Mass. House unveils $36.2 billion budget

By Michael Levenson and Joshua Miller. Proposal includes money for higher education, drug treatment, rejects governor’s call for new taxes. House leaders released a proposed $36.2 billion budget Wednesday that increases funding for drug treatment, higher education, and local aid, but rejects Governor Deval Patrick’s push for new taxes and trims some of his priorities, including early education programs. The budget represented a cautious and incremental blueprint, with some targeted spending increases but no jarring policy shifts that could anger key constituencies in a year when members of the House are gearing up for reelection this fall. More...

Proposal includes money for higher education, drug treatment, rejects governor’s call for new taxes