Oct 15, 2008 8:12 am US/Eastern
Governor's Budget Slashing Plans Will 'Cut Muscle'
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Gov. Deval Patrick (file image)
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
The impact of the national economic crisis on Massachusetts means
Gov. Deval Patrick will announce painful state budget cuts on Wednesday.
Hundreds of agencies and groups will be affected and there will be layoffs.
WBZ's Economic Resource Guide Before the governor started his public schedule Tuesday, he walked and talked with Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi about the cuts the he will make.
Sanders: Governor what can you tell us about the scope and size of the budget cuts and the layoffs?
Gov. Patrick: Stay tuned. Come tomorrow.
Sanders: What can you say about layoffs?
Gov. Patrick: Nothing until tomorrow. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. I really will...This is not about cutting so-called fat. This is going to cut muscle.
One the eve of his announcement, the governor attended "It's All Here Day," an event showcasing state resources for Massachusetts businesses in which he expressed long-term confidence.
But there is fear and concern about cuts in the non-profit sector. "We're the largest component of the entire economy of Massachusetts," said Bill Walczak, president of the Massachusetts Non-Profit Network.
Its members provide human services from daycare to mental health and account for 14 percent of Massachusetts jobs.
"And these are jobs that are generally in places that we can least afford to lose them: low-income neighborhoods across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," explained Walczak who said he thinks the Governor is a good guy, distraught about making cuts.
But Walczak says his group does not want anyone to "throw out the baby with the bath water."
The governor has authority to unilaterally cut about two-thirds of the state budget but wants the legislature to expand his power in case cuts in
local aid, the lifeblood of cities and towns, need to be made. The governor and the speaker have said such cuts would be a last resort.
WBZ tried to talk to the speaker, and aides said he'd be available after the business event he attended with the governor, but he returned to his office for "back-to-back" meetings and was unavailable the rest of the afternoon.
As we made our State House rounds, there seemed to be a similar reluctance, if not discomfort, among other state officials who will have to make other cuts after the governor announces his, which means there will be more pain.
A spokesman for the State Treasurer said that department will cut its budget by 7 percent which is on par with other constitutional offices of state government.
Watch the governor's announcement live on
wbztv.com and WBZ-TV at 5 p.m.
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