THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives' votes on four roll calls and local senators' votes on six roll calls from the week of July 27-31.

RESTORE $40 MILLION THAT WAS CUT BY THE GOVERNOR (H 4181)

House 126-27, Senate 31-5, approved and sent to Gov. Deval Patrick a supplemental budget that includes restoration of some $40 million of Gov. Patrick's vetoes of $120.5 million in funding for programs. The budget also includes $40 million to restore some health care coverage for 28,000 legal immigrants. Money that is restored includes $13.1 million for MassHealth senior care; $4.1 million for the probation department; $3.3 million for trial court administration; $950,000 for local tourist councils; $2.5 million for the Franklin Park and Stoneham zoos and $1.7 million for the operation of the Massachusetts Legislature. Supporters said that this fiscally responsible package restores some funds to programs that were cut back and were going to result in the loss of essential services to many of the state's neediest. Some opponents said that state revenues are dropping more and argued that the state cannot afford to restore this money. Others said that legislators have only had a few hours to review the budget and urged that action be postponed. (A "Yes" vote is for the supplemental budget. A "No" vote is against it).

Rep. Thomas Calter, Yes

Rep. Daniel Webster, No

Sen. Robert Hedlund, No

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION REPORT (H 4129)

House 135-18, Senate 31-3, overrode Gov. Patrick's veto of a budget provision that would require the governor's Secretary of Administration and Finance to review and determine whether state agencies, boards, departments and commissions have taken affirmative action steps to comply with the state's policies of non-discrimination and equal opportunity. The secretary would issue a report on all these entities and would hold a public hearing to discuss the case of any that are not in compliance. Override supporters said that this would ensure that these entities do not discriminate and offer everyone equal opportunities. In his veto message, Patrick said that he vetoed the section because the "required report is unduly burdensome." (A "Yes" vote is for overriding Patrick's veto and requiring the reviews and reports. A "No" vote is against overriding Patrick's veto and against requiring the reviews and reports).

Rep. Thomas Calter, Yes

Rep Daniel Webster, No

Sen. Robert Hedlund, Yes

REQUIRE NOTICE BEFORE A REGISTRY OFFICE IS SHUT DOWN (H 4129)

House 152-2, Senate 31-1, overrode Gov. Patrick's veto of a budget provision requiring the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to report to the Legislature 60 days prior to the closing of any registry branch. The registrar would also include all cost savings associated with the closure. Override supporters said that closing registry offices has a big impact on thousands of people. They argued the registrar should have to justify the closing to the Legislature. In his veto message, Patrick said that he vetoed the section because the "required report is unduly burdensome." (A "Yes" vote is for overriding Patrick's veto and requiring notification of closings and cost savings to the Legislature. A "No" vote is against overriding Patrick's veto and against requiring notification).

Rep. Thomas Calter, Yes

Rep. Daniel Webster, No

Sen. Robert Hedlund, No

REQUIRE COUNTIES TO BUY MEDICATION THROUGH CENTRALIZED STATE PHARMACY (H 4129)

House 90-64 favored but failed to gain the two-thirds vote necessary to override Gov. Patrick's veto of budget language requiring that the Hampden Sheriff's office buy its inmates' prescriptions from the state pharmacy. After several legislators switched their votes, the House later overrode the veto by a comfortable 128-27 margin. The Senate overrode the veto 31-1. Override supporters said that the centralized bulk purchasing would save millions of dollars. In his veto message, Patrick said that the requirement "imposes an unnecessary restriction on sheriffs' offices." Some legislators who agreed with the governor questioned the savings and expressed concerns about the ability of the state pharmacy to furnish late-night or weekend medication for inmates as many local pharmacies currently do. Both branches later easily overrode a requirement that other county sheriff's offices purchase through the state pharmacy. (A "Yes" vote is for overriding Patrick's veto and for requiring that the Hampden Sheriff's office buy its inmates' prescriptions from the state pharmacy. A "No" vote is against overriding Patrick's veto and against the requirement).

Rep. Thomas Calter, Yes/Yes

Rep. Daniel Webster, No/No

Sen. Robert Hedlund, Yes

CHANGES IN MASSHEALTH SYSTEM (H 4181)

Senate 5-31, rejected an amendment that would move MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program, from a "pay as you go" system to a managed care one. Amendment supporters that a managed care system is more comprehensive and cost effective and pointed to a study that says that it would save Massachusetts between $690 million and $1 billion over five years. They noted that 17 other states use managed care and argued that the state could use the savings to fully fund health care for legal immigrants and/or for other important programs that have been victims of budget cuts. Amendment opponents said that a major change like this should be filed as separate legislation that receives a public hearing and should not be attached as an amendment to a budget. (A "Yes" vote is for the amendment changing MassHealth to a managed care system. A "No" vote is against the change).

