Happenings on Beacon Hill

For John, BLUF:  It is the same old story.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Physician, heal thyself.

In yesterday's edition of The [Lowell] Sun we have a rundown on what has been happening on Beacon Hill.  Incidentally, the Reporter, Mr Bob Katzen, noted that last week the House met for a total of 11 minutes and the Senate for a total of seven minutes.  I expect they were doing a lot of Committee and Constituent Services work.  Well, there was the snow storm.

Last week we heard about how Speaker Robert DeLeo, who six years ago thought it was a good idea to limit the Speaker to eight years.  He got the Mass House to agree with him.  They all thought it was a great idea to have term limits.  Well, they did vote for it.

Now, however, Speaker DeLeo and his merry band think it was, after all, a very stupid idea.  They have voted to lift the restriction.  I wonder if they got advice from UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan.  At any rate, those folks down on Beacon Hill are a lot smarter than those folks we had in office six years ago.  Those solons were not very smart.

This week, looking back on last week, Mr Katzen tells us about a proposal to give the State Reps a full 24 hours to review legislative proposals, emergency legislation exempted.

24 HOURS TO READ LEGISLATION (H 2015): House 115-38, rejected a rule that would require 24-hour notice, not including weekends and holidays, between the release of a bill from an executive session and its consideration on the House floor. The 24-hour rule could be suspended for an emergency if waived by a two-thirds vote.

YES:  Reps. Sheila Harrington, R-Groton; Marc Lombardo, R-Billerica; James Lyons, R-Andover.

NO:  Reps. James Arciero, D-Westford; Cory Atkins, D-Concord; Jennifer Benson, D-Lunenburg; Colleen Garry, D-Dracut; Thomas Golden, D-Lowell; Kenneth Gordon, D-Bedford; James Miceli, D-Wilmington; Rady Mom, D-Lowell.

DIDN'T VOTE:  Rep. David Nangle, D-Lowell.

Seemed like a good idea to me.

Regards  —  Cliff