Beacon Hill Roll Call

Volume 51 – Report No. 18 • April 27-May 1, 2026
Copyright © 2026 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. By Bob Katzen.
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Our Legislators in the House and Senate for Somerville:

barber_web Rep. Christine Barber
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Thirty-fourth Middlesex. – Consisting of all precincts in wards 4 and 5, precinct 1 of ward 7, and precinct 2 of ward 8, of the City of Medford, precincts 1 and 2 of ward 4, and all precincts of ward 7, of the city of Somerville, both in the county of Middlesex.
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Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Twenty-seventh Middlesex. – Consisting of precinct 3 of ward 2, all precincts of ward 3, precinct 3 of ward 4, and all precincts of wards 5 and 6, of the City of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex.
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Rep. Mike Connolly
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Twenty-sixth Middlesex. – Consisting of all precincts of ward 1, precinct 1 of ward 2, precincts 1 and 2 of ward 3, and precinct 1 of ward 6, of the city of Cambridge, and all precincts of ward 1 and precincts 1 and 2 of ward 2, of the City of Somerville, both in the county of Middlesex.
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Sen. Patricia Jehlen
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Second Middlesex. – Consisting of the cities of Cambridge, wards 9 to 11, inclusive, Medford and Somerville, and the town of Winchester, precincts 4 to 7, inclusive, in the county of Middlesex.
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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call r

ecords local representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of April 27-May 1. All roll calls in the House were on matters relating to House passage of a $63.41 billion fiscal 2027 state budget. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week.

Most votes were strictly along party lines with most Republicans supporting the various tax cuts and other amendments, and most Democrats opposing them.

A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE “MAKING OF THE BUDGET”

Most of the decisions on which representatives’ amendments are included or not included in the budget are made behind closed doors. Of the more than 1,700 budget amendments proposed last week, most of them were bundled into consolidated “mega” amendments. This year there were seven mega amendments and all were easily approved on roll call votes.

The system works as follows: Individual representatives file amendments on various topics. All members then pitch their amendments to Democratic leaders who draft consolidated amendments that include some of the individual representatives’ amendments while excluding others.

The categories of consolidated amendments include many subjects including programs relating to public safety, judiciary, energy, environmental affairs, housing, labor and economic development.

Supporters of the system say that any representative who sponsored an excluded amendment can bring it to the floor and ask for an up or down vote on the amendment itself. They say this system has worked well for many years.

Opponents say that too much is decided behind closed doors without debate and noted that most individual amendments that are brought to the floor are defeated.

HOUSE APPROVES $63.41 BILLION FISCAL 2027 STATE BUDGET (H 5500)

House 149-9, approved and sent to the Senate a $63.41 billion fiscal 2027 state budget after three days of debate. The House version now goes to the Senate which will approve its own version. A House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a compromise plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and then sent to Gov. Maura Healey.

“As a result of the Trump Administration’s sweeping federal funding cuts and reckless trade war, as well as two proposed ballot questions that seek to cut the commonwealth’s revenues by more than $5 billion annually, this budget has come during a period of significant economic uncertainty,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano. “That’s why I’m incredibly proud of the investments that this budget makes despite those challenges, from funding for free school meals and for the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, to robust support for the MBTA, to nearly $10 billion for cities and towns across the commonwealth.”

“This budget builds off the successes of the last few years by prioritizing our constituents,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “Whether it is greater investments into programs like housing stability, public transportation or early education, these initiatives are a reflection of our shared values. By reinvesting in the people of the commonwealth, we will continue to make our economy more competitive and equitable for years to come.”

“[This is] a strong, responsive budget that both serves the needs of our constituents and continues to address the commonwealth’s initiatives for competitiveness and statewide excellence,” said Rep. Kip Diggs (D-Barnstable), assistant vice chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

“The budget is all wrong,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver). “Communities should be the first thing funded behind roads and other infrastructure. School funding needs to be reimagined. We need to work on cutting taxes and energy costs and returning that money back to citizens and communities. Democrats rejected multiple amendments that would move a little back to communities and eventually a little adds up to a lot and before we know it, everyone is fully funded, bills are lower and people have more money in their pockets, spending more and the state revenues climb, all by asking for less.

“The Massachusetts House budget is the largest in state history,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “It includes no reforms to the state’s welfare system, which is spending $1 out of every $4 state dollars on welfare benefits, nor does it include any tax cuts, which were offered as budget amendments. In fact, it doesn’t even address the concern that local aid in Massachusetts is now below the national average levels. State spending has become incredibly reckless and irresponsible, hurting local towns and cities with below national average local aid, and saddling taxpayers with obligations we cannot afford. The House leaders who pushed this state budget are not concerned with the taxpayers, just like they are not concerned with following the audit law that was passed by the voters.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the $63.41 billion budget. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Christine Barber Yes
Rep. Mike Connolly Yes
Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven Yes

LOWER SALES TAX FROM 6.25 PERCENT TO 5 PERCENT (H 5500)

House 25-131, rejected an amendment that would reduce the state’s current 6.25 percent sales tax to 5 percent.

Amendment supporters said that this reduction will save consumers millions of dollars. They argued this is a reasonable way to provide relief to taxpayers who are suffering during these tough economic times, including the excessive cost of gas, groceries and so many other things.

Amendment opponents said that the reduction will cost the state up to $2 billion in revenue and result in reduced local aid and/or cuts in programs that help millions of Bay Staters.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment reducing the sales tax to 5 percent. A “No” vote is against reducing it.)