Speaker DeLeo: No New Taxes In Mass. Budget

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Speaker Robert DeLeo says the House of Representative's proposed budget for the next fiscal year will not rely on any new taxes or fees.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports.

DeLeo's comment, made in a speech to House members on Wednesday, appears to deal a blow to Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to raise new revenues by hiking the cigarette tax 50 cents a pack and applying the state sales tax to candy and soda.

The speaker outlined priorities for the remainder of the two-year legislative session during his address.

DeLeo said he believed "broad agreement" could be reached on a plan to reduce health care costs in Massachusetts. He did not specifically endorse Patrick's plan for creating a global payment system to replace the current fee-for-service approach to paying for health care.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.