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Trump campaign calls DeSantis ‘thirsty OnlyFans wannabe’ for debating Newsom: ‘Kiss of death’

Former President Donald Trump’s team went after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a scathing message on Truth Social on Thursday saying that his GOP opponent is “thirsty” like an “OnlyFans” model and debating California Gov. Gavin Newsom because he is “so desperate for attention.” “Ron DeSanctimonious is acting more like a thirsty, third-rate OnlyFans wannabe model than an actual presidential candidate. Instead of actually campaigning and trying to turn around his dismal poll numbers, DeSanctus is now so desperate for attention that he’s debating a Grade A loser like Gavin Newsom,” Trump Spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a press release titled “Kiss of Death” on the day DeSantis and Newsom were set to debate on Fox News. Cheung continued: “At the debate, Ron will flail his arms and bobble his head wildly, looking more like a San Francisco crackhead than the governor of Florida. This isn’t a prediction. It’s a spoiler.” “It’s never been clearer that Ron DeSanctus doesn’t have his eye on the ball. Despite falling to FIFTH PLACE in New Hampshire and failing to gain any ground in Iowa for months, DeSantis appears to already be auditioning for a career in reality television, with tonight’s circus with Gavin Newsom,” Cheung wrote.  APPEALS COURT REINSTATES GAG ORDER IN TRUMP FRAUD CASE The Trump campaign has continued to spar with the DeSantis campaign in recent months as the Florida governor attempts to position himself as the most viable alternative to Trump.  “Donald Trump is a high-risk proposition as a nominee because I think the chance of him getting elected is small, but it’s a low reward because he’s going to be a lame duck on day one – that even if he could get elected, he would not be able to attract the type of talent to work in his administration and he’d be saddled with all these distractions that it’d be virtually impossible to get the job done,” DeSantis said earlier this month. CONFIDENCE IN US PRESIDENCY HITS LOWEST POINT EVER AS TRUMP LEADS BIDEN IN 2024 REMATCH: SURVEY The super PAC backing Trump’s campaign revived attack ads against DeSantis last month, spending millions going after DeSantis in the past few weeks, which the DeSantis team pointed out on social media earlier this month as a public admission that DeSantis is “climbing in Iowa.” DeSantis was recently endorsed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and influential Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats who said “there’s definitely a shot that the former president can be beat here” despite Trump leading DeSantis by at least 30 points, according to the Real Clear Politics average, with just over six weeks until the Iowa caucus.  “The good news for Ron DeSantis is he is the front-runner in Iowa if former President Trump was not competing to win Iowa,” David Avella, chairman of GOPAC and a veteran Republican strategist, told Fox News Digital earlier this week.  “The bad news for Ron DeSantis is former President Trump is organizing to win Iowa. For DeSantis to win, he needs to get [there to] caucus those voters who are still keeping their options open and those voters who are only considering candidates other than Donald Trump. It is going to take him convincing voters with a clear, concise message that his ideas are the best solutions.”
