By Chris Lisinski, State House News Service

The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved a major tax bill Wednesday night that Democratic leaders say will generate more than half a billion dollars for transportation infrastructure by increasing taxes or fees on gasoline, corporations, ride-hailing services and vehicle purchases by rental car companies.

Lawmakers voted mostly along party lines in favor of the bill, 113-40, after about eight hours of session that featured little public debate and lengthy periods of public inactivity.

Representatives rejected or withdrew dozens of amendments that would have rewritten key sections of the bill, opting instead to advance a revenue-heavy bill, with few prescriptions for how the money should be spent, similar to the version offered by House Speaker Robert DeLeo and his top deputies.

DeLeo and other elected officials had pledged since last year that they would take action to raise new revenue for transportation, hoping to revitalize the aging and unreliable MBTA system, inject more money into road maintenance, and offer greater support to regional transit authorities.

Wednesday’s vote came after months of behind-the-scenes deliberations and with less than five months of formal lawmaking business remaining before the Legislature breaks to focus on elections.

“It has become clearer by the day that the need for more transportation revenue is real and it is immediate,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, during debate. “Whether your constituents come from a district that is considered urban or rural or anything in between, it is undeniable that our transportation system is not meeting the needs that our citizens expect and deserve.”

Under the bill (H 4508), which Democratic leaders project will bring in $522 million to $612 million per year, the state’s 24-cents-per-gallon gasoline and diesel taxes would increase by 5 cents and 9 cents, respectively.

Those hikes would be the first of their kind since 2013, when Beacon Hill approved a controversial law whose sections indexing the gas tax were repealed by voters in a referendum just one year later. That law increased the gas tax by 3 cents.

The House’s proposal also seeks increases to the corporate minimum excise tax, which has not been changed in 30 years, from $456 for all companies to a tiered structure at the top of which companies with more than $1 billion in sales would pay at least $150,000.

Transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft would be subject to higher costs as well. The bill would increase the $0.20-per-trip flat fee to $1.20 for each non-shared ride and $2.20 for every luxury ride — while keeping the cost the same when users carpool. The legislation does contain language aimed at preventing the companies from passing those hikes directly onto riders.

A Rep. Josh Cutler amendment the House adopted on a voice vote also blocks those fees from applying to riders who use the companies for paratransit service.

The fourth prong of the revenue bill would require rental car companies to pay sales tax when they purchase vehicles for their fleets, a tax from which they are exempt under existing law.

Every Republican member of the House voted against the proposed tax increases, as did independent Rep. Susannah Whipps and eight Democrats: Reps. Brian Ashe of Longmeadow, Michelle DuBois of Brockton, Colleen Garry of Dracut, Patrick Kearney of Scituate, John Rogers of Norwood, John Velis of Westfield, and Jonathan Zlotnik of Gardner.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said last week he was “disappointed” with the legislation and opposes both the gas and corporate tax increases, foreshadowing a potential veto that Democrats could override with a two-thirds votes.

Based on Wednesday’s results, the supermajority party appears to have the votes for an override if necessary.

The House shot down amendments from the GOP that would have scrapped or blunted several of the tax and fee hikes. One amendment filed by Minority Leader Brad Jones would have repealed the gas, corporate and vehicle sales tax sections of the bill if and when a surtax on household income above $1 million takes effect.

DeLeo’s team has referred to the current bill as a “bridge” to the 4 percent surtax, sometimes referred to as the “Fair Share Amendment” or “Millionaires Tax,” that is on track to appear before voters on the 2022 ballot. Supporters say that hike could generate up to $2 billion per year for education and transportation needs.

“Are we going to be true to our word if the millionaires tax increases and really spend it on transpo, or is this all part of the grand shell game?” Jones said. “If we’re going to take in $2 billion, which is supposed to be for one of two reasons, education and transportation — if that’s really what the millionaires tax is all about, then we should be willing to sunset these taxes if that in fact passes.”

Republicans also attempted to delay the implementation of the three tax pieces of the legislation until the Baker administration’s budget office and the Department of Revenue conduct a study — without being given a deadline — on the economic impact of the tax changes.

That amendment failed with just 33 representatives supporting it after Transportation Committee Chairman Rep. William Straus said the amendment was “craftily-worded” to essentially prevent the tax changes from taking effect.

