The Mass Scorecard
Presentation to
the
by
Jesse Gordon
(chair, Progressive
Democrats of Cambridge)
and
(chair, Progressive
Democrats of Somerville)
2003 Action Agenda
Amendment (passed 60%-40%)................ 2
2003 Action Agenda
Resolution............................................... 3
Proposed 2004 Party
Charter Amendment................................ 4
2004 Party Charter
Amendment Petition.................................... 5
Sample Mass Scorecard (Rep.
Jay Kaufman)............................ 6-7
Votes used on Mass
Scorecard................................................ 8-11
Votes not used on Mass
Scorecard.......................................... 12-13
Criteria for selecting
votes........................................................ 14
Frequently Asked
Questions..................................................... 15-20
2003 Platform Accountability Amendment
We propose to vote on an amendment to
the 2003-04 Massachusetts Democratic Party Action Agenda.
Under the “Longer Term” section of the
Action Agenda, entitled “Involvement and Outreach in our Political Process”,
after the opening statement, which reads: “We know that public cynicism and
disillusionment with politics creates a lack of participation, which is a
threat to our democratic system.
Therefore, we call for: ”
after which we propose to insert:
(1) “Promoting accountability to the
Party Platform and reinforcing the Party’s commitment to social and economic
justice, by publishing a ‘scorecard’ by March 1 of each year, indicating how Democratic
legislators voted on 10 fundamental issues from the current Party Platform.”
Signature Name Address City
(passed in 2003, 60%-40%)
The Platform Accountability Resolution
WHEREAS the Progressive Democrats of Somerville, who
authored this resolution, are a group of elected delegates, add-on delegates
and alter
WHEREAS we, and those undersigned, are committed to bringing greater strength to the Democratic Party and supporting the rejuvenation of the state party by emphasizing our core values and issues and,
WHEREAS we are committed to economic and social justice as called for in the Democratic Party Platform and,
WHEREAS many elected Democrats in the State Legislature fail to adhere to several areas of the party platform and,
WHEREAS one
example is Tax Policy, in which the party platform states that “provisions of
tax relief [should be] targeted to working families” BUT Democratic state representatives alone voted against tax relief
targeted to working families (the Earned Income Tax Credit) by a vote of 73-24,
on July 13, 1999, and
WHEREAS the party platform’s Tax Policy also states that “we emphatically reject state or federal tax policies that redirect…public resources into the hands of the few, or create windfalls for the wealthy” BUT when called upon to close loopholes in the capital gains tax Democratic state representatives alone voted 80 to 36 favoring loopholes, on April 30,2001, and
WHEREAS the party platform’s Education Policy states that “we believe education must be a top priority at all levels of government, and we reject policies that direct funds away from children and the programs in our public schools to finance political promises of tax reductions to unrelated purposes” BUT, instead of fully funding education, Democratic state representatives alone defeated a move to freeze the regressive Cellucci/Swift tax rollback by a vote of 72 to 44, on November 21, 2001, and
WHEREAS Article Six, Section five of the Charter of the Democratic Party says “… every Democratic committee member, every Democratic nominee, and every official elected as the Democratic nominee shall adhere to the national, state…platform…in all official statements and actions” BUT many Democrats are failing to do so, and
WHEREAS such demonstrated and prolonged disregard for the Party Platform continues to hinder our ability to elect a strong Democrat into the Governor’s Office and has contributed to four successive terms of Republican leadership.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the State Democratic
Party will produce a yearly progress report on “How Democratic are the
Democrats” by March 1st on all Democratic members of the
Proposed
2004 Party Charter Amendment
THE
PARTY CHARTER CURRENTLY SAYS:
ARTICLE
SIX: State Convention
SECTION V.
ADHERENCE
TO PLATFORM BY DEMOCRATIC OFFICIALS
The
most recent Democratic platform and/or agenda is the official
position of the Democratic Party. Every
Democratic committee
member, every Democratic nominee, and every
official elected as the
Democratic nominee shall adhere to the national,
state, and any
local platform, in that order of priority, in
all official statements and actions.
Failure
to do so shall not result in any removal or loss
of rights within the Party, but may be
publicized by resolutions or
other appropriate action of any Party
convention, conference,
committee, or caucus.
TO WHICH WE PROPOSE TO ADD THE FOLLOWING:
PLATFORM SCORECARD
a.
