Beacon Hill Roll Call; A sampling of how your elected officials voted during the week.

Beacon Hill Roll Call, by Bob Katzen, records local representatives' votes on three roll calls and local senators' votes on one roll call from prior legislative sessions. The three House roll calls are on proposed amendments to the Democratic leadership-sponsored rules to be followed when the House considers a $27.99 billion fiscal year 2009 state budget beginning on April 28. There were no roll call votes in the House or Senate last week. Both branches held only brief, informal sessions as they do every year during April school vacation week.

Allow earmarking of tax hikes (H 4699)

House 19-137, voted strictly along party lines and defeated a Republican-sponsored amendment allowing legislators to earmark revenues from tax hikes to fund specific programs. The rules proposed by the Democratic leadership prohibit earmarking of these funds.

Amendment supporters said this is an anti-democratic and illogical prohibition that reduces the power of rank-and-file members. They argued that a member who proposes a tax hike should be allowed to propose earmarking revenue for education, local aid or any other worthwhile program.

Amendment opponents said the rule is a reasonable one that has been used successfully since 2001. They argued it is important to take a broad approach by first deciding whether to raise taxes and then later how to spend all the state's revenue. (A "yes" vote is for allowing members to earmark revenues from tax hikes to fund specific programs. A "no" vote is against allowing it.)

Rep. Paul Loscocco ... Yes

Rep. Harold Naughton Jr. ... No

Rep. George Peterson Jr. ... Yes

Rep. Karyn Polito ... Yes

Allow 30 minutes to read amendments (H 4699)

House, 155-0, approved a proposal allowing legislators a minimum of 30 minutes to read any proposed consolidated amendment to the House budget prior to debate and a vote on it. Representatives file dozens of amendments on the same general subject matter. Legislators who are interested in that subject matter are invited to a meeting, during budget debate, to pitch their amendment. A consolidated amendment is eventually drafted by the House leadership and brought to the House floor for debate and a vote.

Supporters of the proposal argued these amendments are often 30 pages long and legislators are asked to vote on them while the paper is still warm from the copying machine. They said this system is anti-democratic and results in members voting blindly on something they have not even read. (A "yes" vote is for allowing legislators at least 30 minutes to read a consolidated amendment prior to debate and a vote on it.)

Rep. Paul Loscocco ... Yes

Rep. Harold Naughton Jr. ... Yes

Rep. George Peterson Jr. ... Yes

Rep. Karyn Polito ... Yes

Allow an additional 20 minutes to read amendments (H 4699)

House, 26-127, voted mostly along party lines and rejected a Republican-sponsored proposal allowing any member to request and automatically be given an additional 20 minutes, beyond the already-established 30 minutes, to review a consolidated amendment. Only one legislator's request for an extension per consolidated amendment would be granted. Seven Democrat joined GOP legislators and voted in favor of the additional 20 minutes.

Supporters of the proposal said this would ensure that rank-and-file members have an additional 20 minutes, if necessary, to read and understand a complicated consolidated amendment. They noted that combined with the original 30 minutes granted, this would give members a reasonable total of 50 minutes.

Opponents of the proposal said the original 30 minutes is sufficient and argued the proposal is unnecessary because the chair would give legislators additional time if warranted. They argued that adding another guaranteed 20 minutes goes too far and would unnecessarily delay action on the budget. (A "yes" vote is for allowing legislators to request an additional 20 minutes to read a consolidated amendment prior to debate and a vote on it. A "no" vote is against allowing the request.)

Rep. Paul Loscocco ... Yes

Rep. Harold Naughton Jr. ... No

Rep. George Peterson Jr. ... Yes

Rep. Karyn Polito ... Yes

Require pharmacies to keep medicine profiles of customers (S 2650)

Senate, 6-32, voted mostly along party lines and rejected a Republican-sponsored health care bill amendment that would require all Massachusetts pharmacies to make the computerized medication profile of any customer available to his or her doctors upon request. The profile would include a list of current medications and any known drug allergy. This data would be required to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Only one Democrat joined GOP legislators and voted in favor of the amendment.

Amendment supporters said this would set up a system under which this vital information that could save lives would be available around the clock online or via e-mail. They noted patients are often admitted to hospitals for emergency care and doctors are unable to access a list of their medications.

Amendment opponents did not offer any arguments. (A "yes" vote is for the amendment requiring pharmacies to make a customer's medication profile available to his or her doctors. A "no" vote is against the requirement.)

Sen. Edward Augustus Jr.

... Didn't Vote

Sen. Harriette Chandler ... No

Sen. Pamela Resor ... No

Also up on Beacon Hill

Paid sick leave for all employees (S 1073) - The Labor and Workforce Development Committee approved legislation requiring employers to give seven paid sick leave days per year to each employee. The sick days could be used by a worker to care for his or her own illness or that of a spouse, child or parent, for routine medical exams and for days off taken by victims of domestic violence.

Supporters say it is outrageous that 41 percent of Massachusetts workers, including 75 percent of lower paid workers, have no paid sick days. They argue that workers should not have to worry that if they take the day off for medical reasons they risk losing a day's pay or loss of their job. They noted the proposal would reduce the spread of disease at work.

Opponents say paid sick days should be negotiated by employers and employees. They argue this unfair mandate would hurt businesses already struggling with the highest unemployment insurance rates in the nation, skyrocketing health care and energy costs and a recession.

Bills shipped off to a study committee - The Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities recommended that legislation requiring all day care centers to install cameras and listening devices in every room except bathrooms (H 124) be shipped off to a study committee. The measure would impose a $l0,000 fine on violators and exempt private home day care centers with four children or less. A study committee usually spells death for a piece of legislation as bills are rarely removed from these committees and sent to the Legislature for action.

Other measures the committee recommended be sent to a study committee include 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); banning the use of corporal punishment by adults on children under 18 (H 3922); establishing a gasoline assistance program that issues " gasoline stamps" for free gas for senior citizens and handicapped persons who own a small business in which the use of their automobile is essential (H 127) and prohibiting the use of any procedure which causes obvious signs of physical pain to a person with a physical or mental disability including corporal punishment and electric shock treatment (H 109). The proposal also prohibits use of any procedure that denies these individuals adequate sleep, food, shelter, bedding or bathroom facilities.

Allow town meetings in June (H 1943) - Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law legislation allowing towns to hold their local elections and town meetings in June. The bill would expand a current law that allows these events to be held only in February, March, April or May. Supporters said that current law is too strict and noted the new law gives communities more time and flexibility to gather accurate information on which to base their local budgets.

Exempt seniors from some bank fees (H 975) - The House approved a bill exempting seniors over 65 from paying a fee for their bank records when they apply for Medicaid. The state looks at the prior five years of an applicant's bank records in order to verify assets and help determine whether he or she qualifies for Medicaid. Supporters said the fee is only a few dollars but can make a big difference to seniors who are struggling on fixed incomes. The measure still needs final House and Senate approval prior to going to Patrick.

How long was last week's session? During the week of April 21 to 25, the House met for 30 minutes while the Senate met for 15 minutes.

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at [e-mail].