THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives' votes on six roll calls and local senators' votes on one roll call from the week of February 9-13.

ADOPT LOCAL AID RESOLUTIONS BY MARCH 15 (H 2011)

House 22-132, Senate 3-30, voted mostly along party lines and defeated a Republican-sponsored new rule requiring the House and Senate to annually adopt by March 15 resolutions stating the minimum amount of local aid that the state will give to each city and town for that fiscal year. Six Democrats joined Republicans and voted in favor of the new rule. Supporters of the rule said that many towns craft their budgets at town meetings in March and April and need to know as soon as possible how much they will receive from the state. They argued that it is unfair and irresponsible to expect communities to do their budgets without this information. Opponents of the rule said that the Legislature should inform cities and towns as soon as possible but should not have its hands tied by some arbitrary date. They noted that March 15 is only a few weeks away and the Legislature is nowhere near ready to figure out the local aid problem. (A "Yes" vote is for requiring the Legislature to state by March 15 the amount of local aid. A "No" vote is against the March 15 deadline).

Rep. Thomas Calter    No

Rep. Daniel Webster    Yes

Sen. Robert Hedlund    Didn't Vote

ADOPT HOUSE RULES FOR 2009-2010 (H 2009)

House 138-16, voted strictly along party lines and approved the Democratic-sponsored package of rules under which the House will operate during the 2009-2010 session. A key change requires members to notify the house clerk when he or she will be absent and then requires the clerk to lock down that member's voting machine in order to prevent "phantom voting" - a practice in which a representative present in the chamber illegally votes for an absent member. Other changes include prohibiting any member from serving as speaker for more than eight years; requiring members, officers and legislative employees to attend an ethics law training program once during each two-year legislative session and prohibiting members from accepting any gifts from lobbyists. Currently, legislators are allowed to accept gifts that do not exceed $100 per year. Supporters said that these major changes are designed to help restore the reputation of the House and make it a more open, honest and fairly run institution. Opponents said that the package is a beginning but does not go nearly far enough to really open up the House and crack down on illegal and unethical behavior. (A "Yes" vote is for the rules package. A "No" vote is against it).

Rep. Thomas Calter    Yes                           Rep. Daniel Webster    No

REQUIRE REPRESENTATIVES TO REPORT ILLEGAL VOTING (H 2009)

House 17-137, voted mostly along party lines and defeated a Republican-sponsored new rule requiring representatives to report any illegal practice of "phantom voting" in which a member votes for another member who is absent. Only one Democrat joined the GOP and voted in favor of the new rule. Supporters of the rule said that it is important that members who see an illegal practice on the House floor be required to report it. They argued that this is a "no brainer" moral rule that should receive unanimous support. Opponents of the rule said that it goes too far and argued that it is not the job of legislators to monitor each other's behavior. They noted that the House rules package itself already discourages phantom voting in other ways. (A "Yes" vote is for the rule requiring representatives to report phantom voting. A "No" vote is against requiring it).

Rep. Thomas Calter    No                            Rep. Daniel Webster    Yes

PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL VOTING (H 2009)

House 18-137, voted mostly along party lines and defeated a Republican-sponsored new rule to increase the penalties for phantom voting by a representative. Only two Democrats joined the GOP and voted in favor of the rule that would require that the House censure any member who intentionally votes or attempts to vote for another member who is not present. It also takes away the right of the offending representative to vote on that matter. A member would also be charged with a violation and be censured for failure to notify the House clerk that he or she will be absent if the failure results in illegal voting. The GOP rules would replace a Democratic proposal that provides that a guilty member be punished in a manner to be determined by the House and that the violation be reported to the Ethics Committee. Supporters of the rule said that the Democratic "punishment" is vague and weak and argued that the stricter GOP rule would be a step toward restoring the credibility of the House. They argued that violating the sanctity of the vote is a major offense and should be dealt with in a serious manner. Opponents of the rule said that it goes too far and is unnecessary. They noted that much if not all of the phantom voting problem will be solved by a widely supported provision that requires members to notify the clerk when he or she will be absent and then requiring the clerk to lock down that member's voting machine. (A "Yes" vote is for the rule including censuring a member. A "No" vote is against the rule).

Rep. Thomas Calter    No                            Rep. Daniel Webster    Yes

REQUIRE TWO-THIRDS ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE TAX HIKES (H 2009)

House 16-137, voted strictly along party lines and rejected a GOP-sponsored new rule that would prohibit a tax hike from taking effect unless it is approved on a roll call vote by two-thirds of the members of the House. Current rules require only a majority vote. Supporters of the new rule said that the higher threshold would protect the interests of taxpayers and ensure that a tax hike is absolutely necessary and has broad support. Opponents of the new rule said that it is difficult to get a two-thirds majority to support a tax hike and argued that the requirement should not be any higher for a tax hike than for any other legislation. (A "Yes" vote is for requiring a two-thirds vote for a tax hike. A "No" vote is against the requirement).

