The Boston Globe - 02.09.2019

A6 The Boston Globe MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2019

Baker files a long-discussed

bill reshaping health care de-

uBEACONHILL

Continued from Page A

livery and financing and, sud-

denly, that drip-drip-drip of

State House action has the po-

tential to turn into stream of

major legislation.

Of course, in a place notori-

ous for missed deadlines, a

grain of salt is a common in-

gredient in legislative promis-

es. But lawmakers say they’re

prepared for a busy final

stretch to a year that has so far

been more remarkable for

what hasn’t passed —and de-

spite, in many cases, seemingly

broad support for action.

“I think the sense right now

is where there’s a consensus

and an appetite, we roll up our

sleeves,” said state Senator Ad-

am G. Hinds, who has been

leading a working group exam-

ining the state’s tax code amid

the House’s own talks about

finding revenue for transporta-

tion projects.

“We are very clear that we

need to be in position to en-

gage in the fall,” he said of a

transportation bill, “if that’s

where things move.”

With widespread agree-

ment that Massachusetts pub-

lic transit is in “crisis,” the

House bill in the works prom-

ises to be the state’s first major

tax legislation in six years.

House Speaker Robert A. De-

Leo’s office has said it will take

shape before winter, but its

structure and scope remain

one of the State House’s most

closely watched questions.

William M. Straus, the

House chair of the Joint Com-

mittee on Transportation, said

it’s hard to find the millions of

dollars envisioned without

raising the state’s 24-cent per

gallon gas tax. But Senate Pres-

ident Karen E. Spilka has also

hinted at support for tolling

more roads, while state Sena-

tor Joseph A. Boncore, the Sen-

ate’s transportation chair, has

proposed creating a per-mile

fee for rideshares, such as

through Uber and Lyft, during

peak travel hours.

A progressive coalition,

Raise Up Massachusetts, creat-

ed a mini-uproar among busi-

ness groups last month when it

distributed a letter arguing

that any bill needs to require

businesses, not just “working

people,” to chip in. DeLeo has

also called on businesses to

submit their own ideas to alle-

viate the state’s infrastructure

crisis, though lawmakers and

industry leaders say they ha-

ven’t seen a clear public con-

sensus on what could draw

support.

“If there’s one thing, I

think, people feel there’s co-

alescing around, it involves the

gas tax,” said James Rooney,

president of the Greater Bos-

ton Chamber of Commerce,

though he noted some busi-

ness groups have hinted they

“may not be for anything” de-

spite transportation being at

the top of many people’s legis-

lative wish lists.

“I know it’s the No. 1 public

policy issue on our agenda,”

Rooney said.

Spilka, in a phone inter-

view, signalled the Senate

could also soon tackle its own

version of a transportation

funding bill. A working panel,

led by Boncore, is expected to

soon release a slate of recom-

mendations “that can be im-

plemented this fall,” she said,

aligning the chamber’s time-

line with the House’s own

plans.

But lawmakers say they’re

aware of the sensitivity around

tax hikes — and who may be

the hit hardest.

“You can see where the

lines are,” Representative Ron-

ald Mariano, the House’s ma-

jority leader, saidof the debate

between advocates and busi-

nesses.“We’re going to have to

walk down the middle of the

fight here.No one wants to pay

more taxes.”

Competing for oxygen in

the building is the long-debat-

ed legislation designed to re-

vamp the state’s antiquated ed-

ucation funding formula. Ini-

tially forecasted for June, then

called possible for July, a po-

tential consensus between the

two chambers has now slipped

into autumn.

Representative Alice H.

Peisch, the House chair of the

education committee, has long

been resistent to put any time-

line on a bill’s release, at one

point setting expectations for a

bill “this session.” But she of-

fered hope Friday that it could

be ready by late September or

early October after she and Ja-

son M. Lewis, her Senate coun-

terpart, spent months tinker-

ing with the complicated sys-

tem that decides how much in

state funds each district re-

ceives.

“I’m actually very optimis-

tic,” Peisch said of the bill’s

prospects. “We were never at a

stalemate.”

The Legislature has other

loose ends to tie. Legislative

leaders are likely to override

Baker’s veto of a bill last

month that would allow

unions to charge non-union

public employees for repre-

senting them in labor disputes.

The Baker administration has

also asked lawmakers to push

through a request for a $

million infusion into the Mas-

sachusetts Bay Transportation

Authority.

Spilka said she’s also keen

on passing a bill banning plas-

tic shopping bags, drawing in-

spiration from a visit last

month to the Vancouver

Aquarium, of all places, where

she was “outraged” by a dis-

play documenting the impact

discarded plastic has had on

the ocean and marine life.

Potential legislation on a

ban has been slowed after its

most ardent supporters com-

plained a reworked version rep-

resented “a slap in the face.”

Spilka said she wants to huddle

with committee leaders han-

dling the bill to find “some-

thing that’s fair and reason-

able.”

