On Beacon Hill, the ball may not be rolling at warp speed, but it is rolling.
Senate Democrats released their budget recommendation on Tuesday, with debate set for later in May. More groups, including nurses and climate advocates, also are outlining and publicizing their legislative priorities for the session.
The Senateâs $47.6 billion proposal would spend $1.8 billion more than Gov. Charlie Baker suggested but $64 million below what the House put forth. Like the House, the Senate did not recommend any broad-based tax increases on residents, but it includes some smaller revenue proposals.
The Senate would allow debit card lottery payments â something Baker also supports, although the House did not include it â which Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues has estimated could raise $30 million for the state. While the House voted unanimously to make permanent the film tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of 2022, the Senate would reform that credit