TONIGHT ON "TALKING POLITICS."

IT'S THE END OF THE YEAR FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND LAWMAKERS WORKED INTO THE EARLY HOURS OF THURSDAY MORNING TRYING TO FIND OUT AND WHAT THEY PASSED AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECTED LIKE RENT CONTROL AND HEALTH CARE REFORM ARE SWIRLING.

TRUE TO FORM, THERE IS A LOT THAT THE LELINGS TUR LEFT UNFINISHED AND THE HELP FOR THE STATE'S MIGRANT CRISIS.

>> THERE IS IMPORTANT WORK IN APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO GETTING IT DONE.

BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO.

>> THE HOUSE AND SENATE COULDN'T AGREE ON A NUMBER TO FIND SHELTER FOR MIGRANT FAMILIES.

BUT LAWMAKERS COULDN'T COME TOGETHER ON HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT, INFORMAL SESSIONS HAVE DIFFERENT RULES AND IF THEY DON'T PASS A COMPROMISE BEFORE JANUARY 3, THE BILL EXPIRES AND BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

CO-ATHOUSAND OR AND STATE HOUSE CHRIS.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

AND WE ARE MOSTLY AWAKE TO DO IT AFTER A MARATHON ON WEDNESDAY EVENING THURSDAY MORNING.

LISA, WHAT WAS THE MOOD LIKE IN THE STATE HOUSE AS THIS WAS HAPPENING.

WHEN DID IT BECOME CLEAR THERE WASN'T GOING TO BE A DEAL?

>> VERY SUDDENLY.

I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO LAWMAKERS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THEY SEEMED HOPEFUL IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

PEOPLE WHO WERE CLOSE TO THE DEPUTIES CLOSE TO DOING THE NEGOTIATION FELT THEY COULD GET SOMETHING AND SEEING IF THEY COULD GET TRADE DEALS AND GET TO AN AGREEMENT.

AND FOLKS IN BOTH CHAMBERS SAID IT WAS LIKELY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY THEY ARE COMING OUT SEPARATELY.

>> THE HOUSE ON ONE SIDE AND SENATE ON THE OTHER.

>> RACING ON THE THIRD FLOOR AND INDICATOR THAT THE DEAL ISN'T COMING THROUGH AND THE CLOCK STRUCK PAST MIDNIGHT AND EVERYONE WAS FLOATING AND EVERYONE IF GO HOME.

>> THIS $2.8 BILLION SPENDING DEAL TO CLOSE THE BOOKS ON THE FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDED A FEW MONTHS AGO.

WHAT WAS THE STICKING POINT.

WHERE WAS THE STICKING POINT?

>> IT COMES DOWN TO THE MONEY FOR THE EMERGENCY SHELTER.

THE HOUSE WANTS TO GIVE $250 MILLION WITH HOW MUCH MONEY NEEDS TO GO TO EACH OF THE STATE'S RESPONSE AND WANTS THE GOVERNOR TO STAND UP WHERE FAMILIES WHO ARE ON A WAIT LIST COULD GO ON A BACKUP OPTION AND THE SENATE GIVES $250 MILLION AND GIVES THE GOVERNOR WHAT DOES BEST.

I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

THEY COULDN'T GET PAST THE TWO DIFFERENT VISIONS HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BE USED AND BROKE WITH NO CLEAR PATH FORWARD.

>> WE ARE HEADED INTO THE WINTER SEASON NOW AND THE STATE IS FACING A STRAINED SHELTER SYSTEM THAT IS PASSED CAPACITY.

WHAT IS AT STAKE?

>> PEOPLE WHO FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN ARE AT RISK OF BEING OUT IN THE COLD.

