PEABODY – Senate Majority Leader Frederick Berry, D-Peabody, says there’s a change in the atmosphere of the Senate – and he gave credit to Senate President Robert Travaglini as the main reason.

Berry said the new Senate president allowed senators to be creative in terms of public policy.

They’ll need to be in 2004, if analysts are correct in predicting that the fiscal 2005 budget will be close to $2 billion.

Both Berry and Travaglini are completing their first year in state Senate leadership posts. Berry said the House, Senate and Gov. Mitt Romney worked together to avoid new taxes and close a fiscal 2004 budget deficit of nearly $3 billion through reforms, program cuts and fee increases.

The three State House branches also worked together to pass an economic stimulus bill which will invest state funds in private sector support of innovative technologies and offer business incentives like research and development credits, tax rebates and a sales tax holiday.

Berry called the bill proof that Massachusetts wants to remain competitive in the global marketplace.

He said the only sour note was Romney’s decision to veto the medical device industry tax credit, the International Tourism initiative and other provisions that would help the North Shore.

Berry also praised the passage of legislation that protects the public from violent criminals and sex offenders.