State House News Service
House Session - Monday, April 24, 2006
[Excerpt]
Question came on an amendment offered by
Rep. Jones (1593) relative to reducing the income tax rate. Rep.
Binienda offered a further amendment calling for a study by the
Department of Revenue.
Rep. Binienda said, I hope that the further amendment is
adopted. The amendment before us by the gentleman from North Reading
has a revenue impact of $800 million. My good friend from New Bedford
earlier told me that there are four schools closing in our district as
we speak. I know everyone would like to roll back this income tax, but
it would mean an extra $12 dollars a month for the average taxpayer.
And I would rather keep our schools open. The Legislature has already
moved to bring back the income tax, and we will continue to do that.
We will continue in an orderly way to get that to 5 percent. If you'll
recall, we had a capital gains situation where we had a problem
getting money back to our constituents. And as you heard earlier, we
have gone into the stabilization fund for an almost $300 million.
Rep.
John J. Binienda's (D-Worcester) Amendment: Notwithstanding
any special or general laws to the contrary, the provisions of this
section shall not take effect until such time as the department of
revenue has furnished a study of their impact on the state's economy
and the revenue cost to the commonwealth and its cities and towns,
including, but not limited to, a distributional analysis showing the
impact on taxpayers of varying income levels, the current practice
of other states, any anticipated change in employment, and ancillary
economic activity, to the Joint Committee on Revenue.
Rep. Jones asked that when a vote is taken
it be taken by a vote of yeas and nays. The chair called a roll call
vote. Time was 3:04 pm.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 129-22, THE FURTHER
AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
The House adopted the amendment as amended.