Another lackluster day in the Senate:
Light Informal Sessions Mark Start of 2022 Session |
Senate Session Summary – Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022
State House News Service
The Senate admitted a new bill from Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday that would allow Tisbury to hold this year’s annual town meeting outside the town limits. “The Town has requested this special allowance because the school gymnasium that is currently the only suitable public facility in which to hold Town Meeting will be unavailable for use in Spring 2022 due to a major renovation project,” Baker wrote, adding that he would like “prompt consideration” by the Legislature as the town wants to nail down the venue “shortly” to provide due notice. The Senate also approved bills authorizing Westford to use escrow funds to reimburse private parties for completing a subdivision road, and establishing a special account in North Reading for revenues from cell tower leases on town water towers and the town DPW building. Other new petitions admitted Thursday deal with municipal light plants, “critically low staffing levels” in schools, and hospital-grade breast pumps. The Senate meets next on Monday morning. – Sam Doran
To track a bill’s legislative history or view its text, click here and enter the bill number. The News Service features gavel-to-gavel summaries of all sessions and audio of formal sessions on our web page: http://www.statehousenews.com.
CONVENES: The Senate convened at 11:13 a.m. with Sen. Lovely of Salem presiding. Sen. Tarr of Gloucester was the only other senator present.
PLEDGE: Members and staff pledged allegiance to the U.S. Flag.
TISBURY TOWN MEETING: Clerk Hurley read a portion of a message from His Excellency Gov. Baker S 2611 recommending legislation relative to the 2022 annual town meeting for the town of Tisbury. The Senate referred the governor’s message to the Committee on Election Laws.
ORDERS OF THE DAY: There was no objection to taking up a matter from the Orders of the Day.
WESTFORD ESCROW FUNDS: The Senate ordered to third reading and engrossed H 3724 authorizing the disbursement of funds held by the town of Westford.
ORDERS OF THE DAY: There was no objection to taking up a matter from the Orders of the Day.
NORTH READING CELL TOWER FUNDS: The Senate engrossed H 4020 creating a cell tower receipts fund for the town of North Reading.
BREAST PUMPS: The Senate referred to the Committee on Financial Services a Sen. Creem petition SD 2878 for legislation relative to hospital grade breast pumps.
SCHOOL STAFFING LEVELS: The Senate referred to the Committee on Public Service a Sen. Kennedy petition SD 2891 for legislation relative to education and critically low staffing levels in schools.
MUNI LIGHT PLANTS: The Senate referred to the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy a Sen. Creem petition SD 2751 for legislation to support municipal light plants.
IN MEMORIAM: Sen. Lovely moved for Thursday’s adjournment to be in memory of Bruce Goddard, who died Nov. 18 at the age of 74. She read a brief eulogy. Bruce was born in Ohio and attended Ohio State. He met his partner of 50 years, John Casey, while on vacation in Provincetown and they immediately became inseparable. Bruce soon relocated to Salem to begin his life with John. They formally married in 2004. Bruce was a talented interior designer and worked many years for Brewster Wallcovering, handling major hotel and design accounts throughout the country. In 1981, he and John founded Salem Interiors, a premier design firm serving corporate and residential clients worldwide. Bruce’s eye for detail, especially color, was second to none. His death from glioblastoma came barely 12 weeks from diagnosis. He was an overseer at the Peabody Essex Museum, vice president of the board at House of the Seven Gables, and a longterm active member of Historic Salem and Chestnut Street Associates. He was a gentle soul known for his kindness, compassion, and generosity.
The Senate stood in a moment of silence in honor of Bruce Goddard.
TIME OF MEETING: The Senate adopted an order scheduling its next session for 11 a.m. Monday and dispensing with a printed calendar.
ADJOURNS ‘TIL MONDAY: The Senate adjourned at 11:19 a.m. to meet next on Monday at 11 a.m. without a calendar.
DISCLAIMER: Bill texts and histories are available at http://www.malegislature.gov/. All votes are voice votes, unless otherwise noted. Bills ordered to third reading have been given initial approval. To engross a bill is to pass it and send it to the other branch. The last of three votes taken on bills that reach the governor’s desk is the vote on enactment. So, it’s third reading (initial approval), engrossment (passage) and enactment. The News Service coverage of legislative debate is an accurate summary of remarks, not a verbatim transcript.
Texas has a population, economy and land mass larger than most nations. Under the Texas State Constitution it is mandated that all business be completed in 140 days. Here we have many pompus clowns who can’t accomplish Massachusetts state business in a full year. Massachusetts still ranks among the lowest for road quality and social services for children. We still have the most scandal ridden state police force in the nation. According to the press, Maura Healey, the most ineffectual state attorney general in 100 years is favored to get nominated for governor. She has her narrow agenda. Consumers, patients rights etc. have taken a back seat to her agenda. With extreme low voter turnout out of touch candidates like her win.