An email from Bill Massaro this morning affirms that the town’s special legislation for the purchase of the Medfield State Hospital has once again reverted to being emergency legislation (and as such would be effective upon signing by the Governor, instead of 90 days after signing). I would love to know the back story on why the emergency preamble got removed, but there appear to be many things in the legislative process that just remain unstated. The last time we were seeking special legislation, because that bill was late filed (i.e. – not filed at the opening of the legislative session) the bill had to go through the Rules Committee, and the Rules Committee Chair, Angelo Scoccia, of Roslindale simply refused to allow it to come up for a committee vote, without ever stating any reason, except something about maybe we would get a better deal from the next governor. The result that time was that the legislative process, and therefore the town lost a whole year, without the state rep having to go on record as to why. A good example of why change can be hard to effect via legislation.
Pete,
Just saw your blog on the re-instatement of the emergency premble. I checked the MA legislature website for H4050 and the preamble is now back in on the on-line copy.
Thanks,
Bill
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