Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – WEDnEsDAy, nOVEmbER 26, 2025 THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of November 17-21. $2.3 BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 4761) House 149-9, Senate 38-0, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a $2.3 billion fiscal year 2025 budget to close out the books on fi scal year 2025. Provisions include $1.67 billion for MassHealth, with a $303 million net cost to the state after federal reimbursements; $374 million for Steward hospital payments, with Type of Person Needed: * Are you an experienced/willing to learn, motivated person looking for a shop where your skills can be valued? A local company with a fleet shop is a busy, family-owned business dedicated to providing high-quality transportation services and public State inspection services. We are seeking a talented Automotive Technician or mechanical knowledge to join our close-knit crew. If you are dependable and proficient in automotive technical work with a passion for excellent customer service, we want to talk to you. Location: Malden, MA Job Description: * Be able to acquire and maintain a certification for the State Inspection License. Perform light duty mechanical preventive duties, including Fleet preventive maintenance. * State Inspection Services * Miscellaneous shop duties Requirements: * Valid driver’s license with good driving history * Possess or pass the required State Inspector License Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Saturday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM * Rate will be based on experience Contact: Ed Hyde or David Morovitz Call: 781-322-9401 Email: ehyde@maldentrans.com Website: www.maldentrans.com a $236 million net cost to the state; $10 million for Health Care For All to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform vulnerable populations about new Medicaid work requirements put in place by the recent federal spending bill; $5 million in for reproductive health care; $2.5 million for the Committee for Public Counsel Services for indigent persons; $60.7 million for snow and ice removal; and $50 million for the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund. Other provisions require an investigation into sheriff s’ fi s~ HELP WANTED ~ cal year 2025 spending defi - cits; create a new Sports and Entertainment Fund initially provided with $10 million to support transportation, public safety and other costs related to Massachusetts’ seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches; criminalize the impersonation of a federal offi cer and increase penalties for impersonating a public offi cial, including a federal offi cer; protect unpaid federal employees from residential eviction or foreclosure during and immediately after any federal shutdown; and remove the automatic requirement of a public notice for namechange petitions fi led in court. “This closeout supplemental budget effectively closes the books on fiscal year 2025 by following through on our commitments across the health care, education and public safety sectors,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Besides responsibly wrapping up the last fi scal year, our bill takes meaningful action such as providing for technological upgrades to the delivery of SNAP benefi ts to our residents, penalizing the impersonation of a federal agent and protecting federal workers from evictions or foreclosures during a government shutdown. This agreement not only refl ects our priorities, but also responsibly reconciles spending gaps and puts the fi scal year to bed.” “This supplemental budget will close the books on fi scal year 2025 in a balanced and fi scally responsible manner,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “By making critical investments into much needed programs in health care, education and housing to name a few, the commonwealth will be in a strong fi scal position for fi scal year 2026 and beyond.” “Beacon Hill is once again using a closeout bill to expand government costs without addressing the underlying fi scal issues driving them,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance which opposed the budget. “Lawmakers approved more spending for free inmate phone calls while quietly pumping another $50 million into rental assistance, a growing cost burden driven in large part by the state’s shifting costs from the self-inflicted migrant shelter crisis. Instead of shifting money around to paper over the problem, the Legislature should confront the policies that created these unsustainable obligations. Taxpayers deserve accountability and a long-term plan, not another round of reactive spending.” None of the nine representatives who voted against the budget responded to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they voted against it. Those nine representatives are Reps. Donald Berthiaume (R-Spencer), Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick), Colleen Garry (D-Dracut), John Gaskey (R-Carver), Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica), Joseph McKenna (R-Sutton), Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (R-Abington), Kenneth Sweezey (R-Hanson) and Justin Thurber (R-Somerset). (A Yes” vote is for the budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes RESCIND CALLS FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION (H 4692/S 2684) House 155-3, Senate 34-4, approved resolutions which would rescind all previous calls by the Massachusetts Legislature for a national Constitutional Convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. This action makes Massachusetts the 17th state to rescind all prior applications for an Article V convention and reaffirms that any constitutional decisions should refl ect the will of today’s elected lawmakers and the people they represent. An Article V convention is a process outlined in the U.S. Constitution allowing states to propose constitutional amendments if two-thirds (34) of state legislatures call for it. Supporters of the resolutions said such a convention could open the entire Constitution to unpredictable changes, as there are no clear guidelines or limitations on what delegates could propose. They noted that while an Article V convention has never been called before in American history, there is recent conservative momentum to add up all active resolutions to meet the two-thirds threshold. Supporters said the resolutions are in response to concerns that Congress and the Trump Administration could attempt to use prior Massachusetts resolutions to call for a Constitutional Convention to advance their own political agenda, moves that could have broad and sweeping implications on current protections under the U.S. Constitution. “Given the uncertainty surrounding an Article V convention, such a process could present a serious threat to the U.S. Constitution, our democracy BEACON | SEE PAGE 17
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