Beacon Hill Update

Rep. Sciortino Earns 100% Voting Record from Local Non-Profit

State Representative Carl Sciortino (D-Medford, Somerville) has earned a 100% voting record from Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts, a non-profit agency that organizes in working class neighborhoods on issues such as education, good jobs, health care, and housing. Neighbor to Neighbor compiled their rating based on 11 votes taken by the House of Representatives in the 2007-2008 legislative session.

“Since I was first elected, I have prioritized the concerns of working families throughout my district. The current economy is hurting many people, and I will continue to fight for the needs of our community,” said Rep. Sciortino.

The issues taken into consideration by Neighbor to Neighbor included bills increasing the minimum wage, closing corporate tax loopholes, and increasing access to state health care. Neighbor to Neighbor endorsed Sciortino in his re-election bid last year.

“Carl Sciortino is one of the most steadfast, effective, and unwavering voices for economic justice in Massachusetts. His work was crucial in raising the minimum wage and closing unfair corporate tax loopholes,” said Erin O’Leary, campaigns organizer for Neighbor to Neighbor and Medford resident.

Rep. Sciortino has taken up issues important to the working families agenda in the current legislative session, including foreclosure prevention, paid sick days, and corporate accountability.

Rep. Sciortino Creates Transit Rider’s Advocate

To ensure that riders of public transportation have a voice within the state’s new transportation authority, Rep. Carl Sciortino, vice-chairman of the legislature’s transportation committee, successfully passed an amendment to the transportation reform bill that creates a ridership advocate. The advocate will be granted access to meetings and documents to ensure that the needs of public transit riders are being met.

“The riders of the T are the ones who know best what is working and what needs improvement. It’s important that this new transportation authority have someone looking out for those who actually ride the trains and buses,” said Rep. Sciortino.

The House and the Senate have passed different versions of the reform bill. The two bills will go to a conference committee to iron out any differences.

Sen. Jehlen Re-Appointed Elder Affairs Committee Chair

State Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville, Medford) will continue to serve as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee of Elder Affairs, along with Representative Alice Wolf (Cambridge) as House Chair. The Committee will hear bills regarding nursing facilities and care, assisted living, prescription drug coverage and more. Committee members pictured are, from left to right, Senator Jennifer Flanagan (Worcester and Middlesex), Representative Jonathan Hecht (Watertown), Senator Jehlen, Representative Wolf, Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz (Second Suffolk), Representative Sean Curran (Springfield), and Representative Jennifer Callahan (Sutton).

Rep. Garballey Named Legislator of the Month by Mass. Medical Society

The Massachusetts Medical Society in March named State Representative Sean Garballey (D-Arlington, Medford) Legislator of the Month for his exemplary service and advocacy on issues ranging from health care to tobacco control. The mission of the Massachusetts Medical Society is to do all things as may be necessary and appropriate to advance medical knowledge, to develop and maintain the highest professional and ethical standards of medical practice and health care, and to promote medical institutions formed on liberal principles for the health, benefit and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth.

“Massachusetts continues to receive terrific scores from the American Lung Association for our smoke-free air quality and or cigarette tax. But Massachusetts needs to vastly improve in the areas of funding for tobacco prevention and control and cessation services. I look forward to working with the Massachusetts Medical Society to address these challenges,” said Rep. Garballey.

Rep. Garballey also recently participated in Kick Butts Day and met with hundreds of local youths who came to the State House to advocate for strong tobacco prevention policies. Rep. Garballey is pictured with some of the youths. Courtesy photo.

Rep. Donato Named Legislator of Year by Pipefitters, MWRA Board

Pipefitters Local #537 Committee on Political Education unanimously voted to award State Representative Donato (D-Medford, Malden) with their Legislator of the Year award. Each year Pipefitters Local #537 presents an award to the Legislator who supports social justice for working men and women in Massachusetts. The union said Representative Donato is always first to stand with working men and women to ensure their standard of living and working conditions are never compromised. The award was presented on March 19th.

The MWRA Advisory Board also presented Rep. Donato with its “Legislator of the Year” award at the February Advisory Board Meeting. The Board sincerely thanked Donato for his leadership in securing Debt Service Assistance over the years and his advocacy in promoting pro-rate payer legislation.

Rep. Donato was also recently selected to chair the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

“I’m excited about it. This fits right in with whats going on with the state budget and the work I’ve been doing the last couple of months on the Municipal Relief Commission,” said Rep. Donato.

House of Reps Unanimously Passes Legislation Sponsored by Rep. Donato to Keep Division of Insurance Board of Appeals

The House of Representatives approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Donato, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, that will maintain an independent appeals board for consumers to appeal fault for auto accidents. The legislation, approved 157 – 0, comes on the heels of the Division of Insurance reversing their previous decision to do away with the appeals board.

“This legislation will provide all consumers involved in automobile insurance disputes the right to an independent appeals process. The legislature intends to codify this decision by passing legislation intended to ensure that consumers will always have recourse when it comes to auto awareness fairness,” said Rep. Donato.

“This is a huge victory for Massachusetts drivers. It is clear that public outrage was heard on this issue, and I am thrilled to announce that the Insurance Board of Appeals is now permanent,” said Sen. Jehlen.

“This is a consumer rights bill. I am proud to have been part of the restoration of the Board of Insurance Appeals,” said Rep. Garballey.

“This board is an important safeguard for auto insurance consumers. I’m glad that it will continue to be there for those who need to challenge insurers’ rulings,” said Rep. Sciortino.

The bill would create via statute a motor vehicle surcharge Board of Appeals. This would ensure that the current Board of Appeals remained an option for any driver to appeal what they believe was wrongful determination of a surchargeable incident due to an at-fault accident.

Each year, the Division of Insurance Board of Appeals hears between 40,000 and 50,000 appeals from motorists. Of those, between 43-50% of all appeals are overturned. This accounts for a savings of a minimum of $400 a year for an individual policy holder and thousands of dollars for family policy owners, totaling a savings of $25-$40 million for consumers annually.

– InsideMedford.com