Weymouth Senator named as one of six legislators to the conference committee responsible for drafting final version of the challenging and unique FY2021 state budget

BOSTON – Over the past two weeks, the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives each passed their own version of a $46 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21). Each budget aims to move the Commonwealth towards an equitable recovery by making critical investments in sectors impacted by COVID-19. Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) was named to the conference committee responsible for negotiating a final version of the budget. The committee is comprised of three senators and three representatives.

“This is an incredible opportunity to advocate for our shared priorities and services and programs important to the South Shore,” said Senator O’Connor. “This budget will be crucial to the Commonwealth’s ability to recover and rebuild,” he continued. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to produce a final version of the budget that invests in our people. If we continue to make investments in education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and housing, we’ll be well-positioned as we move through and past the pandemic.

O’Connor also noted that he will be strongly advocating to keep the targeted community funding he secured in the Senate budget:

• $100,000 for One Life at a Time – an organization that helps folks from all across the South Shore with comprehensive employment assistance and job training to individuals in recovery.
• $150,000 for The Company Theatre – a Norwell-based nonprofit that entertains, enlightens, and energizes audiences with high quality productions, and inspires students of all ages through the performing arts.
• $300,000 for the Talking Information Center – a Marshfield-based nonprofit that provides a reading service that broadcasts newspapers, magazines, books, and special consumer information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to visually impaired and print impaired listeners.

“I can’t say enough about the incredible service these organizations provide for families all across the South Shore. As I’ve mentioned before, we’re lucky to have them in our backyard and I’ll be fighting hard to make sure they get the funding they need to be successful for the foreseeable future,” said O’Connor.

Joining O’Connor on the Conference Committee from the Senate will be Senator Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) and Senator Cindy Freedman (D-Arlington), and from the House of Representatives will be Representatives Michlewitz (D-Boston), Garlick (D-Needham), and Smola (R-Palmer).

Senator Patrick O’Connor represents the Plymouth and Norfolk district, which includes the towns of Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate, and Weymouth. Sen. O’Connor and his staff may be reached at the State House at 617-722-1646 or by email at Patrick.O’[email protected].

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