The Massachusetts legislature is back to work after the August recess.
At the top of the fall to-do list is coming up with a plan for spending the more than $5 billion the state has received as its share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has accused the Democratic-controlled legislature of dragging its feet on spending the federal money. He has proposed spending more than half of it right away on skills training for the unemployed, housing, and environmental infrastructure projects.
State Senator Eric Lesser of the First Hampden & Hampshire District co-chaired a hearing last week that focused on using the COVID relief funds for economic development, transportation, arts & tourism, climate, and infrastructure.
WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill spoke with Lesser.
