Patrick May Allow Sales Tax Hike

Gov. Deval Patrick appears to have lifted his threat to veto a sales tax increase that legislators approved to help balance next year's budget.

Patrick warned legislators in April that he would veto the increase unless they first sent him strong ethics, pension and transportation reform bills. The governor signed a pension bill earlier in June. Thursday, he said he expected to sign an ethics overhaul lawmakers had just approved and would do the same for a transportation bill. One condition was that the House and Senate make two technical changes, which they did.

Asked if that meant he would sign the budget that includes the tax increase, Patrick said, "That's the bargain. I will keep my end of the bargain, they seem to be keeping theirs," said Patrick.

The governor said he does expect to send the budget for the year that begins July 1 back to the Legislature next week with some amendments.

The budget increases the state sales tax from 5 to 6.25 percent.