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Senate Panel to Unveil Massachusetts Spending Plan

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-968855.mp3

Boston, MA – Lawmakers drafting a state budget are about to take another step forward. WAMC's Tristan O'Neill reports...

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday is expected to release its version of a spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1st.

The House approved its $30.5 billion budget last month. It calls for no new taxes but dips further into the state's reserve fund.

City and town officials and public employee unions will be watching to see how the Senate handles the issue of municipal health care in the budget. Unions strongly objected to a House provision that would largely strip them of collective bargaining rights over health insurance plans.

Differences between the House and Senate budgets would be worked out by a conference committee before a final spending plan is sent to Governor Deval Patrick.

Tristan O'Neill, WAMC News.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.