MCC Notes from the Hill and Other Communications

March 4, 2008  MCC Files Testimony on Several Bills in February and March

The staff of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference has filed testimony on several bills in February and March as the state legislature nears the deadline for committee action.   The MCC submitted testimony on bills concerning statutes of limitation (H.1592 and Other S/L Proposals), Immigration, Abortion, Transgender "Rights", and Same-Sex Marriage.  A hearing on gambling legislation is scheduled for March 18th.   Committee action must be completed by March 19, though some bills may be granted extensions.  Under legislative rules, a committee "reports" a bill to the House or Senate by giving it a favorable "ought to pass" or an unfavorable "ought not pass" recommendation.  Every bill reported by a committee appears on the  calendar of the House or Senate with the committee's recommendation.   The full House or Senate can accept the committee report or override it.   Instead of reporting a bill favorably or unfavorably, a committee can send it to "study" which in practical terms is an informal way to kill legislation at the committee level.