House OKS $49.7B 2023 state budget
Senate still hasn’t voted on its version
Beacon Hill roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions.
This week, the House 155- 0, approved and sent to the Senate a $49.7 billion fiscal 2023 state budget after adding nearly $130 million in spending during three days of debate. The House version now goes to the Senate which will approve a different version. A HouseSenate conference committee will eventually craft a plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and sent to the governor.
The package also would outlaw child marriage of children under the age of 18 and empower minors currently in marriages to seek divorce or annulment on their own.
Prescription rebate for seniors over 67
The House 28-127, rejected an amendment making seniors, aged 67 or older, who are at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, eligible for a prescription drug rebate on their total out-of-pocket expenses of up to $2,500 for the 12 months from July 1, 2022 until June 30, 2023.
Amendment supporters said this rebate would help low-income seniors on fixed incomes. They noted some of these seniors currently have to choose between paying for prescription drugs, food and heating costs.
Amendment opponents said there are several bills being worked on that would help seniors pay for their prescription drugs. They said this proposal should be filed as a separate bill in order to hold public hearings on the measure.
Reps. Nick Boldyga, RSouthwick, sponsor of the amendment and Tom Stanley, D-waltham, the main opponent of the amendment did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment.
(A “Yes” vote is for the up to $2,500 rebate. A “No” vote is against it).
NO: Rep. James Arciero; Rep. Kimberly Ferguson; Rep. Colleen Garry; Rep. Thomas Golden; Rep. Kenneth Gordon; Rep. Natalie Higgins; Rep. Vanna Howard; Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne; Rep. Michael Kushmerek; Rep. Rady Mom; Rep. Tram Nguyen; Rep. David Robertson; Rep. Dan Sena; Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik. YES: Rep. Marc Lombardo. Rep. Sheila Harrington has resigned.
Farm fuel tax rebate
The House 29-127, rejected an amendment that would provide a tax rebate to farmers for the cost of fuel taxes paid for the operation of farm equipment from July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022.
Amendment supporters said the rebate will help hardworking farmers during this difficult economic time. They noted it will also help combat food shortages.
Amendment opponents said this rebate is a new idea and should be filed as a separate bill in order to hold public hearings on the measure.
(A “Yes” vote is for the rebate. A “No” vote is against it).
NO: Rep. James Arciero; Rep. Thomas Golden; Rep. Kenneth Gordon; Rep. Natalie Higgins; Rep. Vanna Howard; Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne; Rep. Michael Kushmerek; Rep. Rady Mom; Rep. Tram Nguyen; Rep. David Robertson; Rep. Dan Sena; ep. Jonathan Zlotnik. YES: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson; Rep. Colleen Garry; Rep. Marc Lombardo.
Reduce estate/death tax
The House 30-126, rejected an amendment that would exempt the first $2 million of the value of a person’s estate from the state’s estate/death tax that a person is required to pay following their death before distribution to any beneficiary. Under current law, only the first $1 million is exempt. Under the current $1 million threshold and under the proposed $2 million threshold, the tax on anything over the threshold is a graduated one that ranges from 0.8% to 16%.
This tax applies to the entire estate value, not just the portion above the threshold. Most Republicans are against any such tax and coined the name “death tax” to imply that the government taxes you even after you die. Most Democrats support the tax and call it an “estate tax” to imply that this tax is only paid by the wealthy.
Amendment supporters said that in light of the rising value of houses, with the average home price more than $500,000, the $1 million threshold of this unfair regressive tax is too low and noted the federal tax exempts the first $12 million. They noted that Massachusetts is losing many residents, who move to Florida and other states where this tax does not even exist.
Amendment opponents said that this proposed tax reduction is one of many that are included in a separate stand-alone piece of legislation filed by Gov. Charlie Baker. They argued the amendment is premature and that the House should not act on this or any other tax reduction piecemeal here in the state budget but rather should wait until the Revenue Committee holds public hearing on the governor’s package as a whole.
(A “Yes” vote is for exempting the first $2 million of the value of a person’s estate from the state’s estate/death tax. A “No” vote is against it)
NO: Rep. James Arciero; Rep. Thomas Golden; Rep. Kenneth Gordon; Rep. Natalie Higgins; Rep. Vanna Howard; Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne; Rep. Michael Kushmerek; Rep. Rady Mom; Rep. Tram Nguyen; Rep. David Robertson; Rep. Dan Sena; Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik. YES: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson; Rep. Colleen Garry; Rep. Marc Lombardo.
Reduce capital gains tax from 12 to 5%
The House 29-127, rejected an amendment that would reduce the shortterm capital gains tax from 12% to 5%.
Amendment opponents again said that this amendment is premature and urged the House not to act on tax reductions one at a time but instead to wait and consider Gov. Baker’s comprehensive tax reduction package which might be voted on in a few weeks.
(A “Yes” vote is for reducing capital gains tax from 12 percent to 5 percent. A “No” vote is against the reduction).
