Senate President Spilka and Speaker Mariano on the Fair Share Amendment and Joint Session, Weds Jun 9

Statement from Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano:

"As Massachusetts recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, and as we prepare for our future, we have a unique opportunity to move towards a Commonwealth that truly works for all residents. 

To that end, the Legislature will be holding a Joint Session on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 with the intent of voting on the Fair Share Amendment. This will allow the measure to be placed on the ballot and put before the people for a vote. 

We stand with the residents of Massachusetts in exploring new ways to increase revenue for the state as we envision and invest in an equitable and hopeful future for the Commonwealth."

On background: The Legislature advanced the Fair Share Amendment back in June 2019. A second vote is needed for it to be placed on the November 2022 ballot.

Language: Proposal for Constitutional Amendment S.5 (malegislature.gov)

Boston Globe coverage (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/03/metro/mass-lawmakers-expected-approve-millionaires-tax-proposal-next-week-allowing-it-go-2022-ballot/

Link to Joint Session scheduled for Weds, Jun 9

https://malegislature.gov/Events/Sessions/Detail/3917

"create ways for state and local officials to participate in meetings remotely"

 

"FOR A WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS resident to attend a two-hour meeting in Boston, it’s an eight to 10 hour commitment, said state Rep. Mindy Domb, an Amherst Democrat. To get to Boston in the early evening, someone needs to take time off from work to drive into the city. They must have their own car and money to pay for gas and parking. They might have to pay a babysitter. They will get home at 10 or 11 p.m. 

“My neighbors, friends, coworkers won’t even consider participating in a statewide board or commission,” Domb said. “It’s not only cutting off people’s ability and capacity to participate. It’s reducing what government gets from Western Massachusetts and the Cape. Not just the regional perspective but the human perspective, the experience, the expertise of hundreds of thousands of people who live outside 495.” 

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/lawmakers-consider-making-virtual-public-meeting-access-permanent/ 

The Joint Committee page can be found ->   https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J25/192/Members

The recorded hearing as mentioned in the article is available for review

https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/3748

Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Joint Senate and House #MACOVIDOversight Committee - Feb 25 - 11 AM

MA State Senate (@MA_Senate) tweeted on Wed, Feb 24, 2021:

Tomorrow at 11, the Joint Senate and House #MACOVIDOversight Committee will hold a hearing to examine the Commonwealth's #COVID19 Vaccine Rollout. 

This is the first in a series of oversight hearings the committee will hold on topics related to the pandemic. #mapoli https://t.co/Xc023wKVZT

Join the LiveStream = https://malegislature.gov/Events/SpecialEvents/Detail/374

 

Joint Senate and House #MACOVIDOversight Committee - Feb 25 - 11 AM

 

Roy appointed Chair of Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy

State Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin) was named by House Speaker Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy) as the new House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy. The committee considers all matters concerning the exploration, exploitation and development of energy sources, including the siting of energy facilities, public utilities, wind farms, and the bottle bill.

“It’s a great honor to have been chosen for this assignment,” noted Roy, who is serving his fifth term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. “These are challenging times and the sustainability issues, including the climate crisis, energy needs, and pollution are top priorities. I am humbled and honored that the Speaker entrusted me with this leadership post to face these challenges and help build a sustainable future.”

In the last session, Roy chaired the Higher Education Committee and led efforts to address financial issues on our campuses with the enactment of an act to support improved financial stability (Chapter 113 of the Acts of 2019) and make them safer with the enactment of an act relative to sexual violence at colleges (Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2020).

He also served on the special commission studying veteran’s tuition and the Harm Reduction Commission which addressed prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addiction. In addition to those duties, he serves as the House Chair of the Manufacturing Caucus which promotes making it in Massachusetts.

State Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy

During his years in office, Roy has also served as Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Ethics, and as a member on the Committees on Ways and Means, Judiciary, Education, Mental Health, Substance Use, & Recovery, and Labor & Workforce Development.

Since 2013 Roy has been part of the legislative efforts that have addressed the issues of education, economic development, the coronavirus pandemic, health care, substance use disorder, criminal justice, veteran’s services, seniors, housing, tax relief, civil rights, social equity, gun safety, energy, and the environment.

Also appointed to the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy were Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-N. Reading), and Reps. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth), Joan Meschino (D-Hull), Jim Hawkins (D-Attleborough), David Robertson (D-Wilmington), Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose), Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn), Steven Owens (Watertown), and Len Mirra (R-Groveland).