The Democratic Party shall annually implement a "scorecard" of
legislative roll call votes for votes which
directly relate to the Party Platform.
b.
The scorecard shall include at least 10 votes, and a score
indicating the percentage of votes in which each
legislator voted
in accordance with the party platform.
c.
Legislators shall be provided a means to add comments explaining
their votes.
d. The selection of votes to include on the
scorecard, and their
interpretation regarding the party platform,
shall be determined by
a subcommittee of the Public Policy Committee.
e.
The public release of the scorecard shall be completed by March
1 of each year, except 2004 in which the public
release shall be
completed by August 1.
2004
Party Charter Amendment Petition
We
support a vote to add the following to Article 6 Section 5 of the Party Charter:
PLATFORM
SCORECARD
A. The Democratic Party shall annually implement
a "scorecard" of legislative
roll call votes for votes which directly relate to the Party Platform.
B. The scorecard shall include at least 10
votes, and a score indicating the percentage of votes in which each legislator
voted in accordance with the party platform.
C. Legislators shall be provided a means to add
comments explaining their votes.
D. The selection of votes to include on the
scorecard, and their interpretation regarding the party platform, shall be
determined by a subcommittee of the Public Policy Committee.
E. The public release of the scorecard shall be
completed by March 1 of each year, except 2004 in which the public release
shall be completed by August 1.
Signature Name Address City
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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2003 Mass Scorecard for State Representative Jay
Kaufman PLEASE
NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT WEBSITE NOT READY YET FOR PUBLIC USE |
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Democrat
representing Fifteenth Middlesex |
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Office:
489 |
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Phone:
(617) 722-2552 |
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E-mail: Rep.JayKaufman@hou.state.ma.us |
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Website: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/member/jrk1.htm |
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Fundamental Issue in MassDems'
Party Platform |
Summary of related issue put to
vote |
This Rep's vote on this issue |
Party platform on this issue |
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Jul 10, 2003:Veto
override of $200K reduction to blind job program |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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Jul 10, 2003:Veto
override of federal school breakfast supplement |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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Jul 10, 2003:Veto
override of $900K for disability & mentoring aid |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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May 6, 2003:3-year
moratorium on charter schools |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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Jun 4, 2003:Allow
municipal meals tax, in addition to state meals tax |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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Jul 14, 2003:Exempting
two-way bilingual programs from English-only rules |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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Jul 8, 2003:Veto
override of $10M cut in the uncompensated care pool |
Kaufman:
NO |
Platform:
YES |
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Jul 10, 2003:Veto
override of "Turning 22" mental disability program |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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May 1, 2003:Defeating
corporate tax disclosure |
Kaufman:
NO |
Platform:
NO |
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May 1, 2003:Extending
corporate tax credit 5 years |
Kaufman:
NO |
Platform:
NO |
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May 5, 2003:Requiring
workfare for mothers of 2- to 6-year-olds |
Kaufman:
NO |
Platform:
NO |
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Jul 16, 2003:allowing
parents on welfare to go back to school |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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Apr 30, 2003:Borrow
$300 million to offset the budget deficit via bonds |
Kaufman:
NO |
Platform:
NO |
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Apr 30, 2003:Raising
the income tax to 5.95% to offset the budget deficit |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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Jul 10, 2003:Veto
override of Mass Correctional Legal Services |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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(No
votes on which to base response) |
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Jul 8, 2003:Veto
override of reduced fees for blood lead level testing |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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(No
votes on which to base response) |
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Jul 16, 2003:Early
retirement for cases of MWRA-work-related cancer |
Kaufman:
YES |
Platform:
YES |
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(No
votes on which to base response) |
