CITIZENS   FOR  LIMITED  TAXATION  &  GOVERNMENT
and the
Citizens Economic Research Foundation

 

CLT UPDATE
Saturday, November 16, 2002

Ground Zero for DNC: Incurable tax-and-spend Mass.


House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran shot down the notion of an unfettered state subsidy of the 2004 Democratic national convention yesterday, warning it would "stress" state finances that are already on the brink.

Finneran, whose ironclad opposition has sunk past project proposals, pointed to a state budget deficit approaching $2 billion.

"We're broke," Finneran told the Herald. "Things seem to me to be getting worse, not better, with regard to the economy and jobs and revenues." ...

But Finneran seemed to strike a softer stance yesterday with the Democratic convention. "It's a tremendous victory and achievement for Mayor Menino and Sen. (Edward) Kennedy, and I don't want that lost in the aftermath," Finneran said.

The Boston Herald
Nov. 16, 2002
Finneran wary of subsidy for 2004 Dem convention


Chip Ford's CLT Commentary

It's going to be interesting to see how House Speaker Tom Finneran finesses taxpayer-funding of the Democrats' national convention extravaganza at Massachusetts taxpayers' expense -- how he gets from his "conservative" position against taxpayer funding of sports stadiums and private enterprises to rationalizing deficit-spending state resources to fund his political party's national campaign kick-off. I predict that, in the end, he -- a director and former-chairman of State Legislative Leaders Foundation -- will find the means to justify it.

Why does the U.S. Treasury provide only $13.5 million (or any amount) from federal taxpayers to both the Republican and Democrat parties for their partisan conventions, yet the Democrat National Committee is here in Massachusetts hat in hand demanding an additional $17.5-plus million from our overburdened state taxpayers?

"Where would you cut?" Where indeed.

We're supposed to consider ourselves lucky that Massachusetts has been granted "the right" to sponsor the national Democrats' extravaganza? I doubt I'm alone in saying "Thanks, but no thanks, we'll pass on that dubious honor. Take your party someplace else, if they'll have you."

After the recent national Republican election blow-out, the DNC must be pretty hard-up to lean on Democrat-dominated Massachusetts anyway ... but I suppose if there's anyplace left in the U.S. of A. where they might get away with this shameless taxpayer rip-off, it's right here, Ground Zero for incurable tax-and-spend.

Surely there must be some law against the state using public funds to advance a political campaign for anyone or any political party or parties ... and what else can this be considered?

We'll be looking into this in the days ahead -- as we hope the state Republican Party is also doing.

I would like to believe that the "human services providers," teachers unions, and the rest of the Gimme Lobby are also preparing to strenuously oppose this ridiculous squandering of limited state revenue resources. If not, then they'd better not come crying to us taxpayers for more later.

Chip Ford


The Boston Herald
Saturday, November 16, 2002

Finneran wary of subsidy for 2004 Dem convention
by Elisabeth J. Beardsley

House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran shot down the notion of an unfettered state subsidy of the 2004 Democratic national convention yesterday, warning it would "stress" state finances that are already on the brink.

Finneran, whose ironclad opposition has sunk past project proposals, pointed to a state budget deficit approaching $2 billion.

"We're broke," Finneran told the Herald. "Things seem to me to be getting worse, not better, with regard to the economy and jobs and revenues."

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino is pleading with the state to help fund a $17.5 million governmental contribution that city officials pledged to close the deal to bring the Democratic bash to Boston.

Finneran, a conservative Democrat, joined Republican Gov.-elect Mitt Romney in challenging organizers to prove what benefits could be reaped from a taxpayer investment.

Citing the prospect of convention-related boosts in sales, meals and hotel excise taxes, Finneran said the possibility of taxpayer subsidies shouldn't be "thrown off the table."

"Clearly you'd make the expenditure as long as you're convinced - it can't just be based on propaganda, it has to be based on hard facts - as long as you're convinced that there's a positive return," Finneran said.

Convention boosters have been anxiously awaiting Finneran's take on the money question, as the conservative House speaker has a long history of quashing private enterprise raids on the public treasury.

The New England Patriots nearly moved to Connecticut in 1998, after Finneran spiked their bid for taxpayer money for a new stadium.

Finneran, who has testified before Congress in opposition to public subsidies for stadiums, took a similar tack when the Red Sox came to Beacon Hill looking for tax dollars for a new ballpark.

But Finneran seemed to strike a softer stance yesterday with the Democratic convention. "It's a tremendous victory and achievement for Mayor Menino and Sen. (Edward) Kennedy, and I don't want that lost in the aftermath," Finneran said.

Menino has protested that the state receives nearly all the taxes on sales, meals and hotels - unlike other convention cities, which share such revenues with their state governments.

With a new convention center going up in South Boston, Menino said he's looking for a bigger bite of convention-related taxes.

"There might have to be a restructuring of the tax code when it comes to events like this," Menino said.

But Finneran quickly nixed that idea, noting that the city has previously failed to make the case for special tax treatment.

"That's a high bar that they have," Finneran said. "In the past, it's proved to be a difficult political bar to overcome."

Meanwhile, convention center officials are backing away from Senate leaders' suggestion that the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority could kick in some cash from its promotional budget.

The new convention center, which is still under construction, has already racked up $100 million in cost overruns. And the agency's $7 million promotional budget is already dedicated to other projects, MCCA spokesman Andy Antrobus said.

"It's unlikely that we would be able to spend public monies on something like that, purely as a legal matter," Antrobus said.

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