IF A DEAL HAD BEEN MADE THIS WEEK AND REACHED THE GOVERNOR'S DESK THERE WOULD BE A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE IF THE LANGUAGE IS INCLUDED IN OVER-FLOW SHELTER AND SEE IF THAT GETS STOOD UP AND THE MONEY COMES IN, BUT IT WOULD BE ON THE WAY RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE COULD BE HOMELESS AND COLD AT THE END OF THE YEAR UNABLE TO REACH ANYTHING AND UNCERTAIN IF THERE IS ANY PROVISION FOR FAMILIES OR RESOURCES.

THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND, IN THE MEANTIME, THE STATE IS RUNNING WITH THE MONEY EXPECTED TO HOLD MAYBE 5,000 FAMILIES.

THE MONEY THEY ASKED FOR $250 MILLION AND 666 FAMILIES IN THE SHELTERED SYSTEM AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE HOMELESS.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU HAVE ADVOCATES AND PROVIDERS WHO ARE MAKING CALLS TRYING TO FIND SHELTER SPACE OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILY SHELTER SYSTEM, PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR HOTELS.

THOSE RESOURCES ARE GOING TO RUN OUT.

AND PEOPLE WILL HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

>> PART OF THE BIG ISSUE AT HAND IS WE HAVE THIS INFLUX OF NEW MIGRANT ARRIVALS AND MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS DEALING WITH HIGH PRICES AND THE GOVERNOR HAS CAPPED THE SHELTER SYSTEM AT 7500 FAMILIES AND WE HAVE A WAIT LIST IN PLACE.

LISA, WHERE WE HAVE THIS DEBATE ABOUT WHAT STRINGS TO ATTACH TO THE SHELTER MONEY WHERE ARE PROVIDERS AND ADVOCATES ON THIS ISSUE?

>> ADVOCATES FOR HOMELESSNESS, THEY ARE SIDING.

THE HOUSE WAS MANAGE DATING $50 MILLION FOR THE STATE TO STANDUP FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE WAIT-LISTED AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ADVOCATES WANTS TO SEE.

THEY ARE TERRIFIED PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREET.

AND THE WBR REPORTED AND YOU KNOW, YES, THEY WANT TO SEE THE OVERFLOW SITE AND PEOPLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO THE $5 MILLION THAT THE STATE IS GIVING TO UNITED WAY TO HELP WITH THE SITUATION, THOSE HAVEN'T OPENED YET.

ADVOCATES AND PROVIDERS, THEY ARE SEARCHING TO GIVE FOLKS WHO ARE WAIT-LISTED SOMEWHERE TO GO.

>> SO, CHRIS, CAN YOU WALK US YOU THROUGH WHY WAS IT A BIG DEAL TO GET IT DONE BY WEDNESDAY?

>> WEDNESDAY WAS THE FINAL DAY FOR FORMAL SESSIONS UNDER 2023 FOR RULES THAT GOVERN HOUSE AND RULES.

FOR SEVEN WEEKS THEY CAN MEET A SINGLE AND REPUBLICANS IN BOTH HOUSES.

THEY GOT SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE SHELTER FUNDING AND STATE RESOURCES GOING TO NEW MIGRANT FAMILIES.

EVEN A SINGLE REPUBLICAN COULD REACH A DEAL TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK A WEEK FROM NOW, TWO WEEKS FROM NOW.

DEMOCRATS HAVE LEFT EXPOSED TO POLITICAL MANEUVERING AND THE -- THE HOUSE AND SENATE BOTH HAVE DEMOCRAT NUMBERS TO MUSCLE ANYTHING INTO LAW EVEN OVER THE GOVERNOR'S OBJECTIONS AND THEY NEED TO GET EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN ON BOARD.

>> THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS THAT PUM POPPED INTO MINDS AND WE HAVE A LITTLE CLIP OF THE HOUSE SPEAKER ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.

>> IS THE PLAN TO HAVE THIS INFORMAL SESSION AND DO YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN GET REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL?

>> UMH -- THE REPUBLICANS ARE ON RECORD FOR TOTALLY VOTING AGAINST THIS.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY NEED ANOTHER VOTE IS OPEN TO DISCUSSION.

