Published in: State House News Service, State Budget Notebook, April 27, 2009

Activists who rallied in a State House hearing room at noon gathered outside the House chamber at 2 p.m. and cheered on members of the House to "raise revenues, stop the cuts." At the union-driven rally, Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Geoffrey Beckwith told the News Service that the group, which represents cities and towns, told the News Service that the group supports the $900 million increase in the sales tax and plans to earmark a portion of revenues from that tax hike to minimize local aid cuts. Beckwith said the MMA was hoping funds could be added to the spending column of the budget after the vote on taxes. "Nothing is really possible if the revenue capacity is not build into this budget," he said. Rally organizer Harris Gruman told ralliers their goal was to secure votes for the tax package and let lawmakers know that "we're supporting their efforts." At the rally, Rich Rogers, executive secretary-treasurer of the Greater Boston Labor Council, said the state budget would force layoffs and counteract the effects of the federal economic recovery law. Rogers, citing cuts in local aid, public safety and social services, called the Ways and Means budget a "huge wakeup call." 2:03 P.M.