By Bob Katzen
The House 149-1, Senate 36-1, overrode Gov. Baker’s $3.9 million veto reduction (from $27.3 million to $23.4 million) in funding for fire departments across the state.
Override supporters said that these projects range from $1.2 for a student awareness fire education program and $400,000 for critical incident stress management services designed to provide support for firefighters who have experienced work-related traumatic events, to $50,000 for the purchase of a battery operated ‘Jaws of Life’ for the Saugus Fire Department and $500,000 for the hazardous materials response team in Cambridge.
In his veto message, the governor said that he is striking language which earmarks funding for programs not recommended.