BOSTON — Massachusetts Republicans painted a dire picture Thursday night of a state crippled by overspending on the state-run shelter system, a lack of transparency on Beacon Hill, and widespread mismanagement of state finances.

Rep. Marcus Vaughn, a Republican, laid out the grim outline in response to Gov. Maura Healey’s second State of the Commonwealth address, which she used to largely reflect on her accomplishments over the past two years and detail some of her policy goals for 2025.

But Vaughn, a second-term lawmaker, pointed to the influx of migrants stressing out taxpayer-funded shelters, a steady stream of residents leaving the state, and a dearth of openness at the State House as pain points in need of remedy.

“Massachusetts is at a crossroads,” Vaughn said, according to his remarks as prepared for delivery. “We face a critical decision — continue down a path of secrecy, mismanagement, and unaffordability or chart a bold new course.”

Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are already facing early headaches at the start of the 2025-2026 legislative session with emergency shelters for homeless pregnant women and families with children, a public feud with State Auditor Diana DiZoglio over a legislative audit, and affordability.

Several serious incidents — including the alleged rape of a migrant girl in Rockland and the arrest of an illegal immigrant with an AR-15 and alleged fentanyl stash — have created a near frenzy over security and safety inside state-run shelters.

The publication of a trove of records detailing disturbing instances of physical and sexual assault in the emergency assistance program drove the governor this month to call for some of the largest reforms to the state’s right-to-shelter law since it was implemented decades ago.

Vaughn said residents are “forced” to watch their tax dollars “squandered” on an issue the Democratic supermajority in the State House “refuses to solve.”

“Taxpayer money should be invested in strengthening our communities — not squandered to sustain a crisis just so Democrats can prioritize politics over pragmatism,” he said. “Massachusetts Republicans think it’s time to prioritize our schools, local services, and the needs of our residents over reckless spending on free migrant housing.”

Vaughn's attacks on Healey, which stretched beyond migrants and touched on struggling businesses and balance in state government, could be a preview of what the governor may face during the 2026 gubernatorial election if she runs for a second term.

One Republican, former Charlie Baker secretary Mike Kennealy, has said he is “seriously considering” a gubernatorial bid in 2026 while several others like Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis and one-time MBTA administrator Brian Shortsleeve are giving it thought.

Vaughn said residents “are not buying what Gov. Healey is selling, and the proof is in the lived experience of the residents in Massachusetts,” including the departure of so many people to other parts of the country.

“This exodus is no accident,” he said. “It is the direct result of one-party rule led by entrenched Beacon Hill party bosses and their partners in the Healey-Driscoll administration,” he said.

Healey, who has not said whether she plans to campaign again for the corner office, was set to argue in her speech Thursday that her legislative accomplishments over the past two years have made Massachusetts more affordable, competitive, and equitable.

In her speech Thursday night, Healey pledged to review business and licensing regulations in an attempt to cut “red tape” and stand up a group of stakeholders to develop recommendations for a permanent high school graduation standard after voters nixed the MCAS in November.

“Our economy has continued to grow and add good jobs. Unemployment is low, and median household income is the highest in the nation. We have an excellent bond rating, and our rainy day fund is at record levels. And we can say, with pride and confidence — the state of our commonwealth is strong,” Healey said, according to her remarks as prepared for delivery.

Vaughn slammed Healey for creating an increasingly unaffordable climate for businesses and families — one that led the lawmaker to consider leaving in “search of better opportunities.”

The second-term lawmaker said Massachusetts residents are “stifled by one of the most hostile business climates in the country, burdened with excessive taxes and regulations.”

He pointed to a surtax on incomes of more than $1 million known as the “Millionaires Tax” — which is expected to generate $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2026 for transportation and education spending — as one example.

“The influx of revenue streams, coupled with a lack of tangible results, is undeniable proof that the Massachusetts government has a serious spending problem,” Vaughn said. “If we stay on this path, we risk losing our edge and watching our innovation stagnate. As the newly elected governor of New Hampshire likes to say: Massachusetts used to be a success story, now we’re a cautionary tale.”

The surtax is a linchpin in Healey’s $8 billion plan to fund transportation projects over the next decade and has already allowed other Beacon Hill Democrats to justify passing policies like free community college for residents in the state or major upgrades to the MBTA.

Vaughn said Massachusetts needs to “chart a new path forward.”

“By lowering taxes and reducing regulations, we can empower businesses to thrive, create high-paying jobs, and lower the cost of living,” he said.

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