2015-16 - Senate Scorecard (189th Session)


1	PM Score #	Keywords	Description	Roll Call #	Bill #	Amdt	Vote Date	Bill or Amendment Title	Keywords	PM Score #	Prog Pos	# of Y	# of N	PLATFORM PLANK

2	1s	Inequality, Poverty, EITC	189.1s - Inequality, Poverty, EITC: Vote would increase the Earned Income Tax Credit and the personal tax exemption. The EITC is an effective means of providing assistance to low-income households. (Roll Call #21, Bill S3, Amdt 6, 5/19/2015, Progressive Position: Yes) .	21	S. 3	6	5/19/2015	Expand Earned Income Tax Credit and Increase Personal Exemptions	Inequality, Poverty, EITC	1s	Yes +	29	11	shared prosperity
3	2s	Labor, Earned Sick Time	189.2s - Labor, Earned Sick Time: Vote was to delay the implementation of Earned Sick Time for workers, a law which was passed by the voters on the 2014 ballot. (Roll Call #23, Bill S3, Amdt 15, 5/19/2015, Progressive Position: No) .	23	S. 3	15	5/19/2015	Earned Sick Time Implementation Delay	Labor, Earned Sick Time	2s	No +	10	28	shared prosperity
4	3s	Revenue, Estate Tax	189.3s - Revenue, Estate Tax: Vote would abolish the estate tax, one of the most progressive forms of taxation, and a source of revenue for the Commonwealth. (Roll Call #24, Bill S3, Amdt 12, 5/19/2015, Progressive Position: No) .	24	S. 3	12	5/19/2015	Abolishing the Death Tax	Revenue, Estate Tax	3s	No +	7	31	shared prosperity
5	4s	Good Gov't., Corporate Interests, Olympics	189.4s - Good Government, Corporate Interests, Olympics: Vote would have explicitly prohibited state funding for the proposed Boston 2024 Olympic Games. Public monies should not be used to fund private events that primarily benefit corporations. (Roll Call #44, Bill S3, Amdt 63, 5/21/2015, Progressive Position: Yes) .	44	S. 3	63	5/21/2015	Providing for a Private Sector-Funded Olympics	Good Gov't., Corporate Interests, Olympics	4s	Yes +	17	22	good govt/strong democracy, shared prosperity
6	5s	Revenue, Corporate Tax Loopholes, Healthcare	189.5s - Revenue, Corporate Tax Loopholes, Healthcare: Vote was on applying the same tax to flavored cigars as is currently imposed on cigarettes, closing a corporate loophole. (Roll Call #45, Bill S3, Amdt 836, 5/21/2015, Progressive Position: Yes) .	45	S. 3	836	5/21/2015	Reducing youth consumption of flavored cigars	Revenue, Corporate Tax Loopholes, Healthcare	5s	Yes +	26	13	shared prosperity
7	6s	Transportation, Privatization, Pacheco Law	189.6s - Transportation, Privatization, "Pacheco Law": Vote on the Conference Committee report of the FY16 state budget, which included a suspension of the Taxpayers Protection Act (aka "Pacheco law"), which requires an audit of the privatizaton of government services, for the MBTA. This vote was an opportunity for Senators to express their opposition to the privatization of the MBTA. (Roll Call #49, Bill H3650, Conf. Committee Report, 7/8/2015, Progressive Position: No) .	49	H. 3650		7/8/2015	Conference Committee Report to FY16 State Budget	Transportation, Privatization, Pacheco Law	6s	No +	31	5	infrastructure/environment, shared prosperity
8	7s	Revenue, Sales Tax Holiday	189.7s - Revenue, Sales Tax Holiday: Vote would establish a two-day sales tax holiday during Aug. 2015, reducing state revenue by approximately $50 million, with dubious economic benefits. (Roll Call #90, Bill H3659, 7/29/2015; Progressive Position: No) .	90	H. 3659		7/29/2015	An Act establishing a sales tax holiday in 2015	Revenue, Sales Tax Holiday	7s	No +	27	11	shared prosperity
9	8s	Housing, Foreclosure, Banks, Poverty	189.8s - Housing, Foreclosure, Banks, Poverty: Vote was to allow foreclosed homeowners to live in foreclosed homes, paying fair market rent to the bank, to ensure the family has a place to live and the property is not vacant, protecting area property values. (Roll Call #160, Bill S1981, Amdt 3, 9/17/2015, Progressive Position: Yes) .	160	S. 1981	3	9/17/15	An Act clearing titles to foreclosed properties	Housing, Foreclosure, Banks, Poverty	8s	Yes +	15	23	shared prosperity
10	9s	Housing, Foreclosure, Banks	189.9s - Housing, Foreclosure, Banks: Vote was to allow banks to clear titles of illegally foreclosed homes, and limit wrongly foreclosed homeowners' ability to sue banks that illegally foreclosed their homes. Bill benefits big banks and title insurance companies, at the expense of often financially struggling former homeowners. (Roll Call #161, Bill S882, 9/17/2015, Progressive Position: No) .	161	S. 882		9/17/15	An Act clearing titles to foreclosed properties	Housing, Foreclosure, Banks	9s	No +	31	7	shared prosperity
