A weeks-long impasse on casinos has all but monopolized the Legislature’s attention. But no matter what happens on that issue, other important bills need to be addressed:
■ Criminal justice. The state House has passed legislation overhauling the flawed criminal-records system, which can keep ex-cons from finding work long after their release. The Senate bill also includes much-needed reforms to some excessive prison sentences. Compromise has been elusive. House negotiators may be wary of violating tough-on-crime orthodoxy not once but twice. Senators, after mustering the courage to vote for sentencing reform, don’t want to give up on it. Sadly, the Senate’s principled position threatens to derail any progress at all. Legislators should pass the criminal-records reforms now and take up sentencing in the future.
■ Economic development. House and Senate leaders part company on multiple aspects of a complex economic-development bill. Here are two: First, in the guise of helping restaurateurs, the House would repeal a recent law requiring drug and medical device companies to disclose substantial gifts to medical professionals. The disclosure rules should stay, because drug and device marketing drives up health care costs. Second, legislative leaders have yet to agree on extending permits for development projects that stalled when financing dried up after the 2008 financial crisis. The projects in question have been properly vetted, and shouldn’t have to go through the process again.
■ Limiting gun sales. Governor Patrick is pushing a sensible bill that would make it harder for convicted felons to buy guns on the street from traffickers. Legal firearm purchases would be limited to one a month, which is plenty for legitimate sportsmen but would cut into sales by straw purchasers. According to federal data, 36 percent of all firearms in Massachusetts that were recovered from crime scenes and traced to their source had been legally purchased in the state. That’s ample reason to pass this bill.
■ Recycling electronic gear. Massachusetts consumers and the state’s municipalities would save millions in disposal costs under a bill that would make producers responsible for recycling waste TVs, computers, and printers. So-called “e-waste’’ makes up the fastest growing portion of the municipal solid-waste stream, and currently just 20 percent of it gets responsibly recycled. The devices contain toxic chemicals, lead, mercury, and cadmium. Some producers may charge consumers more if the bill passes, but the prices of these goods should reflect their environmental costs. Twenty other states, including Maine, Connecticut, and Rhode Island have passed similar legislation.
