Fiscal watchdog backs Charlie Baker in budget cap fight

Gov. Charlie Baker is getting a shout-out from a fiscal watchdog for taking on the Legislature.

Baker, a Republican, signed a $16.53 billion interim budget on Tuesday but refused to be locked into an Oct. 31 deadline to spend the money.

“The executive branch must retain the discretion to not spend money unnecessarily, where a lesser amount does not compromise the achievement of underlying legislative purposes and goals,” Baker wrote in a letter to the Legislature, accompanying his amendments to eliminate the sunset date.

Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance backed Baker for trying to save taxpayer money.

“The Governor has the unique opportunity to once again be the taxpayers voice on Beacon Hill. By publicly calling out the legislative leader’s underhanded attempt to spend their way out of a deficit, Gov. Baker is showing the public why he was sent to Beacon Hill and we hope he continues down this path,” said Mass Fiscal spokesman Paul Craney.

MassFiscal pointed out the state’s nation-leading 17.4% unemployment rate and “a 44% retraction in our state economy” could “be used as a justification to raise taxes on the hard-working taxpayers.”

The Democratic-controlled Legislature also appears to be delaying to see what federal bailouts may be available.

The Legislature has yet to even propose a budget for fiscal 2021 as the state and nation try to crawl out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Leaders did reach an agreement with the administration last week to promise level funding for local aid and schools to cities and towns for the year.

State House News Service contributed to this report.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2EQ7yDv