Senate passes a budget, Governor expected to veto

Yesterday the Senate passed a Democratic budget spending $35.5 billion over the next two years. The fiscal year ends next Tuesday. The Democratic budget saves health coverage for legal immigrants, the current definition of medical necessity for Medicaid, and increases cigarette taxes by 75 cents per pack to $2.75. The budget also takes $50 million from HUSKY HMO rates, based on an audit by the Comptroller’s Office finding that the HMOs are overpaid by 5 to6%; that cut was also included in the Governor’s latest budget proposal. Five Democratic Senators and all the Republicans voted against the bill. The House will vote on the bill today. The Governor has signaled that she will veto it.
Ellen Andrews