Legislature’s Formal Session Ended 7/31/10, But Laws Can Still Get Passed
The difference between the formal session and the current informal session of the Massachusetts Legislature is that during the informal sessions any actions can be barred by the objection of any one legislator. Just try getting anything passed with that barrier. The Medfield State Hospital reuse legislation was held up for a year by Rep. Angelo Sciaccio of Roslindale without any stated reason – he chairs the Rules Committee and as the chair he just refused to let it come up for a vote.
Items that currently need attention include the $655 m. of the Federal monies recently allocated to Massachusetts for Medicaid and educational costs. The legislature had passed two separate budgets, one with and one without those monies included, however, Gov. Patrick vetoed the budget with the monies on the stated basis that the monies were not there at the time. Now the monies are there, but they are not budgeted, and the legislature must budget for them.
Some legislators do not want to return to a formal session, as they oppose s0me of the items that might get passed, such as the unresolved and inchoate gambling bill.
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