Honoring the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Remembering His Enduring Legacy

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” – Letter from Birmingham, Alabama jail, April 16, 1963

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a visionary and a man of peace who dedicated his life to advocating for justice and equality for all. The Massachusetts House Republican Caucus honors Dr. King’s enduring legacy of bringing about positive societal change through non-violent means. His life and work serve as a shining example of how one individual can make a difference in challenging unjust policies and working towards change that benefits all.

Rep. Marcus Vaughn Delivers GOP Response to Governor Healey's State of the State Address

State Representative Marcus S. Vaughn (R-Wrentham) delivered the official GOP response to Governor Maura Healey’s annual State of the State address last night. Vaughn called out the governor for painting “a rosy picture of our Commonwealth” that “fell short of reality” at a time when “Massachusetts faces a crisis of affordability, with an unsustainable cost of living driving a mass exodus of residents.”

You can watch Vaughn’s State of the State response here and read additional media coverage from Chris Van Buskirk in the Boston Herald, Sam Drysdale at the State House News Service, and Stephen Peterson of The Sun Chronicle.

Governor Calls for Additional Emergency Shelter Assistance Reforms in Supplemental Budget

On June 6, Governor Maura Healey filed a supplemental spending plan which includes a modest proposal to reduce emergency shelter stays from nine months to six months, but also seeks an additional $425 million in funding for the EA system, which is costing Massachusetts taxpayers over $1 billion a year.

Yesterday, barely 24 hours after House and Senate Republicans unveiled a comprehensive reform package to address the state’s ongoing migrant and shelter crisis, Governor Healey submitted a letter to Democratic leadership urging them to add a series of reforms to her supplemental budget proposal, in what House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. described as a case of “damage control” by the Healey-Driscoll Administration. Some of these changes align with reforms that House and Senate Republicans have been consistently advocating for over the last two years, including the establishment of a minimum residency requirement to access these services and the expansion of criminal background checks.

To read more about the Governor’s new request, along with Republicans’ reactions, be sure to check out the latest coverage by Chris Van Buskirk of the Boston Herald, Sam Doran of the State House News Service, John Micek of MassLive, Matt Stout and Emma Platoff of the Boston Globe, and the Associated Press.

Representative Frost Discusses GOP Shelter Reform Package with Dan Rea on ‘Nightside’

Representative Paul K. Frost (R-Auburn) was a guest on WBZ Radio’s “Nightside” program last night, where he and host Dan Rea discussed the House and Senate Republicans’ comprehensive proposal to reform the state’s emergency shelter system to restore fiscal responsibility and accountability to the program. Be sure to check out the “Nightside” podcast featuring the interview here. The discussion with Representative Frost begins at the 9:08 mark.

House and Senate Republicans Unveil Comprehensive Reform Package to Address Massachusetts' Migrant and Shelter Crisis

Members of the House and Senate Republican caucuses held a joint press conference at the State House today to outline a series of administrative and legislative proposals aimed at addressing the migrant crisis and the ongoing problems occurring within the state’s emergency assistance family shelter program. The GOP package focuses on transparency, accountability, public safety and fiscal responsibility, with the proposed reforms designed to address both short-term and long-term challenges.

Be sure to check out media coverage of the caucuses’ proposals from the Boston Herald’s Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive’s John Micek, Sam Doran of the State House News Service, Olivia Ray of WWLP-TV, and Jim Morelli of Boston 25 News.

House GOP Caucus Letter to Governor on Emergency Shelter Concerns Continues to Get Results

The House Republican Caucus’ January 6 letter to Governor Healey demanding answers on the Administration’s vetting process for entry into the state’s emergency shelter system continues to get results.

When the Caucus questioned why an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic was living in a Revere-based shelter after he was arrested on multiple firearms and drug charges, the Governor responded by ordering an inspection of all state-run emergency shelters and a full review of the intake process. On Thursday, the Boston Globe reported that the Administration’s repeated claims that all emergency shelter applicants were subject to comprehensive background checks before entry into the system were, in fact, false, as the Administration failed to conduct criminal background checks that could have weeded out dangerous individuals and prevented them from accessing taxpayer-funded state benefits.

By Friday, Governor Healey was on the defensive, following a scathing rebuke from House Minority Leader Brad Jones, who issued a statement calling the situation “completely unacceptable” and “a betrayal of the public’s trust.” At a late afternoon press availability, the Governor said that everyone in the state’s emergency shelter system will now undergo a CORI check, and that she has brought on former Boston Police Department Commissioner Ed Davis to conduct an “independent outside review” of the shelter program. She also expressed a willingness to revisit the state’s Right to Shelter Law to uphold its original intent to provide emergency housing to Massachusetts residents, something the House Republican Caucus has continuously called for and strongly supports.

