Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s tax shift plan blocked for second time in Mass. House

A Republican from Norwell shut down a House session Friday for the second day in a row over concerns he has with a tax shift plan from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu that has faced renewed pushback in the Legislature this week.

Rep. David DeCoste used a procedural tactic to end legislative business for the day, a move he said he used because the plan to shift more tax levy on to commercial and business property owners could affect constituents in his district.

“This could force a lot of bankruptcies,” he told the Herald by phone.

Wu has proposed the shift to ward off an immediate hike in residential property tax bills in January, a situation that was borne out of declining commercial property values and vacancies in downtown Boston.

A spokesperson for Wu referred the Herald to a Thursday statement on the delay.

“It’s disappointing to see a procedural delay used on a local home-rule petition, especially because the state representatives from Boston already voted to support this measure and it’s their constituents who are facing the potential for a devastating tax hike that our consensus solution would address,” Wu said.

DeCoste said he plans to meet Sunday with Rep. Rob Consalvo, a Hyde Park Democrat who is shepherding Wu’s proposal through the Legislature.

“I owe him that courtesy,” DeCoste said.

The House meets again Monday at 11 a.m. in an informal session, where any one lawmaker can use the procedural tactic to block advancing bills unless House Speaker Ron Mariano marshals enough Democrats to overcome the blockade.

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