Here is the link again: http://masslegislature.tv/?l=h... Consolidated amendments are flying down the shute - so far no surprises, though. I believe $200 million was added to local aid from the anticipated revenues from the … [Read more...]
When the pie is too small – it is time to bake more pies
Link to One Massachusetts website: http://onemassachusetts.org/ I strongly recommend examining the "Virtual Rally" link Link to the House Budget site: http://www.mass.gov/legis/10bu... [I strongly recommend reading House Ways … [Read more...]
The 0.25% solution
It's a simple idea. On your state income tax, simply record your city or town of residence, and your 0.25% local income tax is sent directly to city or town hall. If you live out of state, and you pay income taxes because you … [Read more...]
Incoming: Another billion plus in cuts including midyear cuts to “local aid”
Here is the link: http://www.thebostonchannel.co... When do we collectively say "enough", and protect the most vulnerable by raising revenue instead of cutting services to the vulnerable and letting our infrastructure degrade to third … [Read more...]
2.7 Billion in tax revenue collected in April – 1.1 billion over “benchmark” for the year
Also, Secretary Kirwan ignored the soaring rates and costs of incarceration. As some may recall, I posted about that here: http://bluemassgroup.com/s... As a state, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts spends more on incarceration … [Read more...]
Mass Pike: Nation’s Longest Speed Trap?
Today's Boston Herald has a story that claims the Mass Pike is aggressively ticketing speeders to generate revenue. The Massachusetts Turnpike has turned into the nation's longest speed trap as state troopers, freed from their Big Dig … [Read more...]
Casinos: On Numbers and Pictures, Part 1.
So, we're stuck at this point - without enough information to make rational decisions about our state. There's no undoing casinos, once they're here, so it would be nice to know a little bit more before taking this plunge - down the rabbit … [Read more...]
Speaker DiMasi’s Comments to Associated Industries of Massachusetts
[Speaker DiMasi recently addressed the Associated Industries of Massachusetts Executive Forum, a group of more than 300 executives from key industries around the state. Reports from that speech tended to focus on casinos, which he addressed … [Read more...]
A modest proposal re tolls
Lifting the tolls on holidays would result in some lost revenue, but nowhere near the $114 million a year it would cost to remove them entirely. And thousands of us would be grateful for the opportunity to get to our holiday … [Read more...]