“I appreciate the chairman of transportation referring to the amendment as craftily-drafted because we stole it from your side of the aisle,” Jones said, referring to the way Democrats often sink GOP-sponsored amendments by requiring the issue to first be studied. “We’ve been subjected to it numerous times.”

The legislation does not call for adjustment of roadway tolls to incentivize off-peak travel, a practice referred to as congestion pricing, but it does require a one-year study of the topic.

Rep. Alice Peisch of Wellesley filed an amendment that would have required the Department of Transportation to deploy tolls across the state and use congestion pricing, but she scaled back her proposal to require only that MassDOT develop a plan to implement the study’s recommendations. The House adopted her updated amendment.

“The Commonwealth’s worst-in-the-nation traffic is holding back our economy and hurting our quality of life,” Chris Dempsey, executive director of the Transportation for Massachusetts advocacy coalition, said in a statement. “As this proposal moves to the Senate, it will be critical to match the ambition of the Commission with real-world piloting and testing of pricing concepts so that Massachusetts drivers can see the benefits of a policy that is working in Seattle, Washington D.C., and other peer regions.”

Although the legislation dedicates new $27 million streams to both the MBTA and the RTAs, it does not come close to spending all of the $552 million-plus it could generate. Democratic leaders say they will instead use the new funding to make larger budgetary allocations later in the spring and to backstop borrowing, with a $14.5 billion transportation bond bill (H 4506) on deck for a Thursday session.

Most policy changes representatives sought to the bill were unsuccessful during Wednesday’s session.

On a voice vote with no debate, the House rejected one amendment from Rep. David LeBoeuf that would have used one cent of the diesel tax to make all RTA bus fares free to riders. Two other proposals to fund free MBTA or RTA buses were quietly withdrawn as the evening proceeded.

That decision could prompt disagreement between the House and the Senate, where President Karen Spilka has already said she believes any new transportation revenues should be used to “change behavior,” particularly by reducing public transit fares. The Senate has not laid out any concrete plans to date to consider the House bill.

Another high-profile amendment withdrawn was a Brookline Rep. Tommy Vitolo recommendation to tack on two more 5-cent increases to the gas and diesel taxes in 2022 and 2024. Like several of the fare-free proposals, that amendment was not explained or debated on the floor.

One amendment that was successful would see the Fiscal and Management Control Board that oversees the MBTA grow from five seats to seven, adding representation for the city of Boston and another municipality in the T’s coverage area.

The original House bill proposed extending the board from its July 1 expiration to 2023 with a further extension to 2025 possible, but it left the structure in place. The House adopted an amendment from Brighton Rep. Kevin Honan on an unrecorded voice vote that retains the extension and adds two seats to the board.

In his annual budget bill filed in January, Baker called for two new members on a successor board that would include a rider, a representative for an MBTA community and the secretary of transportation. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has been calling for a Boston-specific seat on the T’s oversight board since last summer.

The House’s approval for a gas tax hike comes as the Baker administration works to implement a regional cap-and-trade program on transportation emissions that officials project could prompt price increases at the pump between 5 cents per gallon and 17 cents per gallon.

That program, known as the Transportation and Climate Initiative, has come under fire as elected officials in other states have questioned its potential impact or outright declared their intention not to join. While Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts Legislature have not opposed the effort, they have raised doubts about its viability.

The transportation bill they unveiled last week includes language that would effectively require the administration to walk back the gas tax increase if TCI is implemented and raises prices. Rep. Michelle Ciccolo filed an amendment to strip that language, but she withdrew it Wednesday.

At approximately 2:47 p.m. today a Massachusetts State Police trooper happened upon a motorcycle crash on the Exit 18 off ramp from Route 90 Eastbound in Boston. The trooper immediately requested EMS to respond as the operator of the motorcycle, identified as Stephen Salazar, 32, of Jamaica Plain, was suffering from serious injuries.

Preliminary investigation reveals that Salazar was exiting Route 90 when, for reasons unknown at this time, he failed to negotiate the turn causing the motorcycle to overturn. No other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the crash. Members of Boston EMS declared him deceased at the scene.

The Exit 18 ramp was closed for approximately two hours. Troopers were assisted on scene by MassDOT, Boston Fire and Boston EMS. The crash remains under investigation by troopers assigned to State Police-Weston, Troop H Headquarters, State Police Crime Scene Services Section (CSSS), and State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section (CARS).

