Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis announced today that the Massachusetts House of Representatives successfully overturned Governor Mitt Romney’s vetoes of five of his major funding proposals in the final version of the Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriation Budget. The budget items are key funding sources for the continuing economic development of Atsalis’ Legislative District, and have been historically included in the budget by the legislature and vigorously supported by his legislative colleagues in the past.

"I filed these budget proposals to help all of those who work and live in my district, and it is my objective to build a strong economy and to continue my historic commitment to funding programs that will help people keep jobs and create business and economic opportunities here on Cape Cod," Representative Atsalis said. Atsalis’ budget proposals sought to continue funding for employee training, economic development, job creation, and tourism.

Voting on separate Roll Calls, the House overrode Romney’s vetoes that would have eliminated funding in this year’s F.Y. 2007 Appropriation Budget for the Mature Workers Program of the Cape and Islands Workforce Investment Board, the Cape Cod Regional Incubator Project, the Cape Cod Economic Development Council, the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, and the Cultural Center of Cape Cod.

"I was surprised at the Governor’s vetoes," Atsalis said. "These budget items have all been funded before, and I don’t feel that they are unwarranted to be included in this year’s budget. I am pleased that the House of Representatives placed the interests of the 2^{nd Barnstable District ahead of the Governor’s interests."}