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Mass. Lawmakers To Review Gov. Baker's Proposed Budget Cuts

Jim Levulis
/
WAMC

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has outlined more than $500 million in cuts the Republican believes will help close a $768 million budget gap. The Democratic Senate plans to drill down on those recommendations.Nearly half of Baker’s cuts fall under his administrative authority including a 10 percent reduction in the governor’s office. Democratic Senate President Stan Rosenberg says lawmakers will go through the details of the other proposed cuts in the coming days.

“It’s going to be very painful,” Rosenberg said. “He has some ideas that will reduce the size of the cuts, but the cuts that he’s proposing are going to be painful. We haven’t gone through the list yet. Local aid is protected and a few other areas are protected, but everything else is going to see some level of need to participate in helping us balance the budget.”

Baker’s plan calls for more than $250 million in new revenues, including a tax amnesty plan and using proceeds from the capital gains tax that otherwise would go to the state's rainy day fund.

Jim is WAMC’s Associate News Director and hosts WAMC's flagship news programs: Midday Magazine, Northeast Report and Northeast Report Late Edition. Email: jlevulis@wamc.org
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