Beacon Hill News

Democratic Party Insiders Back DiZoglio’s Quest to Audit Legislature

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Party insiders are bucking Beacon Hill’s Democratic leadership in backing Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s quest to audit the legislature, including any court action required to achieve the goal. The Democratic State Committee on a unanimous voice vote accepted a resolution last Wednesday night backing the Methuen Democrat’s efforts to hold the legislature accountable. The resolution states the party “endorses the state auditor’s initiatives, including any necessary legal action against any impediments to their audit efforts.”

For months, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen E. Spilka have resisted DiZoglio’s audit attempts, arguing she lacks the authority under state law—and that the information she’s seeking is available for public review or is already audited by other entities. The diverse committee is composed of 400 Democrats from throughout the state, and about half participated in the hybrid meeting held at First Parish Dorchester, a MassDems spokesman said. Under party rules, members are not required to disclose conflicts of interests ahead of voting because resolutions are non-binding, the spokesman said.

Beacon Hill News

Sens. Finegold and Payano Praise Addition of $15 Million for Storm-Damage Aid in Budget

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State Sens. Barry R. Finegold and Pavel Payano Tuesday night thanked their colleagues for advancing a supplemental budget that includes $15 million in aid for local communities still reeling from this summer’s storm damage. Senators voted 36-3 to approve the amount as part of a roughly $2.8 billion supplemental budget bill that comes in the final hours of this season’s formal session. Holding up approval was debate over putting $250 million more into the state’s strained emergency shelter system. Payano said, “This year, we saw heavy rainfalls and flooding have a disastrous impact on communities across the state.

Beacon Hill News

Nurses, Health Care Lobbyists Press Legislators on Joining Nurse Licensure Compact

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Nurses and health care lobbyists encouraged lawmakers Tuesday to allow Massachusetts to join a 20-year-old interstate compact, pitching it as a strategy to tackle the state’s nursing shortage, boost access to telehealth and streamline providers’ ability to care for patients across state lines. The state’s potential entry to the compact is addressed this session in proposals from Sen. Barry R. Finegold, among others. Nicole Livanos, director of state affairs for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, said it would save time and money for nurses who must currently hold multiple licenses if they are looking to practice in Massachusetts and other states. “In order to get a multistate license, you have to meet 11 uniform license requirements, so we know that those represent some of the highest licensure requirements across the country, including a criminal background check, passing the NCLEX (exam), graduating from an approved program, and having no active discipline,” Livanos told the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Through the compact, Livanos said Massachusetts nursing students would gain flexibility over where they choose to live and practice after earning their degrees here.

Beacon Hill News

Rep. Vargas Bill Would Give Rideshare and Delivery Drivers Employee Status

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Rideshare and delivery drivers, currently classified as independent contractors, would be entitled to full employment benefits if a bill filed in the House by Haverhill Rep. Andy X. Vargas wins passage. Vargas testified Monday in support of his bill which would benefit drivers for such companies as Uber, Lyft, Instacart and others by requiring employers to provide benefits and protection. Vargas said he worked as driver while in college and often earned less than minimum wage. “Classifying drivers as independent contractors shifts nearly all the risk and liability onto drivers and allows companies to skirt the basic protections other employers must comply with. Our local businesses in Haverhill pay into unemployment insurance, workers comp and provide a minimum wage and overtime.

Beacon Hill News

Vargas Testifies in Favor of His Online Privacy Bill that Would Limit Data Collection

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Rep. Andy X. Vargas last week testified in support of his privacy bill that would limit collection of consumer data online. Vargas testified before the Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet, and Cybersecurity in support of his bill, An Act to establish the Massachusetts data privacy protection act. “Our online activity is under constant surveillance. Not only is our personal information collected and stored without our consent, it is sold as a commodity without regard for the consequences this may have for the individual. This is our personal information, including but not limited to our age, gender, race and location.

Beacon Hill News

Sen. Finegold Among Those Holding Nation’s First Legislative Hearing on State Role in Youth Sports

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State Sen. Barry R. Finegold convenes Thursday the first legislative hearing in the nation to determine what, if any, role the state should play in regulating youth sports. Finegold, co-chair of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, said legislators will weigh a comprehensive range of benefits and issues associated with youth sports. “This Thursday’s hearing looks to holistically examine the youth sports industry in Massachusetts. The overarching goal of the hearing is to understand, through the breadth of knowledge and experience from impacted stakeholders, whether or not the state has a role in the youth sports regulatory framework and what that role would be,” he said, adding “Testimony will be provided by various experts with topics ranging from the dangers of early sport specialization and overtraining to the financing landscape at both an individual and institutional level.”

The Joint Committee on Economic Development, co-chaired by Rep. Jerry A. Parisella of Beverly, is coordinating with the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, co-chaired by Sen. Cindy F. Friedman of Arlington and Rep. John J. Lawn of Watertown. Testimony will be provided by medical professionals, academics and directors and managers of youth sports programs.

The hearing takes place Thursday, Oct.

Beacon Hill News

Local State Representatives Among Those Voting 148-8 to Force Some Employers to Disclose Salary Range

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Reps. Adrianne Ramos of North Andover and Ryan M. Hamilton were among the 148 state representatives last week voting in favor of a bill requiring companies with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a position and protects an employee’s right to ask for salary ranges in the workplace. The Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act passed with eight Republicans opposed and moves to the state Senate. “As a woman who has worked in a male dominated field, I’ve watched female colleagues pay the unspoken ‘mommy’ tax and take home lower pay, often contributing to the exodus of talented women from the workforce,” Ramos said. She added she co-sponsored the original bill because “this will help place women and people of color on equal footing as their counterparts and eliminate the stigma surrounding discusses of pay in the workforce.”

Ramos represents Groveland, West Newbury, parts of Amesbury, parts of Boxford and North Andover, while Hamilton represents parts of Haverhill and Methuen.

Beacon Hill News

Gov. Healey Brings her Tax Cut Tour to Haverhill; Residents Speak of Needed Savings

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(Additional photograph below.)

Massachusetts Gov. Maura T. Healey used the backdrop of a Haverhill YMCA child care program to highlight her $1 billion tax cut, including, as the administration describes, “the nation’s most generous Child and Family Tax Credit.”

Healey came to the Y in downtown Haverhill yesterday to call attention to her signing this week of a tax cut law to provide savings for seniors, renters, businesses and others. “We are really proud that we were able to work together and give the people of Massachusetts this much-needed tax relief. It’s real money. It’s going to help real people and it will help make our state more affordable, more competitive and more equitable.”

The governor, who was joined by Lt. Gov. Kimberley Driscoll, called on two residents to discuss how they will benefit. Nineteen-year-old Sadé Pimental is a graduate of Haverhill’s Gateway Academy and a mother who works two jobs.