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Percentage of votes in 2003 in
accord with Democratic Party Platform: |
94% |
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Massachusetts House of Representatives
-- Vote Descriptions
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Veto
override of $200K reduction to blind job program Platform indicates
YES based on Part I:
Families & Children Vote number 251 on Budget Veto
Override on |
"Override Gov. Romney's veto of a Budget Line Item which
reduced by $200,000 the funding for the Ferguson Industries for the Blind,
which employs blind individuals as well as providing them an opportunity for
socialization and a chance to mingle with peers, learn daily living skills
and gain a feeling of independence. Relevant platform
section: PART I: FAMILIES & CHILDREN, DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY: Persons
with Disabilities: ""We reaffirm our support for The Am |
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Veto
override of federal school breakfast supplement Platform indicates
YES based on Part I:
Families & Children Vote number 252 on Budget Veto
Override on |
Override Gov. Romney's veto of a Budget Line Item which elimi Relevant platform
section: PART I: FAMILIES & CHILDREN, DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY: No Child
Left Behind: "We believe that young people are our most precious
resource, and we see inherent worth and promise in every child. Ours is truly
the Party that seeks to “Leave No Child Behind.” We endorse, therefore, the
goals established under The Children’s Defense Fund initiative of that name,
to ensure every child a healthy start [which includes CDF's support of school
breakfast programs]." |
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Veto
override of $900K for disability & mentoring aid Platform indicates
YES based on Part I:
Families & Children Vote number 254 on Budget Veto
Override on |
Override Gov. Romney's reduction of a Budget Line Item which
cut: $99,000 for Special Olympics Massachusetts; $304,000 for Work, Inc. and
$500,000 for Best Buddies Massachusetts [two programs for job training of
people with disabilites]. Relevant platform
section: PART I: FAMILIES & CHILDREN, DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY: Persons
with Disabilities: “We believe state assistance should be made more readily
available for community-based care, and should not be inappropriately biased
toward institutional settings.” |
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3-year
moratorium on charter schools Platform indicates
YES based on Part II:
Education |
"Would require 3 yr moratorium and empower commission to
study feasibility of charter schools Relevant section of
platform: PART II: EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND OPPORTUNITY: Full Funding:
""We call upon the state to change funding of Commonwealth Charter
schools to ensure that funds are not drained from established public schools.""
" |
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Allow
municipal meals tax, in addition to state meals tax Platform indicates
YES based on Part II:
Education Vote number 122 on Section 100 on |
"Any city or town shall be authorized to impose a local
excise tax upon the sale of meals, of 1% of the total price thereof. The
local excise tax imposed shall be paid by the vendor in the same manner as
the excise tax due the commonwealth. All sums received shall at least
quarterly be distributed, credited and paid by the state treasurer to each
city or town. [Provides a new revenue source for cities and towns to pay for
schools and other local services]. Relevant platform
section: PART II: EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND OPPORTUNITY: Full Funding:
""We believe education must be a top priority at all levels of
government, and we reject policies that direct funds away from the children
and the programs in our public schools to finance political promises of tax
reductions or to other unrelated purposes. We support just and equitable
funding mechanisms that provide for vibrant public schools in all
communities.""" |
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Exempting
two-way bilingual programs from English-only rules. Platform indicates
voting YES based on Part
IV: Economic Growth, Jobs & Security Vote number 266 on Budget Veto Override
Section 209 on |
Gov. Romney vetoed budget section 210, which says. “Section 4 of
MGL chapter 71A is hereby further amended to add:— “Foreign language classes
for children who already know English, 2-way bilingual programs for students
in kindergarten through grade 12 and special education programs for
physically or mentally impaired students shall be unaffected.” [MGL chapter
71A requires English-only classroom teaching. Section 210 would exempt “2-way
classes” in which some students are native English speakers and some are
non-native English speakers. A vote to override would continue to allow that
type of bilingual education although foreign-language classes without native
English-speaking students would still be disallowed.] Part II: Education,
Training, And |
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Veto
override of $10M cut in the uncompensated care pool Platform indicates
YES based on Part
III: Health Care Vote number 170 on Budget Veto
Override on |
Override Gov. Romney's veto of a Budget Line Item which elimi Relevant platform
section: PART III: HEALTH CARE, ACCESS & CHOICE: Access and Costs: “We
remain committed to extending proper coverage to each of the hundreds of
