With many businesses on the brink after months of scraping by through the pandemic, the Legislature struck a late-night deal Wednesday to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the economy in an effort to spur job growth and keep businesses afloat.
The $626.5 million economic development bill (H 5250) came together in the closing hours of the two-year legislative session after more than five months of private negotiations between House and Senate leaders.
While the compromise bill scrapped a House-backed plan to have Massachusetts join other New England states in legalizing sports betting, it did include a version of Gov. Charlie Baker s long-stalled housing production proposal to lower the threshold for local boards to approve zoning bylaw changes to a simple majority.
Legislature Agrees to $626 Mil Economic Development Bill
Legislators struck a last minute deal to send cash to help rescue businesses battered by the pandemic
Edgar B. Herwick III / WGBH News
JAN. 6, 2021...With many businesses on the brink after months of scraping by through the pandemic, the Legislature struck a late-night deal Wednesday to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the economy in an effort to spur job growth and keep businesses afloat.
The $626.5 million economic development bill (H 5250) came together in the closing hours of the two-year legislative session after more than five months of private negotiations between House and Senate leaders.
So sure was Robert DeLeo of House Speaker-to-be Ron Mariano s loyalty that the steely-eyed DeLeo didn t blink when Quincy Democrat Mariano began several years ago to quietly solicit support to succeed the once-called Speaker For Life.
Now the transition is almost complete, with even the co-chairs of the House Progressive Caucus pledged to the 74-year old Mariano.
Mariano s ascension takes a chapter from the rules according to DeLeo, the foundation of which is to make sure there is a rock-solid majority in favor of any proposal before scheduling a vote. On rare occasions the recent vote on police accountability is an example the situation may get close. Still, the result is predictable: The speaker never loses.
From abortion access to eviction relief, Gov. Baker and lawmakers clash on key protections
Updated Dec 23, 2020;
If Massachusetts lawmakers get their way, teens ages 16 and up will have access to abortions without needing parental consent and renters facing eviction will have more time to apply for relief without being forced out by a court order.
Lawmakers voted on Tuesday to send back to Gov. Charlie Baker an amendment to expand abortion access, rejecting his proposed changes. The House and Senate also rejected the governor’s amendment on eviction proceedings, suggesting they’ll soon send back its own proposal to the governor, too. The Legislature’s provision requires a judge to pause eviction proceedings if a tenant applies for emergency rental assistance by the time a first trial is scheduled.