Today, Congressman Bill Keating announced a $735,000 grant to Mattapoisett from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). This represents approximately half of the funding on a $1.4 million project to reconstruct the roadway that serves the town’s 100-acre Industrial Park, as well as other existing businesses in the area. According to the EDA, the project will “support new business development opportunities and enable expansion of office space, light manufacturing, assembly, warehouse, and distribution activities within the industrial park.” Notably, the EDA’s anticipated impact of the project is the creation of 200 local jobs and $35 million in private investment leveraged.

“Federal funding distributed in the correct ways can create so many opportunities for our communities,” said Congressman Keating, who promoted the project to the EDA. “That is exactly what we are seeing here. Not only will be we improving our infrastructure, which alone is a win, but we are also providing opportunity – opportunity for business growth, entrepreneurial development, and partnerships with private investors. And that is to say nothing of the 200 jobs that are anticipated to be created. I congratulate both the town and the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District, who will be managing the project.”

“This is fantastic news,” said Mattapoisett Town Administrator Michael J. Gagne. “The economic development of the Industrial Park will allow the town to market expanded opportunities to local businesses and create additional jobs. Many companies at the Park are looking to expand, and this infrastructure project will facilitate that growth.”

“We are grateful for the EDA’s assistance, and all who contributed to the project” said Jeffrey Walker, Executive Director of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD), “We are excited for the town and residents of Mattapoisett and adjoining Southeast Massachusetts municipalities who will soon be benefitting from the industrial park’s expansion and creation of additional jobs made possible under the grant. We are grateful for the EDA’s assistance, and to all who contributed to the project.”

Bishop Stang Senior Julia Chausse signed a National Letter of Intent yesterday to play for Simmons University Women’s Lacrosse team (in Boston, Massachusetts), a Division-3 team in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. Julia’s parents, Don and Paula, her sister Emma, her grandparents Donald and Irene Chausse, and several friends were on hand for the signing. Bishop Stang administrative leaders and the girls’ head lacrosse coach, Lauren Pratt, were also in attendance.

Julia has played on the Bishop Stang Varsity Lacrosse team since her freshman year and is looking forward to her final season playing competitively alongside her sister. Julia first saw Simmons in her junior year and felt it was a good fit “after staying overnight this year because I enjoyed meeting the team members and felt comfortable with them immediately. I had already met Simmons coach Molly Devilbiss at a tournament, and I am looking forward to learning from her.”

Seated, Julia; standing L to R: Paula, Donald, Irene, Emma, and Donald Jr.

Although Julia knew she wanted lacrosse to be a part of her college experience, academics are just as important for her. Julia will be studying in the Simmons’ Nursing program, and is very excited that “the nursing program at Simmons will provide an opportunity to learn at some of the best teaching hospitals in the world, including Mass General, Dana Farber, Brigham and Women’s and more.”

Julia thanked her parents, Don and Paula, her grandparents, and her sister Emma for all of their love and support. She also thanked her friends, teammates, Coach Pratt, and her club coach, Bill Villareal. Julia was especially grateful to her Dad for “teaching her the game that she loves.”

The signing took place at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, MA. Contact Bishop Stang Athletic Director, Dennis Golden for more details on the National Letter of Intent at dgolden@bishopstang. com or (508) 996-5602 ext 427.

On Friday February 28, Trooper Daniel Lawlor was patrolling the Massachusetts Turnpike in Millbury. At approximately 9 a.m. he observed a black Honda Accord with illegal window tint and further observed the license plate to be fully obscured with debris. Trooper Lawlor entered traffic and subsequently stopped the vehicle.

Upon the vehicle coming to a full stop Trooper Lawlor approached it and identified the operator as ISAAC PAYNE, 28, of Show Low, Arizona, and the passenger as DAVID WILSON, 30, of Boston. He informed them why they were stopped, at which point Trooper David Meulenaere arrived on scene to assist.

The Troopers observed the occupants to appear extremely nervous and through subsequent investigation on scene conducted a search of the vehicle. Trooper Lawlor located a loaded Ruger .357 Magnum revolver as well as clear plastic bag containing a substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine. Neither occupant possessed a license to carry firearms at which point they were both placed under arrest. Also located in the vehicle was a small digital scale, commonly used in the illegal sale of narcotics, two boxes of .357 caliber ammunition, and additional bags containing crystal meth. The total weight of the seized narcotics was 325 grams.

