BOSTON – On Sunday, Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed a $32.5 billion state budget but vetoed the $32.1 million set aside by state lawmakers to keep Taunton State Hospital afloat, reported the Boston Globe.
The special funding dedicated to Taunton State Hospital – a psychiatric institution with 169 beds – would have kept 45 beds open.
State lawmakers from southeast Massachusetts are already discussing ways to override Patrick’s veto and keep the hospital open, according to the news source.