Mass. House To Release State Spending Plan

Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts House are preparing to unveil their proposed state budget for fiscal year that begins July 1.

The budget plan to be released Wednesday follows the unveiling in January of Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed $36.2 billion spending plan for the 2015 fiscal year.

Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo has already promised that the House budget would have no new taxes or fees.

Republicans in the House are faulting a budget order that they say prohibits any additional increases in local aid or school funding, and prevents changes to the state's welfare programs from being debated as part of the budget.

Patrick said his budget would expand early education, help close the achievement gap in schools, ensure affordable health care and address violence among young people and in urban area.