Opioid bill progress may trail Baker’s expectations amid crisis

BOSTON – While Gov. Charlie Baker this week repeatedly cited a daily death toll from the opioid epidemic, Speaker Robert DeLeo, the leader of the state House of Representatives, said he couldn't ensure that a measure to help contain it would be completed any time soon. The state Senate and House have both passed varying bills intended to reduce the abuse of prescription painkillers and a closed-door conference committee began negotiations on Jan. 20. Baker, who worked with other governors on th

BOSTON – While Gov. Charlie Baker this week repeatedly cited a daily death toll from the opioid epidemic, Speaker Robert DeLeo, the leader of the state House of Representatives, said he couldn't ensure that a measure to help contain it would be completed any time soon. The state Senate and House have both passed varying bills intended to reduce the abuse of prescription painkillers and a closed-door conference committee began negotiations on Jan. 20. Baker, who worked with other governors on th…