Sen. Robert Hedlund, Yes

ALLOW A BUSINESS TO ADVERTISE THAT IT WILL PAY THE SALES TAX (H 4181)

Senate 8-28, rejected an amendment allowing a business to advertise that it will pay the sales tax for its customers. Current law prohibits this practice and imposes up to a $100 per incident fine on violators. Amendment supporters said that this would help businesses attract customers during this dismal economy and following the recent hike in the sales tax from five percent to 6.25 percent. Amendment opponents said that a major change like this should not be attached as an amendment to a budget but should be filed as a separate piece of legislation that receives a public hearing and goes through the regular legislative process. (A "Yes" vote is for allowing a business to advertise that it will pay the sales tax for its customers. A "No" vote is against allowing it).

Sen. Robert Hedlund, Yes

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

NEW 6.25 PERCENT ALCOHOL TAX MAY BE HEADED FOR 2010 BALLOT - Opponents of the new 6.25 tax on beer, wine and liquor sold at package stores and other retail stores announced a campaign to put the tax on the 2010 ballot and let voters decide whether to repeal it. The Massachusetts Package Stores Association filed repeal language with Attorney General Martha Coakley - the first step in a long process of signature gathering to get the issue on the ballot. Supporters of the new tax argue that it would generate millions of dollars that will be used to fund substance abuse programs. Opponents say that the new tax will hurt consumers who are already struggling, send more customers to sales tax-free New Hampshire and cost thousands of jobs.  

DRIVER'S LICENSE LAWS - The Transportation Committee held a hearing on several driver's license proposals including one requiring that an applicant for a learner's permit be required to submit a letter of good standing from his or her principal (H 3166). Other proposals would require a "learner's permit decal" to be displayed on the front and rear windows of a vehicle being driven by anyone with a learner's permit (H 3642) and requiring all driving education program to include a mandatory course in first aid taught by volunteer emergency medical technicians (H 4032).

MONEY FOR ZOOS - The controversy over funding the Franklin Park and Stoneham Zoos continued on Beacon Hill. Gov. Patrick's recent cut of state funding for zoos by $4.5 million, from $6.5 million to $2 million, led to the controversy during which accusations were made and denied that the cuts would result in the euthanasia of some of the animals. The Legislature responded last week by restoring $2.5 million which would bring the zoo spending up to $4.5 million. Rep. Jennifer Callahan (D-Sutton) proposed an amendment to eliminate the restoral of $2.5 million and bring spending back to the governor's recommendation of $2 million. Callahan argued on the House floor that it is unfair to add $2.5 million for the zoos when many human service programs that help the poor, the sick and the elderly are being slashed. She asked for a roll call on the proposal but failed to gain the support of enough members to reach the required 16 representatives who must stand to force a roll call vote.

SUPERMARKET FOOD ITEMS MUST HAVE PRICE STICKER - Advocates and opponents of several proposals eliminating the law that requires supermarkets to put a price stickers on most items it sells battled it out at a hearing last week. Supporters of repealing the law said that Massachusetts is one of only two states that still have this antiquated law on the books. They argued that consumers look at the price listed on the shelf not the individual item. They argued that eliminating the requirement would help businesses that are struggling in this economy. Repeal opponents said that the current pro-consumer law has worked well and gives the consumer many advantages including the ability to double check what they are being charged at the register. They noted that eliminating the requirement would also result in more job losses during this period of high unemployment.

BAY STATE COMES IN 7TH IN PER PUPIL SPENDING - Massachusetts ranked seventh among states in how much it spent in 2007 on elementary and secondary education. The Bay State's $12,738 per student beat the national average of $9,666 per pupil but trailed six other states including rival New York that topped the list at $12,738 per student. Idaho at $6,625 and Utah at $5,683 finished in 49th and 50th place respectively.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

"State government has a gigantic spending problem, and the people on Beacon Hill have no will to fix it. They've actually managed to turn a crisis into a calamity. We need to start from scratch on the budget, and with a governor who is fiscally responsible, fearless of the special interests, and committed to balance."

–– Charlie Baker, Republican candidate for governor

"If you look up ‘crisis’ in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Baker and a narrative on the Big Dig financing scheme, which Baker signed off on as Administration and Finance Secretary."

–– Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Murray attacking the latest GOP entry into the 2010 race for governor and his work in the administration of former Gov. William Weld and Paul Cellucci

"The governor just got a new dog, Tobey, that's been biting people all over the state. I know why he did it. Because of the whole zoo debacle and it started to get out there that he was against animals. But then he needed something to let people know he really was a friend of the animals and what he did was came up with a dog that he ends up bringing everywhere with him. Everybody's seen this dog."

–– Senate Republican Minority Leader Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield) on the Senate floor talking about Gov. Patrick's new dog

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.