Politics & Government
Golden Urges Caution on Governor's Budget Figures
State Representative Tom Golden (D-Lowell) says the Governor's announcement earlier this week may change once the legislature gets a chance to take a look at it.
Earlier this week, Governor Deval Patrick announced a $34.8 billion state budget that has led one of Chelmsford's representatives on Beacon Hill to urge caution on anyone thinking those numbers are set in stone.
State Representative Tom Golden, who serves Chelmsford's Second, Third and Fifth Precincts as well as all of Lowell north of the Merrimack River, told Chelmsford Patch that the Governor's total amount includes many measures that are subject to review by the legislature, and may be changed.
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Following the announcement, he says he received numerous phone calls from constituents opposing the Governor's announced plan, with none in support.
"I think the entire budget is going to be tough," said Golden. "There's some opportunity, but raising the income tax or the cigarette tax or the sales tax is a non-starter. All the feedback I'm getting is that (my constitutents) are not in favor of that, that they want to see additional reforms before they see any new revenue."
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The Governor's proposed budget now heads to the House Ways and Means Committee, who will examine the budget before moving a recommendation to the full house, likely sometime in the spring.
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