Governor Charlie Baker Weighs $4 Billion Spending Bills Sent to Him by Lawmakers – CBS Boston

BOSTON (AP) – Governor Charlie Baker is weighing a $4 billion spending bill that was moved to his desk by Massachusetts lawmakers this week.

The bill transfers funds directly from part of the US Rescue Plan Act and the state’s Fiscal Year 2021 surplus funds to help with the state’s continued economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Supporters of the bill say it targets investments in communities disproportionately damaged by the pandemic.

The measure also helps workers and businesses spend on areas like housing, healthcare, mental and behavioral health, climate preparedness, education and development, according to lawmakers. workforce development.

Senate Speaker Karen Spilka, a Democrat, said in a written statement: “The road to full economic recovery will be long. “Instead of a ‘return to normal’ – of an unequal status quo – the Senate knowingly used both our Rescue Plan and Fiscal Year 2021 surplus funds for dramatic changes.” convert. ‘”

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Baker, a Republican, has been pressing the Democratic-controlled House and Senate for months to send him legislation to begin putting some dollars in the federal rescue plan effective immediately. instantly.

Earlier this year, lawmakers chose to move the state’s $4.8 billion allocation into a separate fund. The legislature then held a series of public hearings before deciding how best to spend the billions.

The bill is now on Baker’s desk.

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