Controversial $25 Million Earmark Sparks Outcry Amid Massachusetts Budget Review
Boston, MA – In a move that has drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, House Speaker Ron Mariano’s $25 million earmark for a parking garage in Quincy has become a focal point in Massachusetts’s ongoing budget discussions. This earmark is part of a larger $28.8 million amendment aimed at funding 35 smaller transportation projects.
With over a billion dollars generated from the state’s "millionaires tax" this year, Massachusetts lawmakers are reviewing a $1.3 billion budget that allocates substantial funds to education and transportation improvements. Despite the overwhelming support for crucial initiatives like restoring roads and providing free school lunches, the funding for Mariano’s parking garage has been perceived as an improper diversion of state resources.
Critics, including the Massachusetts Republican Party and an editorial from the Boston Globe, have lamented the earmark’s inclusion in a "stealth amendment," which failed to gain public attention until recently. GOP Executive Director John Milligan condemned the move, stating it appears to prioritize political interests over essential public works.
Mariano defended the earmark, claiming it supports key infrastructure projects, particularly for a new medical facility leased by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He noted that the garage would cater to patients who may not have access to public transportation.
While Mariano’s earmark represents the largest allocation in the amendment, the second-largest earmark is a mere $600,000 for a traffic study in Wellesley. Additional discussions in the Massachusetts Senate may result in further funding cuts for the MBTA, redirecting more resources to local schools.
As lawmakers prepare to debate the budget this week, Mariano’s provision is likely to remain a contentious topic in state politics.
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