When we tried to eliminate the sales tax, we were bombarded with political spots from every union and government organization in the Commonwealth spewing doom and gloom scenarios. If all the sales tax funds go to transportation won't they be facing the same terrible circumstances? Unemployment, massive classroom sizes, decreased services, children left homeless on the streets, etc?

1.)Eliminate local government waste including nonessential personnel.
2.)Eliminate State government waste including nonessential personnel.
3.)Recognize that our prison system is our cheap labor and bring jobs back from over seas.
4.)Start to educate and train our prisoners and rehab them to be able to contribute to society rather than drain it.
5.)Find ways to build up people's income so they can spend and help build on the economy. ( break up the monopolies that are causing inflation, institute laws that require manufacturers to eliminate planned obsolesence and product failure so we become respectable again throughout the world for our goods produced.)
6.)Create a grant program that funds worker's compensation and insurance programs for start up businesses to help create jobs and to temporarily help companies get off the ground.
7.)Create laws that keep investment money in our economy and our country.
8.) Establish a better equipped/staffed/funded retraining program to transition people into other fields of employment.( especially nonessential government workers)
9.) Review State pension plans to require investment in the Massachusetts economy.
10.)A penny that is doubled every day is better than a one time pay out of a million dollars. Desire a little from a lot of workers rather than a lot from a little amount of workers.

How about the 19,000 letters sent out to welfare recipients about voter registration that were returned "unkown" "not at this address"? Let's get rid of the welfare fraud first, then talk increases. I would rather fund an office that investigates fraud from individuals and corporations, than one cent of tax increase.

Between Fed (income taxes) and Local (Stoneham - Property taxes), my family's tax burden has increased over $3000 for 2013 already. Adding almost $1000 more to that on a state level would be insane even in a good economy, let alone the current state of things. But hey, a lower sales tax will encourage us to spend more of our disposable income, right? Oh, yeah... We don't have any disposable income.

S. Nelson, did you forget that Deval "lowered" your Property taxes?

It's interesting that the Governor does not feel compelled to reduce costs in any way to help support the goals he's stated. Apparently, only "increased revenue" is the way to go. This at a time when the Governor feels compelled to give illegal residents in-state tuition support on the our tax dollar, while cutting aid to cities and towns.

I’m struggling to recall a time when we taxed ourselves out of a sluggish economy…perhaps someone out there has that answer…

All excellent points, David. Maybe if Duval & Company used program monies for their intended programs, instead of misdirecting those funds to other wasteful programs. And here's a wacky idea....STOP SPENDING MORE THAN THE STATE TAKES IN ! Simple economics!

taxachusetts for you!!!

Even if the increased revenue occurs what guarantee is there it will be used for education and transportation? I predict some of the new revenue will be used to pay for state and local retiree pensions and medical benefits, especially for teachers, under the guise this frees up other monies for schools.

You mean you don't trust them to do what they say they will do? Their track record is so clean. This guy just may be the worst govenor we have ever had but this is his last term and most likely trying to set himself up to be president one day. He just may have to make sure he does this right to get him in position. At least that is what one would think. The one in charge not couldn't run his state either, and now look at us. They really think we are so stupid. I may have hated Mitt as govenor but at least he was better at handeling the money.

Technically we are stupid. Look at our State legislature or Town officials and the POTUS. All voted in

This problem is more complex. Didn't the state and municipalities lose millions from WS Casino Gambling w/ taxpayer money? The money is gone, retirements need to be paid. I'm disappointed he is raising income tax. We are already burdened enough. Does he really plan to fix the MBTA? I was riding in a section of the train tonight that only had 3 ceiling lights working. Trains are from 1969. MBTA Alerts questionable. Are they really delays due to emergencies? I've been riding the "T" since the 70s -they ran better. If they overdevelop the area, they need to work on the infrastructure. It's time to scrap the old trains. We need a new system like Germany and Japan where residents pay for it too, but at least it's a good product.

You can't keep telling taxpayers that their money is going to fix education and the MBTA for the past 30 years and still have the same broken systems.

No wonder people move away. The reason is simple--those at the top are making too much money. If someone is doing a bad job, they should be fired without compensation. Remember what happened to the last guy who was fired from the MBTA? They handed him a big check. It's the same with WS bailouts and bonuses- they get rewarded for irresponsibility and causing a fiscal disaster.

