Baker signs $46B state 2021 budget
Rejects some abortion changes put into bill
Five months after the start of the fiscal year, Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday signed off on the state’s $45.9 billion budget — but sent back amendments attempting to strike down significant clauses that would expand access to abortions.
Baker, a Republican who generally supports abortion, endorsed several “important changes to protect a women’s reproductive rights” and codify them into Massachusetts law amid concerns the new conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court could threaten the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.
But, in a series of amendments sent to lawmakers on Friday, the governor nixed changes that would expand access to later-term abortions and allow women ages 16 or 17 to have the procedure without consent from a parent or guardian.
“I cannot support the other ways that this section expands the availability of late-term abortions and permits minors age 16 and 17 to get an abortion without the consent of a parent or guardian,” Baker wrote.
Baker supported allowing abortions after 24 weeks in cases of fatal fetal anomalies. But he moved to change other language permitting “late-term abortions.” The bill Baker received says “if it is necessary, in the best medical judgment of the physician, to preserve the patient’s physical or mental health.”
Baker would change it to “if a continuation of the pregnancy will impose, in the best medical judgment of the physician, a substantial risk to” the patient’s health.
“This approach represents a compromise between current law and the approach of the Legislature,” Baker spokeswoman Lizzy Guyton said.
Baker’s amendments were quickly denounced by groups supporting greater access to abortions in the Bay State.
“The Governor cannot have it both ways: He cannot call himself pro-choice and keep anti-choice restrictions in place. Current law in Massachusetts is broken, and this amendment maintains the state’s greatest barriers to care,” the ROE Act Coalition, a group that includes the ACLU of Massachusetts, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts and the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, said in a statement.
And his attempts to change the language may not pan out. Both chambers passed versions of the amendment by veto-proof margins, though just barely in the House, where the vote was 108-49.
Overall, Baker said the $46 billion budget he signed into law “is fiscally responsible, and maintains our strong commitment to delivering essential government services to the people of Massachusetts amid the COVID-19 pandemic — all without raising taxes.”
The budget relies on $1.35 billion from the state’s “rainy day” stabilization fund and authorizes withdrawing up to $1.7 billion. But Baker’s budget office also said Friday it expected to collect $459 million more in tax revenue than initially anticipated.
The governor approved an increase of $108 million for Chapter 70 funding for schools, but vetoed $53 million in COVID-related expenses. The Executive Office of Administration and Finance said the same amount would be refiled in a supplemental budget to allow the state more flexibility for “targeted” programs to help students falling behind amid the pandemic, rather than relying on a formula.
The administration’s $107.4 million supplemental budget bill also includes $49.4 million for economic recovery and small business relief amid the pandemic, and $5 million in “start-up funds” for the creation of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission pending in the police reform bill Baker sent back to lawmakers on Thursday.
Baker also approved allowing ignition interlock devices for first-time drunk-driving offenders with blood alcohol levels of 0.15 or above. Massachusetts was the only state without such a measure, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said.
The governor signed off on $80 million in earmarks his administration saw as one-time needs to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, but he vetoed $156 million in other spending.