- MEMO -
To: House Republicans
February 5, 2002
Re: Finneran (More) Power Grab
Citizens for Limited Taxation calls on House Republicans to join with the Democrats who oppose Speaker Finneran's "even
more power" grab, and stop the bill to give him the ability to raise the pay of his favorites in return for their
votes on key issues.
Please do not tell us that this is support for a "conservative" Speaker: Finneran
has presided over the biggest tax hike in recent history, the decline of the
Massachusetts economy to the Second Great Depression, and the realization of
record-setting centralized power in the House. At least one former Finneran
Favorite who lost her chairmanship voted to sustain the governor's veto of the
tax hike last year.
We hope the minority party will not sell out for the pittance of a pay raise for
one or two of its own members. There will never be a viable two-party system
again if the second party stands for nothing but its loyalty to the first
party's leader.
In the phrase "loyal opposition," the emphasis should be on
opposition ... not loyal.
If the "Finneran Favorites" law passes the House, we call on
Senate Republicans to oppose it, and then on Governor Romney to veto it.
NEWS RELEASE
February 5, 2002
So-called Mass. Taxpayers Foundation
begins campaign for higher taxes
"Although reluctant to criticize Gov. Mitt Romney at
this early stage, Mr. Widmer does not believe that the new governor can close an estimated $2
billion to $3 billion gap expected in 2003-04 without seeking some tax increases..."
Editorial
"Taxes are part of nurturing our civilization"
New Bedford Standard Times Feb. 5, 2003
Just as he did last year, Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Big Business
Taxpayers Foundation (MBBTF) is visiting editorial boards, again laying the
groundwork for an increase in income tax rates before any plan for addressing
the commonwealth's spending problems can get off the ground -- as the MBBTF has incessantly recommended for years with no results
to show.
Like last year: MBBTF first makes a case for a tax increase
on working people, then when that has passed, puts out a list of suggested cuts that there is no
longer any urgency to enact, so the "structural deficit" Widmer complains
about continues to grow.
See:
http://www.cltg.org/cltg/cltg2002/MTF_report_02-05-29.htm
It is clear to us that MBBTF is working with the devil to
raise taxes on average taxpayers to avoid specific taxes on the business community that funds it.
Eventually, when the spending side is not addressed, these businesses will also
be hit, but MBBTF chooses to hope that the economic downturn will somehow,
miraculously, be over by then. As our tax burden rises, it becomes less likely
that our economy will improve enough to cover the level of spending to which
Beacon Hill has become accustomed.
By the way, as far as the Standard-Times
editorial title goes: Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said that "taxes
are what we pay for civilized society" -- in 1904 -- before there
was an income tax, federal or state.
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