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July 12, 2007

Mass. governor signs budget based on 'collaboration'

BOSTON -- Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed his first budget today, vetoing just $41 million in spending.

Patrick, a Democrat, described the $26.8 billion spending plan for the new fiscal year as the result of teamwork between his office and the Democrat-controlled state Legislature - a marked departure from recent years when Republican governors routinely clashed with Democratic lawmakers.

"For the first time in a very long time we have built a budget on real collaboration between the Legislature and the administration and based on shared goals," Patrick said, adding that the 4.2 percent spending increase is the smallest in the past three years.

The budget includes additional money for a number of key areas, including local aid to cities and towns, public schools, affordable housing, expanded kindergarten and community policing.

It also includes $1.8 billion for the state's landmark health care reform effort.

There are no new taxes or fee increases in the budget, he said.

-- Associated Press

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 5:51 PM | Permalink

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