CLT NEWS RELEASE
Thursday, October 28,
2010
Open
Memo to Governor Patrick
From Barbara Anderson
Open Memo to Governor Patrick
From Barbara Anderson
Citizens for Limited Taxation
In response to:
Appearing yesterday on WBUR, Governor Patrick tried to downplay his
support for a progressive income tax and said, “And sooner or
later we’re going to have to start having a mature conversation
about that, and not treating the whole question of taxes as a dirty
word.”
October 27, 2010
Dear Governor Patrick,
Let’s have that mature conversation right now, so the voters know
what you think before Tuesday.
I actually thought we’d had a mature conversation about the
graduated income tax in 1962, 1968, 1972, 1976, and 1994, when
proposals to change the Massachusetts flat income tax rate to
graduated rates were on the ballot. There were forums, op eds,
debates: then the voters said No. Every time.
I suppose it would be immature of me to ask you, what part of “No”
don’t you understand?
Where did you get the idea that “taxes” is a dirty word? Taxes are
the price we pay for a civilized society, or at least, that’s what
Oliver Wendell Holmes said in 1904, before we had income taxes at
all.
Here are the dirty words/phrases, Governor, from the Beacon Hill
dictionary. Abuse of taxpayer trust. Arrogance. Broken promises
(property tax relief promised, sales tax hike delivered).
Corruption. Deficits. Inefficiency. Mismanagement. Patronage (as in
your probation department). Unfunded liabilities. Waste.
When you became Governor,
I wrote to congratulate you and offer to
have a mature conversation about taxes then. Never heard back.
Would it be premature to assume your idea of a mature conversation
is you telling us we need to pay a lot more than our current tax
burden, which is 5th highest per capita in the nation? Is another
tax increase your plan to deal with next year’s budget deficit?
Do you consider “enough already” an immature response to this?
Sincerely,
Barbara Anderson
Executive Director
Citizens for Limited Taxation
This ad appeared on
page 12 of today's Boston Herald,
paid for by CLT's 2½ PAC.
CLT's 2½ PAC
REPEAL THE SALES TAX-HIKERS
Legislative
Candidates on the Ballot
On This Year's 25% Sales Tax Hike
Citizens for Limited Taxation ▪
PO Box 1147 ▪ Marblehead, MA
01945 ▪ 508-915-3665
