State House News Service
BOSTON - Gov. Deval Patrick's administration is hoping an autumn push will rally support behind its $1 billion life science proposal, which aides say is a linchpin for the sector's economic growth and lawmakers see as an opportunity to spur other industries.
But with Patrick amplifying his dissatisfaction with the Legislature's clip, lawmakers with authority over his bill are giving signals that progress could be delayed until next year.
Top Patrick aides are taking a road show to company facilities and the University of Massachusetts at Worcester, slated under Patrick's plan to host the world's largest repository of stem cell lines, during which they hope to spotlight an industry often hailed as a sort of economic messiah, able to produce both job growth and life-saving cures. Patrick aides hold an event today at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a Cambridge-based biopharmaceuticals company, to highlight potential regional benefits of the bill.
With Patrick’s casino proposal under attack from opponents over substance and from allies over management, his administration has hoped the 10-year life sciences proposal that drew bipartisan and bicameral support last spring will notch a policy victory for the governor as the legislative session winds down for the year.
Marked for a hearing next week, the plan calls for $500 million in capital funds, $250 million in research grants, and $250 million in tax benefit tied to job creation, state funds invested over a 10-year period. Another $250 million would come from private sector matching funds. [The bill is among those that includes funding for the proposed science building at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams.]
Since debuting in outline form May 8 during an international life sciences convention in Boston, the bill has seen a steady ebbing of support. Both House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and Senate President Therese Murray stood with Patrick during the announcement, but have lately pointed to the bill, which was filed July 19, as a potential vehicle to aid other industries.
DiMasi said earlier this month he hopes to pass a version of the legislation this fall. But an e-mail sent to members of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies last week instructed them that "a series of hearings held across the state" would last "through January," signaling that at least some major portions of the bill won't clear the Legislature until next year.
The bill's first hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30 before the committee, chaired on the House side by Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, a former Patrick ally who has become the governor's high-profile adversary on the casino question. In a television appearance Thursday, Patrick questioned Bosley's credibility on casinos, in the wake of the chairman's criticism of the proposal as unfeasible.
Earlier this month, Murray told a group of business leaders, "I expect with further examination and legislative input it could be a major economic development package." The same day, hours after Patrick had urged biotech leaders to help him lobby Beacon Hill for the legislation, DiMasi agreed with Murray, both listing other industries that should be allowed to compete for state assistance.
A DiMasi spokesman declined to discuss specific changes the House speaker wants made to the bill.
"I think that all of that's being looked at. I wouldn't want to pre-judge what the committee's working on," he said, adding that DiMasi remains committed to a "significant investment" in life sciences.
Gambling Distractions
In public remarks recently, Patrick has sought to shift attention away from the struggling casino bill, and instead underscore other plans he's filed with the Legislature but have not become law. Last week, Patrick began to confront his counterweights in the Legislature more aggressively, complaining about the pace of the legislative process.
"I went [to Beacon Hill] for a reason," he said Thursday night on NECN. "And the people sent me there for a reason. And the folks who want to be a part of this and want to help and want to improve on these ideas, or put their own alternatives on the table, I think will get the support and the respect of the people. And the ones who don't will have to answer to the people."
An administration source said the tour would likely last between six and eight weeks.
Asked about the prospect of an extended legislative process, Patrick press secretary Kyle Sullivan said, "We are focused on the governor's legislation as filed. The administration continues to make its case to both legislators and the general public on [the] importance of this legislation and the life sciences to the Massachusetts economy. We look forward to the hearing on the bill and consideration by the full Legislature in the near future."
On Thursday, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is expected to advance plans for the stem cell bank and a registry of stem cells, along with matching grants intended to close funding gaps.
A supplementary budget the Legislature passed and Patrick signed earlier this month contained $15 million for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Investment Fund, more than doubling the total the fund can dole out for life science projects.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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