Massachusetts has an $8 billion rainy day fund. House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz has asked credit rating agencies how dipping into that fund during the federal shutdown could affect the Baystate’s credit rating. House Speaker Ron Mariano expressed caution about using rainy day funding amid uncertainty over federal reimbursements. S
tate House News Service reporter Ella Adams explains how lawmakers are weighing; protecting the state’s creditworthiness with addressing the urgent needs of low-income residents who are currently without fuel assistance, and later this week, lacking WIC Nutrition program funding.
Ella Adams, SHNS: Yeah, I think that is the question. Last week, I asked the two budget writers whether they’re working on a current spending bill to close out fiscal year 2025. I asked them whether that could be a vehicle for some sort of SNAP funding, or any sort of federal aid to fill those gaps. They said everything is on the table, which isn’t necessarily something new that they’ve said, but it could show that they’re at least thinking about maybe being creative when it comes to figuring out how to plug those federal gaps…