Thursday, May 18, 2006
BOSTON (AP) - Senate leaders unveiled their budget plan for the new fiscal year Wednesday, proposing extra spending on schools, local aid and health care - but rebuffing Gov. Mitt Romney's call for a cut in the state income tax rate.
The $25.4 billion spending plan boosts education aid to cities and towns by more than $210 million dollars and funds the state's new commitments under the landmark health care law approved earlier this year, according to Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Therese Murray.
The Senate plan would increase spending on higher education by more than $57 million, including $31 million for state and community colleges and more than $26 million for the University of Massachusetts. It would also let the colleges keep all fees and tuition instead of funneling the money back through the state.
The budget is a 6.3 percent increase in spending over the current year, but is about $30 million lower than the final House budget plan approved last month, said Murray, D-Plymouth, who called the plan ''responsible and balanced.''
Once the Senate approves the budget, both the Senate and House versions head to a six-member conference committee charged with hammering out a final compromise version to send to Romney's desk. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
Senators also want to spend more than $1 million for the state Office of Dam Safety to help speed inspection and regulation of the state's 3,000 dams, which are under renewed focus with recent heavy rains and flooding.
Senate Democrats had faulted Gov. Mitt Romney for only asking for about half as much for the dam safety office. They said the recent flooding shows the need for better oversight of the state's dams.
House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said House members are also interested in ensuring that the state's dams are secure.
''We have to address that issue based on the evidence that's presented to us,'' said DiMasi, D-Boston. ''We will respond with the proper amount of money.''
Murray defended the decision to ignore Romney's proposal to cut the state income tax rate from 5.3 percent to 5 percent.
''We felt we would rather invest the money in education and higher education and health,'' said Murray, D-Plymouth.
Romney said taxpayers are overdue for the cut.
He pointed to a 2000 ballot question overwhelmingly approved by voters to cut the tax rate from 5.95 percent to 5 percent. Lawmakers later froze the cut at 5.3 percent. He also said the state is on track to bring in $1.4 billion more than estimated for the current fiscal year.
''How we cannot justify a tax cut to the level that was voted by the citizens is something I can't understand,'' Romney said Wednesday.
The plan would also pay for a new 60-bed substance abuse program and increase the salaries of assistant district attorneys.
The state's district attorneys had lobbied hard for the extra money in the Senate plan, which would allow them to increase the pay of assistant district attorneys by up to 10 percent. They said the low pay has made it hard to keep young attorneys feeling the pressure to pay back student loans.
BOSTON (AP) - Senate leaders unveiled their budget plan for the new fiscal year Wednesday, proposing extra spending on schools, local aid and health care - but rebuffing Gov. Mitt Romney's call for a cut in the state income tax rate.
The $25.4 billion spending plan boosts education aid to cities and towns by more than $210 million dollars and funds the state's new commitments under the landmark health care law approved earlier this year, according to Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Therese Murray.
The Senate plan would increase spending on higher education by more than $57 million, including $31 million for state and community colleges and more than $26 million for the University of Massachusetts. It would also let the colleges keep all fees and tuition instead of funneling the money back through the state.
The budget is a 6.3 percent increase in spending over the current year, but is about $30 million lower than the final House budget plan approved last month, said Murray, D-Plymouth, who called the plan ''responsible and balanced.''
Once the Senate approves the budget, both the Senate and House versions head to a six-member conference committee charged with hammering out a final compromise version to send to Romney's desk. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
Senators also want to spend more than $1 million for the state Office of Dam Safety to help speed inspection and regulation of the state's 3,000 dams, which are under renewed focus with recent heavy rains and flooding.
Senate Democrats had faulted Gov. Mitt Romney for only asking for about half as much for the dam safety office. They said the recent flooding shows the need for better oversight of the state's dams.
House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said House members are also interested in ensuring that the state's dams are secure.
''We have to address that issue based on the evidence that's presented to us,'' said DiMasi, D-Boston. ''We will respond with the proper amount of money.''
Murray defended the decision to ignore Romney's proposal to cut the state income tax rate from 5.3 percent to 5 percent.
''We felt we would rather invest the money in education and higher education and health,'' said Murray, D-Plymouth.
Romney said taxpayers are overdue for the cut.
He pointed to a 2000 ballot question overwhelmingly approved by voters to cut the tax rate from 5.95 percent to 5 percent. Lawmakers later froze the cut at 5.3 percent. He also said the state is on track to bring in $1.4 billion more than estimated for the current fiscal year.
''How we cannot justify a tax cut to the level that was voted by the citizens is something I can't understand,'' Romney said Wednesday.
The plan would also pay for a new 60-bed substance abuse program and increase the salaries of assistant district attorneys.
The state's district attorneys had lobbied hard for the extra money in the Senate plan, which would allow them to increase the pay of assistant district attorneys by up to 10 percent. They said the low pay has made it hard to keep young attorneys feeling the pressure to pay back student loans.
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