Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Deceptive Budget Cuts Target Vulnerable Populations While Preserving Political Payouts

July 30, 2024

 

Boston, MA–In a deceptive attempt to show fiscal restraint, the Healey-Driscoll Administration slashed $317 million from the state’s $58 billion budget. The cuts include $192.3 million from MassHealth’s managed care program, $18.2 million from substance addiction treatment services, $3.7 million in emergency aid for disabled elderly, $2 million from student wellness supports, and $3 million from after-school programs.

 

What remains untouched by her veto are the millions of dollars that top Democratic legislators inserted into the budget without any formal vote, as well as $500 million to house migrants, $118 million for free community college, and additional funding for fare-free bus services.

 

MassGOP Executive Director John Milligan commented on the administration’s cuts, stating, “I am at a loss as to why the Healey-Driscoll Administration would choose to cut important social programs for the elderly and our children before examining the disproportionate funding allocations made through an undue process by top Democrats in the legislature to look good for their reelections.”

 

He continued, “Furthermore, we find the governor cutting programs for our children to make way for new and far more expensive initiatives. We should not be cutting current social programs that people rely on, to make room for lofty social programs that are strictly aimed to score political points. This is all against the backdrop of Massachusetts being less affordable than ever—we are currently ranked second to last in the nation in affordability. We consistently miss revenue targets, and the Governor has not been transparent about the state’s tax revenues for this fiscal year, which ended a month ago.”

 

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