WE WILL TALK TO THEM.

>> DOESN'T SOUND LIKE TOO MUCH CERTAINTY.

YOU TALKED TO THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, BRAD JOINS, WHAT DID HE SAY TO ABOUT THIS?

>> HE CALLED THIS A COLOSSAL FAILURE OF REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP.

AND HE WASN'T PRIVY OF THE TALKS THAT WENT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT BUT HE MADE IT CLEAR HE SAW SOME CONCERNS.

HIS IDEA OF A PATH FORWARD IS THAT THERE ARE POSITIONERS OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET HE WANTS TO SEE PASS.

HE SEES REPUBLICANS WANT TO SEE THROUGH THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND SOME OTHER PROVISIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS GOING TO SUGGEST MULTIPLE BILLS AND AT LEAST THE SENATE, LIKELY THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY A LOT TO LOSE, INCLUDING INFLUENCE OVER THE $250 MILLION.

SO, THERE IS NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT REPUBLICANS WON'T TRY TO SORT OF DERAIL INFORMAL SESSIONS HERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL COMPROMISED BILL LOOKS LIKE.

>> WILD CARD, RIGHT?

>> IT IS WORTHYING THROUGH VOTING AGAINST A BILL THAT IS GOING TO VOTE IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM PREVENTING A BILL TO BECOME A LAW WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH AT STAKE.

COLLECTIVELY BARGAINING RAISES.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONCRETE THAT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN IS WILLING TO GO SO FAR.

>> I WOKE UP TO SEVERAL TEXTS ON THURSDAY FROM STATE WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING ON RAISES WHAT DOES THIS MEAN.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSE, LISA.

WHERE DOES IT LOOK LIKE THE SENATE MIGHT LOOK LIKE ON THIS?

>> THEY ARE CONFIDENT.

YOU SAW THAT FROM THE SENATE AND WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR, FOUR POTENTIALLY WHEN IT COMES THROUGH, REPUBLICANS IN THAT CHAMBER BECAUSE STATE REPRESENTATIVE DURANT, HE WON THAT SPECIAL ELECTION TO GO OVER TO THE SENATE IN LARGE PART OF CAMPAIGNING HOW THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION WAS HANDLING THE MIGRANT CRISIS.

IT WILL BE TO SEE HOW HE KEEPS FOLKS IN LINE AND LETS ANYONE OBJECT TO IT.

AND WANTED TO HAVE SOMEONE AT THE TABLE AND THAT WAS THE ISSUE OF HOW THINGS ARE PLAYING OUT.

WE'LL SEE.

>> ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS WHEN IT IS IN A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, WE CAN'T SEE UNTIL A BILL COMES OUT.

CHRIS, DO WE HAVE A FENCE OF WHERE THOSE NEGOTIATIONS STAND?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY ARE CONTINUING TO TALK BUT IN TERMS OF A FORMAL SITDOWN BETWEEN NEGOTIATEDORS.

NEXT WEEK IS A SHORTENED WEEK.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF A TIMELINE WHEN WE MIGHT SEE A BILL?

[LAUGHTER] >> WE NEED TO SEE WHO IS IN THE CONFERENCE KI AND LIKE YOU SAID THERE IS NOT MUCH WE CAN SEE BUT BECAUSE LEADERSHIP DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE ANY OF THIS KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC AT THIS POINT.

THE SENATE LEADERSHIP EVEN DECLINED TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THE STICKING POINTS BEFORE A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED AND STARTED.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE AREN'T GOING TO SEE ANY DETAILS ANY TIME IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

>> YOUR TAKE, LISA.

>> EVERYTHING IS CLOSED DOOR UNTIL THE DEAL IS DONE AND EVERYTHING COMES OUT AT ONCE.

IT COULD BE DAYS OR MONTHS.

>> WORTH POINTING OUT, TOO, IF SOMETHING COMES OUT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, LAWMAKERS CAN'T CHANGE IT.

