We had an interesting forum in
Newburyport last evening hosted by the Northeast Essex GOP.
Taylor Armerding (columnist for The Eagle-Tribune Publishing
Company) moderated the discussion on taxes and fiscal
policies in the Commonwealth. The panel included
Eileen McAnneny (president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers
Foundation), Wendy Wakeman (director at Massachusetts Fiscal
Alliance), and me. Some of the subjects that we
discussed were the proposed so-called "millionaire's
tax" (Grad Tax) constitutional amendment, minimum wage laws,
keeping the message simple, and the eternal question, "Where
would you cut?"
Taylor came prepared with a list of questions, but
many of them came from the audience of some 50-60 representing the
Republican town committees of Newbury, West Newbury, Newburyport,
Georgetown and Amesbury. State Representatives Len Mirra (R-West
Newbury) and Jim Kelcourse (R-Newburyport) attended, as did a
former-state senator from back in the Prop 2½
days, Bob Buell.
Taylor closed with a warm tribute to Barbara,
relating some of his experiences with her over the decades, especially
as a fellow columnist for the same publisher.
It was my pleasure to meet Gil, a CLT member who
learned of the forum from yesterday's Update. Gil, thanks for
letting me know you were there, and for coming. And thank you
Dudley for your contribution check, and for telling me you intended to
write one the last time Barbara and I were up there a couple years ago
for an address she made to the group. That just proves that
elephants never forget!
Thanks also to CLT member Michael Gendre for
video-recording last evening's forum (as he did the 'celebration of
life' remembrance we held for Barbara —
available soon). If you want to watch what you missed last night
it's available for your viewing here:
