For two weeks, it seemed like Governor Deval Patrick’s proposed tax hikes might never stop coming.
First, he announced a plan to raise the income tax in his annual State of the Commonwealth speech. The next day, he put a gradual gas tax hike on the table, along with higher transit fares and tolls, and detailed dozens of tax deductions he wants to revoke. News of taxes on candy and soda, with added taxes on cigarettes, were only revealed to be part of his $1.9 billion tax package a week after he introduced it.
Comments
The governor's case for higher taxes would be much stronger if his administration's track record was different. The list of wrong-doing, management blunders and wastfull spending is long and well documented. Evergreen, film tax credits, MBTA decisions, Greenway salaries, housing authorties run amoke, LT Governor under a cloud, drug labs lacking any management controls, retired employees putting in for unemployment benefits, probation department and on it goes. To me, he (and state government as a whole) has not built the credibility to ask for more money no matter how lofty the goals are. Patrick is best when he is in campaign mode, and at his worse as a manager.
Sneaking around like a thief in the night.
His strategy is same as anybody begging for something they want...request three times as much as you really want, make sure to call it an INVESTMENT, and you stand a good chance of getting 1/3rd of what you requested...then you can brag about it.
Three House Speaker felons in a row? Probation? Murray? McLaughlin? Crime labs? Compounding pharmacies? Chronic MBTA management issues?
In the absence of clear evidence that steps are being taken to at least reduce the corruption, incumbent legislators are not going to meet a very happy reception from voters for much of this.
Patrick, since he's not running again, has nothing to lose. They do.
This comment touches upon my reservations about the tax proposal. I need to see solid evidence the state is spending <em>current</em> revenue well before embracing a tax increase. I also would like an independent assessment of the projected cost of the initiatives the governor proposes to fund with the additional revenue.
This comment has been removed.
This comment has been removed.