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Newsom, DeSantis debate gets heated over COVID, tax polices: ‘You did a lot of damage’

The Fox News debate between Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis quickly got heated Thursday evening as the two sparred about their respective track records. Newsom and DeSantis particularly traded jabs over their states’ different approaches to tax policy and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.  “He has one of the most regressive tax rates in the United States, the number three most-regressive state in America,” Newsom remarked, referring to Florida. “And what that means is simply this: Who does he tax? He taxes low income workers more than we tax millionaires and billionaires in the state of California.” “The question is a simple one,” the Democratic governor continued. “Who, Ron, are you for? It’s a factual lie that — the state of California has the highest tax rate, but for whom? And it’s a foundational and fundamental difference.” DESANTIS VS NEWSOM DEBATE HEATS UP WITH CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS INCLUDING TAXES, COVID-19 | LIVE UPDATES Fox News host Sean Hannity, though, showed a graphic citing Tax Foundation data which highlighted how Florida has a 0% income tax rate across all incomes while California has a graduated income tax between 1% to 13.3%. Florida also has a lower sales and gasoline tax compared to California.  LIBERAL COLUMNIST PRAISES ‘PATRIOTIC’ NEWSOM FOR ‘SHADOW CAMPAIGN,’ SLAMS DEMOCRATS FOR BACKING BIDEN “How many people leave Florida to go to California because they pay less taxes? I’m not seeing that. Are people going from Florida to New York because they pay less taxes? Of course not,” DeSantis responded. “They come to Florida because they pay lower taxes. We don’t even have an income tax. And yet California has a higher sales tax than we do.” “Here’s the thing, and I’ll give — I’ll give Gavin credit. He did at least admit in his first answer, he’s joined at the hip with Biden and Harris,” he added. “He thinks Biden and Harris have done a great job. He thinks the economy is working because of their policies. What California represents is the Biden-Harris agenda on steroids. They would love nothing more than to get four more years to be able to take the California model nationally. That would be disastrous for working people.” The two governors then sparred about their handling of the pandemic with Newsom arguing DeSantis both locked down Florida before California shut down and that his lax policies led to a higher death rate in Florida. DeSantis, though, blasted Newsom for shutting down his state for an extended period of time and listening to the advice of teachers unions. “You were not following science. You were a lock-down governor,” DeSantis said. “You did a lot of damage to your people. You had more kids locked out of school for a longer period of time in California than anywhere else in the country. It was the working-class kids. It was the middle income kids — his kids were in private school, they were in class. He is owned by the teachers union.” “Let’s talk about your record on COVID,” Newsom responded. “You passed an emergency declaration before the state of California did. You closed down your beaches, your bars, your restaurants. It’s a fact. You had quarantines, checkpoints all over the state of Florida.” “You were promoting vaccines. You even wore a mask,” he added. “He did all of that until he decided to fall prey to the fringe of his party. And as a consequence of that, tens of thousands of people lost their lives, the equivalent of ten 9/11s.”
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Democrats call for resignation of Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler amid sexual battery allegations

The Sarasota Police Department is currently running a criminal investigation over allegations of sexual battery against Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler.  As of Thursday, police confirmed that investigators have not charged Ziegler with any crimes yet.  Police released a heavily redacted report, obscuring details about the accusations, but claiming it involved a rape allegation against Ziegler.  The complaint was filed Oct. 4, and stated that the alleged sexual battery occurred inside a woman’s Sarasota home on Oct. 2, according to the report. Among words not redacted in the report are “rape” and “sexual assault complaint.” TWO ARIZONA REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS IN RURAL BORDER COUNTY CRIMINALLY CHARGED WITH DELAYING 2022 ELECTION RESULTS Earlier on Thursday, Ziegler’s attorney, Derek Byrd, released a statement to FOX 13 Tampa Bay acknowledging the reports of the investigation, saying that Ziegler has fully cooperated with the police requests.  “We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated,” Byrd said in a statement. The Republican Party of Sarasota County also released a statement Thursday:  “We are shocked and disappointed to hear of the reports concerning Republican Party of Florida Chair and Sarasota County State Committeeman Christian Ziegler, and his wife, Sarasota County School Board Member Bridget Ziegler. The Republican Party takes all such allegations of potential criminal conduct very seriously and will fully cooperate with investigators.” TOP DESANTIS BACKER RESIGNS FROM SUPER PAC AMID INTERNAL TURMOIL: ‘UNTENABLE’ ENVIRONMENT The Florida Democratic Party has also called on Ziegler to step down as the GOP chairman. “This is serious. We demand his immediate resignation,” Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, posted on X.  Ziegler is the head of the Florida GOP and the husband of Sarasota school board member Bridget Ziegler, who is also a co-founder of Moms for Liberty.  DESANTIS TROLLS NIKKI HALEY WITH NEW CAMPAIGN MERCH MOCKING HER COMMENTS ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA VERIFICATION “Bridget was an original founder of Moms for Liberty, but she stepped back from the organization’s board in 2021. We have learned long ago to not believe everything we read online, and we are confident she will get to tell her side of things to those who are interested in more than clickbait,” Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich, Moms for Liberty Founders told Fox News Digital.  According to the Florida Center for Government Accountability, Christian Ziegler has deep-rooted ties to both Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Trump, who called out Ziegler’s name in a recent speech earlier this month during the “Florida Freedom Summit” in Kissimmee, and said he was doing a “fantastic job.” 
