Mass. Senate Leader Hopeful On Transportation Bill

There are signs that Gov. Deval Patrick and legislative leaders may be inching closer to compromise on a transportation finance bill.

Senate President Therese Murray said Thursday she was hopeful that Patrick would back off his threat to veto the bill, while the governor said the current Senate version of the bill was ``definitely moving in the right direction.'' The bill passed the House earlier in the week and is slated for debate in the Senate on Saturday. Patrick harshly criticized the bill when it was first proposed last week by House and Senate leaders.

He called it a 'fiscal shell game' that would not do enough to address the state's long-term transportation needs. The Senate bill would dedicate additional revenue for transportation. Both Murray and Patrick said their respective staffs had been in contact about the legislation.