11	10s	Criminal Justice, Jobs, War on Drugs	189.10s - Criminal Justice, Jobs, War on Drugs: This vote repeals the law that automatically suspends drivers' licenses from persons convicted of drug crimes. It also removes the $500 fine for license reinstatement. Loss of driving privileges creates barriers to employment and successful re-entry into the community. Fines and fees disproportionately impact low-income persons and communities of color. (Roll Call #164, Bill S2021, 9/24/2015, Progressive Position: Yes) .	164	S. 2021		9/24/2015	An Act relative to motor vehicle license suspension	Criminal Justice, Jobs, War on Drugs	10s	Yes +	38	0	all means all, shared prosperity
12	11s	Labor, Wage Theft	189.11s - Labor, Wage Theft: This bill allows the Attorney General to represent workers affected by wage theft, who would otherwise be unlikely to afford legal counsel. (Roll Call #190, Bill S967, 10/27/2015, Progressive Position: Yes) .	190	S. 967		10/27/2015	An Act relative to enhanced enforcement of civil penalties	Labor, Wage Theft	11s	Yes +	27	11	shared prosperity
13	12s	Education, Reproductive Rights	189.12s - Education, Reproductive Rights: Vote requires school districts, students, and educators to each opt-in to sex education, acting as a religious exemption for the educator. Students under the original Senate bill already have the right to opt out. Amendment, if passed, would have reduced the number of students receiving comprehensive health education. (Roll Call #211, Bill S2048, Amdt 4, 11/18/2015, Progressive Position: No) .	211	S. 2048	4	11/18/2015	Opt in	Education, Reproductive Rights	12s	No +	9	29	all means all
14	13s	Education, Reproductive Rights	189.13s - Education, Reproductive Rights: Vote requires any sexual health education by school districts, public schools and charter schools to be (1) medically accurate and (2) age-appropriate, as well as mandates notification to parents/guardians, with the option to withdraw the child. (Roll Call #212, Bill S2048, 11/18/2015, Progressive Position: Yes)	212	S. 2048		11/18/2015	An Act relative to healthy youth	Education, Reproductive Rights	13s	Yes +	32	6	all means all
15	14s	Climate Change	189.14s - Climate Change Vote was on requiring "cost-effectiveness" to be considered in the development of a plan to meet Global Warming Solutions Act emissions targets for 2030 and 2040. At best, the amendment would duplicate existing language in the bill. At worst, it would weaken climate mitigation plans. (Roll Call #232, Bill S.2092, Amdt. 3, 1/28/16. Progressive Position: NO ) .	232	S.2092	3	1/28/2016	Cost Effectiveness	Climate Change	14s	No +	10	26	infrastructure/environment
16	15s	Education	189.15s - Education Vote was on rapidly expanding charter schools in the state by authorizing up to 12 additional Commmonwealth charter schools per year. Charter schools already siphon $450 million from public schools each year. The proposal offered no funding source for the authorized schools nor any new accountability measures for charter schools. (Roll Call #269, Bill S.2203, Amdt. 23, 4/7/16. Progressive Position: NO ) .	269	S.2203	23	4/7/2016	Expanding Educational Opportunity	Education	15s	No +	5	30	shared prosperity
17	16s	Education	189.16s - Education Vote was on giving local school committees the power to vote on whether a charter school in their district should receive local education funding. Currently, the state can authorize charter schools against the wishes of a school district and the local community, siphoning away money from the district. Under the amendment, if there is no local approval, the state would provide the funding. (Roll Call #272, Bill S.2203, Amdt. 1, 4/7/16. Progressive Position: YES ) .	272	S.2203	1	4/7/2016	Local Control	Education	16s	Yes +	24	10	shared prosperity
18	17s	LGBTQ Rights	189.17s - LGBTQ Rights Vote was an attempt to sow confusion around the transgender accommodations law and its enforcement by redundantly criminalizing acts of trespassing, attempting to prey upon toxic stereotypes about transgender persons, with no relation to reality. (Roll Call #296, Bill S.735, Amdt. 7, 5/12/16. Progressive Position:NO ) .	296	S.735	7	5/12/2016	Improper Use Penalties II	LGBTQ Rights	17s	No +	11	26	all means all
