Current Office: Representative
First Elected: 1994
Next Election: 2012
Party: Democratic

General

Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Peggy; 7 Children: Martha, Halbert, Benjamin, Jonathan, Virginia, Lise
Birth date: 09/18/1933
Birthplace: Belzoni, MS
Home City: Springfield MA
Religion:

Profession

Therapist, Gandara Mental Health Center, 1992-1994 Independent Consultant, 1986-1994 Consultant, Northern Educational Service, 1989-1992 Vice President, B.E.S.T. Technical Corporation, 1986-1989 Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1981-1986 Owner, Benjamin Swan Associates, 1972-1981 United States Army, 1953-1961

Education

MEd, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1977 BFA, Fashion-Art School, 1961 Attended, Howard University

Committees

Health Care Financing
Post Audit and Oversight
Ways and Means
Ways and Means

H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Cards
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

H 3711 Authorizes Gambling Casinos
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Amdt 749.1 Collective Bargaining Restrictions
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

S 9 Establishing a Redistricting Commission
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

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H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Cards
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

H 3711 Authorizes Gambling Casinos
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Amdt 749.1 Collective Bargaining Restrictions
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

S 9 Establishing a Redistricting Commission
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

H 4156 National Popular Vote Act
Stage: Motion Vote
Vote: Yea

H 4156 National Popular Vote Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 4703 Sentencing Law Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

Sánchez Amdt Sending Public Benefits Amendment to Study
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

H 4591 Gaming Law Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 4466 Expanding Driving Regulations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 4441 School Nutrition Standards
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2247 Education Law Amendments
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 2028 Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

H 4246 Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 2087 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

H Amendment 2 Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

H 4101 2009-2010 Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Sciortino Amdt Sales Tax Increase
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

S 2024 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

Peterson Amdt to H 5022 Reducing Firearm Licensing Fee
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

SB 800 Repealing Out of State Marriage Restrictions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 678 National Popular Vote Plan
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Frost Amdt - National Popular Vote Plan Ratification Threshold
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

Jones Amdt - Presidential Electors by Congressional District
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 4554 Life-Science Bill
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

H 4346 Trans Fat Ban
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 4920 to 4307 Establishing and Regulating Casinos
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

DeLeo Amdt Legislative Committee Chair Pay Raises
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

H 4488 Education Reorganization
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

H 4282 2007-2008 Budget Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Jones Amendment Expanding Pension Fund Divestments to Any State Sponsor of Terrorism
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

Koutoujian Amendment Expanding Pension Fund Divestment to Any State with a History of Genocide
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

S 2255 State Pension Fund Divestment from Sudan
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

Jones Amendment Expanding Pension Fund Divestments to Any State Sponsor of Terrorism
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

Koutoujian Amendment Expanding Pension Fund Divestment to Any State with a History of Genocide
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

S 2255 State Pension Fund Divestment from Sudan
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

Jones Amendment Expanding Pension Fund Divestments to Any State Sponsor of Terrorism
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

Koutoujian Amendment Expanding Pension Fund Divestment to Any State with a History of Genocide
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

S 2255 State Pension Fund Divestment from Sudan
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

Jones Amendment Expanding Pension Fund Divestments to Any State Sponsor of Terrorism
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

Koutoujian Amendment Expanding Pension Fund Divestment to Any State with a History of Genocide
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

S 2255 State Pension Fund Divestment from Sudan
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 2876 Sales Tax Holiday
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 2258 Massage Therapist Licensing
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

H 4988 Nurse Staffing Bill
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

H 229 Primary Seat Belt Bill
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

C Amdt "H" Local Education Funding Amendments
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

H 4479 Employer Contribution to Employee Health Care Veto Override
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

H 4479 MassHealth Benefits Veto Override
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

H 4479 Employer Contribution to Employee Health Care Veto Override
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

H 4479 MassHealth Benefits Veto Override
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

S 2227 Slot Machines at Race Tracks Bill
Stage: Motion Vote
Vote: Yea

H 4479 Health Care Bill
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

S 1074 Disclosure of Religious Funds Bill
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 229 Primary Seat Belt Bill
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

H 1230 In State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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