Well-informed BMG folks: is this claim in a 6/14 New York Times editorial as bad as it sounds?You heard right. Desperately needed unemployment benefits have been held hostage to a tax break for the rich, and the Senate's Democratic … [Read more...]
Close the loopholes; raise revenues
It was bad, but it could have been worse. Gov. Deval Patrick announced $352 million in cuts in response to a $600 million budget gap. Federal stimulus funds plugged the rest of the gap (see the Mass Budget and Policy Center's … [Read more...]
GO Obama — Reform Overseas Tax Loopholes!
It's about time! Sure seems like we could use a lot of this tax revenue to help out our unbelievably under funded country. However, I'm sure there are many arguments as to why these corporate loopholes benefit America and why they should … [Read more...]
Oh, THAT loophole!
Well, well, well, how that THAT get in here? Looks like there was an amendment in the House's loophole-closing tax bill that, well, blasts another enormous loophole open -- for companies that keep their business overseas. The provision … [Read more...]
More DiMaze-ment: “What burden”, indeed?
Just a post-script to my earlier post: Today I heard DiMasi on the radio, talking about what a bad idea it would be for us to close corporate tax loopholes due to the impending economic troubles: "What burden do we put on business during a … [Read more...]
Deval deals with corporate loophole problem by cutting tax rates
Deval Patrick is going to address the corporate loophole problem by cutting corporate tax rates. What problem does that solve? The one thing he started to do that we elected him for was to cut waste, fraud and abuse by closing … [Read more...]
Budget, property taxes, and the bad vote
OK, holiday's over. It looks like we're pretty close to having a budget, and while the legislature deserves credit for encouraging the consolidation of health care and pension fund spending, their budget is going to include a lot more … [Read more...]
DiMasi King of the Hill?
The Globe's Lisa Wangsness has a big story on Sal DiMasi's supposed pre-eminence among the three Beacon Hill heavyweights, towering over Gov. Patrick and Senate Prez Murray.Waaaalll, maybe. First of all, I think the statute of limitations … [Read more...]
Corporate Tax Avoidance in Massachusetts
So far as I know, Wisconsin is the only state that discloses corporate tax return information. See this interesting analysis of taxes paid (or, not paid) by Wal-Mart in that state, and also nationally. In any case, Massachusetts does not … [Read more...]
Close the loopholes! Speak out! (See you at the Convention?)
As a member of the Executive Committee of PDM, I want to extend an invitation to BMGers to join us in soliciting expressions of support from Massachusetts businesses for the Governor's proposals. These Massachusetts-based businesses do not … [Read more...]