PAYNE and WILSON were transported to State Police-Charlton where they were booked. While at the barracks a computer inquiry was conducted on the serial number of the firearm showing that it was stolen. A bail commissioner was contacted and placed a bail amount of $30,000 on both men. They were arraigned Monday morning at Westborough District Court on the following charges.

ISAAC PAYNE:
• Possession of a Firearm;
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm;
• Improper Storage of a Firearm;
• Possession of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony;
• Possession of Ammunition without FID Card;
• Receiving Stolen Property;
• Trafficking in Methamphetamine;
• Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law;
• Number Plate Violation; and
• Illegal Window Tint.

DAVID WILSON:
• Possession of a Firearm;
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm;
• Improper Storage of a Firearm;
• Possession of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony;
• Possession of Ammunition without FID Card;
• Receiving Stolen Property;
• Trafficking in Methamphetamine;
• Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law;
• Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm; and
• Failure to Wear Seatbelt.

Riding a new surge of support after his blowout South Carolina victory over the weekend, Joe Biden has stunned Elizabeth Warren on her home turf where she will have to settle for a distant third. Bernie Sanders, who held a rally in the state over the weekend and had pulled ahead in a recent poll will finish a solid second place. In the last three days several candidates withdrew from the race and endorsed Biden which has vaulted him as the main moderate left in the race.

Questions will circle the Warren camp as she evaluates her path after this evening. With 86% of the vote counted as of the publishing of this article its likely that turnout will exceed the 2016 numbers on the Democratic side. Incumbent Donald Trump won the Republican primary with 87% of the vote over former Governor William Weld.

Candidate Votes Counted as of 1:00 a.m. 86% Reporting

Biden 401,346
Sanders 320,064
Warren 246,309
Bloomberg 140,761
Buttigieg 32,107
Klobuchar 14,216
Gabbard 9,117
Steyer 5,834

A 43-year-old Pawtucket, RI man who attempted to stab a grocery store employee after being caught attempting to steal items from the store about two years ago in Attleboro has been sentenced to serve three years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Phillip Coulombe pleaded guilty last week in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.

On January 15, 2018, a store security supervisor at the Market Basket in Attleboro observed the defendant playing “Supermarket Sweep” in the aisles of the store. The defendant was running through the aisles and throwing various items into his shopping cart without looking. The security supervisor called up to another employee and asked the other employee to point the store’s surveillance cameras at the defendant.

The security supervisor, believing that the defendant was going to run for the parking lot with his carriage of items, waited for the defendant outside the doors to the store. Once the defendant came through the exit doors, the security supervisor stopped him and brought him to an upstairs office with the other employee.

While the two employees were speaking with the defendant, a third employee mentioned contacting police. As soon as the third employee mentioned the police, the defendant became extremely agitated and attempted to flee from the store. A brief struggle ensued, at which time the defendant brandished a knife and made stabbing motions at the employees. Once they noticed the knife in the defendant’s hand, the two employees backed off and the defendant fled.

The defendant, who had left his driver’s license behind at the grocery store was eventually apprehended in Rhode Island on February 8, 2018.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney William Flynn and the three-year state prison term was imposed by Judge Raffi Yessayan.

The defendant has an extensive criminal history involving larcenies and has served committed jail or prison time on multiple occasions for assaults and larcenies.

“This is a career criminal who pulled a knife on store personnel, who were trying to subdue him. He simply cannot obey the law and needed to be locked up,” District Attorney Quinn said.

The New Bedford Health Department has posted helpful information on its website regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19. The page is available on the City’s home page, www.newbedford-ma.gov, or on the Health Department’s page on the City website, under ‘News.’ The page will continue to be updated and the City and Health Department will provide more information to share any updates with the public.

Information and important links, including to the federal Center for Disease Control and Massachusetts Department of Public Health websites regarding the virus, are available on the City’s page. Information on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus is available online at hwww.newbedford-ma.gov/health-department/coronavirus/.

Recently, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, first detected in China, began spreading to other parts of the world. This virus causes a disease called COVID-19, which can lead to fever, cough and shortness of breath. There are now thousands of confirmed cases internationally, and the virus has begun to spread in the U.S., including a confirmed case of the virus in Massachusetts.

Anyone experiencing symptoms listed below, and has traveled to areas of concern, or has been in contact with someone who has traveled to these areas, should contact their healthcare provider before seeking treatment in person.

This situation will continue to be updated, including on this site and the Center for Disease Control’s website regarding the 2019 Coronavirus, which is regularly updated. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health website also includes information about the virus.

