STATE HOUSE — The Massachusetts House on Thursday night approved more than $915 million in borrowing over the next five years as part of an economic development bill aimed at boosting jobs and workforce development across the state.
The bill (H 4461) includes Gov. Charlie Baker's request for $500 million to recapitalize the MassWorks infrastructure program, a "one stop shop" for cities and towns seeking state grants to build or repair local infrastructure, and authorizes roughly the same amount of borrowing overall that Baker proposed in January.
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats on Wednesday successfully blocked pair of bills that sought chip away sanctuary city ordinances — one which would have siphoned off federal money to municipalities that embrace the policies and another that would have increased penalties for repeat deportation offenders.
The bills — Kate's Law (S. 2193) and the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (S. 3100) — failed to garner cloture in the Senate in respective votes of 55-42 and 53-44.
