THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives' votes on four roll calls and local senators' votes on three roll calls from the week of March 22-26.

The first two votes are on attempts to cap the subsidy of 25 percent of production costs that the state currently gives movie production companies which make films on location in Massachusetts.

The subsidy basically pays for 25 percent of the film's production and labor costs incurred in Massachusetts. If those costs are $100 million, the state pays for 25 percent of the costs or $25 million.

The original law, approved in November 2005, placed a $7 million per film cap on the subsidy. A new law passed in 2007 removed the $7 million cap and made the subsidy limitless. The two attempts last week were one to limit the subsidies to $7 million per film and another to limit them to $50 million per year.

Supporters of reducing the cap said that the state should not offer subsidies to a wealthy, private entertainment industry while education, human service programs and local aid are still severely underfunded. They noted that the state-funded $5 million portion of Leonardo DiCaprio's estimated $20 million salary for 60 days of work on a movie here would pay $45,045 salaries for 111 teachers for one year. They argued that the state lost $95.5 million in 2008 by subsidizing $113 million for these movies and receiving only $17.5 million in taxes and other revenue generated by the companies.  

Opponents of reducing the cap said that this industry has generated more than $1 billion in new economic activity in the state since the subsidies were first implemented in 2005. They argued that these companies spend millions of dollars on hotels, food and other expenses, employ thousands of Bay State residents and increase tourism as a result of the state being featured in films. They noted that for every dollar that the state gave in subsidies, it reaped $1.95 in revenue.

LIMIT FILM SUBSIDIES TO $7 MILLION PER FILM (H 4572)

House 10-146, defeated an amendment that would limit the 25 percent movie subsidy to $7 million per film. (A "Yes" vote is for limiting the subsidy to $7 million per film. A "No" vote is against the limit).

Rep. Thomas Calter, No                                      Rep. Daniel Webster,No                                      

LIMIT FILM SUBSIDIES TO $50 MILLION PER YEAR (H 4572)

House 15-141, defeated an amendment that would limit the 25 percent movie subsidy to a cumulative total of $50 million per year. (A "Yes" vote is for limiting the hike to $50 million per year. A "No" vote is against the limit).

Rep. Thomas Calter, No                                      Rep. Daniel Webster, No                                      

STATE MUST REIMBURSE COMMUNITIES FOR SPECIAL U.S. SENATE ELECTION (H 4572)

House 158-1, approved an amendment providing $7.2 million to reimburse cities and towns for the cost of the special election in which Sen. Scott Brown won the race to elect a successor to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

Amendment supporters said that the state should reimburse these costs to struggling cities and towns because the election was in fact an unfunded state mandate. They pointed to the recession and said that cities and towns cannot afford to pay this expense.

The lone opponent offered no arguments.

(A "Yes" vote is for the amendment reimbursing cities and towns for the costs of the special election. A "No" vote is against reimbursement).

Rep. Thomas Calter, Yes                                     Rep. Daniel Webster, Yes                                     

$250 MILLION FISCAL 2010 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 4572)

House 155-0, approved and sent to the Senate a $250 million package to pay expenses for the current fiscal year.

Provisions include nearly $200 million for Medicaid; $5 million for public attorneys for indigent defendants; $9.5 million for the Department of Workforce Development and $2.1 million for veterans' services.

Supporters said that the package is fiscally responsible and funds necessary programs including several that are running out of money. (A "Yes" vote is for the budget).

Rep. Thomas Calter, Yes                                     Rep. Daniel Webster, Yes                                     

ALLOW CITY OF LAWRENCE TO BORROW $35 MILLION (H 4516)

Senate 31-4, gave final approval to and sent to Gov. Deval Patrick the bill authorizing the city of Lawrence to borrow up to $35 million to help solve its fiscal crisis. The measure calls for a fiscal overseer to develop a three-year operating and capital financial plan. The overseer could also determine at any time that the city cannot balance its budget at which point the state would remove the overseer and install a more powerful finance control board with broader powers.

Supporters of the bill said that newly-elected Mayor William Lantigua and the citizens of Lawrence should be given a chance to get the city back on its feet, with an overseer, before the state takes the drastic step of appointing a very powerful finance control board.

Opponents said that that immediate appointment of a more powerful and stricter finance control board would give the city a better chance to solve its problems.   

(A "Yes" vote is for the bill. A "No" vote is against the bill).

Sen. Robert Hedlund, No                                      

MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES (H 4541)

Senate 35-0, approved Gov. Patrick's reorganization plan that would combine the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance and the Affirmative Market Program to create a single point of access through which minority and women-owned businesses can seek certification, technical assistance and capacity-building services.

