During their last week of formal sessions this year, state legislators approved the over-the-counter sale of syringes and struck down a bill that aimed to institute the death penalty, but they failed to vote on several other bills, according to The Associated Press.
Although formal sessions ended Wednesday, lawmakers may call a vote during informal meetings. All bills that the Legislature fails to vote on by the end of December will have to be resubmitted in 2006.
Massachusetts will become the 48th state to pass a bill making syringes available over the counter. Advocates say the measure will help prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C, which can be contracted from sharing dirty hypodermic needles. But critics of the bill, including Gov. Mitt Romney, say easy access to syringes could lead to an increase in the use of drugs, such as heroin.
The House passed the bill in a 115-37 vote, which is a veto-proof margin.
Also this week, the House defeated a bill that would have made capital punishment legal in some extreme cases of murder or terrorism.
Romney, who proposed the bill last spring, said it included many safeguards to ensure 100 percent proof of guilt, calling it “failsafe.” But the bill failed in the House in a vote of 100 to 53.
No one has been executed in Massachusetts since 1947.
Romney and Democratic lawmakers have been promoting measures to overhaul the state’s health care system by making discounted coverage available to certain groups of people, including young professionals. In an effort to cut costs for taxpayers, the plan would also impose penalties on people who do not purchase insurance. But the Legislature failed to vote on health care at the end of formal sessions last night.
— Priyanka Dayal
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