THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senator’s votes on roll calls from last week. The 2019-2020 legislative session has ended and the 2021-2022 session is now underway.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The House, 145-9, and Senate, 38-2, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a 57-page climate change bill. A key section makes the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal net-zero by 2050.
“I owe a special debt of gratitude to Speaker (Ron) Mariano for his invaluable mentorship over my six years as House energy chair,” said Rep. Tom Golden, D-Lowell, House Chair of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. “It is his long-standing recognition of Massachusetts’ opportunity to play a leadership role in offshore wind and his fearless commitment to push forward when others hang back that have led us to advance legislation as ambitious as the Next Generation Roadmap bill.”
“While I believe protecting the environment is of the utmost importance, this bill guarantees the construction of nuclear power plants in Massachusetts communities, of which I am deeply concerned about their placement and eventual consequences in Worcester County and Massachusetts in general,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton, who voted against the measure. “The bill gives unregulated power to unelected bureaucrats with severe consequences on homeowners, communities and the energy sector. Everyday homeowners will be forced to change to a new home heating system, most likely with little to no financial assistance from the government that is forcing these changes upon them.”
“The climate change bill takes a comprehensive approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including recognizing how forests and other natural and working lands can be used to promote carbon sequestration and help Massachusetts reach its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050,” said House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, R-North Reading. “It also incorporates municipal lighting plants as partners in these efforts by setting greenhouse gas emissions standards and establishing an equal playing field for these facilities. I’m proud to have served on the conference committee that produced this historic bill which reaffirms Massachusetts’ role as a national leader on clean energy issues.”
“This bill steps up the pace of our collective drive to contain climate change,” said Sen. Mike Barrett, D-Lexington, Senate Chair of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. “It’s the strongest effort of its kind in the country. With the tools the Legislature assembles here, we’re constructing the response we need and providing a blueprint to other states.”
“I support green energy research and usage,” said opponent Rep. Paul Frost, R-Auburn. “My concern is this bill would be forcing and mandating higher prices at the gas pumps and on home heating oil, and higher electricity costs on homeowners, renters and small businesses. Green energy is costly to produce with today’s technology and not always reliable, therefore I look forward to a time when it will be cost-effective and far more dependable than now.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. James Arciero, Yes; Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, Yes; Rep. Colleen Garry, No; Rep. Thomas Golden, Yes; Rep. Kenneth Gordon, Yes; Rep. Sheila Harrington, Yes; Rep. Stephan Hay, Yes; Rep. Natalie Higgins, Yes; Rep. Marc Lombardo, No; Rep. Rady Mom, Yes; Rep. David Nangle, Yes; Rep. Harold Naughton, Yes; Rep. Tram Nguyen, Yes; Rep. David Robertson, Yes; Rep. Dan Sena, Yes; Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, Yes; Sen. Michael Barrett, Yes; Sen. James Eldridge, Yes; Sen. Barry Finegold, Yes; Sen. Cindy Friedman, Yes; Sen. Anne Gobi, Yes; Sen. Edward Kennedy, Yes; Sen. Bruce Tarr, Yes; Sen. Dean Tran, No
$626.5 MILLION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE
The House, 143-4, and Senate, 40-0, approved and sent to Baker a $626.5 million economic development package that did not include a House-backed plan to have Massachusetts join other New England states in legalizing sports betting.
Provisions include $50 million in funding for transit-oriented housing; $30 million for a program similar to the federal Paycheck Protection Program that loans money to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to pay employee payroll, mortgage interest, rent, utilities and interest on other debt obligations; $35 million for loans for community development lending institutions to extend capital to small businesses, with a focus on minority- and women-owned businesses; $50 million for neighborhood stabilization to help return blighted or vacant housing back to productive use; $6 million for a competitive grant program administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council to promote artists in creating new mediums to showcase their art, and to promote local museums to showcase their exhibits remotely; $102.3 million for local economic development projects across the state; $20 million for a competitive grant program fund dedicated to supporting community development, infrastructure projects and climate resilience initiatives in rural communities and small towns; and the creation of the Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights that would require student loan borrowers to be licensed at the state level, prohibit servicers from engaging in predatory, unfair and unlawful practices, and establish a Student Loan Ombudsman in the Attorney General’s office to resolve complaints and help borrowers navigate their repayment options.
“The economic development agreement reached is a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package that will provide desperately needed support to our restaurant sector, our small businesses, and especially those most disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Eric Lesser. D-Longmeadow, Senate chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “While no single piece of legislation on its own can repair the damage to our communities and our economy caused by COVID-19, the set of measures included in this report sends an unambiguous signal to the people of our commonwealth that help is on the way. In our time of greatest need, we must be there to support our families, our communities, and our small businesses, and this bill will bring important relief across a variety of sectors and communities.”
