Gov. Patrick makes good on GLBT promises with new budget

[Ian David]

PROGRAM COORDINATORS MOST AFFECTED APPLAUDE ALLOCATIONS, HOPE FOR MORE IN FUTURE YEARS

When Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law, on July 12, a $26.8 billion budget, including small increases in funding for GLBT-related programs and services, as well as HIV/AIDS funding, he made good on promises made to the GLBT community before and during his gubernatorial campaign.

"I am proud to sign this budget into law," Patrick said in a statement. "This is a working budget, built through collaboration between the Legislature and our administration, and based on shared priorities and a shared commitment to building a better Massachusetts."

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In a move political observers say was designed to burnish conservative credentials for his run for the presidency, then Gov. Mitt Romney slashed to zero dollars every single GLBT-related budgetary line item. Of course, the predominantly Democratic Legislature overrode all the governor's vetoes, restoring all funding for gay male domestic violence, GLBT youth programs and LGBT senior citizens.

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In spite of tight monetary constraints, the Patrick administration approved a $92,000 increase for state domestic violence programs, up from $158,000 last year; increased the Department of Education's budget for GLBT youth programs by $50,000, bringing that portion of its budget to $200,000; added $10,000 to the Department of Elder Affairs, raising from $50,000 to $60,000 funding for the department's LGBT aging project; and kept funding flat at $350,000 for Department of Public Health GLBT projects.

More:
http://www.innewsweekly.com/innews/?class_code=Br&article_code=4248


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