Kevin McDonald--Your second comment could not have been more accurate!

Lowering the state sales tax will not produce revenue--people do not spend what they don't have and those that do keep sinking into debt.

Check out the salary....

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/08/patrick_asks_fo_1.html

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/24/14988-hart-taps-new-rail-chief-grabauskas-from-boston/

He did such a great job, that's why he moved to Hawaii. Unbelievable.

A one percentage point hike is essentially a 20% increase in the state income tax collected. With the exception of some type of catastrophe in this state that would just be feeding the beast even more.

In spite of all the resources we continue to put into our educational system it's been on a gradual decline for decades. One contributing factor to that decline could be an increase in the number of students showing up at first grade who cannot speak english.

Zoltan,

I believe it is more to do with overpaid administrators who are simply not worth the money we pay them. The entire system needs a major overhaul. Good teachers should be paid well. Few will make sacrifices necessary to do the job well and be handed a salary that is not competitive--they will choose to work in other industries so they can at least pay the rent.

Not all of our problems should be blamed on the immigrants. Many are exploited by American business owners who also pay them less than minimum wage.

If you get out there and talk to people, you will really learn what is going on. Misinformation is what keeps the perpetuating cycle going without any positive change.

The Democrats are "TAX & Spend". We need to reduce spending and not increase taxes. Florida has no income tax and the weather is much nicer. People may vote with their feet. The Commonwealth needs to understand that we already have some of the highest taxes in the country and they need to run the state with what they have. We need fiscal responsibility. They need to fix the infrastructure before they fund the social programs. They need to take care of the taxpayers before they take care of the people flocking to this state (legally and illegally) to take advantage of our largess.

Once again those of us with jobs get slapped again. Increasing income tax only hurts those who have jobs and not the freeloaders. Am I the only one who sees this?

These arguments could go on forever...But really the only discussion should be....UNTIL...all government can cut the waste, abuse, and misappriation of funds....WE the people should not have to pay. Basics...Would any of us buy a product that doesn't work, or never comes in the mail as promised, no we would return it or cancel the order. WHY should this be any different with our government. Taxes are meant to provide the basic services, and not extras....I am sure this is something we all can agree with.

Just another example of the “Beacon Hill” mentality they have never met a tax, fee or surcharge they didn’t like. Instead of managing their budgets like we have to, they just pay off the special interests and tax more. The Beacon Hill Gang in Stoneham is following the same road map. Wait until they get their “Community Preservation Act ‘approved in April, you will be paying additional taxes in Stoneham also. Remember, the final power rests in your vote. Quiz the candidates and vote for the ones who want to manage the town’s finances like you manage yours.

So raising the state's income tax by 1 percentage point and lowering the sales tax will raise $2 Billion? Who is getting a break?

Mini Me wants to increase Income tax on citizens who work and pay taxes in the state. Would this exclude those who are on government assistance and illegals who aren't on the books? Lowering the Sales Tax. Nice idea from the podium but does that mean that he didn't know what he was doing when he raised two years ago or did he realize that NH is not that far away and the easier way to collect taxes from working families is to tax there income?

Does the Great Lizzy Warren approve of the contimued "Hammering" of the middle class families?

Show some fiscal responsivbiity.

The Underground Economy gets the break by lowering the Sates Tax. Don't forget. Deval wants to raise the Gas Tax by .30. That means the cost of going to work is going up for you to take home less in your pay check. So we lose twice.

I always wonder about the thought process of those who blame public retirees for this mess. Here we have people who took a public sector job 35 years ago when wages were crap, but benefits were decent. They lived up to their end of the bargain, did their years, and took their pensions, according to the rules. Since then we've had all these unfunded state mandates, EBT cards, etc, etc, etc, the Big Dig - you name it. If all the waste and fraud had been properly addressed, if we weren't paying $2000 for a hammer and $5000 for a toilet seat we'd be fine. The public retires are getting what they agreed to 30 - 40 years ago, before all this liberal tax and spend stuff get out of control. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of public pensioners are thoroughly decent people who lived up to their end of the bargain and who get barely enough to maintain a moderately decent life. Anyone who thinks they're on some kind of gravy train is delusional. If you retired with an annual salary of 50K, your pension is 40K. That sound like a gravy train to you?

