Massachusetts Governor Seeks Increase in Treatment
Funding
Facing threats of federal funding being cut, Massachusetts Gov.
Mitt Romney is pushing for a 40-percent increase in state drug-treatment
spending, the Boston Globe reported May 21.
Originally, Romney had proposed a $2 million cut to the state's
addiction budget. He changed his position when U.S. Health and Human
Services Secretary Tommy Thompson threatened to cut federal aid
for treating drug users.
Steady financial support for local addiction programs is required
of states that receive grants from the U.S. Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration. Thompson said the forfeiture
of funds was a penalty for the state's three straight years of cuts
in addiction services.
Romney's new request would increase the budget of the Bureau of
Substance Abuse Services from $33.7 million to $47.1 million.
"What this will hopefully do is help us avoid any kind of
reduction in the federal grant," said Public Health Commissioner
Christine Ferguson. "The governor has been really passionate
about making sure we don't lose any federal funds."
Treatment advocates and top legislators were pleased about the
proposed increase. "The feds finally played hardball, and Commissioner
Ferguson realized she wasn't going to get the money," said
Elizabeth Funk, president of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Corporations
of Massachusetts Inc, a 100-member trade association. "Now,
the House and the Senate and the administration appear to be in
the same place in their understanding of the problem and wanting
to fix it." |
