Massachusetts Lawmakers Pass $22.6B Budget that Includes Cuts for Public Health Programs

Massachusetts lawmakers approved a $22.6 billion budget last week that "scales back" funding for human services and a variety of public health programs, the Boston Globe reports. Facing a $1.4 billion budget deficit, lawmakers cut about $650 million from earlier spending plans (Klein, Boston Globe, 11/22). The proposal "draws heavily" on $750 million from the state's "rainy day fund," last year's budget surplus and funds from the state's share of the national tobacco settlement. While the budget plan includes "some cuts" in public health funding, it will "spare" the state's pharmacy program for seniors and restore the state's hepatitis C prevention campaign (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/19). Cuts include $22 million earmarked for a program to place mentally disabled adults in group homes. Because the funding was required by a legal settlement between the state and 2,400 families, the cuts may result in legal action, the Globe reports. Also, the Department of Mental Health's budget was reduced by $27 million. Advocates said that the cut could reduce the number of beds available in mental health facilities. Spending on AIDS treatment and prevention programs was cut by $12 million. State Sen. Mark Montigny (D) said the cuts were designed to impact as few people as possible. He added that if additional funding "becomes available," more money will be appropriated for AIDS programs.

Possible Line Item Vetoes
While lawmakers "overwhelmingly" approved the plan, some Democrats opposed it, saying it "balance[d] the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable members of society," the Globe reports. State Rep. Ruth Balser (D) said, "These cuts were not necessary. I have been hearing for months that we will have to make cuts. But why do those cuts have to be to the mentally ill, the mentally retarded and the caregivers who help them?" Twenty-two Republican House members also voted against the plan after complaining that the budget process excluded them from "major decisions." Nearly all of the final decisions on cuts were made by House Speaker Thomas Finneran (D) and Senate President Thomas Birmingham (D), the Globe reports. Also, Republicans complained that the budget was released less than a day before the vote, leaving no time to offer amendments. The budget will now be reviewed by Acting Gov. Jane Swift (R). She said the plan was a "mess" and that she would have "numerous" line item vetoes within 10 days (Boston Globe, 11/22).