thousands of residents still uninsured, and to aiding the even greater number
who are underinsured, or at risk of being so.” |
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Veto
override of "Turning 22" mental disability program Platform indicates
YES based on Part
III: Health Care Vote number 253 on Budget Veto
Override on |
Override Gov. Romney's veto of a Budget Line Item which elimi Relevant platform
section: PART III: HEALTH CARE, ACCESS & CHOICE: Mental Health: “Our
Party supports the full implementation of mental health policies which will
provide emergence care, family support, and appropriate housing to our
citizens with chronic mental health disorders. “ |
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Defeating
corporate tax disclosure Platform indicates NO based on Part IV: Economic Growth
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Would study corporate
tax disclosure, defeating measure to implement it. |
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Extending
corporate tax credit 5 years Platform indicates NO based on Part IV: Economic Growth
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Would extend corporate tax credit 5 years Relevant section of
platform:PART IV: ECONOMIC GROWTH, JOBS & SECURITY: A Healthy Business
Environment: "We support tax incentives for business when accompanied by
commitments to good corporate citizenship and enforceable terms assuring
continued investment in |
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Requiring
workfare for mothers of 2- to 6-year-olds Platform indicates NO
based on Part IV:
Economic Growth Vote number 80 on Section 487 on |
[Welfare] recipients not qualifying as exempt,[Welfare]
recipients not qualifying as exempt, and whose child of record is under the
age at which full-time school attendance is mandatory, may meet only 10 hrs of
the work requirement through education and training programs. Relevant platform
section: PART IV: ECONOMIC GROWTH, JOBS & SECURITY: Supporting the
Transition from Welfare to Work: "We are committed to ensuring a safety
net to members of our families in times of need. We recognize that for some,
that transition may take a lifetime." |
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Allowing
parents on welfare to go back to school. Platform indicates
voting YES based on Part
IV: Economic Growth, Jobs & Security Vote number 368 on Budget Veto
Override Section 528 on |
Override Gov. Romney's veto of a program to allow parents with
young children who are on welfare to go back to school in lieu of working to
meet the requirements of the federal Personal Work and Responsibility Act of
1996. PART IV: ECONOMIC
GROWTH, JOBS & SECURITY: Supporting the Transition from Welfare to Work:
"We seek to help welfare recipients successfully find and keep jobs. We
advocate increased job training and educational opportunities, and we must
ensure that support systems in child care, transportation, and health
insurance are in place to enable people to work and to advance into more
highly paid jobs. We are committed to ensuring a safety net to members of our
families in times of need. We recognize that for some, that transition may
take a lifetime. We support measures that reduce, not increase, the number of
children living in poverty." |
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Borrow
$300 million to offset the budget deficit via bonds Platform indicates NO
based on Part V: Fiscal
Responsibility Vote number 62 on Amendment to MGL 29
on |
The state shall issue and sell bonds of the Commonwealth in an
amount [up to] $300,000,000. All such bonds shall be payable not later than Relevant platform
section: PART V: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, TAX EQUITY, & PUBLIC STEWARDSHIP:
Tax Fairness and Responsible Budgeting: "Budgets should be fiscally
responsible and balanced without gimmicks." |
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Raising
the income tax to 5.95% to offset the budget deficit Platform indicates YES based on Part V: Fiscal
Responsibility Vote number 64 on Section 470 on |
Taxable income shall be taxed at the rate of 5.95 per cent for
tax years beginning in 2003, for Part B income. [Increase in the tax rate]. Relevant platform
section: PART V: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, TAX EQUITY, & PUBLIC STEWARDSHIP:
Tax Fairness and Responsible Budgeting: "We believe that taxes should be
fair and based on ability to pay, and that budgets should be fiscally
responsible and balanced without gimmicks." |
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Veto
override of Mass Correctional Legal Services Platform indicates YES based on Part VI: Safety &
Justice Vote number 258 on Budget Veto
Override on |
Override Gov. Romney's veto of Budget Line Item 0321-2100,
$500,000 for the Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services (MCLS). MCLS
provides the only legal aid to indigent incarcerated individuals. Relevant platform
section: PART VI: SAFETY, JUSTICE & CRIME PREVENTION Legal Services: “We
support publicly funded legal services to provide legal representation and
advice on issues such as housing, employment, domestic violence, health,
elder law, public benefits, and immigration. We urge full state and federal
funding of such services. “ |
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Veto override of reduced fees for
blood lead level testing Platform indicates YES based on Part VIII: Environment
Vote number 176 on Budget Veto
Override on |
"Override veto of exception of fees charged for the testing
of blood lead levels. The fees would be limited based on the fees in 2002.