19	18s	LGBTQ Rights	189.18s - LGBTQ Rights Vote was on allowing for discrimination against transgender individuals in multiple-capacity showers and locker rooms, continuing toxic stereotypes that have no basis in reality. (Roll Call #297, Bill S.735, Amdt. 10.1, 5/12/16. Progressive Position: NO)	297	S.735	10.1	5/12/2016	Exemption for multiple capacity locker rooms and showers	LGBTQ Rights	18s	No +	6	31	all means all
20	19s	LGBTQ Rights	189.19s - LGBTQ Rights Vote was on guaranteeing equal access to public places for all regardless of gender identity. (Roll Call #298, S.735, date. 5-12-16, Progressive Position: YES) .	298	S.735		5/12/2016	An Act relative to transgender anti-discrimination	LGBTQ Rights	19s	Yes +	33	4	all means all
21	20s	Taxation, Revenue, Education, Transportation	189.20s - Taxation, Revenue, Education, Transportation Vote on the the Fair Share Amendment, which would create a surtax on income above $1 million, with the revenue earmarked for education and transportation spending. A progressive income tax would make sure that millionaires (and billionaires) are contributing their fair share to much-needed investments. (Roll Call #303, Bill H3933, 5/18/16. Progressive Position: YES) .	303	H.3933		5/18/2016	Fair Share amendment	Taxation, Revenue, Education, Transportation	20s	Yes +	33	7	shared prosperity, infrastructure/environment
22	21s	Health Care, Gender Equity	189.21s - Health Care, Gender Equity Vote was on prohibiting insurance companies from charging different rates for disability insurance on the basis of gender. (Roll Call #326, Bill S.4, Amdt. 668, 5-25-16. Progressive Position:YES) .	326	S.4	668	5/25/2016	Gender equity in the purchasing of insurance policies	Health Care, Gender Equity	21s	Yes +	32	6	all means all
23	22s	Environment	189.22s - Environment Vote was on banning the use of single-use carryout plastic bags. (Roll Call #328, Bill S.4, Amdt. 903, 5/25/16. Progressive Position:YES) .	328	S.4	903	5/25/2016	Plastic Bag Reduction	Environment	22s	Yes +	29	9	infrastructure/environment
24	23s	Criminal Justice	189.23s - Criminal Justice Vote was on preventing the failure to pay probation-related fees from counting as a violation of probation, and on making such fees optional, by discretion of the court. (Roll Call #331, Bill S.4, Amdt. 1005 , 5/26/16. Progressive Position: YES) .	331	S.4	1005	5/26/2016	Discretionary Imposition of Probation Fees and Victim Services Surcharges on Probationers	Criminal Justice	23s	Yes +	31	7	all means all
25	24s	Transportation	189.24s - Transportation Vote was on capping MBTA fare hikes to 5 percent over a 24-month period. (Roll Call #333, Bill S.4, Amdt. 1146, 5/26/16. Progressive Position:YES ) .	333	S.4	1146	5/26/2016	Clarifying the Limit on MBTA Fare Increases	Transportation	24s	Yes +	34	5	infrastructure/environment, shared prosperity
26	25s	Immigration	189.25s - Immigration Vote was on creating a two-tiered state ID system, one that is compliant with strict fedreal REAL ID requirements and one that is not. Transgender individuals, the elderly, the young, the disabled, the transient, the homeless, immigrants, and low-income people of color have historically faced hurdles in providing adequate documentation for IDs and licenses, a problem exacerbated by the REAL ID requirements. (Roll Call #334, Bill S.4, Amdt. 1129.1, 5/26/16. Progressive Position: YES) .	334	S.4	1129.1	5/26/2016	REAL ID	Immigration	25s	Yes +	25	13	all means all
27	26s	Housing	189.26s - Housing Vote was on allowing accessory dwelling units (accessory apartments built by single family home owners) to be counted as affordable under Chapter 40B, thereby reducing the amount of affordable housing towns are required to have. (Roll Call #363, Bill S.2311, Amdt. 28, 6/9/16, Progressive Position: NO) .	363	S.2311	28	6/9/2016	Relative to accessory dwelling units	Housing	26s	No +	10	28	shared prosperity
28	27s	Housing, Environment	189.27s - Housing, Environment Vote was on upgrading Massachusetts’s zoning laws to encourage more affordable housing and transit-oriented, walkable development and on allowing municipalities to adopt inclusionary zoning practices. (Roll Call #364. Bill S.2311, 6/9/16, Progressive Position: YES) .	364	S.2311		6/9/2016	An Act promoting housing and sustainable development	Housing, Environment	27s	Yes +	23	15	infrastructure/environment, shared prosperity
