This past week the House and Senate Leadership teams released their transportation tax proposal to the tune of $500 million in new taxes.
They included: increase the gas tax by three cents, increase the cigarette tax by roughly $1 per pack and several corporate tax increases. On Wednesday, April 3, a showdown ensued on the House floor, during which time my colleagues and I demonstrated relentless opposition and backed the working-class taxpayers of Massachusetts. We offered several amendments in an attempt to give the public time to review and voice their concerns over the proposed $500 million tax hike. The tax hike was just introduced on Tuesday, April 2, and it is being rushed through the legislature.
The first amendment, proposed a public hearing of the bill before the deadline to file amendments, which was scheduled for two days later on Friday, April 5. Our claims were related to the fact that the public has been given no opportunity to weigh in and legislators have been given almost no opportunity to calculate how this bill will impact the economy and pocketbooks of working-class families in the Commonwealth.
The second proposed amendment asked that the filing cutoff for amendments to the $500 million tax bill be extended from Friday, April 5, to Monday, April 8, at least giving legislators the weekend to meet and speak with citizens and hear their concerns and opinions about the proposed tax hike.
Our third and final amendment called for a Department of Revenue study on the economic impact of the proposed $500 million tax hike. The study would at least provide insight on the impact it will have on the state’s economy and the impact it will have on taxpayers of all income levels.
Every amendment we put forward was voted down on a largely partisan vote. This new $500 million tax proposal isn’t scheduled to take effect until 2015. Wouldn’t it have been reasonable to allow the public an opportunity to voice their concerns? After all, this will be the third major tax hike in just five years. In 2008, we saw the business and cigarette taxes grow to the tune of $650 million and in 2009 the $1 billion sales tax increase.
Please let me know how you feel about the proposed tax hikes.
Thank you for allowing me to proudly serve as Your Representative. Please call me with any concerns. My home telephone number is (413) 569-5188. I’m always available!
Sincerely,
Nicholas A. Boldyga
Representative
Please visit my website www.NickBoldyga.com for more information.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield News.