ACCEPT IT OR REJECT IT.

IT IS A WAY TO STRONG ARM THEIR CHAMBERS IN GETTING ON BOARD.

>> THEY REPORT OUT PIECES.

AND SEE WHAT ARE DIFFERENT CHUNKS OF THE BILL THAT ARE IN AGREEMENT.

>> THAT IS A ROUTE THAT COULD HAPPEN THIS TIME THAT ANY SPENDING BILL THAT DOESN'T GET FINISHED BY JANUARY WILL GET RESET.

>> HAVE WE HEARD WHERE THE HEALEY ADMINISTRATION AND THE DISBOFER IS ON THIS?

>> THE ADMINISTRATION IS UNHAPPY.

BUT THE SPENDING PLANS DIDN'T GET PASSED BECAUSE OF THE SHELTER CRISIS AND THE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS IN THE BILL.

BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS TAKEN A HANDS-OFF APPROACH.

SHE MADE THIS REQUEST FOR THE $250 MILLION FOR THE SHELTER MONEY BACK IN SEPTEMBER, BUT MOSTLY KEPT HER IER ON THE FEDS LACK OF THEIR HELP ON THE MONEY AND WORK PROCESSING AND INSTEAD OF WEIGHING INTO THE LEGISLATURE.

>> AND STEPHANIE.

>> I DIDN'T HEAR BACK WHEN I ASKED ABOUT RESPONSE ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT I IMAGINE THEY ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THEIR IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES WHICH IS ARE COULD HELP PEOPLE GET OUT OF SHELTERS AND INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.

BUT THEY HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THESE IMMEDIATE NEEDS THAT ARE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> A LOT TO THINK ABOUT AND WATCH AS WE KIND OF KEEP WAITING FOR THE LEGISLATURE DIDN'T GET DONE.

BUT THEY DID GET A FEW BILLS AT LEAST ONE CHAMBER ON THIS MARATHON WEDNESDAY SESSION A CHRIS, 1:00 A.M. WEDNESDAY WHERE AFTER WE FINISHED ASKING ALL OF OUR MANY QUESTIONS TO THE SENATE LEGISLATION ABOUT AND HERE IS WHAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY.

>> THE SENATE PASSED A TERRIFIC DRUG PRESCRIPTION DRUG REFORM BILL TODAY THAT WILL ACTUALLY MAKE ESSENTIAL MEDICINES MORE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

IT IS A MAJOR BILL AND SOMETHING WE ARE HOPING THAT WILL GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

>> CHRIS YOU MADE PASSENGERS TO THIS BILL, IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN EXPECT TO GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO THE PATIENT?

>> THE JURY IS STILL OUT AND THIRD TIME THAT THE SENATE HAS TRIED TO WRANGLE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

EACH OF THE TWO VERSIONS DIED AND NO INDICATION OF MOVEMENT THAT THEY ARE SUDDENLY ON BOARD WITH THIS.

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT.

THESE THINGS DO TAKE TIME.

SHOULD THE HOUSE GET ON BOARD, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD HAVE SUBSTANTIAL REFORMS FOR PATIENTS AND SET A CAP OF $25 OUT OF POCKET ON CERTAIN BRAND NAME MEDICATIONS ZERO DOLLARS FOR OUT OF POCKET DRUG VARIANTS AND PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS AND PHARMACEUTICAL GIANTS.

IT IS INCREDITLY UNCLEAR.

>> WHAT WAS THE HOUSE UP TO?

>> THEY HAVE THEIR SIGHTS SET ON LONG-TERM INDUSTRY REFORM BILL THAT HAS BEEN THE PRIORITY.

THAT ONE TAKES SOME REFORMS SUGGESTED WAY BACK IN 2020 BEFORE THE COVID-19 HIT AND ACCOUNTS FOR ALL THE DEVASTATION THAT THE PANDEMIC WROUGHT.

