Dear Neighbor,
A lot has happened this fall, even while we haven't usually had formal sessions except for one to pass the climate and economic development bills. (You can read my notes on some highlights here, along with "what's next.")
I don't usually include stories or pictures from events in newsletters. But I have a lot of photos and thought I'd share some to give you glimpses of where I've been this fall.
https://mailchi.mp/electpatjehlen/gallery-7227454?e=2a1a9beef5
Dear Neighbor,
I am Senate chair of the Labor and Workforce Development Committee and the Committee on Elder Affairs. Each of those committees produced a major bill this session which passed the legislature and was signed, or is about to be signed, into law.
In an earlier newsletter, I wrote about the Labor Committee's wage transparency law.
The second bill, about long-term care facilities for older people and people with disabilities, hadn’t passed by the time formal sessions ended on July 31. In the informal sessions that continue after that, any one legislator could object and stop the bill. Despite that, I am happy and relieved to be able to report that the long-term care bill passed the legislature last Thursday.
Dear Neighbor,
WHAT DOES LABOR WANT?
Samuel Gompers was the first president of the AFL-CIO, serving for almost 40 years.
He once gave a very long speech about "What Does Labor Want?" but he also gave a short summary:
"What does labor want? We want more school houses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more constant work and less crime; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures."
A broad view of the labor movement's goals! It reminds me of Bread and Roses!
Dear Neighbor,
THE LAST NIGHT OF FORMAL SESSIONS
You have certainly seen numerous accounts of the last night of formal sessions for this year, which ended at 10 am the next morning, after suspending the rules to go past midnight. Many important bills were left on the table.
had been appointed on nine major bills but had not yet reported, while one was awaiting appointment of members. Conference committees of 3 members from each house are supposed to work out differences between the versions passed by the House and Senate.
After July 31 in even years, bills can only pass with unanimous consent. Theoretically, only bills that authorize bonding require roll calls, and therefore can't be passed in informal sessions.
Like many of you, I was extremely frustrated by the logjam at the end of formal sessions.
Dear Neighbors,
Probably the most urgent issue in our state is the cost of housing. It's a big part of the reason shelters are full and the state is limiting access. I'll write about lots of end-of-session news soon.
NEW OVERFLOW SHELTER POLICY
Thursday I joined people protesting the eviction of people from the overflow shelters starting today. The Globe, Herald, and WGBH were among media outlets covering the vigil. Speakers included Kelly Turley, of Somerville, Associate Director of Mass. Coalition for the Homeless; and Dr. Lara Jimanus of Medford, who brought a letter from health professionals and others about the dangers to children.
Dear Neighbor,
A quick note - to be followed by thoughts on the last day of session.
CEREMONIAL SIGNING OF PAY TRANSPARENCY
Yesterday a huge crowd of enthusiastic supporters gathered for a ceremonial signing of our pay transparency bill. The new law will be an important step in reducing the pay gaps for women and people of color, as I reported last month. Senators Feeney and O'Connor, in the photo, were on the conference committee with me. While it was frustrating that it took so long to reach agreement, the bill got better and helped more people even in the last days of negotiation. I'm grateful that ours was the last conference committee to reach agreement before the difficult last day of session, when only three of the twelve conference committees reached agreement.
Dear Neighbor,
There is so much happening in the legislature (not to mention the world) the last two weeks of July! Conference committees are resolving differences between many bills that have passed both houses.
WAGE TRANSPARENCY
The Senate passed our Wage Transparency bill last October. But it was a little different than the House version.
Dear Neighbor,
The next two and a half weeks in the legislature are going to be packed!
Monday I wrote about important pieces of the Senate's version of the Housing Bond Bill. This is about why the bond bill is not enough. Following will be newsletters about the immediate emergency, and possible solutions to keep people in their homes..
WE NEED MUCH MORE SOONER!
Dear Neighbor,
There's no place like home! How can we make sure everyone in Massachusetts has a stable home they can afford, whether it's owning or renting? Housing affordability is the biggest crisis right now in our state.
This is the first of three newsletters about the Housing Bond Bill the Senate passed on June 27. Others will be about the housing emergency and other immediate solutions.
Dear Neighbor,
Thursday the Senate passed (38-2) an important comprehensive bill to reduce the use of single-use plastics. Hundreds of you, my constituents, have asked us to reduce the use of plastics.
(We were also planning to pass a climate/energy bill, but Republicans tabled it. We went back Friday, and they tabled it again, so we'll pass it Tuesday, and then move on to the Housing Bond bill Thursday. Busy days at end of session!)
Dear Neighbor,
Last week, the Senate approved a $57.999 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025, after adopting over 400 amendments. A fire alarm Thursday night delayed the final vote till shortly after midnight on Friday.
There were 43 roll call votes, most of which were unanimous.
Here's more about the budget process, including the Ways and Means proposal and the fate of 1000 amendments,.
MassBudget, as always, has a good summary of the Ways and Means proposed budget. The Mass. Municipal Association summarized local aid accounts.
THANKS TO THE FAIR SHARE AMENDMENT!