Prevention

The New Bedford Health Department recommends to following steps to prevent the spread of the virus, as well as other viruses:

• Wash your hands often, using soap and warm water, for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are feeling sick, stay home.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then throw the tissue in the trash. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve rather than into your hands.
• Clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces frequently.

Symptoms

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus is a respiratory virus that may cause mild to severe respiratory symptoms including:

• Cough
• Fever
• Trouble breathing/shortness of breath
• Pneumonia (fluid in the lungs) in severe cases

Call ahead to a healthcare provider if you develop these symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area with an ongoing spread of the virus. Tell your healthcare provider about your recent travel and/or contact with those who may been traveling over the past 2-14 days.

For recent international travelers to areas of concern:

If you traveled recently to areas of concern and have symptoms including fever, cough, or trouble breathing:

• Seek medical care right away. Call your healthcare provide first to tell them about your travel and symptoms.
• Avoid contact with others. Stay home, except to seek medical care.
• Avoid further travel.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throw the tissue in the trash.
• Practice good coughing etiquette. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve, tissue and/or handkerchief and not your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) if soap and water are unavailable.

Important Links

• Center for Disease Control COVID-19 Information
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health COVID-19 Information
• COVID-19 Facts

By Chris Lisinski, State House News Service

State representatives are seeking a significant overhaul of Democratic leadership’s landmark transportation-related tax and spending package that the House will debate this week.

In dozens of amendments, rank-and-file Democrats called for expanding the gasoline and diesel tax increases proposed by leaders, expanding road tolls to the state’s borders and funding free public transportation. Republicans will seek to scrap tax hikes or at least sunset them once a potential income surtax takes effect.

The House will begin the process by taking up a multi-pronged tax bill (H 4508) on Wednesday. The legislation, unveiled by House Speaker Robert DeLeo and his top deputies last week, seeks to raise $522 million to $612 million per year through a 5-cent gasoline tax increase, a 9-cent diesel tax increase, a tiered increase to the corporate minimum excise tax, higher fees on ride-hailing services, and application of the state sales tax to vehicle purchases by rental car companies.

One amendment, filed by Brookline Democrat Rep. Tommy Vitolo and backed by the coalition Transportation for Massachusetts, would supplement the proposed fuel tax increases with additional future hikes.

Under Vitolo’s amendment, both the gas tax and diesel tax would each increase another 5 cents in 2022 and a third five-cente increase in 2024 until they reach 39 cents per gallon and 43 cents per gallon, respectively. The amendment also increases the Earned Income Tax Credit to offset the impact of gas tax increases on low-income workers.

Other amendments would subject Suffolk and Middlesex Counties to a “higher tier” — without specifying numbers — of gas taxes, or would allow cities and towns to impose an additional 3-cent excise tax on fuel sales to retail dealers.

Republican lawmakers are poised to challenge the tax hikes sought by the Democrats who wield a supermajority. Gov. Charlie Baker has threatened to veto a gas tax increase in the past, and last week outlined his opposition to that proposal and the corporate minimum increase.

House Minority Leader Brad Jones filed amendments lessening the ride-hailing fee increases on shared and non-luxury trips and repealing the rental car sales tax application, while Rep. Elizabeth Poirier will seek elimination of the corporate minimum tax expansion.

Jones criticized Democrats for pushing tax increases now while also continuing their pursuit of a 4-percent surtax on household income above $1 million. Supporters say the proposal, which needs approval from both branches in the next lawmaking session before it can go before voters as early as 2022, could raise up to $2 billion per year for education and transportation.

Under an amendment Jones filed to the transportation revenue bill, the corporate, fuel, and rental car taxes — together accounting for about $400 million in revenue — would all be repealed if the so-called “millionaires tax” is implemented.

“(The bill) has got to be considered in the context of: we’re going to raise taxes, we have the largest rainy day fund we’ve ever had, we just had a $1 billion surplus last year, they’re pushing a $2 billion tax increase — what are they doing this for?” Jones told the News Service last week.

Some lawmakers hope to see the bill take a clearer approach to how the roughly half-billion dollars in new revenue is spent. Democratic leaders proposed two $27 million dedicated streams, one going to the MBTA and the other split between the state’s 15 regional transit authorities, but plan to use the bulk of the new funding during annual budget cycles or to backstop borrowing.

