May 27, 2010 - During its debate on the Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Budget, the Senate voted 28-10 to crack down on state subsidies for illegal immigrants and target employers who hire them. Working closely with Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven C. Panagiotakos (D-Lowell) and Assistant Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester), Senator Baddour said: “This is a bipartisan solution to the illegal immigration problem in Massachusetts. At a time when thousands of Massachusetts families are in desperate need of help, we need to ensure that the limited dollars that we have are spent assisting taxpaying citizens, not illegal immigrants," said Senator Baddour. He added, "We cannot and should not be spending monies from taxpayer-funded public benefit programs on those who are breaking the law. I am pleased that over 30 public programs, including MassHealth, unemployment assistance, public housing, and in-state tuition administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will now be off limits to illegal immigrants."
To learn more about Senator Baddour's further amendment, click on:
Continues Commitment to Reform During Fiscal Crisis
May 19, 2010 - The Senate Committee on Ways and Means today released its recommendations for the fiscal year 2011 budget.The $27.88 billion budget proposal uses a combination of spending reductions and federal recovery act funds in order to close the $2.85 billion budget gap.The Committee also upholds its commitment to not use any new taxes or a withdrawal from the state’s Stabilization Fund in order to balance the fiscal year 2011 budget. Click on the following to learn more:
As the Legislature begins to prepare the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget, the Massachusetts economy has seen its share of job losses, declining revenues, and reduced consumer spending. However, the Massachusetts economy was far outpacing the national economy, growing at an annual rate of 3.2% compared to the national economy at 0.6%. This outpacing was due in large part to our technology, science, and healthcare sectors, as well as the proportional lack of speculative construction.
Click on the following to learn more about the Massachusetts Fiscal Crisis and the FY2011 Budget:
Citing Economy, Will Not File Earmarks for Additional Program Funding
February, 16, 2010,Boston, MA- State Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) today announced that he will not file any amendments or request earmarks for any programs that increase the “bottom line” of the Commonwealth’s FY’11 annual budget.
“As was depicted at this week’s first Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget hearing, the state’s fiscal outlook has not improved and government must continue to act fiscally responsibly with limited taxpayer money,” said Senator Baddour....
