BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick wants lawmakers to stay beyond the end of their current session to pass bills he believes will help create jobs. Senate President Therese Murray said lawmakers have no intention of hanging around.
"All of this work needs to get done," Patrick said Wednesday. "I hope we can get it done by the end of the day on Saturday, when the session formally ends, but if it doesn't, then the Legislature needs to stay in session until it gets done."
Later Wednesday, Murray told reporters that she had no intention of staying past July 31, when the session formally ends.
The House and Senate are currently trying to reach a compromise on expanded gambling legislation, which Patrick has labeled as one of a number of bills that will spur job growth in the state.
Patrick also called on the Legislature to pass bills related to economic development, health care and criminal records. All three bills have been passed by both legislative chambers and legislative panels from the chambers are meeting to try to craft compromise bills.
"I'm calling on the Legislature to get the people's business done," Patrick said.
Under the Legislature's rules, lawmakers have to halt their formal sessions on July 31 of election years. They can continue to meet, but the objection of a single lawmaker can block a bill. The rules were instituted after complaints that outgoing lawmakers were passing controversial legislation while lame ducks.
A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate would be needed for formal sessions to continue past July 31.
"They have to make that decision," Patrick said of lawmakers' role in determining if they meet past the deadline. "I can call, but they don't have to come."
The expanding gambling bill has been in a conference committee for over three weeks, while lawmakers have been trying to work out a criminal records compromise for almost 50 days. The House passed a health care bill to help small businesses Monday, so discussion on a compromise measure has just begun.
A bill Patrick did not mention Wednesday, but one that has been a top priority, is a proposal to restrict licensed gun owners to purchasing one firearm a month and strengthen the penalties against illegal possessors of guns.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo had assured Patrick the measure would come up for a vote, but with the legislative session winding down, that prospect is looking unlikely.
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