Legislative Actions on selected veto cuts by Governor Romney

 to the FY2007 Massachusetts State Budget

The Governor's vetoes to the programs of most importance to The Arc and its constituency were overridden by the Massachusetts Legislature!

• The Turning 22 Program at DMR for individuals with disabilities in need of services who graduate from high school special education (account 5920-5000):  $2 million reduced out of $8.5 million – 24% cut
  • Overridden, Senate 37-2, House 156-0.

• Vetoed 50% of salary increases for direct support staff in human services (account 1599-6901), including those who work with individuals with disabilities, most of whom have salaries under $30,000:  $14 million reduced out of $28 million  
  • Overridden unanimously by the House and Senate.�Funding restored to $28 million.

• $1 million out of $32 million reduced for Early Intervention, a program designed to help infants and toddlers who are at risk of disability (account 4513-1020)�
  • Overridden unanimously by the House and Senate

• $353,511 out of $10,000,000 from the budgets of Independent Living Centers, organizations that provide self-help and other assistance of thousands with physical and developmental disabilities, across the state (account 4120-4000)
  • Overridden, Senate 37-0, House 148-7

• Line Item 5920-3010, “, including children with autism spectrum disorder ages 0-3 receiving services through the department of public health”
  • Overridden, Senate 36-0, House 149-8

A number of Governor Romney’s vetoes contained the statement, “I am reducing this item to the amount projected necessary.”