29	28s	Transportation	189.28s - Transportation Vote was on striking the provision of the underlying bill that would require transportation network companies (Uber, Lyft, etc.) to pay a tax of 20-cents per ride into a new Municipal Transportation Infrastructure Trust Fund, which would provide financial assistance to small businesses operating in the taxicab, livery, or hackney industries and to cities and towns to address the impact of TNCs on municipal roads and bridges. (Roll Call #374. Bill S.2371, Amdt. 49, 6/29/16. Progressive Position: NO) .	374	S.2371	49	6/29/2016	Elimination of the Municipal Transportation Infrastructure Trust Fund	Transportation	28s	No +	9	30	infrastructure/environment
30	29s	Criminal Justice	189.29s - Criminal Justice Vote was on diverting youth with low-level offenses from going deeper into the criminal justice system. (Roll Call #400, Bill S.2424, 7/12/16. Progressive Position: YES) .	400	S.2424		7/12/2016	An Act promoting transparency, best practices, and better outcomes for children and communities	Criminal Justice	29s	Yes +	31	9	all means all
31	30s	Transportation	189.30s - Transportation Vote was on enabling municipalities to place a question on the ballot to raise revenue for local and regional transportation projects. (Roll Call #401, Bill S.2410, Amdt. 1, 7/13/16. Progressive Position: YES) .	401	S.2410	1	7/13/2016	Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives	Transportation	30s	Yes +	33	7	infrastructure/environment
32	31s	Consumer Protection	189.31s - Consumer Protection Vote was on providing greater protections and relief for consumers who are pursued by abusive debt collectors. (Roll Call #406, Bill S.2409, 7/13/16. Progressive Position: YES) .	406	S.2409		7/13/2016	An act relative to family financial protection	Consumer Protection	31s	Yes +	29	9	shared prosperity
33	32s	Labor, Wage Theft	189.32s - Labor, Wage Theft Vote was on limiting the liability threshold for holding companies accountable in cases of wage theft violations by contractors. (Roll Call #407, Bill S.2416, Amdt. 2, 7/13/16. Progressive Position: NO)	407	S.2416	2	7/13/2016	Direct Company Liability Standard	Labor, Wage Theft	32s	No +	14	25	shared prosperity
34	33s	Campaign Finance	189.33s - Campaign Finance Vote was on requiring direct mailings and billboards to list the top five donors with contributions over $5,000 when a group buys a political ad. (Roll Call #412, Bill H543, 7/14/16, Progressive Position: YES )	412	H.543		7/14/2016	An act relative to disclosure of top contributors for independence expenditures or electioneering communications	Campaign Finance	33s	Yes +	34	6	good govt/strong democracy
35	34s	Taxation	189.34s - Taxation Vote was on requiring any proposal to offer corporate tax incentives have sunset and other accountability provisions so that so that corporations do not have unchecked and unlimited subsidies at the expense of taxpayers and much-needed investments. (Roll Call #413 Bill S.2423, Amdt. 42, 7/14/16. Progressive Position: YES) .	413	S.2423	42	7/14/2016	Tax Expenditure Review	Taxation	34s	Yes +	35	4	shared prosperity
36	35s	Taxation	189.35s - Taxation Vote was on expanding tax incentives for investing in newly formed startups. Although small business growth is a valuable aim, the bill reduces public revenue, perpetuating the problem of chronic underinvestment in our social priorities. (Roll Call #418 Bill S.2423, Amdt. 10, 7/14/16. Progressive Position: NO) .	418	S.2423	10	7/14/2016	Angel Investment Tax Credit	Taxation	35s	No +	34	6	shared prosperity
37	36s	Revenue	189.35s - Revenue Vote was on authorizing online lottery sales. Lotteries disproportionately target low- and moderate-income individuals and are thus a regressive source of revenue. (Roll Call #420, Bill S2423, Amdt. 1, 7/12/16. Progressive Position: NO) .	420	S.2423	1	7/12/2016	Lottery Online Products	Revenue	36s	No +	22	17	shared prosperity
38	37s	Housing, Taxation	189.36s - Housing, Taxation Vote was on exempting primary residences and houses rented out for less than three weeks per year from the tax on short-term rentals in the underlying bill. The amendment would undermine the effort to close the tax loophole exploited by companies like Airbnb. (Roll Call #422, Bill S.2423, Amdt. 100, 7/14/16. Progressive Position: NO) .	422	S.2423	100	7/14/2016	Transient Accommodation	Housing, Taxation	37s	No +	10	29	shared prosperity
39	38s	Labor	189.37s - Labor Vote was on allowing the wider use of "independent contractor" status in the creative economy, which would lead to fewer workplace benefits and protections. (Roll Call #537, Bill S.2451, Amdt. 1, 7/30/16. Progressive Position: NO) .	537	S.2451	1	7/30/2016	Economic Development in the Commonwealth	Labor	38s	No +	11	29	shared prosperity