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A bill prioritizing shelter for US veterans over migrants failed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
The “Homeless Veterans Prioritization for Shelter Assistance” bill failed 129-27, with all but two Democrats voting against it and all Republicans voting for it.
The governor had said the state lacks space and funding to shelter over 7,500 families already in state-run shelters.
A Democratic committee chair said the veterans bill was political and a veterans bill was coming in May.
The Texas governor criticized the vote as “insanity”, saying migrants should not be prioritized over veterans.
“It must end,” Gov. Greg Abbott wrote. “Illegal immigrants should not be prioritized over our veterans who served our country.”
Democrats also voted down a bill requiring 3-month state residency for family shelters to prioritize state residents on waitlists.
A Democratic leader said no families are being left on the street due to overflow shelters.
“We do have these overflow shelters,” Assistant Majority Leader Alice Pesich said. “I don’t want anyone to be operating under the assumption that we have Massachusetts residents who are being left out on the street.”
