Galvin: Legislature’s critique of ballot questions is ‘ignoring’ state constitution

20 years ago, MA mandated residents to buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Unaffordable healthcare inflation followed along with new mandates, rising premiums, fewer choices & increased provider payments without real transparency or efficiency standards. Taxpayer costs soared; working family income growth suffered. Small businesses & their workforces have consistently faced annual double digit premium increases. Healthcare cost reforms are long overdue.

Auditor Diana DiZoglio doesn’t have a monopoly these days as a statewide office-holder scrapping with the Legislature.

Secretary of State Bill Galvin, who if you count his years in the House has spent more time in public office than DiZoglio’s been alive, is getting his own blows in.

His dry style is a little different from hers, however. She personally slags away at her opponents on social media. The Prince of Darkness, as some know him, doesn’t tweet. 

But what the two Democrats have in common is a populist streak: Both are riding herd on ballot question proposals this year: DiZoglio is seeking to put the Legislature and the governor’s office under the state’s public records law, while Galvin wants to allow voters to register to vote and vote on Election Day. (Twenty states, plus D.C., allow it.)

Some local officials, who say they’re overworked and on the verge of burnout, are concerned that this will make their jobs more difficult. But supporters of Galvin’s measure, which would go into effect for the 2028 election cycle, say evidence from across the country shows it can increase turnout, and upfront costs will diminish over time as it’s implemented by municipalities.

Appearing Tuesday before a panel of lawmakers eyeing the dozen ballot questions with unease, Galvin suggested that passing his proposal into law, and avoiding a ballot fight, will lighten the load. If you think the number of ballot questions is so terrible, he told them, “do something about it.”

Rep. Mike Day, who has taken the lead in tangling with ballot question proponents, pushed back on the argument that supporters are heading to the ballot box because lawmakers haven’t taken any action on the proposals. Lawmakers just haven’t voted in the way you wanted, he told Galvin.

In the hallway after testifiying, Galvin said that he doesn’t usually sponsor ballot petitions, but supporters have waited long enough for lawmakers to act. He suggested that lawmakers haven’t approved the measure out of self-interest: They don’t want to expand the pool of voters. (Massachusetts has plenty of college towns, after all, and their students could take advantage of Election Day registration.)

“The reason cited by the principal opponents has been, it makes it more difficult to campaign. I won't use their exact language because I don't recall it, but I'm sure you can find it,” he said. “But basically, they didn't like their constituencies having new members so quickly that they didn't get to meet them or something."

As for House Speaker Ron Mariano, who complained in February about statewide officials like DiZoglio and Galvin getting involved in "legislative issues,” and criticized the ballot question process, Galvin said Mariano is “ignoring” the Massachusetts constitution.

“The constitution provided this specifically as a safety valve on the Legislature back then [in 1919],” Galvin said of ballot questions. “It had nothing to do with them, or the Democratic Party, [it] wasn't a Democratic legislature at the time. So it's clear this is the right of the voters, and he seems to take offense with them exercising it.”

Mariano disagreed. “The Speaker stands by his critiques of how the initiative petition process has, at times, been weaponized by special interest groups and wealthy individuals seeking to purchase access to the ballot,” a spokesperson said via email.

Galvin and DiZoglio are also up for reelection to their respective offices this year. Which one do you see topping the statewide ticket in terms of total votes? Send me your predictions: [email protected].

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9:00 | U.S. Rep. Richard Neal teaches a class on history and civics during a visit to Holyoke High School. Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto, incoming superintendent Jackie Glasheen, Principal Lori McKenna, and others will join Neal. | Holyoke High School, 500 Beech St., Holyoke

10:00 | The Department of Public Utilities holds a technical session as part of its investigation into gas and electric delivery charges and "bill redesign." DPU opened its investigation in December, with a focus on "containing customer costs, reducing utility bill volatility, and increasing utility bill transparency and accessibility," according to a DPU memo. Officials will speak with electric and gas utility companies about data they filed with DPU. The public is able to watch the session, and there's a possibility of additional sessions on Thursday and Friday. | Zoom

