Patrick plans for possible $800m cut in state budget

But no matter how widely the pain is spread, its impact would be deep, said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-funded watchdog group. "Since most of these programs have already suffered several rounds of cuts, this additional cut will have very serious consequences for human services, public higher education, health care, and a wide range of other programs," Widmer said.