Mass. Senate to Take Up Transportation Bill On Saturday

The state Senate has scheduled a rare Saturday session to take up a hotly-contested transportation finance bill that was approved by the House earlier in the week.

    The Senate had originally planned to debate the bill on Thursday, but leaders decided to give members until 5 p.m. on Friday to file proposed amendments to the bill.

    The current Senate version of the bill calls for dedicating about $120 million in additional revenues to transportation.

    Both the House and Senate propose raising the state's gasoline tax by three cents a gallon, but the Senate version would also redirect to transportation a little-known 2.5 cents per gallon surtax.

    Gov. Deval Patrick has criticized the Legislature's plan, saying it does not address the state's long-term transportation needs.  (Associated Press)