The Economic Development Committee on Monday sent forward in the legislative pipeline an updated jobs and downtowns bill that strips out all of the $2.3 billion in federal pandemic relief Baker sought to spend in his version and instead calls only for about $1.2 billion in borrowing.
The proposed borrowing and spending bills that included Gov. Charlie Baker’s top priorities will now be advancing but without his long-held desire to redevelop Boston’s Hynes Convention Center.
Two weeks ago, House budget chief Brian Dempsey urged the Massachusetts House to support a midyear spending bill because it included funding needed to ensure the Department of Correction, which runs the state’s prisons, can meet its payroll in June.
In the midst of anxiety over potential overspending, House Democrats on Wednesday morning introduced a new spending bill which could emerge on the House floor for consideration Wednesday afternoon.
