MA SENATE RUNS OUT THE CLOCK ON PATS BILL UNTIL NEXT SESSION

          The MA Senate Ways and Means committee ended its session
     last night without action on a bill that would help Patriots
     Owner Robert Kraft renovate and expand Foxboro Stadium,
     according to Tina Cassidy of the BOSTON GLOBE.  The
     "earliest" the bill could be taken up again is in January.  A
     previous measure passed by the House would provide $52M in
     improvements around the stadium in return for an annual $2M
     payment from the team or town of Foxboro from parking fees.
     Kraft would also "have to commit" spending at least $50M to
     remodel the facility.  The Senate Committee would have had to
     study the House bill and the original legislation from Acting
     Gov. Paul Cellucci before coming up with its own legislation. 
     Alison Franklin, spokesperson for Senate President Thomas
     Birmingham: "[I]t would be incorrect to look at this as a
     slowing down or derailing of the bill" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/19).