Patrick seeks support for spending plan
As the House prepares to debate the budget this week, Governor Deval Patrick is trying to rally his supporters to help revive key elements of his spending plan that lawmakers stripped out .
In a letter posted on a website run by Patrick's political committee, the first-term governor criticizes the House's version of the budget, saying it does not include funding for new police officers, which Patrick promised to provide in his campaign for governor. He also said it scales back his proposals to expand extended learning and full-day kindergarten programs, among other things.
"As you know, these are issues that I campaigned on and feel very strongly about, and I want you to know that I will aggressively pursue them both during the budget process and beyond," Patrick wrote in the letter, which was posted yesterday on DevalPatrick.com. "If you agree with me on the importance of these issues, as I know you do, I also ask you to communicate that support to your own state representative."
House leaders have said their plan tries to meet Patrick halfway on some of his proposals but funds other important priorities, such as $20 million in additional funding for public education. "We share the governor's priorities, particularly when it comes to cities and towns and public schools," said David Guarino, a spokesman for House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi. "And we are expecting a robust debate on these issues ."
LISA WANGSNESS 