“I appreciate the work Chairman Michlewitz has done to
put together his first budget proposal as Ways and Means chair. The proposed
House budget builds on the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to our
cities and towns by increasing Chapter 70 education funding and providing
additional local aid in the form of expanded circuit breaker funding, charter
school reimbursement, and regional school transportation assistance. It also
take steps to address rising drug costs by endorsing the Baker-Polito
Administration’s proposal to authorize MassHealth to negotiate directly with
drug manufacturers for supplemental rebates. The good news for the state’s
taxpayers is that the budget does not impose any new broad-based taxes. I will
be working closely with the members of the House Republican Caucus over the
next few days to identify potential amendments we can offer to further protect
the interests of the state’s taxpayers and ensure the passage of a fiscally
responsible budget.”
