Editor’s note: This story was researched and written on Nov. 29, before the Boston Globe broke a story regarding allegations against Sen. Rosenberg’s husband.
A session during which the Massachusetts Senate adopted a long-awaited criminal justice reform measure, amended the voter-approved recreational marijuana law and ensured women in the state will continue to have access to contraceptives are reasons Senate President Stanley Rosenberg is calling 2017 a successful legislative year.
In an interview with the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s editorial board Nov. 29, the Amherst Democrat said the Senate has already exceeded the goals he set for it, approving 14 major policy bills, half of which have become state law, and issuing a series of reports focused on ways to enhance transportation, health care and education.
But Rosenberg added that he is anticipating a busy year ahead, including efforts to deal with referendums that could come before voters next November, such as proposals to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022, offer paid family and medical leave and reduce the state’s sales tax from 6.5 percent to either 5 percent or 4.5 percent.
Rosenberg cited criminal justice reform as a major accomplishment, describing it as a “very, very strong, comprehensive bill,” though it still must be reconciled with one passed by the House.
“We wanted to come in line with best practices other states use so only people who really need to be in jail are in jail, and people who need to be in treatment are in treatment,” Rosenberg said.
The bill revisits mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses, reduces fines and fees for those who often can’t afford these expenses, offers compassionate release and reforms the bail system for those not at risk of flight, Rosenberg said.
Significant “bandwidth,” as Rosenberg puts it, was spent on devising a recreational marijuana bill so that the voter initiative approved in November 2016 would be improved. This happened, he said, by ensuring there is room for small entrepreneurs, that dispensaries will be evenly distributed throughout cities and towns, that elements are in place to combat addiction and by providing money for research into prevention.
The Women’s Health Access Bill confronts a concern that publicly funded programs that rely on federal money may be slashed under President Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress. The bill creates a blanket protection, so that there is coverage for no-copay birth control, requires insurers to cover all unique forms of approved contraceptive methods without cost sharing, and prohibits insurers from using tools to undermine and delay access to contraceptives.
“That gives all the protections needed so that if the federal government changes any access to contraception, that the women of Massachusetts will be protected,” Rosenberg said.
The state’s bump stock ban makes the device that was deployed during the Oct. 1 Las Vegas shooting rampage illegal.
“Massachusetts is the first state in the country to do it,” Rosenberg said.
About 400 bump stocks are in private hands and are expected to be voluntarily turned over to police. “There aren’t that many in the state, but there will be no more in the state,” Rosenberg said.
Other legislation passed in the Senate included the Property Tax Relief Bill, which would give property tax breaks, mainly for low-income seniors and veterans; the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which ensures pregnant women have reasonable accommodations; the Campus Sexual Violence Prevention Bill, which provides resources and attention to such incidents at colleges and universities; and the Language Opportunity for Our Kids, which expands options beyond immersion for schools to pursue for English language learners.
Rosenberg is also praising passage of the Fair Share Amendment that will come to voters as a way to impose a 4 percent tax on an individual’s annual income starting at $1 million. This act, also dubbed the millionaire tax, would collect an estimated $2 billion in revenue that would be dedicated to transportation and education.
In the coming year, Rosenberg said he expects the Senate to wrestle with other matters that could be on the ballot through petition. He is concerned about referendums that would raise the minimum wage to $15 and institute paid family and medical leave.
Both have significant costs.
“Putting them on at the same time means you have to proceed with extreme care,” Rosenberg said.
The Senate is already ready to act, having put together a Special Senate Task Force on the Local Retail Sector of the Commonwealth, a panel that includes Judy Herrell, owner of Herrell’s Ice Cream in Northampton.
Rosenberg said this will give viewpoints on the impacts for businesspeople.
“People who want a minimum wage, they’re not necessarily looking at it through that perspective,” Rosenberg said.
He supports increasing the minimum wage, but over a period. “The economy needs time to adjust to such increments,” he said.
Using a legislative approach is also how Rosenberg plans to address the demands to reduce the state sales tax. While he said he strongly opposes this and hopes it doesn’t reach the ballot, he argues it could be headed off with discussions with the Retailers Association of Massachusetts to see if there are other ways to address their concerns besides cutting the sales tax by 1.5 to 2 percent.
With the gubernatorial election less than a year away, Rosenberg said Gov. Charlie Baker is working hard and focused on management, though he refused to say whether he supports how Baker has performed.
“Voters will have to decide if they agree with his policy direction,” Rosenberg said. “They’ll give him a grade on Election Day.”
Whatever the case, Rosenberg said he anticipates supporting the Democratic candidate. At present, the Democratic field includes Jay Gonzalez, former state secretary of administration and finance, Bob Massie, an entrepreneur and 2012 U.S. Senate candidate, and Newton Mayor Setti Warren.
He’s not sure if an endorsement will be forthcoming.
“I may or may not, but I haven’t yet made that decision,” Rosenberg said.
With sexual harassment and sexual assaults becoming daily topics of discussion, Rosenberg said he is comfortable with how his institution has responded.
“In the Senate, we have a zero-tolerance policy,” he said.
But as manager of the Senate, he asked that all policies be reviewed to make sure they are up to date.
The current process of complaint goes to his chief of staff, the Senate counsel or director of human services, all of whom are women. That gives him confidence that if there are accusations, which often come from women, they will be comfortable reporting their issues and know they will not be swept under the rug.
During a one-hour caucus a week ago with Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, who will lead a group looking at all protocols in place and any weaknesses, one problem was identified: Legislative interns are not getting trained in the current policy.
“There’s room for improvement and if they find things, we’ll take them seriously and make changes,” Rosenberg said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
