Beacon Hill Roll Call
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records votes of local representatives on two roll calls and local senators on four from the week of July 15-19.
Last week's action in the Legislature again centered around a Democratic leadership-sponsored transportation package that includes $500 million plus in tax hikes. Increases include a 3-cent-per-gallon hike in the state's current 21-cent-per-gallon gas tax, which, beginning in 2015, would also be indexed to inflation. Other hikes include a $1 jump in the current $2.51-per-package cigarette tax, an increase in the tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco, imposition of a 6.25 percent sales tax on computer system design services as well as modification of prewritten software, and a change in the way utilities are classified for tax purposes.
Gov. Patrick returned the bill to the Legislature with an amendment. Patrick's amendment would impose an additional gas tax hike, estimated at between 3 and 4 cents per gallon, in 2017 if the tolls from Newton to the New York border come down as planned, eliminating $135 million in tax revenue. The House and Senate quashed Patrick's plan but without a direct roll call on the additional hike.
Supporters defended the $500 million plus tax hike as a reasonable solution to many of the structural and financial problems that plague the MBTA and the state's financially ailing transportation system. The move to eliminate the tax hikes was led by Republicans, who sometimes brought along some fiscally conservative Democrats. They said the proposed tax hikes would hurt already overburdened taxpayers.
Here are some of the key votes. Beacon Hill Roll Call urges you to read the roll calls carefully and be aware that in some cases, the amendment would eliminate a proposed tax hike. In those cases, a "yes" vote is for eliminating the hike and therefore against the hike while a "no" vote is against eliminating the hike and therefore in favor of the hike.
DELAY EFFECTIVE DATE OF NEW 6.25 PERCENT COMPUTER SERVICES TAX (H 3535)
House 32-122, rejected an amendment that would delay the effective date of the new 6.25 percent sales tax on computer system design services and services to modify prewritten software. The amendment would make the tax effective only after the Department of Revenue (DOR) establishes regulations about the new tax instead of seven days after the tax becomes law.
Amendment supporters said it could take weeks for the DOR to establish regulations and figure out exactly how the tax will work. They argued that chaos might ensue if this delay is not approved.
Amendment opponents said the amendment is unnecessary because the DOR is already working on how the law will be implemented.
(A "Yes" vote is for the delay. A "No" vote is against the delay.)
Rep. Sheila Harrington Yes
PORTION OF CAPITAL GAINS TAX TO CITIES AND TOWNS (H 3535)
House 40-114, rejected an amendment designed to use up to $50 million from any capital gains tax revenue above $1 billion to give to cities and towns for local roads and bridges. Under current law, the money would go to the state Rainy Day Fund.
Amendment supporters said cities and towns need this money to help maintain their roads and bridges.
Amendment opponents said the amendment is poorly drafted and transfers the $50 million from the Rainy Day Fund to the General Fund rather than to cities and towns.
(A "Yes" vote is for the amendment. A "No" vote is against it.)
Rep. Sheila Harrington Yes
STRIKE PROPOSED GAS TAX HIKE (H 3535)
Senate 8-31, rejected an amendment that would strike a proposed 3-cent-per-gallon hike in the state's current 21-cent-per-gallon gas tax. It is estimated that this hike would generate $165 million in new tax revenue.
(A "Yes" vote is against the tax. A "No" vote is for it.)
Sen. Eileen Donoghue No
STRIKE PROPOSED GAS TAX INFLATION INDEX (H 3535)
Senate 7-32, rejected an amendment that would strike the proposed indexing of the gas tax to inflation.
(A "Yes" vote is against the tax. A "No" vote is for it.)
Sen. Eileen Donoghue No
STRIKE PROPOSED COMPUTER SERVICE TAX (H 3535)
Senate 8-30, rejected an amendment that would strike the proposed 6.25 percent sales tax on computer system design services as well as modification of prewritten software. These services are currently exempt from the sales tax. It is estimated that this service tax would generate $161 million in new tax revenue.
(A "Yes" vote is against the tax. A "No" vote is for it.)
Sen. Eileen Donoghue No
GAS TAX EXEMPTION FOR CITIES AND TOWNS (H 3535)
Senate 6-31, rejected an amendment exempting cities' and towns'
vehicle fuel purchases from the gas tax and diesel fuel tax.
(A "Yes" vote is for exempting cities' and towns' fuel purchases. A "No" vote is against the exemption.)
Sen. Eileen Donoghue No
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
CULTURALLY SENSITIVE HOME VISITING PROGRAMS (H 125) - A bill before the Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee would create home visiting programs that provide "culturally sensitive services" to parents, infants and children. The measure does not provide a definition of "culturally sensitive." Home visiting programs are a voluntary home-based service for families with children up to age 5 that provides visits by trained workers to promote positive parenting practices, build healthy child and parent relationships, improve the health of the family, empower families to be self-sufficient and reduce child mistreatment and injury.
PROHIBIT RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS (H 2325) - The Public Service Committee held a hearing on legislation that would prohibit the state and cities and towns from establishing laws requiring that police officers and firefighters reside in the community in which they work.
BAN SEXUAL ORIENTATION CONVERSION THERAPY (H 154) - The Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing on legislation that would prohibit psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals from providing gay-to-straight conversion therapy to minors under 18. Supporters of the ban say this type of therapy is a hoax that is harmful and can pose significant risks of self-destructive behavior to teens. Opponents of the ban said there are stories of the success of this type of therapy and argued it is unconstitutional to deny teens, with their parents' permission, from trying it.
Other proposals on the committee's agenda included mandating that a female employee on maternity leave for the adoption of a child be entitled to the same benefits offered by her employer as one on leave for the birth of a child (S 58), and creating a pilot program to provide a one-time $10,000 low-interest loan to 30 individuals to assist them in the payment of expenses directly resulting from their child's terminal illness (H 95).
NO ROBOCALLS TO CELL PHONES (S 131) - The Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on a proposal that would prohibit companies from making robocalls to cell phones. It also would fine companies up to $10,000 if they make a prohibited robocall and allow individuals who are called to sue a company for $10,000 in damages. Last year the House approved a similar bill but it died in the Senate.
