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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Summary of the State of the Commonwealth Address
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Gov. Deval Patrick (D) used his Jan. 24 address to push the Democratic-controlled Legislature to legalize casinos, the first-term governor’s No. 1 revenue-generating initiative. He also renewed his 2007 request for $1 billion to fund life sciences — including controversial embryonic stem-cell research — a program he said would create 250,000 new jobs.
Two other bills — one promoting renewable energy sources and conservation and another providing broadband services to the state’s western and central regions — also would create jobs in the Bay State, where he said some 125,000 people are looking for work.
Patrick also asked for record-high spending for public schools, all-day kindergarten and extended-day learning programs. To fight crime, he asked for tougher gun laws and use of technology to track released offenders.
Funding for these programs — plus a 13 percent business-tax cut and property-tax relief for nearly half a million households — will come from closing gaps in the corporate tax code and new casino licensing fees, Patrick said. To read the full text, click here.
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Govs' Speeches
State of the States
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