Governor Still Mulling Whether To Sign 'Grand Bargain' Bill

Gov. Charlie Baker is still mulling whether to sign the so-called "grand bargain" bill, after state lawmakers passed the agreement last week.

It would gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, create a permanent sales tax holiday, and mandate family and medical leave — paid for by a payroll tax — all in return for likely killing some ballot questions this fall.

The governor says he's talking to legislative leaders about some technical questions he has about the bill.

"The work that was done by the Legislature on this was based on a series of conversations that took place almost over six months between people on all sides of those three questions, and I think we need to respect that," Baker said.

The mandated family and medical leave would be paid for by a $900 million payroll tax. Baker wouldn't say whether that violates his pledge for no new taxes, but says he's fine with it because there is a clear benefit attached to the tax.

"I do think the version that was worked through with the folks who participated in the grand bargain made more sense, especially for small businesses, than the one that was on the ballot, which is a pretty important consideration," he said.

Backers of a ballot question to roll back the state's sales tax, as well as a question on family leave, say they will not put those initiatives before voters, since the Legislature is acting. A decision on whether or not to put a minimum wage question on the ballot should come in the next day or so.

With reporting by WBUR's Steve Brown