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Jeffrey Epstein flight log subpoena request denied by Democrat-led Senate Judiciary Committee, Blackburn says

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., criticized Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., for allegedly blocking her request to file a subpoena for Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs. “@SenatorDurbin BLOCKED my request to subpoena Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs. What are Democrats trying to hide?,” Blackburn posted on X. Blackburn called Durbin’s actions a “sad day in the history of the prestigious Judiciary Committee.” “Senate Democrats have long been trying to undermine the Supreme Court and Justice Clarence Thomas, but want to ignore Justice Sotomayor allegedly using her taxpayer-funded staff to coordinate speaking engagements in exchange for selling and promoting thousands of her books. They also don’t want to have a conversation about the estate of Jeffrey Epstein to find out the names of every person who participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s human trafficking ring,” Blackburn said in a statement. GOP SENATOR MOVES TO FORCE RELEASE OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN FLIGHT LOGS, IDENTIFY PERPETRATORS IN ‘HORRIFIC CONDUCT’ She first moved for the flight records to be subpoenaed in early November. “Since we’re in the business of issuing subpoenas now, here are a few more that I’ve filed,” Blackburn told the committee during a meeting in early November discussing possible subpoenas related to a Supreme Court ethics probe. “A subpoena to Jeffrey Epstein’s estate to provide the flight logs for his private plane. Given the numerous allegations of human trafficking and abuse surrounding Mr. Epstein, we’ve got to identify everyone who could have participated in his horrific conduct,” Blackburn said. GHISLAINE MAXWELL IS ‘DANGEROUS PREDATOR’ WHO ‘SERVED UP’ MINORS FOR JEFFREY EPSTEIN TO ABUSE, PROSECUTORS SAY Some in the media dubbed Epstein’s plane as “The Lolita Express,” which was allegedly used to fly underage girls to his private Caribbean island in addition to other locations around the world. Epstein pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy in July 2019 in a New York court. He was later found dead in his jail cell located in Mahattan. Fox News Digital reached out to Blackburn and Durbin’s office for comment. Fox News Digital’s Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.
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Liberal columnist praises ‘patriotic’ Newsom for ‘shadow campaign,’ slams Democrats for backing Biden

A liberal columnist posted a column in the Washington Post calling California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s alleged “shadow campaign” a “patriotic” move and slammed the Democratic Party for the “reckless gamble” of moving forward with President Biden in 2024. “Here’s the reality: Whether you like Biden or not (I do, and I’m pretty sure Newsom does, too), the Democratic Party right now is taking a shockingly reckless gamble with the country’s future,” journalist Matt Bai wrote in the Washington Post on Wednesday, the day before the highly anticipated debate between Newsom and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Bai outlines the recent prominent moves made by Newsom that have led to accusations from many on both sides of the aisle that Newsom is running a “shadow campaign” to step in for Biden as questions continue to grow about his age.  Bai then slams Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman, who publicly defended Biden’s re-election and dismissed Newsom’s potential challenge. Fetterman said earlier this year that Newsom doesn’t have the “guts” to admit he’s running and said anyone going against Biden is writing a “check for Trump.” WHAT DESANTIS, NEWSOM AIM TO GAIN OUT OF PRIME-TIME DEBATE CLASH ON FOX NEWS’ ‘HANNITY’ “Because, apparently, having guts in the Democrat Party right now means mindlessly cheerleading for the president and hoping, despite all available data and the ominous mood, that everything is going to work out just fine,” Bai wrote. Bai continued: “The oldest president in history is about to become an even older nominee, backstopped by a vice president whom barely a third of the country likes. For the next year, we will all be one major health issue, or one small slip on the stairs, from inviting a lying autocrat back to the White House.” JOE ROGAN WARNS DEMOCRATS ON 2024, SAYING THEY HAVE ‘NO CARDS’ LEFT OTHER THAN ‘PARTY LOYALTY’ Bai wrote that the “Democratic answer” to this problem has been “some version” of “Don’t worry, we’ve got this.”  “Which might sound familiar to you, since it’s precisely what Hillary Clinton’s strategists told everyone in 2016, when they tried, mostly with success, to shut down support for anyone who dared to run against her,” Bai wrote. “That worked out great.” Bai wrote that Democrats should watch the Fox News debate between the two governors and “assess Newsom’s skills and his command of the issues, just in case they should wake up one day and find themselves in the market for an alternative to Biden who isn’t named Harris.” “That’s not me being mean or ghoulish. That’s being practical, and even patriotic.” Bai said that viewers will see Newsom as a “polished politician” who can be “too slick” but can “articulate” a “next-generation agenda without pretending “everything will be OK” if the party is loyal to Biden. “In Democratic politics at the moment, that’s about as brave as it gets,” Bai wrote. A Monmouth University poll released earlier this month showed that 76% of voters agreed Biden, 80, was “too old” to serve another term, compared to just 48% who said the same about Trump, 77.  Newsom has denied he’s running for president multiple times, and when asked, he told NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo in September that he’s “not worthy of that conversation” and that Biden “deserves it.” At the start of the Fox News debate on “Hannity” Thursday night, Newsom again denied running a shadow campaign.  “The one thing we have in common is neither of us will be our party’s nominee in 2024,” Newsom told DeSantis. Fox News Digital reached out to the DNC for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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Dem staffers rail against Republican Eli Crane’s border wall-themed Christmas decorations: ‘In terrible taste’

Democratic staffers didn’t take too kindly to the border wall-themed Christmas display outside the office of Republican Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona.  An initial picture was posted on the X account of Jason Johnson, who is the press secretary for Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona. The picture shows a mock brick-red border wall capped with fake snow and plush elves outside the entrance to Crane’s office. A sign on one door reads “Border Patrol Elves Only.” Another door displays signs reading “Have Documents Ready” and “Port of Entry” above the entrance in obvious reference to checkpoints along the U.S.-Mexico border.  REP. DAN GOLDMAN DENIES HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP IS ‘REAL,’ REVIVES DEBUNKED RUSSIAN MISINFORMATION THEORY “Normally Longworth 2nd floor Christmas decorations are a bipartisan and amiable contest,” Johnson posted. “Rep. Eli Crane’s office has the most insensitive, charged and insulting Christmas décor I’ve ever seen in my 5 years on Capitol Hill.”  Aaron Fritschner, Deputy Chief of Staff to Virginia Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, responded to the post, accusing Crane and his staff of ignoring the original meaning of Christmas.  “In addition to being stupid and in terrible taste, Eli Crane and his staff are showing impressive ignorance of the nativity story,” Fritschner wrote. “They should read Chapter 2 of the Gospel of Matthew to remind themselves what Christmas is all about.”  Chapter 2 of Matthew details the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and the subsequent visit by the three wise men from the East.  FORMER NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT LAUNCHES BID TO UNSEAT ARIZONA REP. ELI CRANE In response to Johnson’s initial post, Crane press secretary Zach Kahler shared a snap on X of the door to Rep. Grijalva’s, showing it bare of any decorations, save for a lonely cactus in the corner.  He quipped: “Looks like your office takes the contest about as seriously as your party does the crisis at the border.”  Fox News Digital has reached out to Crane and Grijalva’s office for further comment.
