BOSTON (AP) — The Legislature has begun its summer recess after overriding dozens of Gov. Charlie Baker’s line-item budget vetoes.
The House and Senate on Wednesday and Thursday restored nearly $100 million the Republican governor shaved from the $38.1 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that started on July 1.
House Ways and Means Committee chairman Brian Dempsey said the overrides strike a balance between fiscal responsibility and protecting funds for key programs and services.
Baker vetoed a total of $162 million in spending.
Lawmakers also gave final approval Thursday to a bill suspending the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax on Aug. 15-16. The governor is expected to sign the bill.Massachusetts has held a sales tax holiday in all but one year since 2004.
Formal legislative sessions will resume in September.
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