Opponents did not offer any arguments on the House or Senate floor during debate.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. James Arciero, Yes; Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, Yes; Rep. Colleen Garry, Yes; Rep. Thomas Golden, Yes; Rep. Kenneth Gordon, Yes; Rep. Sheila Harrington, Yes; Rep. Stephan Hay, Yes; Rep. Natalie Higgins, Yes; Rep. Marc Lombardo, Yes; Rep. Rady Mom, Yes; Rep. David Nangle, Yes; Rep. Harold Naughton, Yes; Rep. Tram Nguyen, Yes; Rep. David Robertson, Yes; Rep. Dan Sena, Yes; Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, Yes; Sen. Michael Barrett, Yes; Sen. James Eldridge, Yes; Sen. Barry Finegold, Yes; Sen. Cindy Friedman, Yes; Sen. Anne Gobi, Yes; Sen. Edward Kennedy, Yes; Sen. Bruce Tarr, Yes; Sen. Dean Tran, Yes
$52.9 MILLION FOR SCHOOLS DURING COVID
The House, 157-0, and Senate, 39-0, overrode Baker’s veto of the entire $52.9 million in funding for one-time grants to school districts, charter schools and educational collaboratives to help in novel coronavirus prevention and to maintain and increase educational quality during the pandemic.
Supporters of the $52.9 million said schools desperately need this funding to continue to operate in various modes during the pandemic.
In his veto message, Baker said, “I am filing a supplemental budget request today for $53 million to prioritize more targeted measures to address COVID-related learning gaps.”
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
POLICING CHANGES — Baker signed into law legislation making major changes in the state’s policing system. A key provision creates an independent, civilian-led commission with the power to investigate police misconduct and to certify, restrict, revoke or suspend certification for police officers and maintain a publicly available database of decertified officers. Other provisions include banning the use of chokeholds; limiting the use of deadly force; requiring police officers who witness another officer using force beyond what is necessary or reasonable to intervene; and limiting no-knock police warrants in instances where children or people over 65 are present.
“This bill is the product of bipartisan cooperation and thanks to the Black and Latino Caucus’ leadership on the hugely important issue of law enforcement accountability, Massachusetts will have one of the best laws in the nation,” Baker said. “Police officers have enormously difficult jobs, and we are grateful they put their lives on the line every time they go to work. Thanks to final negotiations on this bill, police officers will have a system they can trust, and our communities will be safer for it.”
“I am grateful to the governor and key leaders in the House and Senate for their wisdom in coming together to carry this bill across the finish line,” said Sen. Will Brownsberger, D-Belmont. “I believe that within five years, the commonwealth will be a significantly better place as a result of this legislation.”
“This legislation is an important step toward realizing the urgent action demanded by the movement that was energized this summer by marches in the streets and speeches in front of the Statehouse,” said Rep. Russell Holmes, D-Mattapan. “For too long, Black and Latino communities have been demanding change and accountability when it comes to policing in our communities and across the commonwealth. While we are glad this bill is now signed into law, we must now also reflect on the importance of this fight and resolve to build on these reforms in the future.”
“In a deeply challenging year for the dedicated men and women in law enforcement, this reform will create meaningful opportunities for us to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the values of honesty, integrity and accountability,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Thomas Turco. “As we implement these measures, our work remains focused on strengthening preparedness, preventing crime at every level and building positive relationships in the communities we serve.”
The leaders of the Massachusetts Coalition of Police said in a letter to its 4,500-plus members that the process through which this legislation was created was “deeply flawed and a disappointment to law enforcement professionals across Massachusetts.” “Nonetheless,” the letter continued, “our oath as police officers and our commitment to the people of this commonwealth remain our top priorities.”
“With the dawn of a new era of policing in Massachusetts now underway, our members continue to move forward to protect and serve with the same enthusiasm, bravery and care our members have always brought to the job for the communities they patrol and keep safe each and every day,” continues the letter. “Unfortunately, they also move forward in a state of elevated risk — with no allowable provisions for protecting themselves or others in certain life-and-death situations. Because this legislation was passed with an emergency preamble, many sections of the law became effective on January 1, 2021 and were immediately enacted and contradict current police training.”
“Under the commonwealth’s Police Reform Legislation, the new training standards and programs needed to address this gap are still months away from being established,” according to the letter. “This dangerous condition continues to exist at the same time officers must adjust for the abridgement of their due process and qualified immunity rights.”
NOTIFY ABOUT SEWAGE — The House and Senate approved and sent to Baker a bill that would institute a statewide notification system so that Massachusetts residents know within two hours of the start of any combined sewer overflows (CSO) discharge if their rivers are unsafe for recreation or public use. The notifications would continue every 8 hours until the discharge ends and then within two hours of the end of the discharge.
Combined sewers exist in 19 Bay State communities, which tend to be in older industrialized areas. These sewers are those that collect stormwater and wastewater together. CSOs happen during heavy storms when stormwater floods the sewers and spills out of specially designed overflow channels into rivers. Untreated sewage that can carry bacteria and endanger human health may be present in the overflow and this may disrupt local ecosystems.
The bill requires sewage system operators to issue a public advisory of any overflows to the state Departments of Environmental Protection and Public Health, local boards of health, all municipalities that are directly impacted, individuals who subscribe to an e-mail or text notification; post on a public website run by the sewage system operator and report to the two largest local news organizations.
Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com.
