overrode Gov. Baker’s $500,000 veto reduction (from $1,741,575 million to $1,241,575) in funding for a citizenship for “New Americans Program” to assist legal permanent residents of the state in becoming citizens of the United States. (A Yes” vote is for the $500,000. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. RoseLee VincentYes Rep. Donald WongNo Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes $300,000 FOR COMMISSION ON LGBTQ YOUTH (H 5164) House 152-5, Senate 38-1, overrode Gov. Baker’s $300,000 veto reduction (from $800,000 to $500,000) for the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Commission (LGBTQ) Youth. The commission would use the entire $800,000 to address issues related to the implementation of the state’s antibullying law designed to combat the rising suicide rate among and incidents of violence and discrimination against LGBTQ youths. (A “Yes” vote is for the $300,000. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. RoseLee VincentYes Rep. Donald WongYes Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes $181,801 FOR PRISONERS’ LEGAL SERVICES (H 5164) House 136-20, Senate 37-2, overrode Gov. Baker’s $ 181,801 veto reduction (from $2,208,332 to $2,026,531 in funding for Prisoners’ Legal Services, a program that provides legal representation for indigent and disadvantaged defendants. (A “Yes” vote is for the $181,801. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. RoseLee VincentYes Rep. Donald WongNo Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes $500,000 FOR SMOKING CESSATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS (H 5164) House 150-7, overrode Gov. Baker’s $500,000 veto reduction (from $5,118,155 to $4,618,155) for smoking prevention and cessation program. The Senate has not yet voted on this reduction. (A “Yes” vote is for the 500,000. A “No” vote is against it). Rep. RoseLee Vincent Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes $500,000 FOR GUN AND VIOLENT CRIME PREVENTION (H 5164) House 151-6, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $500,000 for a neighborhood-based gun and violent crime prevention pilot program for targeted work with out-of-school youth and young adults aged 17 to 24. The funding would be used to prevent gun violence and other violent crime in neighborhoods and municipalities with the highest rates of violent crime. Gov. Baker said that not only is this item not consistent with his budget recommendation, but he also argued that $14 million in funding is available in fiscal year 2021, carried forward from fiscal year 2020. The Senate has not yet voted on this reduction. (A “Yes” vote is for the $500,000. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. RoseLee Vincent Yes Rep. Donald Wong 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 HILL ROLL | SEE PAGE 22 Space for Lease 3 Large Rooms, each with Large Walk-in Storage Area. or Aerobics Studio. Located at Route 1 South at Walnut Street. Rollerworld Plaza, Route 1 South, 425 Broadway, Saugus. Call Michelle at: 781-233-9507
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