A push from a right-wing Billerica lawmaker to decrease a sequence of taxes in Massachusetts spotlighted a contentious feud between a contingent of rank-and-file members of the Home Republican caucus and conservative management within the chamber.
Rep. Marc Lombardo — who unsuccessfully challenged Home Minority Chief Brad Jones earlier this 12 months for the highest put up within the caucus — tried Monday to cut back the gross sales tax, exempt taxes on ideas and time beyond regulation, and decrease the earnings tax throughout the first day of the Home’s debate on its $61 billion fiscal 12 months 2026 price range plan.
However Lombardo’s efforts to pressure lawmakers to take a recorded vote on his 5 unsuccessful tax-related amendments confronted resistance from conservative colleagues, a notable second for a Republican caucus that usually backs any request for a roll name vote.
In an interview with reporters outdoors the Home Chamber, Lombardo mentioned the pushback he encountered was payback for his failed try to oust Jones as minority chief.
“This is another example of Brad Jones’ utter, failed leadership, and it demonstrated that he is part of the machine here on Beacon Hill,” Lombardo mentioned. “This was coordinated with the Democratic leadership, and certainly I knew this was coming because word had got back to me that Leader Jones had orchestrated this.”
Jones received reelection as Home minority chief in January after securing 19 of the 25 potential conservative votes. Lombardo, who solely pulled in 5 votes, repeatedly criticized Jones as not mounting a robust sufficient problem to the Democratic Celebration.
Jones, a North Studying Republican, mentioned opposition to Lombardo’s repeated requests for recorded votes was not payback for the Home minority chief struggle however as an alternative a results of Lombardo not exhibiting as much as inner conferences or speaking with different lawmakers.
He additionally fired again at Lombardo for making public swipes at his time in workplace.
“I’m not going to go waste my time working with people who just want to kick me. It’s kind of human nature. It’s not Republican, not Democrat … it’s just human nature,” Jones informed reporters. “He’s obviously still hurting over the fact that he got smoked.”
Rep. Joe McKenna, a Sutton Republican who supported Lombardo’s requires recorded votes however backed Jones within the management battle, mentioned it was “unfortunate” that the conservative caucus was divided on Lombardo’s amendments.
“I thought (they) were good amendments that I would have appreciated seeing a roll call on those. It’s unfortunate,” he mentioned. “I believe that we’re there to vote on these issues, and I certainly support the principle of having roll call votes.”
Lombardo mentioned his 5 tax-related amendments sought to make Massachusetts extra reasonably priced and aggressive in comparison with neighboring states like New Hampshire.
He mentioned one proposal to decrease the gross sales tax from 6.25% to five% would assist residents who’re “feeling squeezed” on the grocery shops when buying primary family items for his or her households.
“Every time they go out to provide for their families, they feel the impact of living in an unaffordable state like Massachusetts,” he mentioned. “For too long, the cost of living in Massachusetts has risen, and for too long, we have failed to provide meaningful action.”
Rep. Adrian Madaro, an East Boston Democrat who co-chairs the Income Committee, opposed the gross sales tax modification and argued {that a} $1 billion-a-year tax aid invoice signed into legislation in 2023 has already offered aid to residents.
“A proposal like this one deserves robust deliberation through the legislative and committee process, not rushed consideration on the floor,” Madaro mentioned. “The gentleman from Billerica has an identical piece of legislation before the Revenue Committee, which has yet to have a hearing, and we look forward to him coming down and testifying and engaging in that committee process.”
Jones mentioned he appointed Lombardo and Rep. Nick Boldyga, a Southwick Republican and Lombardo ally, to the Income Committee as a result of he knew taxes had been an “important issue to them, as evidenced by the amendments that they filed.”
“They’ve never shown up to the Revenue Committee, as has been told to me by both my staff as well as others,” Jones mentioned. “I think there’s also an element within the caucus that, I will say includes me, that you’ve seen some of the tweets and X comments both during the leadership fight and since then that, I think, frankly, people are tired of and don’t think it’s particularly productive and constructive.”
Lombardo has constantly focused Jones on the social media web site X, previously generally known as Twitter, together with throughout a sequence of posts Monday after Lombardo’s amendments failed throughout the Home flooring debate.
Rep. Paul Frost, an Auburn Republican and certainly one of Jones’ high lieutenants, mentioned Lombardo’s critiques of Jones on social media have drained different members of the Republican caucus.
“Maybe he’s just turned off enough people in his own caucus that they don’t feel conducive to supporting him if all he wants to do is cause problems between Republicans,” Frost informed the Herald. “There’s gonna be some responsibility put on him.”
