More eminent
domain takings --
and tax hikes all around?
– MEMO –
To: Members of the General Court
July 19, 2006
Re: Economic Stimulus Bill: Governor’s Veto of Section 41
I know everyone is having great fun overriding vetoes
and spending our income tax rollback, but can’t you at least not create
more quasi-public entities until the commonwealth has finished cleaning
up after the quasi-public Turnpike Authority?
I can’t help but notice that the proponents of these entities resemble
the groups that pushed the commonwealth into the Big Digaster. Now they
want the power to tax and to take property by eminent domain? Do you
really want to override the Governor’s veto of a bill allowing private
interests to take our homes?
I’d like to know how Prop 2½ will work with these entities: can they tax
outside its limits? I would have asked that question at the public
hearing on this issue, but there was no public hearing. How is this?
Isn’t government in Massachusetts big enough? If we are going to
make it bigger, with lots of new little government pieces, shouldn’t
there be at least a public hearing first? Since there wasn’t, allegedly
reassuring statements by proponents about open meeting laws and public
input ring hollow.
CLT and its membership thanks Governor Romney for his veto of Section 41
and hopes it will not be overridden. Thank you for your attention.
And while we are here, bravo to those legislators who voted consistently
and with regard to their oaths to uphold the state constitution, to
allow a vote on both initiative amendment petitions, on health care and
gay marriage, in the constitutional convention.
Barbara Anderson –
– 30 –