Spending, tax holiday bring lawmakers back to the hill
The House and Senate plan to meet Wednesday in rare simultaneous formal sessions with the goal of restoring vetoed spending to the state budget, reconciling unresolved policy matters in the annual spending plan, and considering a bill suspending the 6.25 percent sales tax for two days in August to spur retail sales.
House plans to take up a public records reform bill before the summer recess have been called off in the face of resistance to that bill from municipal government officials.
The Senate on Wednesday could also consider legislation aimed at ensuring preparations for the possibility of collection of sales taxes from online purchases (S 1974).
Senators also have bills on their agenda aimed at clearing titles on properties with foreclosure histories (S 1981) and creating a new program to marry tech solutions from startup companies with the needs of cities and towns (S 1982). Both bills emerged this week from the Senate Ways and Means Committee and senators have agreed to file amendments by a 3 p.m. deadline.
Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this month vetoed $162 million from the state budget, including $38 million in spending earmarks authored by legislators, saying the spending cuts were needed to balance the budget and hold spending growth to 3 percent.
House Democrats plan to meet in a closed caucus at noon where they will likely go over their plans for the day, with session activity expected to pick up in the afternoon.
At 2:45 p.m., House Speaker Robert DeLeo plans to host a meet-and-greet in his office with Alyssa Naeher, a goalie for the World Cup champion U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. Gov. Baker and Senate President Stanley Rosenberg plan to join him.
A two thirds vote is required in each branch to override a veto and the House decides which veto overrides to attempt, picking from the governor's veto message (H 3675), which has been under review in the House Ways and Means Committee.
The House agenda includes several bills reflecting sections of the new state budget that Baker returned with recommended amendments.
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