The great tax battle on Beacon Hill seems to be turning into a numbers game. After threatening to veto the $500 million transportation tax plan passed by the House on Monday, Gov. Deval Patrick on Thursday softened his tone and praised Senate leaders for sweetening the pot with an extra $120 million. “It’s definitely moving […]
Economy
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service, Transportation
Could the Senate plan provide common ground?
This is an updated version of a previously posted story. THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE is preparing to vote on a transportation finance plan that is bigger than the $500 million House version Gov. Deval Patrick threatened to veto but still well below the $1 billion package the governor wanted. What’s unclear is whether the Senate bill […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
GOP doesn’t want to play the game
Senate Republicans eschewed a chance to become dealmakers in the tax standoff, a rare opportunity for the minority party to influence a bill’s fate by either joining with liberals to uphold Gov. Deval Patrick’s veto threat or siding with the majority to ensure passage of a tax package that’s about a quarter of the size […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service
House rejects cap on film tax credits
THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE released a budget proposal on Wednesday that relies on far less new tax revenue than Gov. Deval Patrick’s plan, but the House initiative continues fully funding the film tax credit that the governor wants to rein in. The film tax credit offers producers a credit equal to 25 percent of whatever they […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Where have all the anti-tax advocates gone?
BARBARA ANDERSON Barbara Anderson used to prowl the halls of the State House with a vengeance whenever lawmakers started thinking about raising taxes or tinkering with her now-33-year-old baby, Proposition 2 1/2. She would position herself outside the House or Senate chamber, look the solons in the eye, and make sure they knew someone was […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service
Springfield bets on sibling rivalry
THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE came to rest on the big money for Massachusetts two years ago when Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation ushering the Bay State into the casino era. After decades of attempts by gambling proponents, the plans are well underway for three resort casinos and one slot parlor. The gambling legislation divides the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Economy, Politics
What happened to Johnny Ramos is criminal
JOHNNY RAMOS SAYs he did “a lot of stupid things” when he was a teenager growing up in Boston’s South End. He says he never used drugs or carried a gun, but still got into plenty of trouble. At the age of 17, he got arrested for fleeing from police officers after an incident involving […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service
Tax battle joined
THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE late Monday night approved a $500 million transportation tax plan by a 97-55 margin, eight votes shy of being able to override Gov. Deval Patrick’s promised veto. But most observers on Beacon Hill were expecting the real fight over the size of the tax package to take place later this week in […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
Aloisi to lawmakers: ‘I give up. You win’
DEAR MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE: When I was Secretary of Transportation in 2009, I thought I could use my many years of good will and fundraising on your behalf to leverage support for a 19-cent gas tax increase. And when that idea was scuttled, and I was spurned by many of you – many longtime friends I […]
Posted inEconomy
Fear and loathing on the tax trail
THE MEN IN expensive suits came by the hundreds, but as they ambled into the ballroom at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel on a cold March morning, they already knew how the show they were about to witness would end. House Speaker Robert DeLeo had tipped his hand the night before, and the morning newspapers […]