I ON THE STATEHOUSE
HOW YOUR LAWMAKERS VOTED JUNE 26 ~ JUNE 30

REP. ERIC TURKINGTON

SEND UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROPOSAL TO COMMITTEE The House and Senate sitting as a Constitutional Convention voted 11876 to send to a special committee a proposed constitutional amendment ensuring that universal health care is available to all Massachusetts residents. The proposal requires the Legislature and governor to approve laws to ensure that no Massachusetts resident lacks comprehensive, affordable and equitably financed health insurance coverage. Supporters of sending the proposal to committee said that the Legislature should delay action on this very broad and vague measure until the recent historic health care law approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Mitt Romney is given a reasonable opportunity to work. Opponents of sending the proposal to committee said that universal health care should be a permanent part of the state's constitution in order to ensure that the new law is implemented properly and is not watered down in the future. They argued that sending the proposal to committee essentially kills it. The proposal needed the votes of only 50 legislators in order to go on the 2006 ballot. Its future is now uncertain. (A "Yes" vote is for the sending the proposal to committee. A "No" vote is against sending it to committee).

SEN. ROBERT O'LEARY

Rep. Eric Turkington: Yes

Sen. Robert O'Leary: Yes

POWER OF LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE VOTER-APPROVED LAWS The House and Senate sitting as a Constitutional Convention voted 1-193 to reject a proposed constitutional amendment to change the portion of the constitution that allows the Legislature to unilaterally repeal or make changes to any law approved by voters on the ballot. The proposal would permit the Legislature to change a voter-approved law only with the approval of a majority of the voters on a statewide ballot or a majority of the ten original signers of the petition that created the law. Supporters said that it is unfair that the Legislature can unilaterally change laws approved by the voters and argued that the proposal would limit this arbitrary power. Opponents said that the proposal is misguided and would too much power in the hands of ten citizens. They noted that circumstances change and that the Legislature, elected by the voters every two years, should have the flexibility to change these laws at will. (A "Yes" vote is for the proposal limiting the Legislature's power to unilaterally change a voter-approved law. A"No" vote is against the proposal and favors the Legislature's unilateral power to change voter-approved laws).

Rep. Eric Turkington: No

Sen. Robert O'Leary: No

INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE House 156-0, Senate 36-0, approved and sent to Gov. Romney a bill hiking the minimum wage from $6.75 per hour to $8 per hour over two years. Supporters said that this long overdue bill would help thousands of families that are living near the poverty level despite the fact that the breadwinner works in excess of 40 hours weekly. They argued that a minimum wage hike is the best anti-poverty programs available. The vote was unanimous but many business groups lobbied against it and said that it would also hurt consumers by forcing businesses to raise prices. They argued that this unnecessary hike is unfair to businesses that are already faced with skyrocketing health care and the nations' highest unemployment insurance premiums. (A "Yes" vote is for the minimum wage hike).

Rep. Eric Turkington: Yes

Sen. Robert O'Leary: Yes

UNSIGNED CIRCULARS House 132-24, Senate 30-6, overrode Gov. Romney's veto of a bill repealing the current state law that prohibits the distribution of unsigned circulars and posters supporting or opposing any candidates for public office. Supporters of repealing the law said that it violates the First Amendment and noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it unconstitutional. In his veto message, Romney said that the current law should stay in effect because it requires persons or organizations to take responsibility for statements in circulars and posters that are designed to help or defeat a candidate and discourages them from making deliberate misstatements. (A "Yes" vote is for allowing unsigned circulars and posters. A "No" vote is against allowing them).

Rep. Eric Turkington: Yes

Sen. Robert O'Leary: Yes

- By Bob Katzen Bob Katzen can be reached at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com

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