Be sure to check out additional media coverage of the evolving shelter situation from the Boston Herald’s Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive’s John Micek, the Boston Globe’s Matt Stout and Samantha Gross, as well as Boston Globe columnist Adrian Walker and WCVB's David Bienick, who interviewed Representative Paul Frost (R-Auburn).

House Minority Leader Jones’ Statement on Emergency Shelter System

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) released the following statement after reports that the Healey Administration failed to conduct criminalbackground checks on applicants for the state’s emergency shelter program:

“The Healey Administration’s admission that it failed to carry out criminal background checks on applicants seeking emergency shelter assistance is completely unacceptable and represents a serious betrayal of the public’s trust. The Administration’s handling of the situation has been a total disaster, with the failure to carry out the most basic of public safety protocols needlessly placing other people in harm’s way by housing them alongside dangerous criminals.

The Administration has long maintained that it was conducting extensive background checks of all applicants seeking shelter assistance, but now we know that was not the case. The fact that the Administration has no idea how many individuals with a criminal record are currently residing in the state’s shelter system is cause for alarm. With over 1,000 recorded serious incidents taking place in the state’s shelters between January of 2023 and August of 2024 – including rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence – there are more than enough examples that highlight why these comprehensive background checks are so important.

This is just the latest example of the Administration’s failure to provide proper oversight of the emergency shelter program, which continues to drain valuable state resources. Governor Healey is now seeking $425 million in supplemental shelter funding, but there should be no more funding approved for the program until meaningful reforms are implemented. It is time for the Healey Administration to come clean with the Commonwealth’s taxpayers and explain how this was allowed to happen and why it has gone on for so long. A complete top to bottom review of the program is needed to ensure that not only all of those applying for emergency shelter assistance are properly vetted at the point of entry, but also to identify those individuals who are already in the system but should not be. Dangerous criminals should be removed from the program immediately, and swift legal action taken.

It has become abundantly clear that this program is wildly unsustainable and unmanageable for the Healey Administration, and it is well beyond time to change course. Whether it’s incompetence, intransigence or negligence, changes must be made. It’s time for heads to roll.”

House Caucus Letter to Governor Leads to Planned Shelter Inspections and Review of Intake Protocols

Governor Maura Healey is calling for shelter inspections and a “full review” of the intake protocols used for the state’s emergency shelter system, after the House Republican Caucus raised concerns and demanded answers about the vetting process.

In a letter delivered to the Governor on January 6, the caucus questioned how an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic, who is now facing multiple firearms and drug-related charges, was able to secure placement in a state-funded motel shelter in Revere, at the expense of many longtime Massachusetts residents in need. The Healey Administration has repeatedly claimed entry into the shelter program is limited to residents and documented immigrants who have lawful permission to be in the United States and have declared Massachusetts as their place of residency. The arrest highlights the Administration’s failed policies and the shortcomings of the background checks currently used to screen shelter applicants.

While the announced inspections and intake review are welcome news, the caucus will continue to closely monitor the situation to hold the Healey Administration accountable and to ensure that the governor follows through on her pledge to implement the changes needed to prevent criminal activity from taking place in the state’s shelters. There are simply no excuses for tolerating this type of criminal behavior, especially when it occurs within a state-run program publicly funded by taxpayer dollars.

You can read additional media coverage here, here and here.

House Minority Leader Jones’ Statement on Today's GOP Caucus Leadership Vote

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) released the following statement after today’s leadership vote taken by the members of the House Republican Caucus:

“I am truly grateful for the overwhelming vote of confidence and support I received from my colleagues this morning. They were able to see through the divisive rhetoric and meaningless noise generated by outside special interests, extremist groups and others leading up to today’s vote. As we begin a new legislative session, I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to lead the House Republican Caucus over the next two years and will continue to work alongside my colleagues to advocate for responsible policies that are in the best interests of our cities and towns and the state’s taxpayers.”

Remembering Pearl Harbor, 83 Years Later

On December 7, 1941 more than 3,000 American servicemembers and civilians were killed or wounded in Japan’s surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. As our nation marks the 83rd anniversary of what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared to be “a date which will live in infamy,” let us never forget the service and sacrifices of those who perished on that fateful day. The Massachusetts House Republican Caucus would also like to take this opportunity to thank all who have served in our armed forces, and those who are currently serving so that we remain a strong and free nation.