For Immediate Release

June 4, 2012

Contact: Zach Donah

(617) 722-1415

KNAPIK APPOINTED TO FY 2013 BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

BOSTON – Senator Michael R. Knapik (R-Westfield) was appointed today to serve on the 6-member conference committee charged with reconciling the differences between the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year 2013 state budget.  This is Knapik’s twelfth year serving on the committee in his capacity as the ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Two weeks ago, the Senate passed their version of the $32.3 billion which focused heavily on boosting local aid, education, and public safety accounts.  In late April, the House of Representatives passed its own version of the budget, which relied more heavily on the State’s “Rainy Day” fund to close the estimated $1.3 billion budget gap. Neither plan features Governor Patrick’s proposal to increase taxes on cigarettes, candy, and soda or to centralize the oversight of the Commonwealth’s 16 community colleges.

“This is the 5th year since the economic downturn of Fiscal Year 2009. Unfortunately, the revenue numbers and the economic condition are not strong enough to return all of our funding accounts to pre-recession levels,” said Knapik.  “I am hopeful, however, that we will be able to present a final budget document that preserves to the greatest extent possible our priorities in the Commonwealth, such as local aid, while positioning Massachusetts for continued recovery as the economy improves,” he continued.

Major differences to be worked out include a Senate plan to create a new State Police Public Benefit Fraud Unit. The proposal also suggests recipients be assessed for the cost of lost EBT cards. The Senate followed the House’s lead by banning the use of cash assistance for pornography, firearms, tattoos, piercings, gambling, fines, fees, bail, and bail bonds.

The Senate plan is, however, absent the $11.3 million the House allocated for cities and towns for the transportation of homeless students, falls $30 million below the House budget for Nursing home rates and $10 million below for the Department of Developmental Services respite services.

Both budget proposals included provisions that would allow patients access to co-pay assistance and prescription discount programs to defray the cost of expensive medications that have no generic equivalent. However, minor difference, such as the length of the discount, must be worked out in Conference.  Massachusetts would become the last state in the country to adopt this program.

“This will once again be a difficult Conference Committee as we aim to balance many spending and policy difference with very little wiggle room,” Knapik remarked. “Both chambers made headway on issues involving EBT fraud, co-pay assistance, and funding for our cities and towns. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the best, most cost effective proposals are sent forward,” Knapik added.

Also serving on the conference committee are Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) and Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan (D-Leominster), the chairman and vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Mean, respectively, along with House counterparts Representative Brian S. Dempsey (D-Haverhill) and Representative Stephen Kulik (D-Worthington). Representative Viriato “Vinny” deMacedo (R-Plymouth), the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, has also been appointed.

The conference committee will work to produce a final document in time to be voted on by the House and Senate and reviewed by Governor Patrick before the July 1^st beginning of the new fiscal year.