Votes to Note: Senate Debates Jobs Bill, Rejects Tip Pooling Amendment

Yesterday the Senate debated an economic jobs package that aims to promote economic development, decrease the unemployment rate of 6%, and provide sustainability for struggling businesses and employees. In total, Senators filed 126 amendments to modify Senate Bill 2350, An Act relative to infrastructure investment, enhanced competitiveness and economic growth in the Commonwealth. One such amendment offered by Senator Rodrigues that I co-sponsored would bring clarity to the Massachusetts tip pooling law. 

Amendment #76 that we offered would replace Massachusetts’ vague tip pooling laws with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act’s language, which would remove the confusion of who should be allowed to share tips.

Unfortunately, our amendment did not pass. It was defeated in a close roll call vote of 17-19. Posted below is the actual roll call vote made yesterday by the members of the Senate.

Senate #2350

Yeas: 17 Nays: 19

Roll Call Votes: Yea/Nay

Frederick E. Berry: Did Not Vote
Stephen M. Brewer: Yea
William N. Brownsberger: Yea
Gale D. Candaras: Yea
Harriette L. Chandler: Yea
Sonia Chang-Diaz: Nay
Katherine Clark: Nay
Cynthia Stone Creem: Nay
Sal N. DiDomenico: Nay
Kenneth J. Donnelly: Nay
Eileen Donoghue: Nay
Benjamin B. Downing: Nay
James B. Eldridge: Nay
Susan C. Fargo: Nay
Barry Finegold: Yea
Jennifer L. Flanagan: Yea
John Hart: Did Not Vote
Robert L. Hedlund: Yea
Patricia D. Jehlen: Nay
Brian A. Joyce: Yea
John Keenan: Nay
Thomas P. Kennedy: Nay
Michael R. Knapik: Yea
Thomas M. McGee: Nay
Mark C. Montigny: Yea
Michael O. Moore: Yea
Richard T. Moore: Nay
Senate President Therese Murray: Did Not Vote
Marc R. Pacheco: Nay
Anthony Petruccelli: Yea
Michael Rodrigues: Yea
Stanley C. Rosenberg: Nay
Richard J. Ross: Yea
Michael Rush: Yea
Karen E. Spilka: Nay
Bruce E. Tarr: Yea
James E. Timilty: Yea
James Welch: Nay
Daniel Wolf: Nay