STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JULY 3, 2015....The state budget is late.
No, government will not be coming to a screeching halt. Republicans in the Legislature are not howling at Democrats for playing roulette with constituent services. And, yes, a deal is expected sooner rather than later.
Massachusetts is still not Washington D.C.
But the state budget is late, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo wants everyone to know, as they prepare to celebrate America's 239th birthday this weekend, that their elected officials are actually doing exactly what they were elected to do.
"They're representing their constituents and if they feel strongly enough that certain things should be in the budget or shouldn't be in the budget and they let the conference committee know, then that's what democracy is all about. Maybe it may not be the cleanest. Maybe it might take a little longer. But I still think it's the best this world has to offer," he said.
The week started on a somber note when longtime lawmaker Sen. Thomas Kennedy passed away. Kennedy, who used a wheelchair for much of his life after falling out of a window while studying for the priesthood in his youth, spent 26 years in the House before winning election to the Senate in 2008.
Kennedy, who could often be found holding court in his office retelling old war stories with a twist of Irish humor, died on Sunday after quietly battling cancer. He was 63.
While lawmakers, lobbyists and journos kept vigil throughout the week for white smoke emanating from the chambers of budget chiefs Rep. Brian Dempsey or Sen. Karen Spilka, Boston 2024 attempted to write the beginning of the next chapter for the city's Olympic bid.
Battling low approval numbers in opinion polls, officials released Bid 2.0 on Monday to give residents of Massachusetts the clearest look yet at what hosting the 2024 summer games might look like.
Venue plans had been released in previous weeks so the focus was on the budget, a $4.8 billion private revenue plan that, if all goes according to the spreadsheet, will generate a $210 million surplus.