As lawmakers met behind closed doors this week to divvy up $20.8
billion in state spending -- up almost 7 percent from last year -- the 10th anniversary of
Massachusetts' "temporary" income tax hike passed on Tuesday with a notable lack
of fanfare.
If the connection occurred to the House and Senate conferees, they
weren't letting on.
It was left to Citizens for Limited Taxation &
Government, the indefatigable advocacy group for fiscal restraint, to mark the occasion
with a mock Statehouse party, complete with an "unhappy birthday" cake.
The Legislature raised the 5 percent state income tax in 1989,
reluctantly, to cover operating deficits of more than $1 billion.
The red ink had accumulated in the twilight of the administration of
Michael S. Dukakis, who had used Massachusetts as demonstration project for the
expansionist vision of government propagated in his failed presidential campaign.
The debt was retired years ago, and more than $1 billion has built up
in the rainy day fund. Yet the Dukakis legacy lives on in the Legislature's insistence to
hang on to the "temporary" tax.
The House budget calls for a nominal reduction to 5.75 percent.
Despite spending growth that is triple the inflation rate, the Senate offers only a
smattering of small "targeted" tax cuts.
Gov. Paul Cellucci attended CLT's unhappy birthday party and renewed
his pledge to spearhead a massive signature drive to place the income tax issue onto next
year's state ballot.
In general, we are skeptical of government by initiative petition.
Lawmaking is -- or should be -- primarily the Legislature's responsibility.
In the absence of legislative action, however, the people are given
no other choice.