Democratic lawmakers must return to formal session and put their name on the record for or against a proposed $3.1 billion spending plan containing hundreds of millions for migrant shelter costs, according to the head of the MassGOP.

In a statement calling on the state’s liberal majority to interrupt their December-long holiday and return to their posts, MassGOP Chairwoman Amy Carnevale says Democrats had plenty of time to pass a supplemental budget before they took the rest of the year off from formal meetings.

“Democratic leadership on Beacon Hill is doing everything possible to avoid regular order. Leaders seem more concerned with bypassing debate and votes than allowing previously negotiated provisions to proceed without interruption. Included among these provisions already negotiated are important cost of living increases for state union workers. Instead, Democrats are once again choosing to try and push back room deals through a process that does not allow for accountability,” Carnevale said.

Despite holding essentially no legislative power in deep-blue Massachusetts, and without most lawmakers around to vote, Republicans suddenly find themselves empowered to block the compromised piece of legislation that came out of joint conference committee last week that would close the books on 2023 and send $250 million to the state’s shelter system.

Massachusetts is alone among U.S. states in legally guaranteeing a right to shelter for pregnant women and families with small children. A surge in migrant arrivals has pushed the shelter system to its 7,500 family maximum occupancy limit.

House lawmakers met informally for an rare Saturday session this weekend, when for the third day running Auburn state Rep. Paul Frost pointed out there were not enough Representatives present to meet and conduct business, ending any attempt to move the spending plan.

Frost said he’s not against sending more money to the shelter system but that the proposal can’t come without any plan to stop the problem from growing.

“There was no reforms placed with it to try to stop it from getting worse going forward,” he told the Herald. “This is just going to be an endless request time and time and time and time again, because we’re not doing anything to stop the problem, because we’re the only state in the country that has a statewide right-to-shelter law.”

House Speaker Ron Mariano said that Republicans already had a chance to speak up on the legislation, and are acting a little too much like their congressional colleagues.

“We already passed this bill. They voted on the bill. The Republicans voted on the bill,” Mariano said. “The fact that it didn’t come out the way they liked it is where we’re at today. Now they’re using the dilatory tactics that the Washington Republicans use to hold this up. They want to seem to be relevant and this is the tactic they’re using.”

The spending plan that emerged from committee ballooned by about $300 million is not the sort of law meant to move through an informal process, according to Carnevale.

“Informal sessions are for noncontroversial items like renaming bridges and parks — not redirecting taxpayer funding to difficult policy issues without any debate or discussion,” she said. “Our message—and the message of taxpayers—is simple: Do your job, and do it right. You may have the votes, but you do not have the high ground. The supermajority’s inaction is the sole reason we are stalled today.”

Herald wire services contributed.

Lawmakers return to Beacon Hill Monday to try again to pass a .1 billion spending bill to close the books on the last budget year. (Herald file photo)