Governor's opponents bash budget

Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a $27.6 billion budget for the new fiscal year, at the same time vetoing $457 million in spending, much of it anticipated federal Medicaid money that Congress yet to approve.

Patrick signed the spending plan Wednesday in his Statehouse office.

The budget includes a 4 percent cut in state aid to cities and towns, a cut Patrick had originally opposed.

The spending plan also relies on diverting nearly $200 million from the state's rainy day savings account.

Patrick said the budget is the fourth balanced one of his term, but it depends on a $300 million debt-restructuring plan the Legislature has yet to pass.

While that leaves the budget out of balance, the governor says he expects lawmakers to quickly approve the plan.