“I want to pass it,” she said

of a ban.

But, in perhaps a caution-

ary Beacon Hill tale, intent

doesn’t always guarantee swift

results. Still simmering in a

conference committee is a plan

to require hands-free driving

on roads in Massachusetts, the

last state in New England

without such a measure.

The House and Senate

agreed on the bill’s underpin-

nings, but they’ve differed on

how and when to collect demo-

graphic data on those stopped

by police. Boncore and Straus

had what they called an agree-

ment in principle at the end of

July. But Senate members ulti-

mately never signed on, and

the bill’s immediate prospects

are unclear, rankling safe driv-

ing advocates and House lead-

ers not eager to return to the

bargaining table.

“At some point after you fin-

ish negotiating,” said Straus,

the House’s point person, “I

don’t see a reason to go back.”

Matt Stout can be reached at

[email protected]. Follow

him on Twitter @mattpstout.

Big-ticketitemsonBeaconHillagenda

By Patricia Sullivan
and Fenit Nirappil
WASHINGTON POST
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —
Hurricane Dorian slammed in-
to the Bahamas with unprece-
dented force on Sunday, a mon-
strous Category 5 cyclone that
became the strongest storm ev-
er to hit the island chain and
the fiercest to traverse the At-
lantic in nearly a century.
The storm packed sustained
winds of 185 miles per hour
when it made landfall — and
gusts above 200 miles per hour.
‘‘It’s devastating,’’ said Joy Jibri-
lu,directorgeneraloftheBaha-
mas’ Ministry of Tourism and
Aviation. ‘‘There has been huge
damage to property and infra-
structure.’’
Dorian remained unpre-
dictable. Forecasts call for the
storm to approach the South
Florida coastline early Tuesday
morning somewhere near here,
but what happens after that is
uncertain. Should the storm
make landfall in Florida, it
could be catastrophic. Should it
veer north and lumber along
the coast, it might not make a
US landfall at all — but it could
bring an extreme storm surge,
massive rains, and hurricane-
force winds to much of the
Eastern Seaboard throughout
the week.
Dorian has been a bit mer-
curial, slipping east of Puerto
Rico and sparing it yet another

assault, and skipping across the

Virgin Islands without leaving

much damage. Though at times

predicted to make a direct hit

on Florida’s Space Coast — still

a possibility — the storm ap-

pears potentially headed for a

turn that would put Georgia

and the Carolinas at risk.

The uncertain path prompt-

ed a series of mandatory evacu-

ation orders.

In South Carolina, Governor

Henry McMaster ordered evac-

uations of the entire coast of

the state, covering about

830,000 people. It goes into ef-

fect at noon Monday, when

state troopers will begin revers-

ing lanes so they all head inland

on major coastal highways. ‘‘We

can’t make everybody happy,’’

McMaster said. ‘‘But we believe

we can keep everyone alive.’’

Similar evacuation orders

were made in Georgia and in

pockets of Florida.

More than 600 Labor Day

flights in the United States had

been canceled as of Sunday af-

ternoon.

The only recorded storm

that was more powerful was

Hurricane Allen in 1980, with

190 miles per hour winds. That

storm did not make landfall at

that strength.

The islands of the Bahamas

awoke Monday to areas of dev-

astation. This is a region that

prides itself on withstanding

powerful storms, and the Baha-

mas has revamped its building

codes and stepped up enforce-

ment to prepare for disasters

such as this one. But the combi-

nation of Dorian’s slow pace, fu-

rious winds and heavy rainfall

with the low-lying islands’ vul-

nerability could be lethal.

Prime Minister Hubert Min-

nis had urged residents of

Grand Bahama Island on Sun-

day to move to safer ground in

the main city of Freeport. On

the Abaco Islands, parts of the

main city of Marsh Harbour

flooded.

“As a physician, I have been

trained to withstand many

things — but never anything

like this,” Minnis said during a

news conference. “This is a

deadly storm.”

In some parts of Abaco, the

prime minister said, “you can-

not tell the difference as to the

beginning of the street versus

where the ocean begins.”

Material from The New York

Times and the Associated Press

was used in this report.

Erratic path of massive hurricane sparks evacuations

Dorian pummels

Bahamas islands

Majorhurricanes

The lower the barometric pressure

inside a hurricane, the more power-

ful the storm. Dorian’s last mea-

sured central pressure doesn’t put

it in the top five, but that could

change quickly: 2005’s Hurricane

Wilma, the most powerful storm

recorded in the Atlantic, dropped

98 millibars in 24 hours.