IT WOULD REQUIRE INFECTION PROTOCOLS AND LATTER AND WORKFORCE GRANTS TOP BUILDUP THIS INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF STAFF SHORTAGES AND NEW REQUIREMENTS LIKE THE SENATE BILL DOES ON PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

>> IS THIS ANOTHER CRYSTAL BALL SITUATION?

>> ANOTHER CRYSTAL BALL SITUATION.

NO RESPONSE IN THE SENATE, WE WILL REVIEW WHAT THE HOUSE GIVES US.

MAYBE THE BRANCHES WILL DO BOTH OF THESE AND SIT HERE THAT BOTH DICE WITHOUT A VOTE.

>> WORTH NOTING FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AVID READERS OF THE LEGISLATURE RULES AS THIS GROUP AROUND ME BUT THESE BILLS WILL CARRY OVER.

BUT SPENDING BILL WHERE THE CLOCK RESETS AND THE SECOND LEGISLATURE THAT WE HAVE THE BULK AND ONE ISSUE THAT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION THAT LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN TO IS TOPIC OF RENT CONTROL IS SOMETHING THAT WAS EYED AS A BALLOT QUESTION.

AND DO YOU HAVE A SENSE FY THAT CAMPAIGN DROPPED ITS EFFORTS?

>> IT DIDN'T HAVE THE SIGNATURES AT THE END OF THE DAY AND NOT TO SAY THERE ISN'T INTEREST ANYWHERE, BUT NOW YOU HAVE JUST THE OP ON SHONN OF GETTING IT THROUGH THE SIMILAR PROVISIONS HAVE GONE NOWHERE AND LOCAL BILLS FROM BOSTON AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE NOT PASSED AND THAT IS NOT TO ALLOW THE LOCAL OPTION TO MAKE IT LAW.

SO AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, APPEALING -- AMEND AMENDING CERTAIN RULES WHEN IT COMES TO RENT CONTROL, IT WILL BE A ROUGH PATH FORWARD.

BUT YOU HAVE A BETTER IDEA THAN I DO.

>> GETTING THE ALMOST 75,000 SIGNATURES TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE BALLOT CAMPAIGN IS A HUGE HURDLE THAT FOLLOWS A LOT OF DIFFERENT BALLOT CAMPAIGNS.

THERE ARE SOME GROUPS, IF YOU THINK OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION THAT IS A BALLOT QUESTION -- >> I USED THAT.

>> YES.

I'M A LITTLE OVERTIRED.

AS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.

OVER 100,000 MEMBERS PLUS AND THEY GO OUT AND YOU CLEAR THAT THRESHOLD.

THE RENT CONTROL CAMPAIGN WAS SMALLER MORE LIKE A RAG-TAG GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT CAME TOGETHER WHEN REPRESENTATIVE KON OLLIE FILED THIS.

A BATTLE CONTINUING ON BEACON HILL WHERE HOUSE LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVE SEEN THE TWO TOP DEPUTIES IN THE HOUSE PUBLICLY SPEAK OUT AGAINST RENT CONTROL AND HOME RULE PETITION TO DO IT IN BOSTON AND THE CONCEPT MORE GENERALLY AND HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR TAWNGD ABOUT IT THAT PERSONALLY RIGHT NOW HE IS NOT CONVINCED OF BRINGING IT BACK AND HE REMEMBERS IT FROM A FEW YEARS AGO AND DOESN'T LIKE IT.

A LOT OF THINGS TO GO THROUGH JUST CONVINCING LEADERSHIP AND NOTHING GETS DONE IF YOU CAN'T CONVINCE LEADERSHIP.

>> A HEAVY LIFT THERE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SEEN ADVOCACY.

WHAT OTHER ISSUES ARE THE THREE OF YOU WATCHING FOR WHEN WE COME BACK IN JANUARY?

>> WE ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE SENATE DOES ABOUT THE STATE'S GUN LAWS.

