STATE HOUSE — Sen. Michael Barrett joined environmentalists and economists in calling for a substantial gas tax increase Tuesday, calling it a "user fee on pollution" and promoting rebates and payouts that would be delivered to all residents.
The proposal, backed by nearly four dozen House and Senate Democrats, would put a financial burden on those who use the most heat and hot water or burn the most gasoline, as the price of those fuels would have a charge added, and the state would then attempt a fair distribution of carbon rebates.
STATE HOUSE — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh joined Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday to urge the Legislature to "swiftly act" on the governor's bill aimed at stemming the tide of opioid addiction that they say kills four people a day in Massachusetts.
The legislation filed by the Republican governor on Oct. 15 proposes to limit first-time opioid prescriptions to a 72-hour supply and to give doctors the authority to hospitalize addicts against their will for up to 72 hours if they present a risk to themselves or others. Both of those ideas have quickly encountered resistance.
