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Page 24 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 23, 2025 out adding to assessments that are passed on to the residents of the commonwealth.” Barber continued, “There GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 30,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. MASSterList will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Saturday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: www.massterlist.com THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from recent House sessions debating the $61.47 billion fi scal year 2026 House version of the state budget. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. CONSOLIDATED HOUSING, JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAETY AMENDMENT (H 4000) House 154-2, approved a consolidated amendment adding $10.5 million in funding to Housing, Judiciary and Public Safety programs in the $61.47 billion fi scal year 2026 state budget. Much of the funding was for projects and programs proposed by individual representatives for their local districts. “This amendment underscores our values by investing in a wide range of housing line items that will help keep our residents housed, support our public housing authorities and provide tools to help residents during transitional times,” said Rep. Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn), House chair of the Housing Committee. “Housing is a huge component to our state’s longterm economic success and making sure people have a safe, aff ordable place to live is critically important.” Reps. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) and Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick), the only two members to vote against the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they opposed the amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes CONSOLIDATED ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD ASSISTANCE AMENDMENT (H 4000) House 154-3, approved a consolidated amendment adding $5.8 million in funding to Energy, Environmental and Food Assistance programs in the $61.47 billion fi scal year 2026 state budget. Much of the funding was for projects and programs proposed by individual representatives for their local districts. “[The amendment] makes important investments in the environment, including over $85 million for the Department of Environment Protection and over $160 million for the Department of Conservation and Recreation to support clean water and our parks and natural resources,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Christine Barber (D-Somerville), House chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. “Funding for the Department of Energy Resources builds in a new line item to directly support the objectives of the Climate Bill withare also signifi cant investments in addressing food insecurity in the commonwealth - funding for Emergency Food Assistance is increased by $13 million to bring this line item to $55 million. In a time when the federal government is actively rolling back protections and damaging the environment, these fi nancial investments continue to protect the commonwealth’s invaluable natural resources, coastlines and waterways, open spaces, wildlife and recreation areas and extend our imperative to address the urgency of climate change.” Reps. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica), Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) and John Gaskey (R-Carver), the only three members to vote against the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they opposed the amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes CONSOLIDATED LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT (H 4000) House 154-3, approved a consolidated amendment adding $25 million in funding to Labor and Economic Development programs in the $61.47 billion fi scal year 2026 state budget. Much of the funding was for projects and programs proposed by individual representatives for their local districts. “The amendment demonstrates the commitment the House has in investing in local economic development projects and supports the many amazing programs in our communities,” said Rep. Carole Fiola (D-Fall River), House chair of the Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee. “Along with the rest of the budget, these investments make a big impact for our constituents.” Reps. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica), Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick and John Gaskey (R-Carver) the only three members to vote against the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they opposed the amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL DURING THE RECENT BUDGET DEBATE IN THE HOUSE, WHY WERE THERE NO TRANSPARENT ROLL CALL VOTES ON FIVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO REDUCE TAXES IN MASSACHUSETTS? - The ongoing feud between House Republican Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) and Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) intensifi ed during the House budget debate last week. Back in January, Jones defeated Lombardo for the post of minority leader. Jones garnered 19 votes to Lombardo’s five votes. And since then, things have only gotten worse between the two. Lombardo says that during last week’s budget debate, Jones worked with the Democrats to block roll call votes on several tax cuts proposed by Lombardo. Jones denies that charge. Lombardo requested that the House hold roll call votes on five of his proposed budget amendments – all of which would reduce taxes in the Bay State. The fi ve tax cuts were reducing the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 5 percent; reducing the income tax from 5 percent to 4.5 percent; eliminating the income tax on tips; eliminating the income tax on overtime; and removing the marriage penalty for the Millionaire’s Tax. Lombardo knew that he didn’t have sufficient votes to pass the amendments but wanted to have roll calls on them in order to promote transparency and to put the votes of the Democrats on record as being against tax reductions. House rules require that in order to force a roll call vote, 16 members must request that a roll call be held. It works like this: The speaker announces that “Rep. Lombardo has requested a roll call vote. Those joining him will rise and be counted.” If at least 16 members stand up, a roll call is held. This has been done many times by the Republicans over the years. The GOP tries to force a roll call vote to get Democrats on the record on measures the Republicans believe are popular but are likely to get shot down by the Legislature’s Democratic supermajority. Most times they are successful and get 16 or more members to stand up. But not this time. The current 158-member House (two seats are vacant) has 132 Democrats, 25 Republicans and one unenrolled member. Neither the unenrolled member nor any of the Democrats stood to request a roll call vote on Lombardo’s amendments. Lombardo never received the 16 standing votes necessary to require the roll call votes. Instead, the amendments were defeated on unrecorded voice votes which don’t reveal how individual representatives voted. Lombardo says that in addition to himself, only six other representatives, all Republicans, stood to request a roll call vote on all fi ve amendments. They are Reps. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick); John Gaskey (R-Carver); Joseph McKenna (R-Sutton); Kelly Pease (R-Westfield); Kenneth Sweezey (R-Hanson); and Justin Thurber (R-Somerset). There was some talk that members did not know what day or time Lombardo’s amendments would be considered. However, Beacon Hill Roll Call’s research shows that House rules provide that amendments reducing or increasing taxes BEACON | SEE PAGE 25

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