The Massachusetts House of Representatives doesn’t want to make it too easy for you to keep tabs on their spending.  They voted to reject a rule that would have required the annual audit of the legislature be posted online.  This is another one I encourage you to contact your Rep about.  Can you think of any good reason to reject this rule?  Seriously – what are they trying to hide?  Don’t let them tell you that you can submit a request and get a paper copy.  It is cheaper, easier, and more transparent to post it online.

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The Massachusetts House of Representatives took a page out of Nancy Pelosi’s book when an amendment to H2015,  proposed by Geoff Diehl (R-Whitman),  was rejected by a landslide (38 Yeas, 115 Nays).  The rule would have required at least 24 hours notice between the release of a bill from executive session and its consideration on the House floor.  Justify this one if you can.

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The Massachusetts House of Representatives does not want any difficulties in passing tax hikes and they don’t want you to see their votes in time to hold them accountable. That is what they said when they rejected a recent rule (34 Yeas, 121 Nays). The rule would have required a two-thirds roll call majority to approve any increases in taxes and would not have allowed any votes within 30 days of filing papers to seek a nomination for a seat on the Legislature. Do you remember folks, just a couple years ago, our esteemed Legislature passed a $1 Billion tax increase (that is billion…with a b) two days after the filing deadline? Do you think that maybe someone would have tried to run against the incumbent if they knew that incumbent would have a giant tax hike on their record to defend?  Further, the roll call and majority provisions would ensure they had to vote and get broad support for tax hikes.  Allowing us to see how our Reps vote and forcing overwhelming support (which in my opinion should be a basic requirement when it comes to taking more money from us) is just healthy transparency and good representative government.  My rep (David Decoste) voted in favor of it?  How about yours? https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H2015

The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted along party lines to reject a rule that would require equal representation from both parties on the Ethics Committee (35 Yeas, 120 Nays). The rule would have required four members from each party, ensuring that everything is on the up and up. But the Democrats wanted nothing to do with that. They much prefer the current makeup of the committee (Seven Democrats, four Republicans). We hear all these sound bites about bi-partisanship…but it is just noise folks. Equal representation on this Committee (ethics for crying out loud) is the best way to ensure transparency and bi-partisanship…but not here in Massachusetts.

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The Massachusetts Senate rejected an amendment to a bill that would have provided the details, and the cost to the State of Massachusetts, of the transport of illegal immigrants to Hanscom Airforce Base and Logan Airport by Federal ICE last year.  Does this make sense to any of you?  We should know how much that cost us.  We should know the details of any expenditures of our tax dollars.  This is just outrageous.  You really need to see how your State Senator voted on this one.  Mine (Bob Hedlund) voted in favor of it.  If yours did not, how can you possibly ever vote for them again?  What could their rationale possibly be on this one?  Click here to see how your Senator voted. SenateRollCall369

The Massachusetts Senate decided that you don’t need a social security number to get placed in public housing.  Here illegally?  Never paid a dime in taxes to the State?  No problem…here’s free housing.  The senate rejected the bill – 11 yeas, 27 nays.  Those who voted in favor felt, like me, that those who are here illegally shouldn’t get public assistance ahead of legal residents. Apparently the Democrats don’t mind using scarce public housing and tax payer dollars to support those who are here illegally. See how your Senator voted here – SenateRollCall78

Last year the Massachusetts Senate rejected a bill (S3, 13 yeas, 25 nays) that would have required proof of legal residence to register a car in Mass.    How does this make any sense?  There is no good argument for this.  They also said that allowing an illegal alien to own a vehicle in Massachusetts does not jeopardize the public safety.   Really?  How quickly they forgot Matthew Denice.  Remember in 2011 when Nicolas Guaman, an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador, was driving drunk with his son in the car when, he hit and killed 23-year-old Matthew Denice, a recent college graduate who was riding his motorcycle home?  At least my Senator, Bob Hedlund from Weymouth, voted in favor of this.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted NO on a bill (H2017) that would have created a rule allowing Committee members at least six hours to read a bill before voting.  They voted along party lines. 34 republicans voted in favor of the bill.  120 Democrats voted against it.  You have to wonder – why wouldn’t they want six hours to read, understand, consider what is best for the taxpayers, and then vote? Bills are lengthy, complicated documents.   My opinion – the Democrats in Massachusetts want to just cram stuff down our throats.