Lawmakers met on Beacon Hill to supply their opening statements forward of the price range debate scheduled to start Tuesday morning, and the theme of the day appeared to be the acknowledgment that nobody might be positive of what’s occurring in Washington.
“As we gather here today in this honorable chamber, we find ourselves at a critical juncture where we, as a body, are at a crossroads where our fiscal prudence and responsibility align face-to-face with our moral and constitutional obligations,” Methods and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues informed his senate colleagues on Monday.
Based on the senate price range chief, over the primary months of President Donald Trump’s second time period, lawmakers have “witnessed firsthand how our federal partners have unleashed unprecedented amounts of uncertainty, unpredictability, and volatility.”
In previous price range debate classes the chairman mentioned lawmakers would ask themselves “how much help can we expect from D.C.?” Now, Rodrigues mentioned, the Legislature is pressured to ask themselves “how much is D.C. going to hurt us today?”
“At a time where trust in the federal government is low, our budget, our values, and our actions reflect and embody good governance, bringing state government to where it is most needed, while never forgetting our solemn responsibility to care for and support our residents in need, especially in the face of federal uncertainty,” he mentioned.
Minority Chief Bruce Tarr, mentioned that Rodrigues “rightly cites the uncertainty” popping out of D.C., including that “the consequences of our decisions with this budget are perhaps more intense than some of the recent budgets we’ve dealt with.”
A possible financial downturn is a worrying state of affairs, the minority chief mentioned. Nonetheless, it’s additionally not the primary time that state has handled uncertainty and maybe is all of the extra motive to recollect the individuals paying for the price range.
“That’s why, in addition to looking at the many investments that [Rodrigues] outlined, we also need to make sure that we use this budget document — and other matters that we consider in the senate — to make our state more affordable, to make our state more competitive, to increase the sustainability, the reliability and the robust nature of our economy. Those are things that we can work on, together, right now,” he mentioned.
Senators are scheduled to open debate on the 1,058 amendments connected to their $61 billion spending plan on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
