June 23, 2011 - Dedham Transcript - By Kyle Cheney and Michael Norton, State House News Service

Boston — With the new fiscal year eight days away, House and Senate members saw their hopes of ratifying an annual state budget accord on Wednesday dashed as branch leaders continued to negotiate differences in $30.5 billion spending plans.

The House and Senate agreed to return Thursday without assurances that a deal will be ready. There’s still a chance that lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick can get the budget done by July 1 – a point of pride for those involved in crafting the bill – but the odds of that occurring grow smaller with each passing day....

“I don’t think we’re miles apart,” said Rep. Viriato DeMacedo (R-Plymouth), one of two Republicans negotiating a compromise. “It’s a very positive demeanor going back and forth as far as the conference committee. It’s just trying to find that balance. It’s fluid because one [decision] might have an effect on another. One decision could have an effect on the bottom line.”...