Updated 5/6/09 Senate President Therese Murray sought today to end speculation that budget pressures will force lawmakers to trim subsidies or health insurance benefits for low to moderate income residents. “We will not retreat from health care reform” Murray said after hearing the comments below from her Ways and Means chair.

As the budget gap grows on Beacon Hill, I’ve been watching for the next round of claims that the health coverage law is not affordable. Both Commonwealth Care and Masshealth pushed to keep costs down for the next fiscal year. So far, Commonwealth Care is coming in under budget. But as more people apply for free or subsidized coverage, it’s hard to imagine that costs won’t rise…creating expenses the state doesn’t have the money to pay.

Today at the State House, the Senate Ways and Means committee held an emergency hearing to grapple with April income tax revenues. They are, so far, 35% short of expectations. After the hearing, Treasurer Tim Cahill was asked where he would recommend cuts.

“I’ve been saying this for years, even though the goal of covering every individual in the state is noble, it may not be doable in this environment.” Read more…

Physicians for a National Health Program put out this press release today after 8 members or supporters were removed from a Senate hearing on health care reform. They were protesting what they said was the exclusion of single-payer advocates from the hearing.

You can watch some of the protest and hear comments from Senator Max Baucus here.