The Massachusetts legislature is back in full swing, and hearings on a huge number of bills are keeping our legislative specialists more than busy.
At the final hearing on gun legislation, LWVMA focused its testimony on guns and domestic violence. Anne Borg, co-president, spoke of the League’s long-standing support of domestic violence prevention programs and the danger guns pose to victims. She was joined by Marilyn Ellsworth of the Sudbury League, a volunteer victim’s advocate, who told the story of a Concord woman whose abuser still had his guns and was still a gun dealer, despite seven restraining orders.
Testifying with them were representatives of Jane Doe, Inc., the victims’ advocacy organization, and Emerge, an abuser education program.
The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security is expected to draft gun legislation and bring it to the floor by mid-November.
Lynn Wolbarst, environmental specialist, and Carole Pelchat, legislative director, represented the League at the joint committee hearing on the updated bottle bill Sept. 17.
Carolyn Lee, good governance specialist, and Nancy Brumback, vice president, program and action, attended and testified at the joint committee hearing on campaign finance reforms Sept. 18.
Other upcoming hearings include:
Oct. 16—Election-related legislation 2 p.m., hearing room A-2, State House. Joint Committee on Election Laws. Hearing covers a variety of laws, including ones calling for audits of election results.
Nov. 20—Photo ID to vote and other election legislation, 2 p.m., hearing room A-2, State House. Joint Committee on Election Laws.
If you have a special interest in any of these areas, please consider attending the hearing to lend your support to League specialists who are testifying. The schedule listed by the legislature is subject to change, so before you go to Beacon Hill, please confirm the date, time and location by going to the legislature’s website.