THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ and representatives’ votes on roll calls from July sessions. Some of the roll calls are from both branches’ overrides of some of Gov. Charlie Baker’s 256 vetoes of spending and other items in the recently signed $38.92 billion fiscal 2017 state budget.

In his veto message, Baker cites the state’s projected shortfall of $650 million to $950 million in the fiscal 2017 budget that the Legislature sent him. He said the vetoes are necessary to help close that gap. “This budget addresses a projected fiscal year 2017 budget shortfall which recently developed as a spillover effect from fiscal year 2016,” said Baker. “Economic trends resulted in a projected $425 million to $475 million below benchmark performance in fiscal year 2016 state tax revenue collections, leading to a projected fiscal year 2017 shortfall of $650 million to $950 million.”

He also gave a reason for reducing funding for each item that he vetoed. The reasons, however, as has been the case with governors of both parties in recent times, are vague and general. He used three phrases to explain many of his vetoes. “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary.” “I am vetoing this item because it is not consistent with my House 2 [original budget] recommendation.” And “I am striking language which earmarks funding for a program not recommended.”

Democratic legislative leaders disagree with Baker and say that all 256 of his vetoes could be overridden without pushing the state budget out of balance. They say that Baker’s cuts would have affected many important programs and hurt many people including minorities, women, seniors and children.

CUT $20,940 FROM STATE ETHICS COMMISSION (H 4450)

House 120-34, Senate 33-6, overrode the governor’s veto of $20,940 (from $2,093,969 to 2,073,029) for the operation of the state’s Ethics Commission. The commission is an independent 5-member state agency that is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the state’s conflict of interest and financial disclosure laws.

(A “Yes” vote is for spending the $20,940. A “No” vote is against spending it).

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 $1 MILLION FOR “REACH OUT AND READ” PROGRAM (H 4450)

House 151-2, Senate 38-1, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $1 million in funding for the Reach Out and Read (ROR) program. ROR is a national nonprofit group that began in 1989 at Boston Medical Center to address the problem that most pediatricians’ waiting rooms did not have books available to read. Nationally, the group annually distributes 6.5 million books.

The Massachusetts ROR program trains pediatricians and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud to their children in order to prepare them for school. The program also funds the purchase of books to give to children who are six months to five years old during their visits to their doctors. Some 254 hospitals and clinics in Massachusetts participate in the program, serving 186,000 children and families.

(A “Yes” vote is for spending the $1 million. A “No” vote is against spending it.)

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 $350,000 FOR STROKE PROGRAMS (H 4450)

House 132-21, Senate 38-1, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $350,000 for stroke treatment and prevention programs to provide educational programming on the signs and symptoms of stroke. The program would focus on communities that have the highest incidence of stroke.

The money would fund the operation and administration of designated primary stroke service hospital programs and require those hospitals and emergency medical services agencies to report data consistent with nationally recognized guidelines on the treatment of individuals with strokes.

(A “Yes” vote is for spending the $350,000. A “No” vote is against spending it.)

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 $150,000 TO ADDRESS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE (H 4450)

House 121-32, Senate 37-2, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of the entire $150,000 for a competitive grant program in public schools from grades 5 to 12, to promote healthy relationships and address teen dating violence. The grants would be awarded to schools in which the majority of students are eligible for free or reduced lunches.

(A “Yes” vote is for spending the $150,000. A “No” vote is against spending it.)

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 $400,000 FROM PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE (H 4450)

House 135-17, Senate 39-0, overrode the governor’s veto of $400,000 (from $2,204,578 to $1,804,578) for the pediatric palliative care program that improves the quality of life for children under age 18 with life-limiting illness and their families who are caring for them.

(A “Yes” vote is for spending the $400,000. A “No” vote is against it.)

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

$50 MILLION TO COMMUNITIES FOR SMALL BRIDGE REPAIRS (H 4457)

House 158-0, Senate 38-1, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a $750 million package for transportation projects across the state. The package includes $700 million for highway improvements and $50 million for a new grant program to fund the repair of cities’ and towns’ bridges that are 20 or less feet in length.

Supporters said the bill would fund critical improvements to highways across the state. They noted the $50 million for bridge repairs would go directly to cities and towns in need of funds to repair bridges that are crumbling.

The lone opponent opposed a provision that exempts from the state’s debt ceiling large amounts of borrowing authorized in a 2014 transportation bond bill. He said this action is fiscally irresponsible.

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Stephen Kulik Yes Rep. Paul Mark Yes Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee Yes Sen. Benjamin Downing Yes Sen. Stanley Rosenberg President rarely votes

REGULATE UBER AND LYFT (H 4570)

House 142-15, Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to the governor a measure that would regulate Uber, Lyft and other Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). The measure would establish a new division within the Department of Public Utilities, funded by the companies themselves, to oversee the licensing of the companies and drivers, enforcing penalties and all other issues. A key provision requires drivers to pass two annual background checks – an internal one by the company and one by the state.

A driver’s record cannot contain any crimes of violence, sexual abuse, drunken driving, hit and run, felony robbery or felony fraud. In addition, anyone with one major traffic violation or four minor traffic violations within the past three years would be ineligible to drive. The measure also requires TNCs to pay a tax of 20-cents per ride into a new Municipal Transportation Infrastructure Trust Fund. The fund would distribute some of the money to provide financial assistance to small businesses operating in the taxicab, livery or hackney industries and some to cities and towns to address the impact of TNCs on municipal roads, bridges and taxis.

The bill prohibits surge pricing in weather emergencies and requires drivers to carry certain levels of auto insurance.

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Stephen Kulik Yes Rep. Paul Mark Yes Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee Yes