MA House passes $400M spending bill after delays

State Rep. and Republican candidate for state Treasurer Karyn Polito has been thwarted in her attempt to block a $400 million supplemental spending bill after she was late in arriving to the House chamber.

At precisely 10 a.m. on Monday, House leaders gaveled through hundreds of millions of dollars in new spending, bolstered by federal stimulus dollars, for the current fiscal year.

Polito arrived moments later and marched away after learning she was too late.

The Shrewsbury Republican had blocked the bill for five days last week.

In a letter to House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Polito said she was delayed in traffic. She said she'll continue to talk out against what she called unnecessary spending, and the decision to pass the bill without calling a full, formal session.

The measure now goes to the Senate.