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Governor Patrick To Announce 2010 Budget

Gov. Deval Patrick announces cuts to the state budget today. WBUR's Martha Bebinger reports.

The governor will propose raising $75 million through higher fees at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, $150 million through new taxes on alcohol, soda and candy, and $20 million by expanding the types of bottles that would require a deposit.

Some of these funds would be set aside to help offset cuts in related programs. The Governor will announce hundreds of millions of dollars in cut across most of the state budget but is expected to maintain funding for free and subsidized coverage under the state's mandatory health insurance law.

Some budget advisors are troubled by Patrick's plan to draw from reserves again this year as well as his decision to depend on a federal economic stimulus bill that has not yet passed.

This program aired on January 28, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

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