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Florida Democrats enrage long-shot Biden challenger Dean Phillips by excluding him from the ballot

The Florida Democratic Party has reportedly excluded long-shot President Biden challenger Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota from the primary ballot, effectively leaving Floridian Democrats with a single choice for a Democratic presidential candidate — the incumbent.  In a statement provided to Politico, Phillips accused the Florida Democratic Party of foul play, and threatened legal retaliation if he wasn’t included on the ballot.  “Americans would expect the absence of democracy in Tehran, not Tallahassee,” Phillips told the outlet. “The intentional disenfranchisement of voters runs counter to everything for which our Democratic Party and country stand. Our mission as Democrats is to defeat authoritarians, not become them.” The party, meanwhile, contends it followed protocol accordingly and has been transparent about the balloting process.  TWO ARIZONA REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS IN RURAL BORDER COUNTY CRIMINALLY CHARGED WITH DELAYING 2022 ELECTION RESULTS  “We are dismayed by Dean Phillps’ conspiratorial and inappropriate comments comparing the state of Florida to the Iranian regime as part of his knee-jerk reaction to long-established procedures,” Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried said in a statement. “This is unbecoming of someone running for higher office.” Phillips’ campaign and the Florida Democratic Party have offered contrasting timelines as to when Phillips requested to be on the ballot before the state party submitted only Biden as a candidate for nomination.  Florida’s primary is slated for March 19.  Phillips’ campaign, meanwhile, is weighing a lawsuit against the Florida Democratic Party and possibly even the Democratic National Committee. The move would echo Independent Bernie Sanders’ claims in 2016 that the primary process had conspired against his presidential campaign in favor of Hillary Clinton.  Fox News Digital has reached out to the Florida Democratic Party and Phillips’ campaign team for further comment.  WHITMER’S SISTER DROPS FROM NY HOUSE RACE, ENDORSES PROGRESSIVE DEM FOR HIGH STAKES GOP-CONTROLLED SEAT Phillips, virtually unknown to most Americans, launched his presidential bid Oct. 27, becoming the first elected Democrat to challenge Biden for the nomination. Phillips announced last Friday he will not seek reelection to Congress in 2024. “My journey to public service began the morning after the 2016 election, when I faced the reality that democracy requires participation — not observation,” the Minnesota congressman said in a statement. “Seven years have passed, each presenting historic opportunities to practice a brand of optimistic politics that repairs relationships and improves people’s lives. We have met those moments, and after three terms it is time to pass the torch,” he added. Phillips is one of the wealthiest members of Congress and heir to his stepfather’s Phillips Distilling Company empire, which holds major vodka and schnapps brands.  Phillips once served as that company’s president but also ran the gelato maker Talenti. 
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How and where to watch DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate with Fox News’ Sean Hannity

PROGRAMMING ALERT: Watch the debate between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on “Hannity” on the Fox News Channel at 9 pm ET. Fox News’ Sean Hannity is hosting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a great state debate tonight at 9 p.m. ET in Alpharetta, Georgia. For years, the Peach State was flooded with red voters, but has emerged as a swing state in recent elections. The debate on “Hannity” will air for 90 minutes on Fox News Channel and will be simulcast on Fox News Radio. The primetime showdown will cover the policies of Republican and Democratic candidates and feature no audience. DESANTIS VS. NEWSOM: LIVE UPDATES The opposing governors are known to vocalize their distaste for one another. “To me, this is all business. I understand how this game is played,” DeSantis told Fox News of his ongoing feud with Newsom in late Septemeber. “For him, it may be a little bit different. “California and Florida just have two very different models, and we’ve seen the results of those models. People have fled California since he’s been governor. That’s never happened before. California used to be the state everyone aspired to go to. A lot of them have moved to Florida, which we never had before when I was growing up.” FIERCE DESANTIS-NEWSOM RIVALRY HEADS TO FACE-TO-FACE SHOWDOWN Newsom spoke of baiting DeSantis during a September interview with FOX 11 Los Angeles anchor Elex Michaelson. “Of course. I mean why is he debating a guy who’s not even running for president when he’s running for president?” Newsom wondered.  “He’s showing up at the Reagan Library, hallowed ground, and he puts out an ad today, not for his presidential campaign, to promote a debate against the governor of California. I mean, this guy’s distracted, so I don’t know that he has it in his heart. I think — here’s my personal opinion about Ron DeSantis — he regrets running for president.”
