House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran is urging a halt to the
state's voter-approved income tax cut.
In a meeting with Fidelity Investment employees in Marlborough yesterday, Finneran said
that the state is entering a recession, and he is concerned that the terrorist attacks
earlier this month will send state finances plunging.
"After September 11, the bottom appears to have fallen out,"
he said. "This challenge that we have is bigger than any of us, and surpasses anybody's political ambitions or political goals
or political comfort levels."
In a meeting with Acting Governor Jane M. Swift and Senate
President Thomas F. Birmingham Monday, Finneran suggested postponing a further reduction called for in the tax
cut overwhelmingly approved by voters last year. That reduction is scheduled to reduce the
income tax from 5.95 to 5 percent.
Swift said later, "I told them I was not willing to entertain that debate."
CLT NEWS RELEASE
September 26, 2001
For Immediate Release
Re: Reports of Finneran's plan to ignore Question 4, just overwhelmingly passed by the
voters in November.
First Tom Finneran denied "the Promise" that the 1989 tax hike was temporary. He was
proven wrong.
Then he fought the promised tax cut anyway. He lost.
Now he tries to use the terrorist attack on America as an excuse to keep the higher tax rate.
Tom Finneran -- no honor, no credibility, no shame.
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