Beacon Hill crunch time: what we're watching
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Massachusetts politics is rarely about Democrats vs. Republicans or even moderates vs. conservatives. It's usually about the House vs. the Senate and July is their Super Bowl.
- Here are the top pieces of legislation due to be finalized by the two chambers before lawmakers recess until next year.
Economic development
The House and Senate have competing visions for how the state should spend money to attract jobs, build up industries and develop a stronger workforce.
Why it matters: The House pitch, totaling around $3.4 billion in borrowing and $700 million in tax credits meant to boost the economy, would give the Healey administration a lot of leeway to fund economic grant programs and offer breaks to employers.
- The Senate has a much smaller plan: just under $2.5 billion in borrowing and $350 million for tax credits.
The intrigue: The massive economic development bill contains plenty of smaller policies and pet projects, including authorization for Robert Kraft and the New England Revolution to build a new soccer stadium in Everett.
- And big-ticket items are in play, too: The House wants half a billion dollars for the state's world-class life sciences sector, more than double the number Senators approved.
- The two chambers will likely meet somewhere in the middle as they push negotiations over a final bill until the very end of their deadline July 31.
Housing
The future of the state's housing crisis is also wrapped up in a borrowing bill pending a deal between the House and Senate.
One of Healey's top priorities is funding the construction of 40,000 new homes. She also wants to give cities and towns the ability to tax pricey real estate deals in order to fund affordable housing.
- But the House and Senate thumbed their noses at fellow Democrat Healey and left the transfer tax out when they took up the governor's bill.
Climate and clean energy
The Senate has been upfront about getting a clean energy package through to Healey's desk this session, but the House hasn't followed suit.
- The Senate's package would add electric trains and vehicle charging infrastructure, clear the way for more clean energy projects and tighten the use of natural gas.
- With less than three weeks to go before lawmakers pack it in for the year, House leaders haven't released anything comparable.
- Environmental activists want more of a crackdown on fossil fuels but aren't holding their breath. House leaders haven't shown much interest in comprehensive climate or energy bills this year.
Gun control
House and Senate negotiators since February have been working toward a final bill to regulate "ghost guns," let health care providers request gun seizures and crack down on 3D-printed firearms.
Boston liquor licenses
Boston lawmakers rallied enough support in the House to score 205 new non-transferable licenses to sell alcohol in city restaurants, something community leaders say will help small businesses, enhance nightlife and create jobs.
- Senators say they're working on a counterpart bill to pass before the deadline, leaving licensing, like so many other pending pieces of legislation, in limbo until the very end of the session.