State Budget Passes the House

July 19, 2024

Today, House and Senate conferees presented a $58 billion compromise plan for the FY25 state budget. I view this and every spending bill with three critical questions in mind. First, does it raise taxes? Massachusetts residents are facing a crisis of affordability and cannot afford to pay more taxes. I am pleased to say this budget does not raise any broad-based taxes. Second, does it reflect responsible fiscal priorities and process? I appreciated the opportunity to be involved in the budget hearing process as a new member of the Committee on Ways and Means this year. However, I have to say, I disagree with the concept of voting to spend $58 billion on anything while having mere hours to review the final bill! That said, I also disagree with certain priorities in this budget, including the millions of dollars it spends on migrant housing and support without making reforms to our state Right to Shelter Law to curtail those expenses. I have concern that our state is spending a lot of money without a clear picture of where revenues will be in coming years, especially as more people leave our state in search of more affordable places to live. Finally, does this bill serve the best interests of the people of the 5th Barnstable District? I appreciate certain investments this bill does make, including Local Aid, education spending, and funding I requested for recreation and public safety initiatives in Sandwich. Altogether, while I respectfully disagree with certain priorities and investments reflected in this bill, I ultimately concluded that the majority of the bill is in the best interests of the residents of the 5th Barnstable District. I therefore joined 153 of my colleagues in the House and voted to approve the bill today.