Governor Charlie Baker touched on familiar themes during today’s speech to the Massachusetts High Technology Council.
What was most interesting, though, was what didn’t get mentioned: the millionaires’ tax.
The Republican governor rattled off some big goals: expanding high-speed Internet in rural areas, dredging Boston Harbor, expanding parking at Logan Airport, to name a few.
The millionaires’ tax? Not a word. Fighting the union-backed initiative has become Job No. 1 for Mass. High Tech, so the issue mattered to just about everyone in the room. (State lawmakers are expected to vote on this issue next week to put the new surcharge before voters in 2018.) Baker steered clear during his speech, and he had no time for Q&A after it was over.
The surcharge would add 4 percentage points to the state income tax for individual earnings of more than $1 million. Proponents say it would raise as much as $2 billion a year for transportation and education causes. To the critics, it would be a big blow to the state’s economic competitiveness.
It’s not surprising Baker skirted the issue. When asked about it over the weekend, Baker implied he’s more concerned now with balancing the budget for this fiscal year and the one that starts in July.
Mass. High Tech’s Mark Gallagher says he didn’t mind that Baker wouldn’t address the proverbial elephant in the room. The issue is headed for the courts, with Mass. High Tech working on a legal challenge. Baker’s opinion won’t have much sway with the judges.
But it might not be long before the millionaires’ tax moves to the court of public opinion — and that’s where Baker’s opinion will matter.
Contact Jon Chesto at jon.chesto@globe.com and follow him on Twitter @jonchesto.