Bay State lawmakers poised to pass budget with $400M in cuts
State lawmakers are poised to pass a reworked, $40.2 billion budget that rejects several of the sweeping changes to Medicaid proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker and slices $400 million from the legislature's original spending plans in the face of flagging tax revenues.
Legislative leaders unveiled their 327-page spending plan this morning after weeks of secret, closed-door talks and just hours before both the House and Senate were expected to pass it and send it to Gov. Charlie Baker. The moves come a week into the fiscal year, with a temporary $5.1 billion budget currently keeping state government open.
Lawmakers cut $400 million, including $150 million in MassHealth spending and another $250 million in "other areas," according to a summary sheet circulated by House officials. Rep. Brian Dempsey, chair of House Ways & Means, said many departments would be level-funded, while those who were slated to receive increases may be receiving smaller ones.
The plan includes a proposal from Baker to increase the so-called Employer Medical Assistance Contribution in an effort to trim MassHealth spending and pull another $200 million into state coffers.
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