Health Insurance, Scholarship Vetoes Overridden Daniel J. Fitzgibbons CHRONICLE STAFF August 11, 2000 Attempts by Gov. Paul Cellucci to reduce funding for scholarships and state employees' health insurance were turned back last week as legislators overrode 45 of the 262 items the governor rejected from the Legislature's $21.55 billion budget plan. As expected, Cellucci tried to raise the share of health insurance paid by state workers from 15 percent to 20 percent by reducing state funding for the program. However, the $25 million he cut from the operating budget was restored by lawmakers. Legislators also overrode an $8.2 million reduction in the $100 million state scholarship account. The University system's line item of $479.3 million approved by the House and Senate survived gubernatorial scrutiny. In fact, the only University-related item cut by Cellucci was an earmark within the state Department of Food and Agriculture's budget to support the University's Integrated Pest Management Program. That item was reduced from $250,000 to $150,000. Spending decisions affecting the five-campus system now shift to President William M. Bulger, whose budget recommendations must be approved by the Board of Trustees.