Patrick vows to restore cuts of $383.6m

The Boston Globe reports:

Governor-elect Deval Patrick declared yesterday that he would restore all $383.6 million in emergency spending cuts made last month by Governor Mitt Romney, saying they were harmful to thousands of needy residents and not necessary to balance the state's books.

The move immediately touched off a debate as Patrick prepares to take office next week.

The Romney administration criticized the decision, saying it would make it more difficult for Patrick to balance the budget next year. One independent budget specialist agreed, saying that Patrick's decision signaled the arrival of a more free-spending administration, despite signs the state is headed for a budget crunch.

"It seems to ratify the fears of his opponents that he's going to be much less concerned with economizing and much more concerned with satisfying the various constituents that are going to be demanding more attention from state government," said David G. Tuerck, executive director of the Beacon Hill Institute, a conservative economic think tank.

But many legislators welcomed the move, saying it showed Patrick had listened to their pleas to restore the money. Human services groups, which absorbed most of the cuts, also applauded the decision, saying it would end confusion over whether the money would be available and would enable them to provide critical services for the mentally ill, the homeless, and the elderly.

The under performing state of Massachusetts.What's the matter with Massachusetts?