Sen. Bulger exhibited a frightening new tactic in 1990 by making the supporters of the Amendment obtain over 50% of the joint Legislature instead of the 25% that is required under the Constitution.

He did this by insisting that a quorum of 101 Legislators be present during any debate. The Boston Globe explained it this way:

“Bulger said the amendment fight was lost this year because proponents did not care passionately enough about it, allowing sessions to end because they could not keep enough supporters in the chamber to debate.”

But this new Bulger rule meant that the supporters had to have 101 Legislators on their side to keep the measure alive instead of only 50 as is specifically specified in the Constitution.

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