Mass. formally opens legislative session

BOSTON (AP) — Legislative leaders say gun control and transportation funding will be among the key issues facing Massachusetts lawmakers in the new session.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray were easily re-elected to their respective leadership posts shortly after members of both heavily Democratic branches were sworn-in by Gov. Deval Patrick.

In their remarks, both DeLeo and Murray referenced the recent fatal shootings of 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school and promised to explore ways to toughen gun laws and keep weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill.

DeLeo called on lawmakers to address a transportation financing gap but declared that the burden of paying to upgrade the state's transportation system should not be borne by any one region of the state over another.

Cox Media Group