RDorian (2019)

Lowest central pressure: 911 milli-

bars*

Wind speed: 185 miles per hour*

(* at last measurement)

Top five:

R1. Wilma (2005)

Lowest central pressure: 882 mb

Wind speed: 175 mph

R2. Gilbert (1988)

Lowest central pressure: 888 mb

Wind speed: 185 mph

R3. Labor Day Hurricane (1935)

Lowest central pressure: 892 mb

Wind speed: not available

R4. Rita (2005)

Lowest central pressure: 895 mb

Wind speed: 180 mph (estimated)

R5. Allen (1908)

Lowest central pressure: 899 mb

Wind speed: 190 mph (estimated)

Others:Camille (1969), 900 mb;

Katrina (2005), 902 mb; Mitch

(1988), 905 mb; Dean (2007,

905 mb; Maria (2017), 908 mb

SOURCES: NASA, National Hurricane

Center, weather.com

MARK WILSON/GETTY IMAGES

In Ormond Beach, Fla., the ocean churned Sunday as Hurricane Dorian, with winds of 185

miles per hour, spun slowly through the Atlantic Ocean.

By Katherine Shaver

WASHINGTON POST

WASHINGTON — As Hurri-

cane Dorian heads toward the

Southeast, airlines are waiving

change and cancellation fees

for flights to and from Florida

and South Carolina, while Flor-

ida motorists trying to get out

ahead of the storm will be

spared from paying tolls.

On Sunday, Florida Gover-

nor Ron DeSantis suspended

tolls on some highways, includ-

ing Florida’s Turnpike, to speed

evacuations; highway crews

buttoned up construction sites.

Amtrak canceled some ser-

vice through Tuesday, including

trains between Miami and New

York and auto trains between

Sanford, Fla., and Lorton, Va.

Sunday afternoon, computer

models showed the storm shift-

ing closer to the coast, com-

pared to Saturday, and moving

toward Florida and the South-

east, including Georgia and the

Carolinas. The hurricane’s un-

known path left transportation

officials guessing.

Orlando International Air-

port said Friday that it would

cease flights starting at 2 a.m.

Monday, Labor Day; it then an-

nounced Saturday that, based

on the hurricane’s changing

path, it would remain open.

Southwest Airlines warned

of delays and possible cancella-

tions in six Florida cities

through Thursday and Charles-

ton through Friday. American

Airlines waived change and

cancellation fees for certain

Florida cities through Wednes-

day. Frontier waived change

fees for Florida cities, but cus-

tomers must rebook before

Sept. 27. Those with canceled

flights can request refunds.

Georgia Governor Brian

Kemp suspended some rules so

truck drivers can ensure an

‘‘uninterrupted supply’’ of gas,

food, and emergency supplies.

Somehighwaytolls,airlinefeeswaivedasstormnears

DONATEYOURCAR

Wheels For Wishes

Benefiting

Make-A-Wish®

Massachussetts

andRhodeIsland

*100%TaxDeductible

*FreeVehiclePickupANYWHERE

* We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not

* We Also Accept Boats, Motorcycle & RVs

WheelsForWishes.org Call:(857)220-

ourprogramsorfinancialinformation,call(213)948-2000orvisitwww.wheelsforwishes.org.*CarDonationFoundationd/b/aWheelsForWishes.Tolearnmoreabout

Reservations are required.

Call 1-800-964-4295 (24/7)to reserve

your seat todayORregister online

at http://www.DSullivan.com

Statistics show Massachusetts costs range from

$14,800–$18,000 per month for a Nursing Home, and

$5,400–$7,500 per month for Assisted Living

One of the biggest fears that many people have today is the fear of

having their life savings wiped out if they end up in a nursing home.

DENNIS SULLIVAN &ASSOCIATES

DON’T GO BROKE IN A NURSING HOME!

• The biggest estate and asset protection planning mistakes and how you can avoid them.


• How tax reform affects you & your family NOW!


• How to protect your children and grandchildren’s inheritance from future ex-spouses,
  lawsuits and other claims.


• Judge Held Obamacare unconstitutional,appeal to follow,what to do now?


• How to avoid having your life savings wiped out by the“spend down.”
  •The potential increase in the Look Back period from 5 to 10 years!


• Options to plan to stay in your home so you never need to go to a nursing home.


• Does everyone in your family over 17 have the 2 critical health care documents
  & 24/7 emergency contact access cards.

Here is some of what you will discover:

DISCOVER HOW TO

Protect Your Home, Spouse, Family and Life Savings

All Attendees are eligible to receive our book,

“The Senior & Boomer’s Guide to Health Care Reform

& Avoiding Nursing Home Poverty”and

Companion DVD“Choices for Care”

You’re

Invitedto

...

SPAC

EIS

SPACEIS

LIMIT

ED!

LIMITED!

15 Year Member

AARP

Legal Services Network

RSVP

NOW!

UPCOMING FREE SEMINARS

Weekdays inWellesley10 AM & 2 PM

Thursday, September 5th

Thursday, September 19th

Refreshments will be served.

Natick Hotel Conference Center

Saturday, September 14th at 9:30 AM

Breakfast provided.

Needham Council on Aging

Thursday, September 12th at 6:30 PM