At least three different representatives filed proposals to lower or eliminate public transit fares, an idea Senate President Karen Spilka has also targeted.

A Rep. David LeBoeuf amendment would earmark one cent of the diesel tax to cover the cost of fare-free regional transit authorities, while a Rep. Joan Meschino amendment would use one cent from the gas tax to fund free MBTA buses and another cent for free RTAs.

Rep. Tami Gouveia, an Acton Democrat and a member of the Legislature’s progressive caucus, called for eliminating a sales tax discount for automobile trade-ins. Her office said the proposal could raise more than $120 million per year, which would be used to offer free, reduced and discounted fares on public transit across the state with focus on environmental justice and low-income communities.

Transportation for Massachusetts Executive Director Chris Dempsey said the gas tax has increased at a significantly slower rate than MBTA and RTA fares over the past three decades, pushing more commuters into single-vehicle trips.

“The message we’ve been sending people is to drive more and take transit less,” Dempsey, whose group endorsed Gouveia’s amendment, said. “Free fares on the RTAs, which are relatively cheap as a policy at roughly $30 million, sends the opposite message that we want people to take transit more.”

The House bill calls for a study of expanded roadway tolling and so-called “congestion pricing,” where prices vary to incentivize off-peak travel, but some members want to go further.

One amendment from Rep. Alice Peisch would establish tolls on all “Boston metropolitan area roadways and all interstate highways” with a plan for congestion pricing, and another from Rep. Carol Dykema would seek tolls on interstate highways at Massachusetts borders.

Peisch, of Wellesley, and Dykema, of Holliston, both represent constituents who regularly pay tolls for using the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Dempsey also said one of his top priorities is to see the House adopt a Rep. Michelle Ciccolo amendment eliminating language in the base bill that would scale back the gas tax increase if and when the multi-state Transportation and Climate Initiative goes into effect and raises gas prices.

“TCI has the potential to be transformational,” Dempsey said. “We don’t want to see that potential diminished by a proposal that would net out that revenue and not leave us with more to invest in cleaner transportation.”

Leadership expects to tackle the revenue bill Wednesday and then take up a $14.5 billion transportation bond bill (H 4506) — which trimmed $3.5 billion off the borrowing amount Gov. Charlie Baker sought in his version — on Thursday.

With 82 amendments filed on the revenue bill and 467 on the bond bill, the schedule is subject to change. Democratic leadership informed members to be prepared for a possible formal session on Friday if debate stretches to a third day.

The vast majority of amendments on the bond bill seek earmarks for local transportation projects, although some seek further increases in Chapter 90 funding for road and bridge maintenance or expansion of the MBTA oversight board.

Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (MSP VFAS), after working throughout the night, this morning located and apprehended a Connecticut man who ran down two judicial marshals after fleeing from a Manchester, Ct., courthouse yesterday.

The MSP VFAS Troopers captured JOSE A. LOPEZ, 42, in a room at the Motel 6 on Johnny Cake Hollow Road in Chicopee, Mass. MSP VFAS Troopers made the arrest at approximately 5:20 a.m. today after developing information on LOPEZ’s whereabouts. Troopers from State Police-Springfield and Chicopee Police Officers assisted in the arrest.

MSP VFAS Troopers took LOPEZ into custody without incident and took him to the Chicopee Police Station for a courtesy booking, and then brought him to State Police-Springfield. Connecticut State Police were immediately notified of the arrest.

LOPEZ had been sought since Monday morning. The events that triggered the manhunt began when he appeared on his own recognizance in the Manchester, Ct., Superior Court for a hearing on a misdemeanor charge. At some point during the morning, LOPEZ, possibly fearing he was going to be held, fled the courthouse.

Upon fleeing from court LOPEZ got into a car he was using. Two judicial marshals chased him on foot. LOPEZ drove into the two marshals outside the courthouse and continued to flee in the vehicle. Both marshals were injured, one critically.

LOPEZ was known to have ties to the Springfield, Mass., area and MSP VFAS began assisting in the search yesterday. Troopers from MSP VFAS, the MSP Troop B Community Action Team, and the State Police Detective Unit for Hampden County worked throughout the night checking multiple possible addresses where LOPEZ may have been hiding.

They did not locate the suspect overnight, but the search continued into this morning and led MSP VFAS to the Motel 6.

LOPEZ will be arraigned later today in Chicopee District Court as a fugitive. Prosecutors will make arrangements for his rendition to Connecticut.