By Bob Katzen
House 149-9, approved and sent to the Senate a $63.41 billion fiscal 2027 state budget after three days of debate. The House version now goes to the Senate which will approve its own version. A House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a compromise plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and then sent to Gov. Maura Healey.
“As a result of the Trump Administration’s sweeping federal funding cuts and reckless trade war, as well as two proposed ballot questions that seek to cut the commonwealth’s revenues by more than $5 billion annually, this budget has come during a period of significant economic uncertainty,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano. “That’s why I’m incredibly proud of the investments that this budget makes despite those challenges, from funding for free school meals and for the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, to robust support for the MBTA, to nearly $10 billion for cities and towns across the commonwealth.”
“This budget builds off the successes of the last few years by prioritizing our constituents,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “Whether it is greater investments into programs like housing stability, public transportation or early education, these initiatives are a reflection of our shared values. By reinvesting in the people of the commonwealth, we will continue to make our economy more competitive and equitable for years to come.”
“[This is] a strong, responsive budget that both serves the needs of our constituents and continues to address the commonwealth’s initiatives for competitiveness and statewide excellence,” said Rep. Kip Diggs (D-Barnstable), assistant vice chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
“The budget is all wrong,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver). “Communities should be the first thing funded behind roads and other infrastructure. School funding needs to be reimagined. We need to work on cutting taxes and energy costs and returning that money back to citizens and communities. Democrats rejected multiple amendments that would move a little back to communities and eventually a little adds up to a lot and before we know it, everyone is fully funded, bills are lower and people have more money in their pockets, spending more and the state revenues climb, all by asking for less.
“The Massachusetts House budget is the largest in state history,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “It includes no reforms to the state’s welfare system, which is spending $1 out of every $4 state dollars on welfare benefits, nor does it include any tax cuts, which were offered as budget amendments. In fact, it doesn’t even address the concern that local aid in Massachusetts is now below the national average levels. State spending has become incredibly reckless and irresponsible, hurting local towns and cities with below national average local aid, and saddling taxpayers with obligations we cannot afford. The House leaders who pushed this state budget are not concerned with the taxpayers, just like they are not concerned with following the audit law that was passed by the voters.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the $63.41 billion budget. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Mike Connolly Yes Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven Yes