The Legislature is responding to concern that Massachusetts is losing its competitive edge over states such as New Hampshire and Florida where living costs and taxes are lower.
“The fact that our 25- to 40-year-olds are leaving the state, it’s not because of tax policy or they’re day-trading on Wall Street," said one state Senator. “It’s because they can’t afford housing.”
“No one would confuse the current day Legislature with a New England town meeting or an Athenian hillside,” said Secretary of State William F. Galvin, a former lawmaker himself.