THE HOUSE AND SENATE. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

Beacon Hill Roll Call this week examines the voting records of local senators on Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick's vetoes of items in the state budgets in 2009 and 2010. The Senate in 2009 and 2010 voted on 36 of Patrick's budget vetoes that would have reduced state spending and made other changes in the versions of budgets approved by the Legislature.

A two-thirds vote is required to override a gubernatorial veto. The 40-person membership of the Senate, includes 35 Democrats and only five Republicans. The governor needed the support of 15 senators to sustain a veto when all 40 senators voted - and fewer votes if some members were absent. Patrick fell far short of that goal. Six votes were the most that he received on any veto. The Senate easily overrode all 36 vetoes including 19 that were overridden unanimously.

Ironically, the vetoes had virtually no support from the chamber's 35 Democratic senators. Only four Democrats voted with Patrick to sustain any vetoes while 31 voted to override all 36 vetoes. Senate President Therese Murray followed Senate tradition and did not vote on any of the roll calls.

The Democrat who gave Patrick the most support was Sen. Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield), who supported him on two vetoes. The governor received support on one veto from three Democratic senators including Sens. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) and Marian Walsh (D-West Roxbury).

It was mostly GOP members who voted with the Democratic governor to sustain the vetoes. The two Republican members who voted with the governor to sustain the most vetoes were Republican Minority Leader Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield) and Sen. Michael Knapik (R-Westfield). Both supported Patrick 13 times. Following them were the chamber's three other Republicans including Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) 11 times; Sens. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth) nine times and Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) two times. Ross did not become a senator until May 26, 2010. His number is based on only six roll calls during which he was a senator.

PERCENTAGE OF TIMES LOCAL SENATORS SUPPORTED GOV. DEVAL PATRICK'S VETOES

Here is how local senators fared in their support of Gov. Patrick on the budget vetoes.

The percentage next to the senator's name represents the percentage of times that the senator supported Patrick's vetoes.

The number in parentheses represents the number of times that the senator supported Patrick's vetoes.

Some senators voted on all 36 roll call votes. Others missed one or more of the 36 votes. Their record is based on the number of roll calls on which they voted and does not count the roll calls for which they were absent.

Sen. Robert Hedlund, 26.5 % (9 out of 34)                    

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

These four bills have been approved by the House or Senate but are still in limbo - stuck in a legislative committee.

DRUNKEN DRIVERS (S 1925) - The Transportation Committee approved a bill requiring first-time convicted drunken driving offenders to install interlock safety devices in their cars. These drivers breathe into this device which prevents the vehicle from starting if a blood alcohol concentration over a pre-set limit is detected. Current law only requires second-time drunken driving offenders to use the device. The legislation is stuck in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

PROHIBIT WORKPLACE LANGUAGE RESTRICTIONS (H 1851) - The House gave initial approval to the original draft of a proposal that would make it illegal for employers to arbitrarily prohibit workers from speaking in a foreign language in the workplace. The measure allows the restriction only if there is an overriding legitimate business purpose and the worker is notified of the circumstances and the time when the language restriction is required to be observed. The proposal is tied up in the House Third Reading Committee.

POST NUTRITION INFO IN SCHOOLS (H 147) - The House gave initial approval to a bill requiring schools to prominently post product nutrition, including fat amounts, sugar content and calorie amounts in close proximity to vending machines that sell the product. The measure would also require that public schools list the amount of carbohydrates contained in all food products served to diabetic children and teachers.  The proposal is tied up in the House Third Reading Committee.

BAN SMOKING IN SOME SENIOR HOUSING (H 1181) - The House gave initial approval to a bill requiring local housing authorities to provide for nonsmoking buildings in multi-building senior housing complexes or for a no-smoking floor in single-building senior housing.  The proposal is tied up in the House Third Reading Committee.

QUOTABLE QUOTES - ELECTION SPECIAL

"I think she’s hot. She’s tiny, she’s short. She’s got a banging little body on her. Facial-wise, I give her about a seven. Body-wise, I give her about an eight-and-a-half. Tight, little butt. I endorse Karyn Polito."

–– WRKO "Tom and Todd Show" producer Bill Cooksey commenting on GOP treasurer candidate Rep. Karyn Polito (R-Shrewsbury). Former House Speaker Tom Finneran and Todd Feinburg co-host the show.

"Tight little butt."

–– Finneran repeating Cooksey's comment.

"I have never heard you as excited about a political candidate."

–– Co-host Todd Feinburg responding to Cooksey.

"When so many people are hurting and struggling to make ends meet, I don't want to get sidetracked from the issues that really matter. It's unfortunate that inappropriate remarks were made about me on WRKO's 'Tom and Todd Show,' but I have pretty thick skin."

–– Polito's response to the controversy

"As someone who has devoted considerable effort in my life to empowering women candidates, I am appalled that such comments would be made on a leading radio show."

–– Response by Democratic candidate for treasurer Steve Grossman, apparently unaware of the show's low ratings.

–– "That is one of the most sexist, outrageous things I have ever heard in my life."

–– Christina Knowles, Massachusetts director of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

Beacon Hill Roll Call

Volume 36-Report No. 38

September 24, 2010

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