On a party-line vote, Democrats in the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a supplemental budget bill Wednesday, November 8 that includes $250 million to help migrants from other countries.
Of that figure, $50 million is for a new emergency shelter site.
Here is a breakdown of the other spending items, according to a press release from the office of House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy):
$75 million for supplemental school district costs associated with additional mandatory student enrollments
$65 million for the costs associated with sheltering eligible families
$18 million for temporary emergency shelter sites
$12 million for wraparound services provided to families
$10 million for resettlement agencies to connect families with housing and other services
$6 million for supplemental staffing needs at emergency assistance shelters
$6 million for additional municipal support
$5 million for migrant and refugee workforce programs
$3 million for the various family triage centers in the Commonwealth
The vote was 133-25, with two representatives (both Democrats) not voting.
All 25 Republicans in the House voted No.
Voting Yes were 132 Democrats and the House’s lone independent, state Representative Susannah Whipps, an unenrolled member from Athol.
To take effect, the bill needs approval from the Massachusetts Senate and the governor.
On August 8, Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency concerning the inflow into Massachusetts of migrants from other countries. The governor has said that under current conditions, the state will begin turning away from the state’s emergency housing program families and single pregnant women who don’t have a place to live once the state reaches its current capacity of 7,500.
As of Wednesday, November 8, there were 7,488 families enrolled in the state’s emergency housing program, according to the House Speaker’s office’s press release.
New to NewBostonPost? Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. But you’ve found it. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks — $2 for two months. And join the real revolution.
