By Bob Katzen

House 26-130, rejected an amendment that would delete a section of the budget that provides $10 million to fund the No-Cost Calls Law that provides unlimited phone calls for inmates at county and state correctional facilities, and would redirect the $10 million to support unrestricted local aid for cities and towns.

“The Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) account in the budget is only $10 million more than the current funding level and is $23 million less than what Gov. Maura Healey has proposed,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “The UGGA line item provides an important revenue source for helping communities fund non-education programs and services, including police and firefighters, but it has failed to keep pace with inflation. This amendment would take funding that is already earmarked in the budget for the controversial unlimited no cost calls for prisoners program and instead divert it to much better use to support essential local services in our communities.”

Opponents said that the No-Cost Calls Law works because when prisoners are able to communicate with their families and friends, the result is better success rates and less recidivism. They argued that this $10 million is wisely spent on this program and means the state would be able to spend less money on its criminal justice system.

(A “Yes” vote is for redirecting the $10 million to fund unlimited phone calls to instead fund $10 million in unrestricted local aid for cities and towns. A “No” vote is against redirecting and favors keeping the $10 million funding for the No-Cost Calls Law.)

Rep. Christine Barber No Rep. Mike Connolly No Rep. Paul Donato No Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven No