Massachusetts lawmakers scramble to make pandemic protections permanent as state of emergency end nears

Lawmakers are scrambling to make permanent a slew of pandemic-era protections — including provisions like cocktails to-go and expanded outdoor dining — that have helped float small businesses.

Gov. Charlie Baker will end the state of emergency on June 15, he announced Monday, pledging to work with lawmakers to keep needed protections.

Legislative leaders have asked the Baker administration for a full list of emergency regulations that will be affected by Monday’s announcements and in a statement from their offices said they “look forward to working together with the Baker Administration as we seek to provide a seamless transition out of the State of Emergency and back to ‘new normal.'”

Lawmakers are looking to the upcoming Senate budget debate as a mechanism for swift passage.

The debate will likely trigger some deja vu for state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, who two months ago tussled with colleagues as they first debated a yet-to-pass bill dealing with unemployment insurance, in an effort to help restaurants.

The Methuen Democrat tacked on provisions to cap fees charged by third-party delivery apps and extend restaurants’ ability to sell cocktails to-go for two years after the state of emergency ends, but was cut-off by colleagues who said the state of emergency “is not going to be lifted any time soon.”

The bill, which aims to slash taxes for unemployed workers, waive taxes on forgiven federal Paycheck Protection Program loans and freeze the unemployment insurance rate for employers for two years — is headed back before the Senate for debate this week, according to State House insiders.

“Businesses are still in survival mode,” DiZoglio said during a morning rally. “To actually recover and not just survive but thrive, they will need to continue to have these opportunities.”

State Sen. Nick Collins has pitched an amendment to extend outdoor dining expansion and give municipalities more control that he called “critical to ensure a robust recovery from COVID-19 impacts.”

Baker declared a state of emergency on March 10, 2020. With it came sweeping executive powers to mandate business closures, mask-wearing, social distancing and other restrictions that have ruled nearly all facets of life in the commonwealth ever since.

Baker’s broad and long-lasting authority under the pandemic emergency has been questioned by lawmakers and in the courts.

Paul Diego Craney, a spokesman for MassFiscal, said lifting the emergency “could not come a day sooner.” The conservative-leaning MassFiscal has supported a legal battle now petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Baker’s executive power.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3oo94zs