Rep. Thomas Calter    No                            Rep. Daniel Webster    Yes

POST COMMITTEE ROLL CALLS ON WEBSITE (H 2009)

House 25-129, voted mostly along party lines and defeated a Republican-sponsored new rule that would require that committee votes cast by legislators on bills heard by their committees be posted on the Legislature's website. Current rules require committee votes to be kept in the offices of the committee and be available for public inspection upon reasonable notice and during regular office hours. Nine Democrats joined the GOP and voted in favor of the amendment. Supporters of the new rule said this would simply give people quick and easy access to the committee votes of their legislators. They noted that under current rules, a person has to drive to Boston during regular business hours in order to obtain this information. Some opponents of the new rule said that the current system has worked well for years and does not have to be changed. Others said that not many roll calls are held by committees and noted that most votes are voice votes. (A "Yes" vote is for the new rule requiring that committee votes be posted on the Legislature's website. A "No" vote is against the requirement).

Rep. Thomas Calter    No                            Rep. Daniel Webster    Yes

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

SPEAKER DELEO MAKES APPOINTMENTS - Newly-elected House Speaker Robert DeLeo appointed Rep. Charles Murphy (D-Burlington) to chair the House Ways and Means Committee - often viewed as the second most powerful position in the House. This committee is charged with crafting the House version of the state budget and eventually negotiating a compromise version with the Senate. DeLeo also made many other appointments that rewarded many representatives who helped him in his long campaign to succeed former Speaker Salvatore DiMasi. He also demoted many legislators who had supported Rep. John Rogers (D-Norwood), his opponent in the battle.

The State Republican Party quickly issued a package that compiled several negative newspaper articles about many of DeLeo's picks. Included are charges that Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera (D-Springfield) earmarked $200,000 for a company that employs her brother-in law and campaign aide; Rep. Benjamin Swan (D-Springfield) currently owes over $20,000 in back taxes and that Rep. Thomas Petrolati (D-Ludlow) is embroiled in the Vitale Ticket Brokers Scandal that forced former Democrat Speaker Sal DiMasi to resign.

ECONOMIC STIMULUS CZAR - The House and Senate established a new joint committee on Federal Stimulus Oversight. The committee's job is to review state spending of anticipated federal funds from President Obama's economic stimulus plan; maximize federal assistance for Massachusetts and review current state laws, regulations and policies in order to spend money more quickly to stimulate the economy. The committee would be chaired by existing legislative chairs - the House and Senate chairs of the Post Audit and Oversight Committee.

At the same time, Gov. Deval Patrick hired real estate executive Jeffrey Simon as the Director of Infrastructure Investment - a new position that pays $150,000 annually. Simon will oversee the use of the state's anticipated billions of dollars from Obama's plan and ensure that it is spent properly and transparently. While many legislators support the appointment, critics questioned the need for the $150,000 position. Others asked why the state never before appointed a person to ensure that billions of dollars in federal money and state taxes that the state has received over the years was properly spent.

BILLS, BILLS, BILLS - More than 6,000 bill shave been filed for consideration in the 2009-2010 session. Here is a look at some:

SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS - This bill would mandate that all sex education courses in local schools be offered on an elective basis and require written parental permission in order for a student to participate. Current law allows schools to make sex education a part of the regular curriculum but permits parents to exempt their children by writing a notice to the principal.

REQUIRE BIBLE AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN HIGH SCHOOL - This proposal would mandate that all public high schools require that students take courses on the bible and international religions "for the purpose of promoting morality and brotherhood."

SCHOOLS MUST LIST CARBS - This proposal would require public schools to provide a list of carbohydrates contained in food products served to all diabetic children, teachers and faculty.

PUNISH BUSINESSES THAT HIRE ILLEGAL WORKERS (H 149) - This bill would require that any business facility that employs illegal immigrants be closed and padlocked by the state for 30 days.

SEAT BELTS IN TAXIS - This legislation would require the use of seat belts in all taxi cabs. Current law exempts cabs from the requirement.

SCOOTERS - This bill would require youths under 18 to wear a helmet when operating a non-motorized scooter on public property.

BAN LOUD NOISE IN CARS - This proposal would prohibit drivers from operating a radio or any sound amplification system that can be heard outside their vehicle from a distance of more than 50 feet.

OFFICIAL STATE MOVIE - This legislation would make "Fever Pitch" the official movie of the state. This offbeat love story is punctuated by the main character's obsession with the Red Sox.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

"268 A and 268 B are what I call 'Gotcha Laws.' Most times we don't know if we have possibly violated the law. This training is meant to protect us as legislators as to our future dealings in the House."

Rep. Angelo Scaccia (D-Boston) speaking in support of a new House rule requiring legislators to attend an ethics law training program once during each two-year legislative session. Section 268 A and 268 B are state laws that deal with the conduct and ethics of public officials and conflicts of interest.

"Can you hear me now?"

Rep. George Peterson (R-Grafton) imitating the Verizon Wireless commercial while speaking on the House floor following the announcement that the House microphones were not working well.

"When he called me, I was pleasantly surprised. I was walking into a meeting that was summarily canceled, because I was walking four feet above the earth."

From a State House News Service story quoting Rep. Charles Murphy (D-Burlington) on his reaction when he received a call from Speaker DeLeo asking him to serve as chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

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 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.