THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Both houses of the Legislature overrode dozens of Gov. Charlie Baker’s 256 vetoes of spending and other items in the recently signed $38.92 billion fiscal 2017 state budget.
This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports how local senators and representatives voted on some of those roll calls. There was virtually no floor debate on any of the vetoes as legislators overrode them at high speed back-to-back.
CUT $500,000 FROM “TURNING 22” PROGRAM (H 4450) — House 144-10, Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Charlie Baker’s $500,000 veto reduction (from $7.5 million to $7 million) in funding for the Turning 22 Program. The program provides two years of transitional services to people with severe mental disabilities who lose their entitlement to special education services upon graduation or reaching age 22.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $500,000. A “No” vote is against the $500,000.)
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Didn’t Vote
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, Yes
Sen. Benjamin Downing, Yes
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, President rarely votes
CUT $200,000 FROM MASS COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING (H 4450) — House 131-23, Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Baker’s $200,000 veto reduction (from $5,611,403 to $5,411,403) in funding for the operation of and services provided by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $200,000. A “No” vote is against the $200,000).
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Didn’t Vote
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, No
Sen. Benjamin Downing, Yes
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, President rarely votes
CUT $917,485 MILLION FROM AIDS/HIV SERVICES AND PROGRAMS (H 4450) — House 129-25, Senate 35-4, overrode Gov. Baker’s $917,485 veto reduction (from $33,134,598 to 32,217,113) in funding for AIDS/HIV services and programs and related services for persons affected by the associated conditions of viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $917,485. A “No” vote is against the $917,485).
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Didn’t Vote
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, Yes
Sen. Benjamin Downing, Yes
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, President rarely votes
CUT ENTIRE $150,000 FROM SENIORS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (H 4450) — House 140-14, Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $150,000 in funding to identify the best practices for providing services to aging individuals with developmental disabilities, including those with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $150,000. A “No” vote is against the $150,000).
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Didn’t Vote
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, Yes
Sen. Benjamin Downing, Yes
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, President rarely votes
CUT ENTIRE $750,000 FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRAINING PROGRAM (H 4450) — House 136-18, Senate 38-1, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $750,000 in funding for the Community College Training Incentive Program grants that are awarded to expand vocational course offerings and develop partnerships with Bay State employers. According to its description on the state government’s website, the program “encourages public community college training opportunities that promote workforce development, minimize the shortage of skilled workers and raise economic opportunity.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the $750,000. A “No” vote is against the $750,000.)
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Didn’t Vote
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, Yes
Sen. Benjamin Downing, Yes
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg President rarely votes
CUT $30,487 FROM MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION (MCAD) (H 4450) — House 126-28, Senate 33-6, overrode Gov. Baker’s $30,487 veto reduction (from $3,048,657 to $3,018,170) in funding for the MCAD, which was established in 1946 to investigate and prosecute cases of discrimination in employment housing, credit, education and public accommodations. The commission protects individuals from discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, age, disability, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $30,487. A “No” vote is against the $30,487).
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Didn’t Vote
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, No
Sen. Benjamin Downing, Yes
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, President rarely votes
CUT ENTIRE $200,000 FOR POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION (H 4450) — House 142-11, Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $200,000 in funding for post-partum depression pilot programs at community health centers in Jamaica Plain, Holyoke, Lynn and Worcester.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $200,000. A “No” vote is against the $200,000).
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Didn’t Vote
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, Yes
Sen. Benjamin Downing, Yes
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, President rarely votes
$300,000 CUT FOR PROSTATE CANCER (H 4450) — House 150-3, Senate 39-0, overrode the governor’s veto of $300,000 (from $600,000 to $300,000) for a prostate research program focusing on men with African-American, Hispanic or Latino heritage, family history of the disease and other men at high risk of prostate cancer.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $300,000. A “No” vote is against the $300,000).
Rep. Stephen Kulik, Didn’t Vote
Rep. Paul Mark, Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, Yes
Sen. Benjamin Downing, Yes
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, President rarely votes
DECAL FOR DRIVERS ON LEARNER’S PERMIT (H 3114) — The House approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would require a learner’s permit decal to be clearly visible to law enforcement officers on the window of any vehicle being operated by a driver with a learner’s permit. The size, cost and other details would be determined by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. A violation of the requirement would result in up to a $50 fine.
Supporters said this would warn other drivers that the novice driver is inexperienced and encourage them to take extra caution. They said the requirement would reduce the frustration of and honking by other motorists.
Opponents said the bill is a solution in search of a problem that doesn’t exist. They noted that families with more than one car would have to get one decal for each car. They argued that experienced drivers would often be driving the car with the decal and mistaken for a novice.
GUNS IN COURTHOUSES (S 940) — The House gave initial approval to a Senate-approved bill that would impose up to a 1-year prison sentence and/or $1,000 fine on anyone, except law enforcement personnel or a person with the court’s prior permission, caught with a loaded or unloaded firearm in a courthouse. The punishment would increase to up to a 5-year prison sentence and/or $5,000 fine if there is intent to use the firearm during the commission of a crime. Further approval is needed in both branches before the measure goes to the governor.
TASK FORCE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT (S 2471) — The Senate approved the creation of a task force to develop a model sexual assault climate survey to be issued to private and public college students in order to determine the prevalence and perception of sexual assault on college campuses. The survey would include the number of reported incidences of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking on campuses; student knowledge of institutional policies and procedures; the involvement of force; incapacitation or coercion; and demographic factors that could be used to identify at-risk groups.
BAN DISCRIMINATION IN ORGAN TRANSPLANTS (H 4332) — The House gave initial approval to a bill prohibiting consideration of a patient’s intellectual or physical disability when determining who is eligible for an organ transplant and who should be highest on the waiting list. The bill allows the disability to be considered only if it is determined to be medically significant in a negative way to the transplant.
Supporters said a survey of nearly 90 transplant centers revealed that 85 percent of pediatric transplant centers have at least once considered intellectual or physical disability when determining eligibility for a transplant. They argued it is long past time to end this discrimination.