Maura Healey Out of Touch With Her Own Party While GOP Caucus Holds Spending Back From Fiscal Brink

BOSTON, MA - Republican lawmakers on Beacon Hill secured hard-won accomplishments in the FY2026 budget, all of which took place amid budget negotiations where Democratic lawmakers undercut Governor Maura Healey’s proposed budget by $1 billion. 

Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale pointed to Healey’s tax-increasing budget proposal as a prime example of her attitude toward reckless spending. 

“The fact that far-left Democrats in the House and Senate crafted a budget that’s a full $1 billion less than what Governor Healey proposed tells Massachusetts residents all they need to know about how she views their tax dollars,” said MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale. 

Despite uncertain revenue projections, House and Senate Republicans were able to secure a number of victories, from replenishing the rainy day fund to expanding unrestricted local aid - all without raising taxes like Governor Healey proposed and despite having no fiscal responsibility projected by the corner office. 

Republican additions to the FY26 state budget include:

• No new taxes;
• $33 million added to the so-called “rainy day” fund, which ended with $8.26 billion in reserves;
• $150-per-pupil Chapter 70 funding for all cities and towns, the largest annual amount in state history;
• $1.33 billion in unrestricted government aid, a figure that increased by $14 million since FY25; and,
• Regional school transportation reimbursements that now exceeds 90%, an all-time high for state government.

“Thanks to the hard work of Republican lawmakers in the House and the Senate, our Democratic colleagues saw the light on several fronts where Governor Healey implored them to spend more,” said House Ways & Means Ranking Minority Member Todd Smola (R-Warren). “Our work during this budget season demonstrated the importance of having two teams on the field, especially when one team’s coach is pushing them to make poor decisions.”