Dems return to Beacon Hill in force, pass stalled spending bill

In the Senate, the optics were very different, illustrated by the joint press conference after the final vote held by Senate President Karen Spilka, the chamber’s top Democrat, and Sen. Bruce Tarr of Gloucester, the chamber’s top Republican…

…Spilka made clear that she didn’t agree with Republicans who wanted the spending bill debated in a formal session. Indeed, she said the bill was already debated in formal sessions and everyone knew what was in it.

But Spilka was happy to give Tarr the symbolic motion he wanted because her goal with the spending bill was more concrete. “We got it done,” she said.

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