Massachusetts House Passes Budget

The Massachusetts House has passed and sent to the Senate a $34 billion state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. The spending plan was approved late Wednesday night on a 127-29 vote after lawmakers considered 900 amendments over three days. Most of the amendments were rejected, withdrawn, or consolidated into other proposals.The budget includes $500 million in new taxes, including increases in the gasoline and cigarette taxes, approved earlier by the Legislature as part of a transportation finance plan.