Boston Mayor Michelle Wu caught a break Monday when the absence of a Republican lawmaker who blocked her plan to hike commercial tax rates on two occasions last week allowed the bill to pass the House and advance to the Senate.

Mayor Michelle Wu and Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for "border czar," are clashing over deportation comments. What they each said

Wu has said the measure is urgently needed, but a lawmaker who does not represent any part of Boston was able to stop the bill from advancing, at least temporarily.