Massachusetts Governor May Propose $66M In Public Health Cuts To Help Balance Budget

Faced with a $1.4 billion budget gap, Massachusetts Acting Gov. Jane Swift (R) plans to file a budget proposal that would cut $700 million in state spending -- including a $66 million cut in public health programs -- if the state Legislature cannot approve a budget by Nov. 16, the Boston Globe reports. In addition to the public health cut, the governor's proposal will include spending the state's "entire" $290 million annual tobacco settlement payment and "slash[ing]" $96 million from human services (Klein, Boston Globe, 11/13). The cuts in public health funding would impact a number of programs and include cuts of $17 million from AIDS prevention efforts, $5 million for breast cancer screenings, $5 million for family planning and $2.8 million for prostate cancer research. The state Department of Public Health is one of the state's 10 "biggest spenders" and administration officials say they have "no choice" but to "trim" the agency's $500 million budget (Ranalli, Boston Globe, 11/13). Swift's proposal would also eliminate 5,000 state jobs, mostly through early retirements. While the administration has not detailed where the job cuts would occur, the Globe reports "reductions are possible" at the Departments of Mental Retardation and Youth Services. Swift's proposal would require legislative approval and would become moot if the Legislature passes its own budget. Legislative leaders hope to pass a budget by Nov. 21, the last day of the regular session (Klein, Boston Globe, 11/13).

Public Health Cuts Criticized
The Globe reports that critics say the proposed cuts in public health spending are "short-sighted [and] ill-timed." With Congress proposing "massive" new spending on public health and on bioterrorism and vaccines, critics say the cuts would "send the wrong message to residents." Laurie Stillman, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, said the proposed cuts would "devastate the public health infrastructure in Massachusetts ... at a time when we are facing new threats of bioterrorism." Officials at the Department of Public Health say there will be "no skimping" on funding to prevent, detect and respond to bioterrorism. But advocates say the state should not scale back its "commitment" to other areas of public health either. Already, cuts have been made to a hepatitis C screening program and the school nurses program. Stillman said the state should keep "proactive programs" financed by using funds from the tobacco settlement and the state's "rainy day" fund, or by rescinding tax cuts (Ranalli, Boston Globe, 11/13). The Legislature is currently debating whether to freeze or slow down an income tax cut approved by voters (Klein, Boston Globe, 11/13).