State House Spotlight: A friend like Maura

From health insurance to who can mobilize the National Guard, it was another national politics focused week on Beacon Hill in Boston. And 22 News state house reporter Olivia Ray breaks down state lawmakers response to federal policy changes. >> Massachusetts events reflected national headlines this week with healthc care and the National Guard top of mind. 400,000 Bayaters rely on Affordable Care Act subsidies to pay for their health insurance. And Governor Healey spoke up early in the week urging Congress to act. >> All they need to do is just take a vote and extend these credits for some amount of time because if they don't, people are going to suffer. >> Congress voted not to extend subsidies, all but guaranteeing exponentially higher bills. The governor joined National Guard members to celebrate the branch's 389th birthday in a Thursday ceremony. At the very same time, defense officials testified in front of the US Senate about whether the president's deployments of the guard to Democrat-led cities was justified. The agitant general pointed out the unique challenges of answering to the governor, the president, and a civilian employer. >> But what makes it really hard in the guard is you've got three knives you need to keep in the air. Shifting back to a New England focus, Republican New Hampshire lawmakers visited the state house in Boston on Thursday, telling reporters they can't afford to lose a friend like Mora Healey. >> You guys are doing us the the biggest service in the world, Massachusetts, in the governor's office for allowing businesses to get frustrated and leave the state. >> The Mass Fiscal Alliance, a conservative watchdog group, joined these legislators to call for tax cuts to attract and keep businesses in the Bay State. Finally, a weed update. A policy change came out of the Cannabis Control Commission on Thursday, laying the groundwork for social cannabis consumption in 2026. Working for you from the state house in Boston, I'm Olivia Ray, 22 News.