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Pentagon confirms 74th attack on US troops in Middle East since Oct. 17

U.S. forces stationed in Syria were attacked Tuesday, Pentagon officials said Thursday, marking the 74th time since Oct. 17 that troops were targeted in the Middle East. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh confirmed the attack during Thursday’s Department of Defense briefing. “There was an attack on Tuesday…that brings the total attacks up to 74 attacks from October 17th until now,” she said, adding that there were no additional attacks over the last two days. US NAVY WARSHIP SHOOTS DOWN IRANIAN-MADE HOUTHI DRONE LAUNCHED FROM YEMEN Singh also said there were no injuries reported from the attack, nor any damage to infrastructure. The 74 attacks on U.S. troops have taken place in Iraq and Syria and began on Oct. 17 by Iraqi militia groups. The attacks are reportedly linked to the U.S.’s support for Israel in its retaliation against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, following its attack on Oct. 7. The attacks do not include ballistic missiles being shot in the direction of U.S. military vessels, which commanding officers on those ships have ordered to be shot down. FREED ISRAELI HOSTAGE CLAIMS HAMAS’ GAZA LEADER WAS SILENT AFTER CONFRONTING HIM IN TUNNEL On Wednesday, the U.S. Navy Destroyer USS Carney shot down an Iranian-made Houthi drone launched from Yemen. There was no damage to the Carney or any injuries to the U.S. personnel onboard the vessel, which was sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the time of the attack. During the briefing, Singh was asked why Houthi drones and missiles heading in the vicinity of U.S. ships were not being included in the number of attacks. US TROOPS TARGETED IN THREE MORE ATTACKS AT BASES IN IRAQ, SYRIA, LEAVING ONE INJURED She explained that action is being taken against drones and missiles when commanding officers on those ships feel they pose a threat. “In terms of intended target…our initial assessment is that the ships were not the intended target, but they came close enough where, at least the Carney, felt the need that it had to engage the drone that was coming its way or headed toward the general direction,” Singh said. She could not say what the intended target of the drones or missiles were, but the initial assessment, Singh added, was that the ships were not the intended target. “It is up to the commanders of these ships if they feel that they are under attack, or they feel like their personnel are threatened, to be able to respond and take action,” Singh said. Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
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Massachusetts weighs temporary shelter funding amid homeless, migrant crises

Massachusetts lawmakers are weighing a spending bill that includes money for temporary shelter spaces for homeless families as the state struggles to find newly arriving migrants places to stay after hitting a state-imposed limit of 7,500 families in its emergency homeless shelter system. House and Senate Democratic leaders announced Thursday they had reached a deal on a $2.8 billion spending bill two weeks after wrapping up their formal session. The bill would steer hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s emergency shelters buckling under a crush of migrant and homeless families. Republican lawmakers, who are in the minority in both chambers, urged Democrats to split up the spending bill. GOP leaders say they support parts that would fund overdue pay raises and disaster relief efforts but oppose funding for migrant families without significant reforms. MASSACHUSETTS INITIATES $5 MILLION GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES “There is currently no plan in place to stem the flow of new arrivals and no policy reforms implemented to ensure that longtime residents in need are not denied housing assistance, which is completely unacceptable,” Minority Leader Bradley Jones wrote in a statement Wednesday. In an informal session, a single lawmaker can kill a bill. Formal sessions are set to begin again in January. Democratic House Speaker Ronald Mariano said in a statement Thursday that the supplemental budget plan includes $250 million to help respond to families seeking shelter, including up to $50 million for an emergency overflow site for families stuck on the wait list. Over 100 families are currently waiting for emergency shelter spaces. To create more space in the shelter system, the state has been collaborating with federal officials to help migrants get work authorizations needed to find a job. At a series of recent work clinics sponsored by the state, more than 1,700 migrants have applied for work authorizations, officials said. The migrants, all of whom are in the country legally, are eager to get work and leave the shelters according to the state’s Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice. “We see first-hand a lot of these migrants coming in here, their objective is to get into a community and work,” Rice said. Nearly 500 families have exited shelters since Sept. 1, he said. Last week, Catholic Charities Boston became first organization to be awarded a grant to provide temporary rooms for up to 27 extremely low-income families with children and pregnant individuals waiting for shelter spaces. MASSACHUSETTS TO LET HOMELESS FAMILIES CAMP IN STATE TRANSPORTATION BUILDING AS SHELTER SYSTEM OVERFLOWS Democratic Gov. Maura Healey announced the $5 million grant program earlier this month. The state also began last week letting homeless families stay overnight in the state transportation building in Boston. The space in the office building is large enough to provide overnight shelter for up to 25 families with cots and limited amenities and will only be used in the evening and overnight hours, officials said. On Wednesday, the state announced it was joining with the YMCA of Greater Boston to give the families a welcoming environment including food and recreational opportunities during daytime hours when the temporary shelter isn’t available. The surge in demand is being driven in part by migrant families entering the state, officials said.
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