As Sunshine Week 2023 kicks off, the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is reminding Massachusetts residents of the six state senators who bucked the Senate President’s will and voted to protect term limits for the office of Senate President.

Warning to Public – Last Week of Session Will Shock You

According to the State House News Service, the House Ways and Means Committee is drafting its budget plan and, “lawmakers are only giving the general public an opportunity to weigh in throughout next week. Unlike in-person hearings of previous cycles that enabled people to directly address lawmakers, or even the internet hearings that facilitated virtual interactions, lawmakers are only accepting written testimony this year.”

After months of committee hearings and widespread anticipation, the House has finally produced a bill outlining how they want to spend the federal ARPA funds and the massive surplus of tax dollars collected in 2020. 

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance (MassFiscal) made the following statement today in response to Speaker Ron Mariano and his Democratic colleagues spending billions of dollars in COVID relief money behind closed doors.

Opaque Process Has Resulted in More Power Grabs

Senate Leadership Try to Advance Opaque Climate Bill Ahead of PPP Tax Fix

Urges Senator Tarr to Block Extension Until Hearing is Scheduled

Majority of House Lawmakers Support Opaqueness of Legislature Over Reform

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance made the following statement following Speaker Ron Mariano’s announcement of his intention to delay the important House rules debate until July and his proposal to restrict how lawmakers communicate with their constituents and outside organizations.