CommonWealth Beacon: “Why are so many amendments being withdrawn on Beacon Hill?”

Gintautas Dumcius, “Why are so many amendments being withdrawn on Beacon Hill?,” CommonWealth Beacon, July 30, 2024.

“It’s an idiosyncrasy that drives some crazy, while others say it’s just pols being pols. The quirk isn’t limited to the Senate. Progressive Massachusetts noted that the House’s version of a climate bill drew 107 amendments, and 91 ended up withdrawn. “Our great deliberative body,” the advocacy group sarcastically posted last month to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

According to Jonathan Cohn, the group’s policy director, the strategic case for moving a policy issue forward by taking to the floor via an amendment, even if it gets withdrawn, rests on the idea that enough people see or hear the speeches. “I don’t mean to burst the bubble of legislators, but people don’t watch it,” he said. Writing an opinion piece has more impact than a floor speech, which he likened to “fan service.”

“Filing an amendment, getting a handful of supporters and then saying, ‘I’m done, I’m withdrawing it,’ doesn’t move the ball forward,” Cohn added.

It also highlights the decline of debates. As the State House News Service summary of the Senate’s passage of a housing bill noted, “There was little disagreement and few divided votes.”

Beacon Hill observers say some lawmakers would prefer not to be put on the record about a topic that could cost them support, or even worse, reelection. That amounts to an “incumbent protection racket,” Cohn said.”

What the State Legislature Must Finish by Tomorrow’s Deadline

Although Massachusetts has a full-time legislature, the formal Legislative Session will end tomorrow.

After tomorrow (well, after the wee hours of Thursday morning), the State House will not likely be taking any more recorded votes for the rest of 2024.

As we noted last week, many important priorities are still in play. If you haven’t contacted your legislators yet, now is the best time.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Email Governor Healey in opposition to emergency shelter limits (new action alert)
  • Email your state senator about maternal health justice (new action alert)
  • Email your state rep in support of juvenile justice reform
  • Email the Housing Bill conference committee
  • Email the Climate Bill conference committee
  • Email the Ways & Means chairs about the Prison Moratorium

And whichever action or actions you take, make sure to share it with your networks too to keep the momentum going. In solidarity,
Jonathan Cohn
Policy Director
Progressive Massachusetts



Email Governor Healey in Opposition to Shelter Limits

Last week, the Healey administration announced that it would limit stays in overflow shelters to five days beginning August 1st (this Thursday).

We can’t turn our back on our state’s right to shelter law (a law in which we should take pride), and we can’t turn our back on families seeking help. It’s simple: an affluent state like Massachusetts should not be kicking out families and young children to live on the streets.

Take a moment today to email Governor Healey to oppose this new policy and demand that our state do more for families seeking shelter.



Email Your State Senator about Maternal Health

Everyone in Massachusetts should be able to choose where they give birth and the type of maternity care that is most appropriate for their needs. Unfortunately, our state currently lags the nation when it comes to access to midwives, birth centers, home birth, and integration of care — models that can reverse our rising maternal mortality and growing racial inequities in birth outcomes.

The Senate will be taking up legislation today on maternal health justice. Join the Bay State Birth Coalition in advocating for a strong bill.