November 19, 2021
PUBLIC FINANCE > Budget > FY 2022

Editorial: An epic failure on Beacon Hill

Lawmakers dawdled over ARPA funds, delaying economic relief to millions of their constituents

The Boston Globe

According to an analysis by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, the House bill contains 411 such earmarks, totaling $154.4 million; the Senate version has 415 earmarks, totaling $122.9 million. They include such items as $5 million for the cleanup of King’s Beach in Lynn, $5 million for a food distribution center in Chicopee, millions for tourism, tree planting, and agricultural supports. Love ’em or hate ’em, earmarks are the grease that often makes the wheels of government turn. And so it might in this case.