RED INK SWAMPS BAY STATE

Spending cuts alone won't balance the Massachusetts budget unless social programs are slashed, so higher taxes will be needed to erase more than $720 million in red ink, House Speaker George Keverian says. Mr. Keverian said he expects dozens of amendments to be offered to a $401.4 million package of budget cuts and nontax revenue approved by the House Ways and Means Committee.

The state Revenue Advisory Board revised its estimate of the deficit upward by $220 million the same day the Ways and Means Committee came out with its bill.