Representative Hannah Kane Appointed To Women’s Rights History Trail Task Force

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury) to serve as a member of the newly-created Women’s Rights History Trail Task Force.

Established under Chapter 76 of the Acts of 2022, which was signed into law on May 26, the task force will be responsible for developing recommendations for specific sites, properties and attractions to be included in the Commonwealth’s Women’s Rights History Trail Program, which was also created under the same Act.

Sponsored by Representatives Kane, Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) and Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough), the Women’s Rights History Trail bill was initially filed during the 2019-2020 legislative session and was engrossed by the House as both a stand-alone bill and as part of a larger Economic Development Bond Bill, but never acted on by the Senate. A similar bill was filed during the 2017-2018 legislative session by the late Representative Gail Cariddi (D-North Adams).

“Hannah has been a driving force behind the creation of a Women’s Rights History Trail that will highlight the important role women have played throughout our state’s and our nation’s history in the fight for equal rights,” said Representative Jones. “As such, she is ideally suited to help the task force finalize the details that will make the trail a reality.”

The enabling legislation requires the task force to consider sites that “are historically and thematically associated with the fight for women’s rights and women’s suffrage, including the contributions of women veterans; are geographically diverse; and commemorate individuals who reflect racial, ethnic, cultural and economic diversity.” The task force will also make recommendations to increase the representation of women and women artists in the works of art displayed at the State House.

The task force is scheduled to submit its findings by March 1, 2023.

Kane is one of eight legislators serving on the 16-member task force, including the chairs of the Joint Committee on Travel and Tourism and the chairs of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators. Other members of the task force include the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism; the Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT); the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and a representative selected by the organization; one member appointed by the Commissioner of Veterans’ Services to represent the interests of women veterans; one member appointed by the art commission for the State House; an expert in women’s history who works at a  Massachusetts college or university; and a representative of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

 First elected to the House of Representatives in 2015, Kane represents the Eleventh Worcester District, which is comprised of the town of Shrewsbury and precincts 4 and 5 in Westborough.

Representative Muratore To Serve On Cannabis Legislation Conference Committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Mathew Muratore (R-Plymouth) to a six-member conference committee that will focus on reforming the current regulations governing the state’s cannabis industry.

Both the House and Senate have approved legislation that would grant the Cannabis Control Commission increased oversight of the host community agreements entered into by municipalities and marijuana dispensaries. The proposed changes come in response to concerns that some communities are exceeding their statutory authority when negotiating the terms of their host agreements.

The House and Senate have also called for establishing a process for communities to approve on-site consumption sites, often referred to as “pot cafes”. However, the two legislative branches have taken different approaches to promoting social equity within the industry, with the Senate agreeing to dedicate 10 percent of annual Marijuana Regulation Fund revenues to a new Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund to help provide access to start-up capital and the House opting to set aside 20 percent of annual revenues for these purposes.

“Matt has an extensive background in municipal government and business management, which gives him a clear understanding of many of the issues associated with the state’s cannabis industry that this legislation is trying to resolve,” said Representative Jones. “His knowledge and experience in these areas will be an asset to the conference committee as it works to negotiate the differences between the House and the Senate bills.”

The cannabis conference committee will attempt to reach agreement on a compromise bill to be sent to Governor Charlie Baker before the end of formal sessions on July 31. In addition to Muratore, the other conference committee members include Representatives Daniel Donahue (D-Worcester) and Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee), as well as Senators Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), Joanne Comerford (D-Northampton) and Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton).

Representative Muratore is currently in his fourth term representing the First Plymouth District. A member of the House Ways and Means Committee, he also currently serves as the Assistant Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing; the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government; and the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

Representative Jones’ Statement On Proposed Economic Relief Rebates For Mass. Residents

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) released the following statement in response to today’s announcement by House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka that the House and Senate will be providing economic relief rebates for individuals and families:

“I only learned of the proposal today after seeing details in the media. I appreciate this first step towards providing modest one-time relief in recognition of the difficult financial times high inflation is causing far too many of our state’s citizens. I hope we can also find ways of providing permanent and meaningful tax relief to taxpayers in the days ahead as we race towards the end of our formal sessions. The tremendous surplus we are enjoying needs to be shared with the hardworking citizens of the Commonwealth.”

Representative Hannah Kane To Serve On Mental Health Bill Conference Committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury) to a six-member conference committee focused on addressing mental health issues.

