Russell Holmes — Referenced in the phrase 'Rep. Holmes's point' while discussing public housing and poverty.
Russell Holmes — Was greeted by the speaker.
Russell Holmes — Representative Holmes opens by noting he has asked this question every year and appreciates the work of the treasurer’s office and related agencies. He then seeks confirmation that the treasurer’s two budget requests are both related to lottery advertising and that the rest of the budget is level funded. He follows by raising a broader concern about using reserve funds, comparing it to clients’ reluctance to spend cash reserves.
Michael Chaisson — Listed as present.
Kristin Kassner — Listed as present.
Kristin Kassner — Representative Kassner thanked the chair and praised the budget’s economic growth provisions, then asked how the budget or other mechanisms will address the infrastructure needed to support that growth across the Commonwealth, with particular concern for water infrastructure.
Patrick Kearney — Patrick Kearney is listed as present; the transcript appears to duplicate his name in this attendance mention.
Patrick Kearney — Recognized as having joined the meeting from the House Ways and Means Committee; likely a transcription error for Patrick Kearney.
Rodney Elliott — Listed as present.
Priscila Sousa — Listed as present.
Orlando Ramos — Representative Orlando Ramos is listed as present.
Manny Cruz — Manny Cruz is mentioned as present, with a second nearby mention likely referring to the same attendance listing and reinforcing the identification.
John Moran — John Moran was listed as present.
Alyson Sullivan-Almeida — Representative Alyson Sullivan-Almeida was listed as present.
Joseph McKenna — Listed as present.
Joseph McKenna — Representative McKenna is noted as being present with the senator and participating in a meeting with the Uxbridge select board and Finance Committee.
Marcus Vaughn — Listed as present.
Ryan Hamilton — Listed as present.
Rita Mendes — Called out as present over there.
Pavel Payano — Senator Pavel Payano is mentioned as one of the senators who joined the hearing.
Ryan Fattman — Mentioned as one of the senators who joined the hearing; transcript says 'Fatman.'
Ryan Fattman — Asked questions and raised concerns about energy policy and Uxbridge.
Martha Kwasnick — Identified as ANF General Counsel and part of the team answering questions.
Chris Marino — Identified as Assistant Secretary and head of the budget team.
David Biele — Recognized as having joined the meeting from the House Ways and Means Committee.
Kate Walsh — Identified as leading the health care affordability working group meeting tomorrow.
Pat Tutwiler — Identified as the new secretary; praised for service.
Secretary Strike — Identified as the incoming secretary, a superintendent from Salem.
Kelly Dooner — Her point is referenced while discussing fire safety grants and compliance.
Kelly Dooner — Kelly Dooner thanks the witness for their work on SNAP and DTA, then raises constituent concerns she encountered while serving as a city councilor, including residents having trouble receiving cards and questions about whether information requests are being resisted in EEC/DCF matters.
Kelly Dooner — Addressed as 'Senator' in the transcript; she appears to be the member asking questions and concluding her remarks.
Mark Nunley — Named as a participant from Bain who is helping with the competitiveness council effort.
Dan Canary — Identified as the founder of Harpoon Brewery and a participant helping with the competitiveness council effort.
Kelly Pease — Kelly Pease is likely the intended reference behind the mention of 'Representative Soder,' with both mentions indicating that he was present with the senator in Uxbridge.
Kelly Pease — Representative Pease thanks the Attorney General and says the issue is not partisan.
Secretary of State Bill Galvin — Secretary of State Bill Galvin is introduced and then thanks the committee before outlining his department’s budget outlook. He notes that revenue generated by the office has increased above last year’s estimates and remains a positive revenue source, but says the major challenge for the coming fiscal year will be the cost of administering the 2026 election and the broader election cycle.
Natalie Higgins — The speaker notes that Representative Higgins joined the hearing.
Attorney General — The Attorney General opened her FY27 budget testimony by greeting the committee, acknowledging recent losses, and thanking members for their partnership. She said she was proud to serve and explained that the requested resources help her office protect constituents through consumer and worker protections, competition enforcement, and responses to federal inaction. She emphasized that a strong state AG office is needed in the current national climate, described how her office and other state AGs have stepped in where federal enforcement has retreated, and cited major work on anti-competitive behavior and other public-interest issues. She then presented budget-related figures to show the value of the office’s investment, including billions protected for the Commonwealth, and noted legal challenges to improper federal funding conditions and court victories that preserved significant state funds.
Jen — Identified as leading the human trafficking division and participating in related commissions and conversations.
Nick Collins — The exchange transitions to Senator Collins, who thanks the office for defending Haitian constituents with TPS and asks about next steps. The discussion continues with acknowledgment that he also cares deeply about the issue, keeping the focus on support for Haitian constituents and TPS.
Abby Chimman — Identified as being in the forefront of the Haitian TPS work and likely to provide additional detail.
Abby — The speaker asks Abby whether she has anything to add.
Deborah Goldberg — The Treasurer begins her testimony and offers opening remarks.
Anne Margaret Fronte — The Treasurer says she was very close with Anne Margaret Fronte and thinks about her several times a day.
Gina Cash — Gina Cash is introduced as part of the auditor’s team and as the next speaker who will discuss the Bureau of Special Investigations. She then delivers her testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee, thanking members for their past support and presenting the Bureau’s needs and priorities. The segment concludes with thanks to Gina Cash after her remarks.
Gina Cash — Gina Cash, director of the Bureau of Special Investigations, was consulted about what additional steps her office could take to look into the issues being discussed. She indicated that the bureau’s authority is limited by the memorandum of agreement, and when asked whether there was any known refusal to provide information, she responded that she was not aware of any specific refusal.
Gina Cash — Gina Cash is referenced as explaining why the auditor's office did not simply act broadly on what was seen in the Minneapolis situation, and she clarifies the limits of the office’s authority, including that it cannot access people’s private accounts.
Paul Travolini — Paul Travolini is identified as part of the auditor's team/staff and noted as seated to the speaker's right.
Paul Travelini — He introduced himself as an audit director with the State Auditor's Office and said he oversees audits of independent authorities and education-related agencies.
Georgia Bo-Chem — Introduced as the Director of Quality Assurance in the Office of the State Auditor.