For second day, Mass. House fails to pass budget deal

Republicans in the Massachusetts House of Representatives once again blocked a vote on the $2.8 billion supplemental budget Friday, as they continue to oppose funding the state's overburdened shelter system.

"My caucus continues to have a concern over the migrant issue," House Minority Leader Brad Jones told reporters during a House recess. About an hour later, Auburn Rep. Paul Frost doubted the presence of a quorum, forcing Democratic leadership to adjourn for the day.

Democratic leaders failed to reach agreement on the budget framework before the end of formal sessions Nov. 15, handing Republicans the unusual power to block the legislation.

During informal sessions, a bill can be held up by the objection of a single lawmaker.

The House is scheduled to reconvene Saturday at 11 a.m.

The budget framework negotiated over many weeks by Democratic budget-writers includes $250 million Gov. Maura Healey requested for the strained shelter system. If passed, it also would allocate $50 million for the state to set up a large overflow emergency shelter site for families on the waitlist.

But Republicans say they don't want to keep funding the state shelter system without "meaningful policy reforms" to slow the travel of new migrants to Massachusetts.

"We're spending $250 million on top of what's already been appropriated, and every single indication is that the governor of the commonwealth is going to file a new request, either at the end of this year or in January, looking for additional resources," Jones said.

House Speaker Ron Mariano criticized the delaying tactic in a statement Thursday night: "House Republicans are willing to jeopardize the entire package over $250 million that will be used to provide shelter for all vulnerable families in Massachusetts."

There are currently 7,546 families enrolled in the state shelter system, according to the latest state data. Another 104 are on a waitlist, after Gov. Healey set a 7,500-family cap in early November.

The shelter system has been overwhelmed by record demand, which state officials attribute to rising housing costs and an increase in migrant families from Haiti and elsewhere, seeking to settle in Massachusetts.

Advocates for migrants and unhoused families are urging Republicans to drop their opposition and pass the full budget.

"Right now there are more than a hundred families on a waiting list to access state-funded shelter," said Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless associate director Kelly Turley in an interview. "These are all families who have already been approved for state-funded shelter, they've proven that they have no place else to go."

The House must pass the supplemental budget before the state Senate can take it up. Legislators have to pass the supplemental budget to officially close the books on the fiscal year that ended about five months ago.