THIS GENERATED WITHOUT GETTING THE SENATE ON BOARD AND PROCEDURAL FIGHTS AND INTENSE VOCAL OUTCRY.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT HAS SAID THAT DESPITE THE HEAD BUTTING HOW THIS UNFOLDED AND WANTS TO PUT A GUN BILL ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BY THE END OF THE TERM.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD EXPECT IN 2024.

>> SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT REMINDED ME OF THIS BUT UNFINISHED WITH THE COMMISSION.

>> THE RECOMMENDATION.

>> YEAH.

THEY ESSENTIALLY RECOMMENDED INSTEAD OF A SPECIFIC NEW SEAL AND MOTTO CREATED ANOTHER COMMISSION TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> THIS IS AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF WORK TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT A NEW SEAL WHICH WOULD GO ON THE STATE FLAG.

>> THE CURRENT ONE HAS BEEN CONSIDERED RACIST AND OFFENSIVE.

SEEMS LIKE THE COMMISSION AGREED ON THAT MUCH THAT IT NEEDS TO CHANGE BUT AS FAR AS GETTING IT DONE, IT DID NOT AND A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS BUT MAYBE A CRANBERRY OR WHATEVER ICON.

>> FLORA OR FAWNA.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT LISA?

>> I WANT TO LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE THINGS.

AND I WANT TO LOOK AT WHERE THE MIGRANT SITUATION GOES NEXT.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS A PATCH OF BAND-AIDS, SOMETHING TO GET AN EXISTING BUDGET TO GET EXHAUSTED THROUGH ANOTHER FEW MONTHS.

COME SPRING, LAWMAKERS, THE GOVERNOR, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND FIGURE OUT A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND LONGER PATH FORWARD ESPECIALLY IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO NOT GIVE THE LEVEL OF HEALTH THAT STATE OFFICIALS WANT FROM THEM.

BUT I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WHAT THROUGH ALL THESE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AND DIFFERENT VIEW POINTS ON THE SHELTER, THE RIGHT TO SHELTER LAW ITSELF, WHETHER THAT NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED.

WE SAW THAT COMING UP FROM DEBATES NOT JUST FROM REPUBLICANS BUT DEBATES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS AND HOW THE STATE IS GOING TO HANDLE THIS BESIDES OF TAKING IN A CAP AND PUTTING A FEW MORE HUNDRED MILLIONS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND EMBARK ON A WORKING HOLIDAY BREAK AND THERE ARE OTHER ELEMENTS.

DO YOU WANT TO BREAK OUT SOLE NEWS FROM THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THIS MORNING?

>> IF YOU HEARD -- FORMER STATE SENATOR.

>> YES.

SO, HE WAS INDICTED AND ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF -- WELL, 25 OR SO FRAUD CHARGES AND SOME ADDITIONAL RUNS ON ALLEGATIONS OF COVID FRAUD.

THEY SAY AFTER HE LEFT OFFICE, HE ALLEGEDLY APPLIED FOR THE PANDEMIC U. I.

BENEFITS DESPITE WORKING FOR AN OUGHT MOTT I HAVE PARTS COMPANY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AS A CONSULTANT.

AND ACCUSED OF POCKETING $30,000 IN PANDEMIC AID AND HIDING LIKE $50,000 ARE PLUS.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT AND HE IS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, HE STILL HAS THOSE CHARGES ON THE STATE LEVEL REGARDING ALLEGEDLY ABUSING HIS POWER AS A STATE SENATOR AND MAKING HIS STAFF WORK ON HIS CAMPAIGN DURING WORKING HOURS AND INTIMIDATING AN ELDERLY CONSTITUENT STEALING A GUN.

THESE HAVE HUGE IMPLICATIONS FOR WHAT ONE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.

>> ANOTHER STORY LINE TO WATCH OVER.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANKS FOR IT FOR TONIGHT.

BUT DO COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

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FOR NOW, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND GOOD NIGHT.