Democrats in the Massachusetts House and Senate say they have reached a deal on a supplemental budget that will provide additional funding for the state's overtaxed shelter system, but Republicans took a rare step to put up a roadblock.
Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and Sen. Michael J. Rodrigues, chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, announced the agreement in a joint statement Thursday morning.
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"On behalf of our fellow conferees, we're pleased to announce that we've reached an agreement on the supplemental budget to close the books on Fiscal Year 2023," they said. "Our respective staffs are actively working to finalize remaining details and complete the work required to file a Conference Committee report. We anticipate a report being filed in the coming hours to ensure that the House and Senate can act on the report promptly and send it to the Governor."
Republican leaders in both chambers said late Thursday afternoon they would file an order calling for a formal session, which under legislative rules are on hold until early January.
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Republicans opposed competing versions of the bill during roll call votes earlier this month, but their order would give Democrats a chance to pass the bill they wrote soon, if they are willing to suspend rules to allow a near-term formal session.
Democratic leaders were quick to criticize the GOP move.
"It's incredibly disappointing that House Republicans are blocking the passage of the supplemental budget," Speaker Ronald Mariano said in a statement. "This bill includes $3 billion worth of critical funding for state employee raises and for a number of other pressing issues. Despite that, House Republicans are willing to jeapordize the entire package over $250 million that will be used to provide shelter for all vulnerable families in Massachusetts. This is especially disconcerting considering that every Republican amendment regarding the emergency assistance program was resoundingly voted down just a few weeks ago."
Earlier Thursday, Republican Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said Democrats' optimism of a deal was "absolutely presumptive."
"There are two parties in this building, and they each have an important role to play," Tarr said.
"House Democrats are committed to ensuring that this attempt at obstructionism fails to prevent the vital investments being made in this legislation from being approved as soon as possible," Mariano said in his statement.
Democrats were unable to finish work on the controversial $2.8 million supplemental budget before formal sessions ended on Nov. 15, meaning they had to come up with a bill that received unanimous support in informal sessions. The original bill was aimed at pouring $250 million into the emergency shelter system and included $300 million to fund raises for public employees, in addition to funding for Medicaid, special education and flood relief.
The exact details and the final dollar figure of the newly-negotiated final bill have not yet been released, but Mariano said it will include the $250 million to support the influx of migrants to the state. At least $75 million will go to school districts dealing with additional student enrollments, up to $50 million will be used for emergency shelter sites and at least $5 million will go toward migrant and refugee workforce programs.
Gov. Maura Healey had said in a radio appearance Monday that she hoped the situation would be resolved this week. She pointed out that the shelter system funding is only about 10% of the spending called for in the bill.
State House News Service contributed to this report.
