"Call made for Big Dig burden to be shared" by Andrea Estes, Globe Staff | September 27, 2008
Lawmakers from Boston's western suburbs yesterday called for an increase in the state's gas tax or new tolls on the Central Artery to stabilize state transportation budgets and take some of the burden off Massachusetts Turnpike commuters, who once again are facing big toll increases to pay for the Big Dig.
Also see: The Big Pit
"We have to look at everything," said Representative David Linsky, a Democrat from Natick. "If the gas tax were raised 3 or 4 cents per gallon, we could eliminate the tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike."
Senator Karen Spilka, a Framingham Democrat, also supports a hike in the state's 23.5 cent-per-gallon gas tax, which has not been increased since 1990, or new tolls on the Central Artery or other state roadways.
Yeah, what is another 5-cents a gallon to pay of interest to banks?
"With the gas tax or [I-93] tolls off the table, I don't see any realistic alternative whatsoever," said Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-backed watchdog group. "They need to have a major toll increase or the Turnpike will be driven into bankruptcy."
That pro-tax, pro-business guy must have on office in the building the Globe uses his "expertise" so often!
Patrick's efforts to cut fat or eliminate discount programs will not be sufficient to cover the turnpike's projected shortfall, he said. Nor can the state, which is facing its own budget crisis, afford a bailout, said Widmer. "What are the odds the Legislature will vote to bail out the Turnpike Authority when there are about to be major cuts in important state programs?" he said. "Cuts in healthcare, education, and maybe even local aid. In that environment, the Legislature is going to vote to give new revenues to the Turnpike Authority?" he said, chuckling.
What is so damn funny?
Of course, "flushing . . . millions of dollars away supporting a highly profitable industry" when it comes to $300 million in taxpayer dollars for Hollywood is o.k., even as the price of a school lunch rises; paying $13 million for a computer software system that could have cost less than $3 million is all right because the winner was a close friend of the House speaker, even as my poorer-than-dirt district "has been struggling to close a $2 million budget gap."; the lottery shellling out "millions of dollars" for sports tickets for "lottery officials, their family members, and friends" is fine, even as schools are closing; making interest payments to banks to the tune of "a staggering $22 billion" for the Big Pit, as we call it around here, is required, even as bridges are neglected across the state; and again, paying off banks like UBS, who can "demand repayment of an additional $2 million a month beginning in January" while also receiving a "$179 million payment," while the state pension fund loses $1 billion dollars -- which still didn't stop the executive director from carving himself a nice "$64,000 bonus on top of his $322,000 annual salary."
Oh, and did I not mention the $1 BILLION dollar giveaway to the pharmaceutical corporations, even though "it's never been easy to turn a profit in biotech?" Flush that money away, too, taxpayer. Of course, the war looters were next in line for a handout. And should the state be appropriating money for a "multimillion-dollar reconstruction" of golf courses?
All this as the pro-tax looters of state government and media cry bloody murder over the possible repeal of the state income tax -- even as the legislators have already let it be known that they will NOT LISTEN to the WILL of the VOTERS:
"leaders like House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi have suggested they would ignore the result even if voters approved the question"
House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, a Republican from North Reading, agreed that a legislative bailout is improbable: "The last time I checked, no one was talking about how much money we have lying around."
Toll increases might be palatable if the administration first takes dramatic steps such as abolishing the Turnpike Authority and making major budget cuts, said Jones. "That would tell the public 'We get the message.' People are hurting and tired of throwing money down ratholes."
RIGHT!!!!
VOTE 'EM ALL OUT -- every last one of them!!!!
--more--"
Here's the drill, Mass resident....
1. Pull up to pump
2. Get out of car
3. Drop pants
4. Insert gas pump into ass
5. Pump gas
O.K, get set, ready, go!!!!
