January 6, 2012

As we enter a new presidential election year it is hard not to get carried away in the partisan rhetoric that constantly saturates daily news coverage. It often seems as if we are in two polarized camps lobbing grenades back and forth as the media gleefully covers each destructive explosion. But I entered into public service—first as a volunteer, then on my town's School Committee, and now as a State Representative—because I wanted to get things done, working with anyone who shares the common goal of making our community a better place. I am happy to say that, despite all of the rhetoric, our last legislative session was remarkably productive and bipartisan. It is clear that there are many in the Legislature who are willing to work together to bridge the partisan divide.

The recent Beacon Hill Roll Call round up of important legislation passed in 2011 profiled ten important bills. Of those ten bills it is quite remarkable that five were passed unanimously by Democrats and Republicans in the House: Freeze Unemployment Insurance Tax Rates (S 8), $200 million for Local Road and Bridge Repairs (H 3324), Changes in Trial Court and Probation Department (H 3395, S 1907), Major Changes in Alimony Law (H 3617), and Approve Changes in Pension System (S 2018). These unanimous votes on a wide range of issues are a testament to our ability to come together and effect positive change.

Of the five remaining bills on the Roll Call list, three were voted for unanimously by our North Central Massachusetts delegation of four Democrats and three Republicans: Adopt $30.59 Billion Fiscal 2012 State Budget (H 3535), Two-Day Sales Tax Holiday in August (S 156), and Combat Human Trafficking (H 3808). The Casino bill (H 3087) was voted for by all but one member of our delegation.

In this season of new beginnings it is critical that we pledge to continue to look for opportunities to work together to move our Commonwealth forward. I have found great success in working one-on-one with my colleagues and friends across the aisle on our shared goals. Let us build on these successes in the New Year.

Please note that Rep. Naughton's voting absences were due to his active military duty. Thank you to Rep. Naughton for his service to our country!

Unanimous in House

• FREEZE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAX RATES (S 8): House (151-0) YES: Reps. Richard Bastien, Jennifer Benson, Stephen DiNatale, Kimberly Ferguson, Sheila Harrington, Harold Naughton, Dennis Rosa
• $200 MILLION FOR LOCAL ROAD AND BRIDGE REPAIRS (H 3324): House (148-0), YES: Reps. Bastien, Benson, DiNatale, Ferguson, Harrington, Naughton, Dennis Rosa
• CHANGES IN TRIAL COURT AND PROBATION DEPARTMENT (H 3395, S 1907): House (152-0), YES: Reps. Bastien, Benson, DiNatale, Ferguson, Harrington, Dennis Rosa. DIDN'T VOTE: Rep. Naughton.
• MAJOR CHANGES IN ALIMONY LAW (H 3617): House (151-0), YES: Reps. Bastien, Benson, DiNatale, Ferguson, Harrington, Dennis Rosa. DIDN'T VOTE: Rep. Naughton.
• APPROVE CHANGES IN PENSION SYSTEM (S 2018): House (152-0), YES: Reps. Bastien, Benson, DiNatale, Ferguson, Harrington, Rosa. DIDN'T VOTE: Rep. Naughton

Unanimous in Delegation

• ADOPT $30.59 BILLION FISCAL 2012 STATE BUDGET (H 3535): House (150-2), YES: Reps. Bastien, Benson, DiNatale, Ferguson, Harrington, Naughton, Dennis Rosa.
• TWO-DAY SALES TAX HOLIDAY IN AUGUST (S 156): House (131-23), YES: Reps. Richard Bastien, Jennifer Benson, Stephen DiNatale, Kimberly Ferguson, Sheila Harrington, Harold Naughton, Dennis Rosa.
• COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING (H 3808): House (153-2), YES: Reps. Bastien, Benson, DiNatale, Ferguson, Harrington, Rosa. DIDN'T VOTE: Rep. Naughton

Split

• CASINOS (H 3807): House (121-33) and (124-30), Rep. Bastien, Yes/Yes; Rep. Benson, Yes/Yes; Rep. DiNatale, Yes/Yes; Rep. Ferguson, No/No; Rep. Harrington, Yes/Yes; Rep. Naughton, Didn't vote/Didn't vote; Rep. Rosa, Yes/Yes.
• CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING (H 3798): House (124-19)YES: Reps. Benson, DiNatale, Rosa. NO: Reps. Bastien, Ferguson, Harrington, DIDN'T VOTE: Rep. Naughton