House Budget $1 Billion Less Than Patrick Plan

House leaders on Wednesday proposed a budget that was a billion dollars less than the one Gov. Deval Patrick put forth in January.  

The $33.8 billion House budget includes increased funding for higher education and local aid but not more money for early education, one of the centerpieces of Patrick's budget that emphasizes prekindergarten funding and investment in transportation. 

Speaker Robert A. ­DeLeo said the House budget would not increase these funds over concerns that the Department of Early Education and Care is inefficient and wasteful, the Boston Globe reported. 

Altogether, the House proposal would raise taxes by $500 million, compared to Patrick's plan calling for a $1.9 billion tax hike, resulting in a 3.9 percent spending increase instead of the 6.9 percent increase Patrick is calling for, the Globe reported.

Patrick and the Legislature have until July 1, when the new fiscal year begins, to hammer out their differences and approve a budget.