11:00 | Interim Transportation Secretary Phil Eng, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and other state and local officials hold a roundtable discussion on the progress of the Compass Rail Project, including West-East Rail. At 12:15 p.m., the group will announce federal funding for the project during a press conference. | Springfield Union Station, 55 Frank B. Murray St., Springfield | Roundtable in the Neal Cybersecurity Center, press conference outside on Platform C

12:00 | Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll chairs an assembly of the Governor's Council. | Council Chamber | Livestream

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David Rubenstein, founder of the D.C.-based private equity firm Carlyle Group and owner of the Baltimore Orioles, is gifting a copy of the Declaration of Independence to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate in Dorchester. Rubenstein, who is known for buying up historic documents, announced the donation before he sat down for a fireside chat about the American Dream with Tracy Palandjian, CEO and co-founder of the nonprofit Social Finance. In 1823, John Quincy Adams had a printer to make 200 copies of a signed copy of the Declaration, and Rubenstein said he owns a “fair number” of the 40 or so that remain in existence. “I have replicas being made now” and giving them to major U.S. sports team owners to put them on display in stadiums, “and I’ll have one that can be displayed here,” he told the crowd gathered on Monday night.

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AFSCME Council 93, which represents 45,000 state, county and municipal employees across four states, made a rare foray into a Congressional race with an endorsement of Dan Koh, who is close to labor leader Marty Walsh, in the Democratic primary for the Massachusetts 6th seat. “We need to fill as many of those seats as possible with people who will aggressively and vocally fight against policies and initiatives that place the needs of billionaires and corporations ahead of middle-class America,” Mark Bernard, the union’s executive director, said in a statement. “We are confident we have found such a man in Dan Koh and we look forward to his victory in the primary, and ultimately, in the general election.” 

Jordan Maynard has been reappointed to the five-member Mass. Gaming Commission and will retain the chairmanship. Gov. Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Treasurer Deb Goldberg made the joint reappointment, for a second five-year term, and Healey designated Maynard as chair again. The reappointment went into effect March 25. The commission has five full-time commissioners.

Join legislators and thought leaders for a timely forum on the AI revolution in Massachusetts. Explore the challenges and opportunities of AI policy on Thursday, May 7, at the MCLE (Boston). RSVP!

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GOING NUCLEAR: Gov. Maura Healey signed onto an effort among New England’s governors to explore advanced nuclear energy technologies. The effort is to “strengthen the region’s energy reliability, affordability, and long-term supply,” they said in a joint statement. – Boston Herald

SIXTH DISTRICT CASH DASH: Fintech executive John Beccia is self-funding his Democratic congressional campaign to the tune of $2 million as he seeks to stand out in a crowded field for Seth Moulton’s seat. Dan Koh, a former Biden administration official, is leading the pack in money raised, with his total hitting $3.5 million. – Boston Globe

APRIL FOOLS ON THE T: Burhan Azeem, a Cambridge city councilor running for state Senate, dropped $7,000 on an April Fools’ ads about a MBTA Red Line extension to Lexington and Blue Line trains to Lynn. He made the purchase on MBTA billboards in Cambridge, Somerville and Medford. – MassLive

CANNABIS COMPLAINT: The Cannabis Control Commission is expected to finally act on a whistleblower complaint that leveled allegations against the troubled agency’s former executive director and Greatest Hits, a cannabis retailer. – Boston Globe

WORLD CUP BOOKINGS: As FIFA World Cup tickets became available, hotels in the Boston area haven’t seen a corresponding boost in bookings. The slower-than-expected bookings has hotels strategizing about how to make up a potential gap. – Boston Business Journal

OVERTIME FRAUD: A former executive secretary at the Boston Housing Authority pleaded guilty to stealing just over $72,000 in overtime pay that she didn’t work. The city agency provided investigators with evidence after discovering the fraud in Aug. 2024. – Universal Hub

BULLYING REPORT: Many of the state’s school districts are falling short in timely investigations of bullying allegations, a new report from Northeastern University’s law school. Child advocates say they’re concerned the state isn’t doing enough to protect children 15 years after a state anti-bullying law. – GBH News

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