14

Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2024 By Bob Katzen If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562 GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 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 Friday 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: https://lp.constantcontactpages. com/su/aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of March 4-8. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week. SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET INCLUDING $245 MILLION FOR SHELTERS (H 4460) House 121-33, approved and sent to the Senate a supplemental budget that includes $245 million for the Emergency Assistance Program that funds the emergency family shelter system which houses migrants. The measure limits the maximum length of stay to nine consecutive months and an additional three months for those currently employed or enrolled in a job training program. The bill allows some families or individuals, including veterans, pregnant women, victims of domestic violence and people with a disability to be eligible for 12 consecutive months. Other provisions keep in place some pandemic-era programs, set to expire, in place including allowing restaurants to sell beer, wine and cocktails for take-out and expanding outdoor dining. “Ensuring that people exit the shelter system in a timely manner is crucial to the emergency assistance program’s long-term viability,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “This is the current reality due to the status of the migrant crisis, the lack of federal support, the number of people on the waitlist and the revenue challenges facing Massachusetts. It’s also critical that we ensure that folks in the shelter system receive ample support aimed at helping them to successfully enter the workforce, which is exactly what this legislation does.” “Since the beginning of the migrant crisis, we have attempted to uphold the commonwealth’s right to shelEastern Bank Building on Rte. 1S 605 Broadway, #301 * Saugus (781) 233-6844 www.bostonnorthdental.com ter law while also being mindful of the long-term fi scal sustainability of the program,” said House Ways and Means Chair Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston). “The reforms contained in this proposal will ensure that right to shelter is maintained by capping the length of stay while also refocusing the emphasis on workforce development. By concentrating on job training, we can focus on getting migrants the job skills they need while also enhancing the commonwealth’s economic output.” “By committing an additional $245 million in state funding to cover the ongoing costs of providing emergency housing to migrants, [the bill] does nothing but throw more taxpayer money at the problem without addressing the underlying causes driving up the program’s costs,” said House Republican Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “If you factor in the $325 million that was included in the fiscal year 2024 budget and the $250 million added through the supplemental budget that was approved in December, the state has now committed over $820 million to the Emergency Assistance Housing Program in fi scal year 2024 alone, with no end in sight. This money drain is already crowding out other priorities in the budget and has created a fi nancial situation that is simply unsustainable without implementing meaningful reforms to the program.” Dr. Priti Amlani Dr. Bhavisha Patel * Restorative Dentistry * Cosmetic Dentistry * Implant Restoration * Zoom Whitening * Teeth in a Day - All on 6 * Invisalign * CEREC Crowns (Single Visit Crowns) * Root Canal Treatment * Sedation Dentistry ~ Full Mouth Rehabilitation ~ Before After “To the credit of Democratic House leaders, the bill did propose several new limits to migrant housing stays in an eff ort to curtail expenses,” said Rep. Steve Xiarhos (RBarnstable). “However, in my opinion, these new limits don’t go far enough and the bill is fi scally irresponsible. Our state very simply cannot aff ord to continue paying these ever-mounting expenses.” (A “Yes” vote is for the budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco 4460) House 28-128, rejected an amendment that would change the state’s Right to Shelter Law which requires the state to provide shelter and other necessities to homeless parents with young children, pregnant women and recently the many migrant families Yes RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS (H arriving in the Bay State. Homeless individuals are not covered by the Right to Shelter law. The amendment would require that people provide proof that they have lived in the state for at least six months to qualify for the program. It also exempts from the requirement a victim of domestic violence or a person whose living situation has been aff ected by a fi re or other natural disaster that occurred in Massachusetts. Amendment supporters said the current interpretation of residency in Massachusetts by the Healey administration is that the person can be in the state for a matter of minutes to qualify to get services. “We’re a huge incentive for groups at our southern U.S. border to send folks here, directly here, because they know we’re going to take care of them, we’re going to give them shelter of some kind, food, health care and what have you,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn). “The solution is you can’t be eligible the day you show up. You just can’t. Let’s make it six months -- you have to be a resident of Massachusetts for six months before you can access the program. I think that’s fair and I think it’s reasonable.” Some amendment opponents said the amendment might be unconstitutional. Others said people from around the world who are the victims of rape, violence and oppression are coming to Massachusetts and the state should not impose residency requirements on these suff ering migrants. (A “Yes” vote is for the 6-month requirement. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Jeff Turco No REQUIRE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS FOR COMPANIES SUPPLYING FOOD (H 4460) House 154-0, approved an amendment that would require any funds spent for providing food for people through the program be subject to a competitive bidding process. Amendment supporters said that according to news reports, the state is currently spending $64 a day per person to feed people in the Emergency Assistance Housing Program under a six-month, $10 million no-bid contract, including $16 for breakfast, $17 for lunch and $31 for dinner. “These meal costs far exceed the necessary funds to feed families in the Emergency Assistance Housing Program and go well beyond what most families in the commonwealth can aff ord to feed their own families,” said amendment sponsor House GOP Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “At a time when state revenues are declining, we must ensure that we spend responsibly and conserve our resources to best serve the residents of Massachusetts. By requiring a competitive bidding process, we can ensure that the state is getting the best price, and that spending is brought down to a more reasonable level.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes TRAINING PROGRAMS (H 4460) House 25-128, rejected an amendment that would expand eligibility for a program, created in the bill, which allows employers to off er training programs to assist individuals in the Emergency Assistance Housing Program in developing the skills needed to enter the workforce. Under the program, employers would be eligible for a tax credit of $2,500 for each qualified trainee who receives training. The amendment would allow low-income Massachusetts residents to participate in these training programs even if they are not in the Emergency Assistance Housing Program. “The supplemental budget offers a pathway to entering the workforce by going through a job training program, but it is limited to those individuals who are already in the emergency shelter system,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This amendment would open up these training programs by also giving low-income Massachusetts residents who are eager to work an opportunity to participate.” Opponents said this funding is aimed at helping people in the emergency assistance program. They noted the state already has programs for low income residents and is developing even more of them. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment allowing low income residents to be eligible. A “No” vote is against allowing it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Jeff Turco No VETERANS’ PREFERENCE (H 4460) House 154-0, approved an amendment that would require that veterans in the shelter program are automatically given the maximum length of time to stay in the program, regardless of other factors. “My amendment prioritizes veterans when it comes to our emergency shelter program,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “While other families will have restrictions on staying in the program based on employment and job training status, this amendment says that veterans in the shelter program are automatically given the maximum length of time to stay in the shelter program, regardless of other factors. Fernandes continued, “Our state is one that recognizes the selfl essness which veterans have served our commonwealth and country and we give priority to veterans in many other state programs. I believe they deserve priority when it comes to shelter and this amendment enshrines that priority.” BEACON | SEE Page 16

15 Publizr Home