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

This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call examines the percentage of times local senators in 2010 voted with the Democratic leadership in the Senate on key roll call votes.

Beacon Hill Roll Call uses 107 key votes from the 2010 Senate session as the basis for this report. These include controversial roll calls that were not unanimous and/or local.

The senator who voted the highest percentage of times with the Democratic leadership is Sen. Joan Menard (D-Fall River). She supported the leadership 99 percent of the time.

Other senators in the list of top ten supporters of the leadership are not surprisingly all Democrats including Sens. Frederick Berry (D-Peabody) 98.9 percent, Steven Panagiotakos (D-Lowell) 97.0 percent, John Hart (D-South Boston) 96.1 percent, Anthony Petruccelli (D-East Boston) 95.3 percent, Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster) 94.6 percent, Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) 94.3 percent, Steven Tolman (D-Brighton) 93.4 percent, Thomas Kennedy (D-Brockton) 92.2 percent and Thomas McGee (D-Lynn) 92.1 percent.

The senator who voted the lowest percentage of times with the Democratic leadership is Sen. Bob Hedlund (R-Weymouth). He supported the leadership only 21.1 percent of the time.

Other senators in the list of top ten opponents of the leadership include the Senate's other four Republicans: Sens. Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield) 25.2 percent, Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) 28.9 percent, Michael Knapik (R-Westfield) 32.3 percent and Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) 33.7 percent.
Rounding out the top ten are five Democrats including Sen. Susan Tucker (D-Andover) 63.5 percent, Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln) 66.3 percent, Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) and Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) both at 68.2 percent and Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Jamaica Plain) 69.1 percent.

PERCENTAGE OF TIMES LOCAL SENATORS VOTED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP

Here is how local senators fared in their support of the Democratic leadership on 107 key roll calls.

The percentage next to the senator's name represents the percentage of times the senator supported the Democratic leadership.

The number in parentheses represents the number of times the senator supported the Democratic leadership.

Some senators voted on all 107 roll call votes. Others missed one or more of the 107 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, 21.1 % (22 out of 104)

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

STANDARDIZED POLICE ID CARD (S 2649) - The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill establishing a procedure to provide high-tech, standardized photo identification cards to state, local and MBTA police officers. The expenses would be funded by federal homeland security funds and the new, secure cards would be created by the same company that issues Massachusetts driver's licenses.

Supporters said the proposal, designed to reduce police impersonation, would establish a single recognizable law-enforcement identification for all police officers. They noted it is currently too easy for imposters to purchase a badge online and impersonate a police officer.

TAMPERING WITH WATER METERS (S 1486) - The House and Senate approved and sent to Governor Deval Patrick legislation that would increase from $100 to $1,000 or triple the amount of damages, whichever is greater, the fine for tampering with a city or town water meter. Damages would include the cost of the water used and the cost of labor and equipment repair or replacement. Supporters said tampering by cheaters is costing cities and towns much-needed revenue.

GRACE PERIOD FOR GUN LICENSES (H 2229) - The House approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would allow the firearms license of anyone on active military duty to remain valid until the cardholder is released from active duty and for a period of not less than 90 days following release.
Beacon Hill Roll Call in October reported that the proposal had been tied up in the House Bills in Third Reading Committee following its initial approval by the House in May. That committee corrects any grammatical errors, duplication and constitutionality problems with legislation prior to it going back to the House for another vote.

Some supporters of the bill complained that the committee is a burial ground for many bills that are simply held there and never released.

Defenders of the process said the committee has many bills to review and that it takes time to do the job properly.

PROTECT YOUR HOUSE FROM NON-MORTGAGE CREDITORS (S 2406) - The House approved a bill amending current law that allows a homeowner to file a "homestead declaration" that protects up to $500,000 of the amount of equity in his or her single family home or condominium from seizure by creditors. The declaration does not provide protection against outstanding taxes, court-ordered support payments, first or second mortgages and any debts incurred prior to filing the homestead declaration.

The legislation would retain the right to file for up to $500,000 of protection but also provide an automatic homestead of up to $125,000 without the homeowner having to file any documents. Other new provisions would allow a homestead to be declared on property held in trust and on two- to four-family dwellings. The measure also prohibits refinancing of a mortgage from affecting a prior homestead.

Supporters said the proposal would expand the homestead law and protect more homeowners from their homes being seized by creditors. They noted it also clarifies current law, which is vague on what effect the refinancing of a mortgage has on a homestead and whether or not a homestead can be declared on a property held in trust.

BAN SALE OF NOVELTY CIGARETTE LIGHTERS - A law that bans the sale of novelty lighters, which was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Patrick in August, went into effect last week. The ban prohibits the sale of these toy-like lighters that appeal to children 10 years of age or younger. They include ones that resemble cartoon characters, toys, guns, musical instruments, vehicles or animals.

Supporters said children often mistake these lighters for toys and noted the lighters are responsible for fires, injuries and death.

QUOTABLE QUOTES - Special Campaign 2012 Edition

"Scott Brown's got a big pile of money in the bank. He's been collecting from special interests all over the country, and the Supreme Court decision allows corporate interests to put unlimited amounts into an election that we expect will be put to use on Scott Brown's behalf. We're going to battle that with shoe leather on the ground."

–– Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh.

"I think people will look at the political landscape and see that Scott is the only Republican in an all-Democrat delegation, and I find it hard to believe they’re going to oust him because they’re going to want to retain some sense of a two-party balance."

–– Scott Brown adviser Eric Fehrnstrom.

"I think none of us is entitled to these positions, none of us - newcomers, old-timers, none of us. They have to be earned every day. These positions belong to the voters and he (Brown) will have to earn re-election should he choose to pursue it in 2012."

–– Gov. Deval Patrick.

"It's no surprise that I'm the biggest target."

–– U.S. Sen. Scott Brown commenting on the Democrats' plan to try to defeat him in 2012.

"Bobbleheads are $20 each."

–– From Scott Brown's website store that sells several items including a Scott Brown bobblehead doll.

Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 36-Report No. 45
November 12, 2010
Copyright © 2010 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.