On day 1, $20M gets added to House budget
House lawmakers on Monday night added about $20 million in spending aimed at education, local aid, transportation and state administration to the $40.3 billion fiscal 2018 budget.
During a dinner break Monday evening, two bundles of related amendments emerged from a private backroom where lawmakers had been summonsed throughout the day to fight for their priorities.
One bundle -- compiled of amendments related to local aid and education -- included an additional $16,695,861 on top of what was proposed by the Ways and Means Committee. That package was approved unanimously by the House on Monday night.
House Education Committee Chair Rep. Alice Peisch said the consolidated amendment would increase Chapter 70 local school funding to $105 million above the current year, or $14.9 million more than what Gov. Charlie Baker proposed for next fiscal year.
The second consolidated package was assembled from amendments in the constitutional officer and state administration, and transportation categories. In total, the amendment added $3,228,441 of spending in those areas to the budget. That bundle was approved on a 125-28 tally Monday night.
After one day of budget debate, the House has dispatched with more than 330 of the roughly 1,200 individual amendments members filed.
Though they had not emerged for public review when the House recessed for the night a little after 9 p.m., House budget writers also held private sessions Monday to put together consolidated amendments dealing with energy and environmental affairs, veteran services and soldier's homes, housing, social services, public health, and mental health and disabilities. A session on elder affairs, and health and human services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Debate on the House budget is expected to continue Tuesday morning, with roll calls starting at noon, and extend through mid-week.
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