NO: Rep. James Arciero; Rep. Thomas Golden; Rep. Kenneth Gordon; Rep. Natalie Higgins; Rep. Vanna Howard; Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne; Rep. Michael Kushmerek; Rep. Rady Mom; Rep. Tram Nguyen; Rep. David Robertson; Rep. Dan Sena; Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik. YES: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson; Rep. Colleen Garry; Rep. Marc Lombardo.
Increase tax break for seniors
The House 31-125, rejected an amendment that would increase by $1,005 (from $750 to $1,755) the maximum tax credit which seniors over 65 who qualify, can receive under the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit Law. The law applies to seniors with homes valued at less than $884,000 and who earn $62,000 or less for a single individual who is not the head of a household; $78,000 for a head of household; and $93,000 for married couples filing a joint return.
Also to qualify, if you are a homeowner, your property tax payments, together with half of your water and sewer expense, must exceed 10 percent of your total Massachusetts income for the tax year. If you are a renter, 25% of your annual Massachusetts rent must exceed 10% of your total Massachusetts income for the tax year.
Amendment supporters said this will help seniors on fixed incomes who are having a difficult time as inflation and the cost of food and gas soar.
Amendment opponents again said that this amendment is premature and urged the House not to act on tax reductions one at a time but instead to wait and consider Gov. Baker’s comprehensive tax reduction package which might be voted on in a few weeks.
(A “Yes” vote is for the increased tax credit of $1,005. A “No” vote is against it).
NO: Rep. James Arciero; Rep. Thomas Golden; Rep. Kenneth Gordon; Rep. Natalie Higgins; Rep. Vanna Howard; Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne; Rep. Michael Kushmerek; Rep. Rady Mom; Rep. Tram Nguyen; Rep. David Robertson; Rep. Dan Sena; Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik. YES: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson; Rep. Colleen Garry; Rep. Marc Lombardo.
Gas tax suspension
The House 32-124, rejected an amendment that would have suspended the state’s 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax for 60 days. The measure also requires the state to use money from its General Fund to cover transportation costs, normally funded by the gas tax, such as road and bridge maintenance, during the two-month holiday.
Rep. William Straus, DMattapoisett, said the tax is currently paid by distributors, not directly by consumers at the pump. He noted that the amendment does not assure that the tax cut will be passed along to consumers.
(A “Yes” vote is for the suspension of the gas tax. A “No” vote is against the suspension).
NO: Rep. James Arciero; Rep. Thomas Golden; Rep. Kenneth Gordon; Rep. Natalie Higgins; Rep. Vanna Howard; Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne; Rep. Michael Kushmerek; Rep. Rady Mom; Rep. Tram Nguyen; Rep. David Robertson; Rep. Dan Sena; Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik. YES: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson; Rep. Colleen Garry; Rep. Marc Lombardo.
Reduce gaming tax
The Senate 4-35 rejected an amendment that would reduce from 20% to 10% the gaming excise tax for in-person betting and from 35% to 12.5% the tax for mobile bets and daily fantasy sports.
(A Yes” note is for the reduction. A “No” vote is against it).
NO: Sen. Michael Barrett; Sen. John Cronin; Sen. James Eldridge; Sen. Barry Finegold; Sen. Cindy Friedman; Sen. Anne Gobi; Sen. Edward Kennedy. YES: Sen. Bruce Tarr.
Prohibit credit card use for sports betting
The Senate 39- 0, approved an amendment to a section of the sports betting bill that prohibits a credit card from being used to place bets. The amendment clarifies that any use of credit, whether the credit card itself or some other third-party, is prohibited.
Amendment supporters said that without the amendment, a consumer could link a credit card to an online payment system, such as Paypal, or use a credit card to purchase sports betting gift cards at retailers like 711, Walmart and various gas stations.
Also up on Beacon Hill
■ Sunscreen lotions: On its way to a study committee is a bill that would allow any person, including students, parents and school personnel to possess and use a topical sunscreen product without a physician’s note or prescription while on school property or at a school-related event or activity to avoid overexposure to the sun if the product is regulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter use.
■ Automated external defibrillators: The Baker administration announced the awarding of $527,000 in grants to cities and towns to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for public safety and first responder vehicles that will equip 246 vehicles serving about 70 percent of the state’s cities and towns.
The governor’s office described an AED as a medical device used to support people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, which is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have been diagnosed with heart disease. The AED analyzes the patient’s heart rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. A study from the American Heart Association found that 350,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest outside of the hospital every year in the U.S.
■ Bring your own car: The Registry of Motor Vehicles announced that applicants taking the road test to obtain their driver’s license are now required to bring their own vehicle for the road test.
Two years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of health and safety protocols under which the RMV deployed a fleet of stateowned vehicles, for road tests, which were cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis. Applicants now scheduled for testing through a driving school should confirm they have access to the school’s vehicle for their road test.
The RMV has a new webpage, Mass.gov/roadTest to help applicants obtain information and details related to their road test.
How long was last week’s session? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers.
They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session..
During the week of April 25-29, the House met for a total of 31 hours and 27minutes and the Senate met for a total of nine hours and 42 minutes.