Tax cuts will have to wait

Also: How to get help with soaring energy costs; Worcester's fix for school bus delays [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  November 3, 2022 ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 67. Good Morning Boston, Nova Scotia has picked the annual Christmas tree it's sending our way this year — and [she's a beaut]( Is it too early for holiday music? [Checks [the forecast]( this weekend.] Yup, definitely still too early. To the news: - We have a deal: Massachusetts Legislature leaders said Wednesday that they've worked out a $3.7 billion economic development bill that they plan to vote on today during an informal session. The legislation is big news both for what it does — and doesn't — include. - What it includes: One-time investments to provide "relief for rising energy costs," boost housing production, support the MBTA, and help out hospitals and human service workers. There are also a ton of grants for local projects around the state, from small business aid to museum renovations to bike paths. - About that energy cost relief: The bill will kick in an extra $57 million for local heating assistance programs — and WBUR's Miriam Wasser and Yasmin Amer have a super helpful guide below on how to apply if you're struggling with your energy bill. - What it doesn't include: Gov. Charlie Baker's [proposed tax cuts]( for low-income households, renters, estates and others. Citing the [tax rebates going out the door this month]( and "financial uncertainty in the year ahead," State House leaders — who had supported much of the tax cuts [before the rebate law emerged]( — [said]( they will hold off on "more permanent tax relief" until next session. - What's next: The new bill could be on Baker's desk by the end of today, but it also means the tax cut debate will be passed on to the next governor. Theoretically, Baker could block the whole economic development bill until then, too. (He's argued the state has enough revenue to pass tax cuts along with everything else.) But that seems unlikely, since he has also stressed the urgency of putting much of those economic development funds to use. - What they're saying: Baker spokeswoman Sarah Finlaw called it "extremely disappointing" that the tax cuts were left out, as costs for families continue to "skyrocket." But she also said the administration is "glad" the rest of the bill is moving forward. - The Federal Reserve [ordered another big interest rate hike]( Wednesday as it tries tamp down stubbornly high inflation. It's a move that also should pour more water on Boston's hot housing market. As WBUR's Dan Guzman [reports]( that's because the hike will likely push historically high mortgage rates even higher, at a time when home sales in Massachusetts have already begun to dip. - However, big price drops haven't come yet. And rising mortgage rates [can add hundreds of dollars to homebuyers' monthly payments]( compared to what they would have paid just earlier this year. That's expected to [make it even harder to buy a new home](. - A silver lining: Realtors told Guzman the Fed's move may lead to less "irrational" behavior from home buyers, such as buying homes sight-unseen or without inspections — risky decisions that can [leave them vulnerable in the long run](. You might even be able to haggle a bit on price! - What else? Sen. Elizabeth Warren [expressed concerns this week]( the Fed is going too fast and could cause unemployment to spike. - In a marathon meeting Wednesday, the Boston City Council closed the books on two drawn-out debates. First, they approved new districts for the body's nine district councilors, sending the map to Mayor Michelle Wu's desk for approval. Second, they overrode Wu's [veto]( of their proposed 20% pay raise for her and themselves next term. - The monthslong redistricting debate had been marred by [controversial leadership changes]( and bitter fighting over new district borders — including [what Councilor Liz Breadon decried as a "personal attack" on her integrity]( Wednesday. (Read [this Boston Herald piece]( for the backstory of the contentious process.) - The Herald [also reports]( that the Council tweaked the salary measure, so the 20% raises take effect more gradually. (Councilor salaries would climb from $103,500 to $115,000 in 2024 and then to $125,000 in 2027.) P.S.— Alisa Amador, [the Cambridge native who won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest]( brought the house down last night in front of a sold out crowd at WBUR CitySpace. If you weren't among the lucky people in attendance, you catch[a clip of the acoustic performance here](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Energy prices are skyrocketing. Here’s how you can get financial help this winter]( Energy prices are soaring this winter but Massachusetts residents have options for financial relief. [Read more.]( [Energy prices are skyrocketing. Here’s how you can get financial help this winter]( Energy prices are soaring this winter but Massachusetts residents have options for financial relief. [Read more.]( [Worcester schools' fix for bus delays? Take over the fleet]( By managing its own buses, Worcester Public Schools joins a handful of other school districts that made the same move to improve bus delays and foster better communication with families. [Read more.]( [Worcester schools' fix for bus delays? Take over the fleet]( By managing its own buses, Worcester Public Schools joins a handful of other school districts that made the same move to improve bus delays and foster better communication with families. [Read more.]( [4 Senate races that could provide the key to control]( Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona come into focus in final days. Plus: where things stand in seven other Senate contests. [Read more.]( [4 Senate races that could provide the key to control]( Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona come into focus in final days. Plus: where things stand in seven other Senate contests. [Read more.]( [Justice Department reports on sexual assaults by federal corrections employees]( The report urges an overhaul in the way the Bureau of Prisons works to prevent and investigate sexual abuse by prison employees against women in their custody. [Read more.]( [Justice Department reports on sexual assaults by federal corrections employees]( The report urges an overhaul in the way the Bureau of Prisons works to prevent and investigate sexual abuse by prison employees against women in their custody. [Read more.]( [With most votes now counted, Netanyahu seems poised to return as Israel's leader]( "We are on the cusp of a very big victory," Benjamin Netanyahu told supporters. He has partnered with the far-right and vowed to impose tougher law enforcement on Palestinians. [Read more.]( [With most votes now counted, Netanyahu seems poised to return as Israel's leader]( "We are on the cusp of a very big victory," Benjamin Netanyahu told supporters. He has partnered with the far-right and vowed to impose tougher law enforcement on Palestinians. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Halloween may be over but the local arts scene is offering up some sweet treats this weekend. Here's [five event recommendations from our arts and culture team]( from Boston to Salem. - Longtime choreographer William Forsythe's ballet "As Anticipated" is making its world premiere tonight at the Citizens Bank Opera House. Read Cathryn Haight's [preview of the eight-show run](. - A Chinese rival of Tesla has [unveiled plans for the world's first flying car]( — and the prototype honestly looks as wild as it sounds. - Dr. Joshua Budhu [writes for Cognoscenti]( that he never realized how segregated Boston was until his daily walk to work between Chinatown and Massachusetts General Hospital.  What We're Reading 📚 - Dr. Oz Used To Be A Good Doctor. What Happened To Him? ([BuzzFeed News]( - January 6 isn’t a priority for voters — even where you’d most expect it [(Vox]( - Hayao Miyazaki’s Beautiful, Broken Worlds ([The New Yorker](  Tell Me Something Good [Mass. deli will build 200-foot Italian sub to raise money for food charity (MassLive)]( The ultimate product — incorporating 75 pounds of salami and 30 pounds of cheese — will take the bulk of the local high school football field to assemble. [Read more.]( [Mass. deli will build 200-foot Italian sub to raise money for food charity (MassLive)]( The ultimate product — incorporating 75 pounds of salami and 30 pounds of cheese — will take the bulk of the local high school football field to assemble. [Read more.]( Before you go: Crazy how non-New Englanders [don't realize this](. 😂 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2022 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.