House budget debate day 1
The 61.4 billion dollar budget is 6.5% higher than last year's, but the bottom line is $600 million lower than Healey's proposal.
Over the course of debate, the Senate will need to make decisions on 1,650 amendments–the most in over a decade. These amendments look to add at least $2.5 billion to the budget.
House budget chief Aaron Michlewitz spoke about his goals in creating this budget. 'While there has been some progress in bringing inflation under control, recent actions in Washington are likely reversing those gains and bringing further chaos to our economy and our nation,' said Michlewitz.
The House began its day with talk about tax revenue amendments, which will likely all be debated publicly. Most other amendments are expected to be decided in closed-door meetings.
One Ways and Means committee member and member of the minority party spoke to his satisfaction with how the budget is handling taxes.
'We are so grateful that they embraced the ideology of the Republican Party and put no tax increases in this budget, no doubt inspired by the minority party,' said Representative Todd Smola of Warren.
The most notable moment of today's debate–a Republican representative proposed a 5% tax cut that did not receive sufficient support, even among fellow Republicans, to hold a roll call vote.
Once the House finishes its debate and passes a budget, it's the Senate's turn. Finally, their differences will be reconciled before a final draft is sent to the governor to be passed into law.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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