The House of Representatives recently engrossed House Bill 4891, An Act addressing barriers to care for mental health, which seeks to improve access to mental health services and establish insurance parity between behavioral and physical health care coverage. The Senate approved its own version of the bill, Senate Bill2584, last November.

Both the House and Senate bills would require insurers to provide coverage for annual mental health wellness exams and would take steps to prevent the practice known as “boarding” by creating an online portal to help health care providers identify open beds for minors and adults in need of mental health and substance use services. Currently, patients with acute mental health needs often have to wait an extended period of time in a hospital emergency room before they can secure a psychiatric inpatient bed. The Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, which tracks boarding statistics, found that last month there were 660 behavioral health patients, including 156 pediatric patients, boarding at 53 hospitals.

There are a number of differences between the two bills, however. For example, the House bill would establish a student stakeholder advisory commission on mental health whose members will work with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and implement school-based programs to promote student mental health and well-being, but the language is not included in the Senate bill. The Senate bill also contains provisions creating a new state Office of Behavioral Health Promotion, which is not included in the House version.

“As a member of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, Hannah is well-versed on the many policy issues contained in the legislation the conference committee is now reviewing,” said Representative Jones. “Her insight and input will be invaluable as the conferees work to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.”

The conference committee, which convened for its first meeting on June 30, will now attempt to negotiate a compromise bill that can be sent to Governor Charlie Baker before the end of formal sessions on July 31. Joining Kane on the conference committee are Representatives Adrian Madaro (D-East Boston) and Denise Garlick (D-Needham), as well as Senators Julian Cyr (D-Truro), Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington) and Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).

Representative Kane is currently the Ranking Minority Member of both the Joint Committee on Public Health and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. In addition to serving on the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, she is also a member of the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion.

 First elected to the House of Representatives in 2015, Kane represents the Eleventh Worcester District, which is comprised of the town of Shrewsbury and precincts 4 and 5 in Westborough.

HAPPY 246TH BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

 “I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means.” – from a July 3, 1776 letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams

It was 246 years ago today – on July 4, 1776 – that the original 13 colonies declared their independence from British rule and established the United States of America, providing a lasting source of hope and inspiration for the rest of the world. The Massachusetts House Republican Caucus joins with Americans everywhere in celebrating our nation’s Independence Day. Wishing everyone a very safe and happy Fourth of July!

Rep. Durant: No Question Mass. Can Afford To Give Residents A Break From The State Gas Tax

The following column by Representative Peter Durant (R-Spencer) appeared in the June 26 print edition of the Boston Globe in response to the question “Should Massachusetts suspend the state gas tax?”:

Recently, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline topped $5 for the first time in Massachusetts. This means someone with a 20-gallon tank in Natick, Plymouth, or Salem would need to spend more than $100 to fill their vehicle. Filling up your car twice a week, as many do, is approaching $1,000 per month in fuel costs. This is a significant and painful bite for many residents of the Greater Boston area and across the Commonwealth this summer.

A suspension of the 24-cent gas tax would have three immediate benefits.

First and foremost, it would provide instant relief to consumers and businesses struggling with incredibly rapid inflation.

Second, it would buy time for cities and towns to adjust and plan. As an example, budget constraints caused by the high cost of gasoline could affect spending on our first responders, potentially making communities less safe. One Michigan police department is responding to some “non-life-threatening” calls with phone conversations instead of responding in person. Added pressure on municipal budgets could push communities to seek Proposition 2 ½ overrides, extending further pain to local taxpayers.

Third, actions speak louder than words. Suspending the state gas tax would show our constituents we are committed to helping them, not just providing lip service. And if a broader tax cut package appears before the end of the legislative session, all the better. More relief from the high cost of living in Massachusetts is always welcome.

Critics will argue that suspending the gas tax will not lower prices at the pump, that suppliers will pocket the profits instead. However, Maryland, Georgia, and Connecticut demonstrated that this theory is simply not true — all saw corresponding reductions in price after suspending their gas taxes.

Others will say the Commonwealth’s bond rating will be negatively affected. However, S&P Global Ratings said temporary gas tax suspensions are unlikely to cause changes to state bond ratings.

Finally, the question from leaders on Beacon Hill is: Can we afford it? After all, suspension of the gas tax through the end of the year will cost the state upwards of $200 million, but with a major budget surplus expected this fiscal year, there is no question we can afford to give the taxpayers of Massachusetts a break they deserve.

Representative David Muradian Named To Sports Betting Conference Committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative David K. Muradian, Jr. (R-Grafton) to serve on a six-member conference committee that will work to develop a consensus framework for legalized sports betting in Massachusetts.

