Increased vaccine oversight urged as Speaker criticizes state’s response

House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka announced Wednesday evening they will create a trio of new standing committees in the 2021-2022 session aimed at specific areas that they feel require "sustained attention and policy expertise." Those committees will focus on Covid-19 oversight and emergency management, racial equity, and cybersecurity. Mariano said in a separate, solo statement that the Baker administration’s vaccine rollout has been "marked by communications and operational shortcomings" that need to be corrected.