"Sides dig in on sales tax hike; House Democrats lean toward 6%" by Matt Viser, Globe Staff | April 17, 2009
Small-town mayors, liberal legislators, and deeply worried advocates for the poor launched impassioned campaigns yesterday to increase the Massachusetts sales tax to offset severe budget cuts, but business groups and residents immediately warned that Beacon Hill leaders will pay politically if they raise taxes in the midst of a historic recession.
They will pay either way!!
Related:
Pigs at the State Trough
A Slow Saturday Special: Statehouse Slush Fund
Hollywood S***s on Massachusetts
How many times I gotta put them up?
While legislative leaders remained noncommittal, nearly three dozen House Democrats met behind closed doors yesterday to hammer out budget amendments, with consensus beginning to develop around pushing a sales tax hike and new local-option taxes. The tactic most commonly bandied about has been increasing the state's 5 percent sales tax to 6 percent. Resistance to the idea was swift and strong.
"It would be disastrous for the retail sector," said David Didriksen, who owns Willow Books & Café in Acton and is a member of the board of directors of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. "To me that's the worst idea since New Coke. At the very time we need to have the least number of hurdles we can, they're going to drive consumers to New Hampshire and the Web." New Hampshire has no sales tax; sales taxes are not collected on most Internet sales.
Damn right! I wouldn't buy a Massachusetts product that applies sales tax if my life depended on it.
The growing tax debate is sure to complicate the Legislature's consideration of another tax increase in coming weeks, a 19-cents-a-gallon gas tax hike proposed by Governor Deval Patrick. Raising the sales tax from 5 cents on the dollar to 6 cents would represent a 20 percent increase in the state sales tax and would produce about $750 million in new money for state coffers, according to some estimates.
Another reason I quit driving so much. Fuck them and their tax hikes and revenue estimates.
"There is growing support for raising the sales tax," said Representative Ruth B. Balser, a Newton Democrat.
Only on the hill, puke!!! And listen to this sophistry:
"We can spend one more penny on the dollar when we purchase nonessential items and maintain our police force, fire, and teachers. Or we can hold onto that one penny and make those drastic cuts. That's a debate we're going to have."
Whose WE????
Why do the POLITICIANS ASSUME that YOUR MONEY is ALREADY THEIRS??
They act as if YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL they let you KEEP ANY!!!!!
This is why you guys get the
A wide network that includes public health, social services, and public safety advocates is planning a series of rallies, letter- writing campaigns, and phone calls over the next week to lobby their local representatives to vote for new taxes....
Yes, the PRO-TAX AGENDA-PUSHERS will be springing into action.
Advocates say the case for a broad-based tax could not be stronger, with the state in desperate need of more revenue to offset deep cuts to social service programs....
GO GET IT from UMASS, BIOTECH, and HOLLYWOOD then!!!!!
Shoppers and retailers at Faneuil Hall were evenly divided yesterday over whether lawmakers ought to consider a 1 percent hike in the sales tax....
That is such a pro-tax, agenda-pushing, anecdotal piece of crap from the pro-tax paper -- and I'm sick of them!!!!
"I'm not for any more taxes. I've just about had it," said Jane Folkman, a Medfield resident who was paying $40.95 to purchase three pig figurines at Boston Pewter Co. (she would have needed 39 cents more if the sales tax were 1 percent higher). "I have a better idea. I think we should reduce the amount of representatives we have in state government."
This guy is speaking for 90% of the population in this state -- despite what the pro-tax, agenda-pushing, money-losing Globe says.
Meanwhile, mayors from across Massachusetts yesterday blasted state lawmakers for cutting their funding, not providing new tools for them to raise revenue, and so far not pushing for broad-based tax increases....
While education aid would remain at this year's level, the portion of state aid dedicated to public safety, road maintenance, and other local services would be slashed an additional 25 percent. If the House budget is adopted, general local aid to cities and towns would have dropped by $426 million over two years.
"In 26 years as mayor, I have never seen such a lack of leadership on Beacon Hill," said Mayor John Barrett of North Adams. "When times are tough, we need leadership. Any fool can cut budgets."
And any fool can raise taxes, too!!!!