Relevant platform section: PART VIII: ENVIRONMENT, PRESERVATION &
SUSTAINABLITY: Food Safety, Pesticides and Public Health: “We believe state
and federal regulatory agencies should pay especially close attention to
pollutants that have a direct impact on our families’ health, with a
particular emphasis on regulating mercury, arsenic, pesticides, and lead.” Relevant budget
section: SECTION 631. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the
contrary and with the exception of fees charged for the testing of blood lead
levels, fees charged by the division of occupational safety... shall be set
at a rate not less than twice the rate charged on July 1, 2002.”. " |
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Early
retirement for cases of MWRA-work-related cancer Platform indicates
YES based on Part X:
Worker Rights Vote number 397 on Budget Veto
Override on |
Gov. Romney vetoed budget section 673, which says: “A person who
has been in the state retirement system for more than 35 years, with at least
10 or more of those years in the employment of the Massachusetts Water and
Resources Administration; who, in the course of his state employment was
exposed to asbestos or other hazardous materials; and who has been diagnosed
with an extraneously cancer related illness as well as an extraneously
cardio-vascular cardiac related illness, shall be eligible for early
retirement with surviving spouse benefits at a compensation rate equivalent
to his current salary, if the individual makes application for an early
retirement on or before December 31, 2003.” A YEA vote would override the
veto and fund the early retirement arrangement. PART X: WORKERS’
RIGHTS AND FUTURES: Occupational Safety -- "We support environmental
Right-to-Know laws about chemical and other potential dangers to worker
health. We oppose efforts to weaken workplace safety standards, or the
ability of OSHA or state-level agencies to enforce them." |
Following
are votes which do NOT count on the Mass Scorecard, with the reason for which
they were rejected. We include this section to demonstrate our vetting process.
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Excluded because it addresses the same issue as rollcall #88. |
Expanding
charter schools program Platform indicates NO
based on Part
II: Education |
"Would study charter school moratorium,
killing measure to implement moratorium Relevant section of
platform: PART II: EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND OPPORTUNITY: Full Funding:
""We call upon the state to change funding of Commonwealth Charter
schools to ensure that funds are not drained from established public
schools."" " |
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Excluded because it authorizes GUIDELINES, without authorizing
the actual sale of naming rights. |
Selling
naming rights on state forests and parks Platform indicates NO
based on Part
IV: Economic Growth Vote number 78
on Section
484 on |
The department of parks and recreation is
hereby authorized to develop guidelines and criteria on the subject of the public
sale of naming rights for state forests and parks or for facilities within
state forests and parks. Relevant platform
section: PART IV: ECONOMIC GROWTH, JOBS & SECURITY: Privatization
Accountability: "We assert and recognize... that it is the public sector,
not the private sector, which has the distinct capacity to deliver efficient,
high quality services in many areas." |
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Excluded because the link to the platform on economic grounds,
while correct in the public view, is not the primary reason that most
legislators voted yea or nay. |
Pay raises
for Legislature leaders Platform indicates NO
based on Part V:
Fiscal Responsibility |
Additional compensation for the following
[legislators]: presiding officers, members of the majority and minority
leadership, chairmen, vice-chairmen, assistant vice-chairmen and ranking
minority members of committees -- shall be established by the joint rules of
the se Relevant platform
section: PART V: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, TAX EQUITY, & PUBLIC STEWARDSHIP:
Investments and Tax Relief: "We believe surpluses should go to public
priorities like... the provision of tax relief targeted first to working
families. We reject emphatically state or federal tax policies that redirect
hard-won budget surpluses or other public revenues into the hands of a
few." |
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Excluded because the core issue is privacy, which is not
addressed in the platform. |
Publicizing delinquent tax payers
on-line Platform indicates NO based on Part V: Fiscal
Responsibility |
Would require making delinquent tax payers public on-line Relevant section of
platform:PART V: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, TAX EQUITY, & PUBLIC STEWARDSHIP:
Consumer Protection: "We support the protection of consumers and their
interests in all areas of the marketplace." |
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Excluded because the connection to environmental impact
statements is too tenuous. |
Requiring
regulatory impact statements for new regulations Platform indicates NO
based on Part
VIII: Environment Vote number 75
on MGL
Chapter 30A on |
Requiring a ‘Regulatory impact statement’ for all new
regulations promulgated by state agencies. The statement shall:
[Would have the effect of making new regulations more difficult
for state agencies to implement, in a manner analogous to how environmental
impact statements make environmentally degradatory practices more difficult].
Relevant platform
section: PART VIII: ENVIRONMENT, PRESERVATION & SUSTAINABLITY:
Environmental Law Enforcement: "We believe it is a basic responsibility
of government to ensure that all laws enacted to protect our environment are
obeyed and enforced." |
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Excluded because the particular usage of the land being sold is
the core issue, not the general concept of selling conservation land. |
Selling
land currently under conservation protection Platform indicates NO based on Part VIII: Environment |