EdgeBoston.com – by Ethan Jacobs – Bay Windows
Students of the state legislature know that when lawmakers want to kill a bill without taking a vote on its merits, they vote to send it to a committee for further study. Exhibit A? Gov. Deval Patrick’s casino gambling bill. The full House disposed of the bill by sending it to a study committee rather than taking a vote on the bill itself, effectively killing the measure for the duration of this legislative session. A universal health care bill put forward via initiative petition? Killed in 2007 when it was moved to a study committee. Back in 2000, a “defense of marriage” bill was done away with by being sent to a study committee.