Mass. Lawmakers Work To Amend $38 Billion Budget Proposal

BOSTON (AP) — Lawmakers have filed more than 1,000 proposed amendments to a nearly $38 billion state budget proposal.

The House Ways and Means Committee unveiled the spending plan earlier this month. Debate by the full House is scheduled to begin on Monday.

The budget calls for hiking overall spending by 2.8 percent over the current year and like an earlier plan submitted by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, seeks to close a $1.8 billion structural gap between projected revenues and expenditures in the fiscal year starting July 1.

Not all of the proposed amendments will be debated. Under House rules, many are likely to be consolidated with similar proposals.

One amendment addresses a recent law that requires motorists to use headlights during rainy weather. Under the proposed change, violation of the law would not trigger an auto insurance surcharge.

Lawmakers