Supporters said that this consolidation is long overdue and would ensure that this program is more efficient.

(A "Yes" vote is for the reorganization).

Sen. Robert Hedlund, Yes                                     

MOTORCYCLE PERMITS FOR UNDER 18 (S 2344)

Senate 35-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would require applicants under 18 to successfully complete a motorcycle basic rider course approved by the registrar in order to receive a motorcycle driver's learning permit. This new requirement would be in addition to current law that requires applicants under 18 to have parental consent and pass a written test and eye exam.

Supporters said that the majority of motorcycle deaths involve inexperienced riders under 18 who have a motorcycle permit and do not yet have a motorcycle license. They noted that there are private companies that already offer this course so there will no cost to the state. (A "Yes" vote is for the bill).

Sen. Robert Hedlund, Yes                                     

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

ASSUALT ON PRISON WORKERS (S 997) - The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Patrick a bill imposing up to a ten-year additional prison sentence on inmates who commit "assault with bodily fluids" upon a prison worker. Under the proposal, these fluids include blood, saliva, mucous, semen, urine or feces.

The measure would also close a loophole in current law by including instant messaging and other electronic means under the state's prohibition on the dissemination of harmful material to minors.

ID FOR 14-YEAR-OLDS (H 4512) - The House gave initial approval to a bill allowing anyone who is 14 or older to obtain an identification card from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Current law requires that the person be 16. Supporters said that when 14- and 15-year-olds apply for a part-time job, they are required to show identification. They noted that while some of these kids show passports, it would be easier if they were all eligible for a Registry ID.

NATIONAL GUARD (H 1145) - The House approved and sent to the Senate a bill designating the city of Salem as the birthplace of the National Guard.

OFF TO A STUDY COMMITTEE - Various House committees recommended that the following bills be shipped off to a study committee. Most measures that are sent to a study committee are never actually studied and are essentially defeated.

MAKE DAYLIGHT-SAVING TIME PERMANENT (S 199) - This legislation would make daylight-saving time (DST) permanent in Massachusetts beginning in 2011. Supporters say that part-time DST is an antiquated system that wastes energy, limits outdoor activities during the winter and creates sleep problems for many people for several weeks after the clocks change.

POSTING GAS PRICES (S 1502) - This proposal would require that the price on the marquee at gas stations state the per gallon price if paying with a credit card. Supporters say that consumers are often lured into a gas station with a misleading large sign that states a lower cash price for gas only to find that the credit card price is higher.

NO PRIVATE CALLERS (S 1475) - This measure would require telephone companies to eliminate the private caller feature that currently allows callers the option not to have their phone number show up on the caller ID system of the person being called. Under the bill, all numbers would be displayed.

LAUNDROMATS (S 1541) - This bill would require that any new equipment that is replaced or installed in any Laundromat must be Energy Star rated and meet certain energy efficiency standards. Supporters say that this would be the first step in getting rid of thousands of energy inefficient commercial washers and dryers.

ABOLISH GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH COMMISSION (H 145) -This legislation, entitled "An Act Protecting Children and Parents" would abolish the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. Some proponents of abolishing it say that it is unnecessary while others say that it is inappropriate. Supporters of the commission say that it has helped to combat the rising suicide rate among and incidents of violence and discrimination against gay and lesbian youth.

QUOTABLE QUOTES - SPECIAL TINSLETOWN EDITION -  Quotes from speeches during the House floor debate on whether the state should reduce the cap on the subsidies that it gives companies which film movies in the Bay State.

"Do you wanna spend it in your district or do you wanna spend it on Tom Cruise?"

–– Rep. Matthew Patrick (D-Falmouth) arguing that the money should go to local aid and not to movie companies.

"It's not just Leonardo DiCaprio who is getting a job."

–– Rep. John Keenan (D-Salem) pointing out that local painters, carpenters, construction workers and many others get jobs when movies film in Massachusetts.

"Adam Sandler had a movie in Essex, was walking the streets of Essex, was walking the streets of Gloucester 'high fiving' people as he went by."

–– Rep. Brad Hill (R-Ipswich).

"I happened to be up early one day watching 'Good Morning America' or 'Regis and Kathie Lee' - one of the two. And that shows you where I am. I still think Kathie Lee's still there."

–– Rep. Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy). Kathie Lee left the show in 2000 and was replaced by Kelly Ripa.

"Let’s just take the TV show 'Cheers.' How many years ago was that film? Maybe 25, 30 years ago? Still people come to Massachusetts and where do they go? They go around The Common and guess what? They stop at Cheers and it's not even the original studio."

–– Rep. Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth).

Beacon Hill Roll Call

Volume 36-Report No. 12

March 22-26, 2010

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