State Rep. Angelo Puppolo
Reminder Publishing file photo
State Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield) is entering his 19th year in the state Legislature, and he said his primary goal for 2025 is the same now as it has ever been: “fight for every penny” for the people of Western Massachusetts.
Puppolo said eastern Massachusetts has more resources than the communities in the western part of the state. To secure funding, he said, the key is working with his colleagues in the local delegation. “We got a lot of seasoned legislators [who] collectively, as a unit, speak in one voice. Pull together,” Puppolo advocated, “and we’re going to continue to do that. We’ve gotten tremendous results over the years.”
Puppolo also praised Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll for visiting Western Massachusetts and seeing the issues people face firsthand. He said the administration has been open to communication and working together with legislators on issues.
Looking at one of the challenges in Western Massachusetts, Puppolo said the “migrant issue” is “the elephant in the room.” He said, “We have to get that under control. It’s a regional issue, but also a challenge for the whole state.”
According to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Donahue Institute, international immigration to the state was 72,892 in 2022 and 74,61 in 2023, significantly higher than in the previous two decades, when the yearly number of international immigrants moving to Massachusetts never exceeded 49,000. From July 2023 to July 2024, 90,217 new international immigrants moved into the state, far surpassing previous years. In the past four years alone, 254,194 people have immigrated to Massachusetts from outside the country. However, people also leave the state to relocate elsewhere. Setting aside the natural change of births and deaths, net immigration has increased the state’s population by 262,843 since the year 2000.
The governor’s office is taking the lead on issues around migration, Puppolo said, including a recent move to require inspections at shelters that house migrants and a push to encourage Congress to make improvements to the federal border control system.
Another issue that Puppolo is focused on is access to health care. “We’ve certainly got a problem with health care,” he said, referring to a lack of health care professionals and long wait times to see providers. To address these issues, he said the Western Massachusetts delegation is working with Baystate Health and Trinity Health of New England, two of the largest healthcare providers in Hampden County.
Puppolo said both companies are facing “funding challenges.” He did not specify what strategies the legislators were examining.
With the swearing-in of President Donald Trump on Jan. 20, Puppolo said the amount of federal funding Massachusetts can expect to receive in the year ahead is “definitely a concern.” However, he said, “We’re very fortunate. We’ve got Congressman [Richard] Neal [D-Springfield], who is a saving grace. He’s always there when we need him.”
