State House Spotlight: House budget week
Negotiations on the $61.5 billion budget spanned three days, and covered over 1,600 amendments before the budget passed, half a million dollars under Healey's draft, on Wednesday night.
In the Senate, lawmakers spoke out against the Trump administration. One Springfield senator spoke about the federal government's decision to cut asthma funding headed for western Massachusetts.
'It's heartless. These funds were a lifeline in Chicopee, Holyoke, and Springfield, where too many children already struggle with trying to breathe,' said Springfield Senator Adam Gomez.
Also highlighting western Massachusetts priorities, homeowners with crumbling foundations visited the State House once again, advocating for desperately needed state funding.
'But these people don't have 10 years. They don't have that kind of time to wait while their house gets ruined,' said Monson homeowner Michelle Loglisci.
A Northampton senator pushed to save fields, farms, and forests through a new bill, as their carbon sequestration abilities fight climate change.
She says western Massachusetts residents are behind her in pushing for a greener state.
'We do feel like we are ground zero for the siting of green energy…I feel like our folks would put a bow on solar and direct folks off the highway to say 'look, look, look!'' said Senator Jo Comerford.
In what's next for the State House, the Senate will need to pass its budget this month in preparation for fiscal year 2026. There's already a showdown shaping up for House and Senate budget negotiators, and 22News will keep you informed on how your lawmakers spend your taxpayer dollars.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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