Worries about spending cuts at business breakfast

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Some Western Massachusetts lawmakers were in West Springfield on Thursday morning to talk with business owners about issues at the state and local level.

The West of the River Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, as a chance to talk with local legislators about issues like budgeting, taxes, and how to make the region more competitive.

Still, it was hard to ignore another priority issue; the massive across-the-board spending cuts that will begin on Friday if Congress doesn't act. State Senator Mike Knapik told 22News that the cuts could be devastating to the state at a time when Governor Patrick is proposing $1.9 billion in new taxes.

“We know we can't absorb whatever losses come from Washington. We can't absorb them in Massachusetts because our economy is still transitioning and here in Greater Springfield; we've got the weakest economic area in all of Massachusetts,” said Knapik, a Westfield Republican.

Knapik added that while these across-the-board spending cuts are a concern in every state, Massachusetts would feel a significant impact as a state dependent on health care, education, military and defense.