The $41.88 billion budget deal that was filed Wednesday morning and quickly approved by the Legislature includes no new fees, according to the lead House negotiator, and relies on an unusual eleventh-hour revenue projection upgrade to boost spending to levels higher than either the House or Senate approved this spring.
Massachusetts, a state where Democrats firmly control the House and Senate and Republican Gov. Charlie Baker frequently touts his bipartisanship, suddenly stands alone among states without an enacted fiscal 2019 budget, and the situation is stirring some tension.
The Senate added just over $50 million in spending over three days of debate to its fiscal 2018 budget bill, unanimously passing the $40.39 billion budget Thursday night in the final session within the historic Senate chamber before it is to be renovated.
