'There Oughta Be A Law:' In Massachusetts, There Could Be

BOSTON, MA — A Massachusetts lawmaker took heat this week for filing a bill that, if passed, would make it illegal to use the word "bitch" to accost, annoy, degrade or demean another person. But rather than being an opponent of free spech (as several of his social media detractors have claimed), state Rep. Daniel Hunt, a Dorchester Democrat, was just carrying on a longstanding tradition where Massachusetts lawmakers will file bills at the request of their constituents.

As a result, legislators are considering bills this session that would do everything from establish "Uncle Sam Day" to eliminating excise taxes on automobiles. At least two proposals would ban smoking in public housing units. Another would ban the use of glue-based rodent traps.

Massachusetts is one of the few states that allow citizens to work with their state representative or senator to file their own, proposed laws under the "right of free petition." Lawmakers can co-sponsor the bill, but even if they disagree with it, they will file the bill as a courtesy. Bills filed under the right of free petition carry a "by request" designation.

Hunt has not released the name of the constituent that asked him to file the bill banning the b-word, nor the circumstances that led to the request. But he said moving the bill forward may "illuminate the exhaustive legislative process for people that might not normally be engaged."

"Any time a constituent approaches me with something that is of concern to them, I follow through with it," Hunt told the Boston Herald earlier this week.

There are more than 175 similar "by request" bills in the legislature. Among the "by request" bills being considered by the Massachusetts legislature this session:

• A Weymouth man's petition to repeal Chapter 60A of the Massachusetts General Laws, which allows municipalities to levy automobile excise taxes.
• A repeal of legalized recreational marijuana sales that Massachusetts approved in a 2016 ballot referendum.
• A bill that, if passed, would limit the amount of "screen time" students can have during a school day. "Courses or school activities that revolve around screen time must be voluntary, and screen time requirements in those activities highly relevant to the subject matter of the course or school activity," the proposed law says.
• An act calling on the Massachusetts delegation to Congress to establish a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal.
• A proposal to sell naming rights to the Boston Convention and Exhibition center.
• And, of course, a proposal to ban single-use, plastic drnking straws.

Vincent Lawrence Dixon, of Winchester, is one of the more prolific, non-elected bill writers, with more than 30 such bills in the legislature. He has proposed "by request" bills that would do everything from removing Massachusetts public schools from the federal "Common Core" standards to eliminating the grand jury system to establish a tax credit for people who help other people learn how to read.

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).