Patrick signs $36B state budget, announces vetoes

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law Friday the final state budget of his administration, while also asking lawmakers to expand his authority to order spending cuts, if needed, during his last months in office.

The $36.5 billion budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 is a continuation, Patrick said, of the administration’s strategy of investing in education, infrastructure upgrades and cutting-edge industries such as life sciences.