"State gets $132.7m boost from US; Funds from stimulus will help close gaps" by Matt Viser, Globe Staff | February 19, 2010
That what the guv said he needed to get through the year?
The federal government gave Massachusetts an unanticipated $132.7 million boost yesterday, which will help significantly in closing any budget gaps during the remaining four months of the fiscal year and could put the state on better financial footing heading into next year.
That is NOT STIMULUS because STIMULUS CREATES JOBS!!
Related: Administration Telling the Truth About Stimuloot
Don't go CHANGING the TERMS of DEFINITION like the BUSH GUY used to, Obama!!
The funds, which come through the federal stimulus bill and were announced late yesterday afternoon by the Obama administration, are meant to relieve strains on state coffers by offsetting the cost of Medicare prescription drug coverage....
“This is not money that we accounted for,’’ JudyAnn Bigby, the state’s secretary of health and human services, said last night. “It is an additional source of revenue for the state.’’
Sorry for ripping you off, fellow citizens of America.
I'd send it all back if I could.
Massachusetts officials have not yet identified how the money will be used. Any appropriations would have to be approved by the Legislature and, while the funds will come through health care reimbursements, it could free up spending in other areas of the state budget.
“Wow. Wow,’’ state Senator Steven C. Panagiotakos, a Lowell Democrat and chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said last night when told of the news. “This amount of money certainly is going to help us get through this year.
“It’s good to hear $132 million on the plus side as opposed to $132 million on the minus side. That’s where it’s been recently.’’
There are still expenses that could come in higher than expected in this year’s state budget, including snow and ice removal accounts that are notoriously underfunded, but the added US funds will help an already strained budget.
Yeah, thanks for buying into the global warming lies, local legislators, and saddling us with out-of-balance budgets and sloppy roads.
The adjustments involve a complex set of payments that states provide to the federal government for Medicare prescription drug coverage for residents who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Because of the announcement, Massachusetts will pay $480 million to the federal government, instead of $613 million.
So it isn't even funding we are talking about -- the government only reduced a payment?
I'm sorry, but that is NOT FOUND MONEY, folks!
Once more we have STATE SHENANIGANS where BUDGETS are concerned! This is not a STIMULUS HAND-OUT even!
The changes announced yesterday are retroactive to Oct. 1, 2008, and will continue at least through the end of this year.
In essence, it means the state will pay less to the federal government than originally planned. It means about $108 million in unplanned revenue will be available next month, with $24 million more coming in June and October, according to Bigby.
That is a strange phenomena. Because a payment is less we are getting a check back.
“I could spend [that money] in about three minutes,’’ said state Representative Charles A. Murphy, a Burlington Democrat and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “To have that money at our disposal is extremely helpful.’’
Yeah, even if we have to borrow to do it, etc, etc, etc.
It's a pile of money that isn't even there and this guy is already dreaming up ways to spend it. That's the essence of what is wrong with Massachusetts.
The state has dealt with more than two years of declining revenues that came as a result of the global economic downturn, and Governor Deval Patrick several times has made midyear budget cuts, most recently in October. State revenues have been meeting expectations in recent months, which has prevented any further cuts.
At least, that is what the lying government and Glob are telling you, readers.
Related: State Wears Rose-Colored Glasses When Looking at Revenue
Because state officials have relied heavily on one-time revenues that will soon no longer be available, the budget woes are likely to continue....
Sigh.
Sounds like an OUT-of-CONTROL GOVERNMENT to me.
