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.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has been attempting to enact a contentious plan to temporarily increase commercial property tax rates.

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.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu faced at times skeptical lawmakers Wednesday morning as she tried to convince them to advance a proposal to raise tax rates for commercial property owners in an attempt to