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Gov. Patrick To Unveil State Budget Plan

It's Budget Day on Beacon Hill, as Gov. Deval Patrick unveils his budget plan Wednesday for the upcoming year.

The administration has been revealing some highlights of the plan over the past week. Communities can expect level funding in direct local aid, although the governor wants state aid to public schools to go up by $145 million.

Also revealed: a $.5-a-pack hike in cigarette taxes, and extending the state sales tax to candy and soda.

Patrick said this will be a challenging budget, "But what has distinguished us in the commonwealth from most other states is that as we have had to make the tough choices, we've continued to invest in things that make a difference."

The governor said to look for continued investment in the areas of education, job creation and health care.

This program aired on January 25, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

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Steve Brown Senior Reporter/Anchor
Steve Brown is a veteran broadcast journalist who serves as WBUR's senior State House reporter.

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