Go "D"
The sales tax increase is too much, the lack of common sense to keep it under the neighboring state's sales tax is incomprehensible. Gas tax discourages use of fossil fuel and dependence on foreign oil (yes, there is a connection to spending trillions of dollars on wars in the Middle East).
Imagine this lot supporting casino legislation when they can't figure out that they shouldn't be taking gifts to do their jobs! 50 years of waste and corruption in the billions and billions of dollars is what it took to begin to reform transportation in the Commonwealth. The Legislative Leadership (oxymoron) that has worked under the dome for years now realizes that pension reform is needed: VETO the proposed budget Mr. Governor, go "D".
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK:
Friday, June 19, 2009
“I pledged to veto the Legislature's proposed sales tax increase unless the Legislature first enacted meaningful reforms in the pension system, the transportation network, and our ethics and lobbying rules. In the last 10 days, the Legislature has passed and I have signed legislation eliminating long-standing pension abuses. They have also passed what, at first review, seems to be a good-faith effort at reforming our broken transportation system. I commend the House and Senate for their work on these reform measures.
“However, the fact that we have not been able to pass a strong ethics reform bill -- despite the clear need to restore the public's trust -- threatens all the progress we have made. For the Legislature to enact a 25% increase in the sales tax without first passing a strong ethics bill goes against the pledge that the Legislative leaders and I made, and that the public expects us to keep, to deliver all three reforms before new revenue.
“We know what to do. The House passed a solid ethics bill. The Senate's bill contains a good new idea regarding campaign finance. Legislative leaders should quickly agree to final ethics legislation that includes the strongest provisions from the House, the Senate and my original bill -- including a gift ban and campaign finance reform. Without that, I will veto the sales tax.”
My background
- Kathleen Conley Norbut
- Central-Western, Massachusetts, United States
- I live in the beautiful rural community of Monson, Massachusetts. I am a lifelong Massachusetts resident. Attended and swam varsity/co-captain, four years at Tufts University (B.S., 1982). Graduate school, Springfield College (M.Ed., 1989). Licensed Mental Health Counselor, certified Health Educator and School Psychologist. Fourth woman to serve on the Monson Board of Selectmen 2003-2009. Western MA Casino Task Force founding member, United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts, President. Monson Developmental Center Re-use Committee, Chairperson. Having a voice in the democratic process and being a voice for those who cannot express their needs is one of my fundamental life missions. I especially enjoy my son, our horse Willow and sunshine.
2 comments:
Geesh, could you mean those politicians who lost elections or decided not to run, but receive their pensions NOW? Or did you mean Corrections Officers who retire after 20 years and receive their retirements NOW? Or might you mean the 80% retirements municipalities are forced to fund with no contributions from employees?
80% of your salary guaranteed for the rest of your life? Such a deal!
Maybe we could toss in the joke that became the Quinn Bill with officers getting credits from less than acceptable programs because of the way the law was written? Now compels a town to pick up 10%, 15% or 20% for someone whose education is ...... not what we might describe as acceptable. Some of those officers are barely articulate and some of the police reports are ... how do you politely say barely intelligible?
Sometimes, when things get tough as in this economic downturn, it forces the legislators to accomplish things they might not otherwise do. This is the time for Beacon Hill to review regulations they imposed on towns that were barely affordable in good times.
Beacon Hill dictated to towns from their exalted towers all manner of mandates. Now is the time for cleaning out some closets.
How in God's name are towns to deal with health care costs? Beacon Hill says every union must agree to changes. Yeah?
When Hell freezes over!
Senator Pacheco wrote his phony "Local Aid" legislation to protect his buddy and greyhound race track owner, George Carney. Could that be a good place to start? How about let's discuss the Pacheco law???? That would probably save more than the Senator's proposed $25 million from each failing race track.
It's time for Beacon Hill to do some REAL work -- re-write what you've forced on towns and start working for voters and not 'special interests.'
Wouldn't we all celebrate if Beacon Hill developed a spine and did what was right?
I have no problem with the increased sales tax, but agree with your comments. Failure to correct other issues first is Beacon Hill's failure.
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