More than 30 states have authorized sports betting since a 2018 US Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for states to regulate the process, including Connecticut, Maine, New York, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Massachusetts has taken steps to join that list, with the House of Representatives approving sports wagering legislation on July 23, 2021 and the Senate passing its own version on April 28, 2022.

“Massachusetts continues to lose valuable revenues to our neighboring states that have already moved forward with implementing some form of state-sanctioned sports wagering,” said Representative Jones. “Although the House and Senate have taken significantly different approaches to this issue, I am confident that David will find a way to work with his fellow conferees to reach a compromise that will best position the Commonwealth for a successful rollout.”

Under the House proposal, sports wagering would be allowed for both professional and college sporting events, but the Senate version would preclude college betting. The Senate has also proposed a significantly higher tax rate than the House to be assessed on sports betting receipts and would ban sports betting ads during live sports broadcasts.

Joining Representative Muradian on the conference committee are Representative Jerald Parisella (D-Beverly) and Senator Eric Lesser (D-Longmeadow), who currently serve as the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. Also serving on the conference committee are the chairmen of the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees, Representative Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston) and Senator Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), along with Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth).

First elected to the House of Representatives in 2014, Representative Muradian represents the Ninth Worcester District communities of Grafton, Northbridge and Upton. He currently serves as the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies and the House Committee on Operations, Facilities and Security, and is a member of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change and the Joint Committee on Housing.

Representative Jones’ Statement on House Override of Governor Baker’s Work and Family Mobility Act Veto

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) released the following statement today regarding the House of Representatives’ override of Governor Charlie Baker’s veto of the Work and Family Mobility Act:

“Governor Baker and the members of the House Republican Caucus have raised legitimate concerns about the Work and Family Mobility Act, which will give individuals access to a state driver’s license without having to provide proof of lawful presence. The Registry of Motor Vehicles is not adequately equipped to determine the validity of the alternative documentation allowed under this legislation to verify the true identity of individuals applying for a license, which is problematic given that a driver’s license can open the door to many things. The bill lacks basic safeguards and provides no real guarantees that it will actually enhance public safety as its proponents have claimed. Furthermore, it is grossly unfair for the state to be issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented individuals that are identical and indistinguishable from the licenses provided to those who have followed the law to secure lawful presence or citizenship. This is bad public policy, and I am disappointed that the House chose to ignore these concerns and override the Governor’s veto.”

Representative Smola Appointed to FY23 Budget Conference Committee

Representative Todd M. Smola (R-Warren, Ranking Member, Committee on Ways & Means) has been selected as one of three House legislators appointed to the conference committee that will negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions of the state budget. Both the House and Senate recently passed budgets totaling roughly $49.8 billion for fiscal year 2023. The conference committee will reconcile differences between the two proposals. Rep. Smola will be joined on the committee by Reps. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston) and Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) from the House of Representatives. On the Senate side, Sens. Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington) and Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) have been appointed to the committee.

"I am honored to have been selected to the budget conference committee once again,” said Representative Smola. "The budget is the number one priority for the legislature and every aspect of it is closely examined and deliberated. I look forward to working with my fellow conference committee members to produce a responsible budget for the commonwealth."

“As the Ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, Todd has long been committed to prioritizing the needs of our cities and towns while also advocating for fiscally responsible state spending on behalf of the Commonwealth’s taxpayers,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading). “His many years of experience in helping to craft the annual state budget will be an asset to the conference committee as it works to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate spending plans and develop a consensus budget for Fiscal Year 2023.” 

Fiscal year 2023 begins on July 1st, which gives the conference committee less than a month to negotiate a compromise between the two versions of the budget. A final document will go to the House and Senate for a vote before moving to Governor Baker’s office for final approval. For additional information please contact Representative Smola at Todd.Smola@mahouse.gov or (617) 722-2100.

Remembering D-Day, 78 years later

Today marks the 78th anniversary of D-Day, the start of the Allied invasion of Western Europe, when more than 156,000 American, British and Canadian troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in France. The invasion was launched in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, and marked a major turning point for America and its allies during World War II, but came at the cost of thousands of American lives.

Today’s anniversary, coming just one week after Memorial Day, serves as another reminder of the commitment and sacrifices made by America’s military personnel. The Massachusetts House Republican Caucus salutes our D-Day veterans, and the many men and women who continue to keep our country strong by serving in the United States Armed Forces.