Update on the House Budget Process & Amendment Votes

(This post was updated at 3pm April 25th)

MALC is actively following the House Budget Debate and tracking the progress of several amendments.

You can track amendments via this link:
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/HouseDebate

Watch budget debate in person at the State House or via the web (note you can watch the debates from yesterday’s April 24th formal session as they are recorded):
https://malegislature.gov/Events/Sessions/Detail/2809

MALC is happy to report that yesterday the two amendments that would have hurt our state’s film tax program did not move forward:

Amendment #465 was rejected
Amendment #728 was withdrawn

Also yesterday the library amendments MALC is following were “bundled”* into “Consolidated Amendment #A to H.3600” . Two did not pass, one passed with its original filed language, and the others were changed. Please see below for the complete report on the library amendments.**

The remaining two amendments MALC is following have been grouped into the category: Labor and Economic Development. We have gotten word this afternoon that the House has been meeting on the Labor & Workforce Development amendments. No word when they will be voting on them as of now.

Representative Cory Atkins filed the following amendments for the tourism and the Massachusetts Cultural Council:

Amendment #6  for line item 0640-0300 for the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC)  to restore and increase the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s funding

For Tourism: Amendment #39 for line item 7008-1000 for the regional tourism councils (line item restoration, i.e., to restore their funding)

We are waiting to hear when the House will take up the amendments in the Labor and Economic Development category for debate/discussion.

*To understand what bundling is see this past blog post: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/malcs-guide-budget-debates-bundled-legislation/

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Breakdown of the Library Amendments:

a. Representative Kate Hogan filed two amendments.

i. Amendment # 1039  for line item 7000-9501, State Aid to Public Libraries. DID NOT pass as was written: 7000-9501, by striking out the figures “$9,500,000” and inserting in place thereof the figures “$10,127,412”**

(The funding remains at $9,500,00)

ii.  Amendment #1007 for line item 7000-9508, Massachusetts Center for the Book – Line Item Restoration. This line item was restored, but not funded to the level asked for:

And further move to amend said section 2, by inserting after item 7000-9506 the following item:-7000-9508 For the Massachusetts Center for the Book, Inc., chartered as the Commonwealth Affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress; provided, that the Massachusetts Center for the Book, Inc. shall continue its work as a public-private partnership…….$200,000;

(original ask was $250,000)

b. Representative Byron Rushing filed one amendment

i.  Amendment #528 for line item 7000-9401 for State Aid to Regional Public Libraries  

This was amended: “And further move to amend said section 2, in item 7000-9401, by striking out the figure “40.7” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 43.9;.”  (original ask was 44.7)

“And further move to amend said item by striking out the figure “$9,982,317” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $10,182,317;” (original ask was $10,948,670)

c. Representative Paul Brodeur filed one amendment:

i. Amendment #1177 for line item 7000-9506 For the technology and automated resource sharing network

This was amended to: “And further move to amend said section 2, in item 7000-9506, by striking out the figure “$2,097,330” and inserting in place thereof the following figure ‘$2,197,330’” (original ask was $3,259,000)

d. Representative Mary Keefe filed three amendments:

i. Amendment #1153  for line item 7000-9101 For the operation of the board of library commissioners.

DID NOT pass as was written: “amend line 7000-9101 Board of Library Commissioners by striking $1,088,205 and inserting $1,225,000.“**

(The funding remains at $1,088,205)

ii. Amendment # 1061  for line item 7000-9402  For the talking book library at the Worcester public library

This was amended and was increased: “And further move to amend said section 2, in item 7000-9402, by inserting after the word “library” the following words:- ; provided, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Worcester mobile library;  And further move to amend said item by striking out the figure “$446,131” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $496,131;“

(original language: to amend line 7000-9402 Talking Book Library (Worcester) by striking $446,131 and inserting $450,115)

iii. Amendment #1105  for line item 7000-9406 For the Braille and talking book library in the city known as the town of Watertown

This amended passed as it was originally written/no changes: “And further move to amend said section 2, in item 7000-9406, by striking out the figure “$2,512,772” and inserting in place thereof the following figure ‘$2,562,528‘”

** These two amendments for these two line items were originally reported as passing in this blog post. They did not pass and this post now reflects that/has been corrected.

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