Patrick Unveils $28.2 Billion Budget Proposal

The budget maintains education funding and local aid for cities and towns and continues to fund the state’s landmark 2006 health care law, including the Commonwealth Care program that provides coverage to 170,000 adults.

“Despite the challenges and tough choices we face,” the governor said in a news conference Wednesday, “our budget keeps faith as best as possible with our commitment to help the people of Massachusetts weather the hard times and build a lasting recovery.”

To increase revenues, Patrick wants to pull back high-profile tax credits for the state’s life sciences and film industries, which were originally intended to draw business to Massachusetts.

Patrick called the credits, both of which he supported, “wildly successful but expensive.” The proposed cuts would save $80 million, he said. The plan would also revoke sales tax exemptions for smokeless tobacco products and cigars.