Great job all done by all those who voted for this dishonest politician. Remember his promise to lower our property taxes? BS!
Where are all the governors backers now? Let's hear from you folks how it's OK to keep on taking more and more of our hard earned money.

The points I'm trying make on pensions are:
1. Employees should get what they were promised.
2. The anticipated revenue to pay the pensions is insufficient.
3. The higher taxes will be used for a current level of funding since the promised pensions payments must be spent resulting in spending cuts unless more revenue is incoming.

Remember, these workers usually have no Social Security and have saved a large part of their income via withdrawals for their pensions at a rate that is usually higher than the payroll tax (for Social Security) and the typical deferred income rate for 401ks or equivalent. They must not be victims of false promises of investment companies to pension boards.

Lowering the sales tax and increasing the income tax benefits those on the welfare train...it lowers their cost of consumption as they are spenders and not earners, it improves their services (paid for by the increased income tax) and it further burdens people who are out there trying to earn a living. Again, the state is not addressing the real problems.

At the State Auditor's office there is a group that investigates welfare fraud check out what they do. Why every time we here about fraud in welfare there not mentioned. Maybe the Auditor doesn’t think there is fraud. It looks like they don’t do much

Paul, I generally agree, but that's certainly not the retiree's fault, is it? You seem willing to accept that and place blame where it belongs.

Your points about SS and contribution rates are well made, and also tie in to health care. For example, if you are SS eligible, you are forced by state law to be unenrolled from the town's regular health care program and to enroll in and pay for Medicare, but you will probably not get a SS check because of the income exclusion. (A good idea - prevents a lot of double-dipping.) Even if you yourself are not eligible, but are married or were ever married for 10 years or more to a spouse who is eligible, you must take and pay for Medicare. Most retirees also opt to purchase a Medicare supplement plan, since Medicare only pays about 80%. Some, but not all towns have a contractual agreement to pay some portion of the Part B costs. The problem here is the escalating uncontrolled cost of health care - again, not the fault of retirees, who are just as victimized by mismanagement and out-of-control spending as anyone else. The first step in correcting this mess is to correctly identify the problem.

So MA already ranks 8th in the country in tax burder according to USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2012/10/28/state-taxes-states-highest-lowest/1654071/). The governor wants to raise us to the very top and to use the money for education and transportation. Last I looked, the U.S. is already is in the very high end of educational spending per student and yet the country ranks only 32 in math and 17 in reading proficiency. I doubt money is the problem, so NO MORE TAXES! Under Deval Patrick's government there is nothing but waste.

Does he really expect people to go out and buy things when most are already in so much debt? When there are no jobs and many are still making the same pay they did ten years ago, but all the bills continue to go up, not many families are out there spending for products they can do without. They should go back to taxing the wealthy and create jobs as promised. Few believe the money is going to fix the MBTA and Education. How many years have they promised? Just keep boycotting everything you can and save your money. That's what I try to do. It's not easy, but when they keep digging into our pockets, it's really the best solution. I gave up my car except for groceries and ride the T wherever I can. I also do not buy what I don't need. Many of our former generations who lived through worst times came from humble beginnings and learned to go without. They may not have driven the best cars or owned plasma TV's, but at least their homes were paid for and they had no debt. They knew the banks were crooked and would never take a home mortgage or carry a credit card. Of course, those were different times back then, when companies valued their employees and gave them decent wages and retirement, healthcare. The rich created jobs and didn't send them overseas. That is the biggest issue we face today. Maybe they should ask WS for their money back since most of it was tossed on the Ponzi Scheme roulette table. Why doesn't the IRS get the slush funds in offshore accounts?

Massachusetts is quickly becoming a welfarev state..Ssdi, welfare, free housing, free lunches..everything is free for all these poorest of the poor..the most vulnerable..the down on their luck etc..same group runs around with 200 dollar sneakers, plenty of money for booze and scratch tickets and always looking for a handout..they don't pay taxes..therefore they don't care...but the low info voters as u say...keep voting incompetents like Barack , deval, long John , Barney etc...u get what u deserve..and your kids will pay dearly...oh we'll too bad!

Duval, "We" need to start investing in Politicians who know how to run a businsess, not someone who is looking to create new taxes to take from the working class. Where does the new Senator sit on this? Wasn't her entire campain focused on protecting the middle class?

Less than 1 month into her new gig and she's already is already silent. Taking her oders to turn her back and she is oh so happy to do so. She sat in the room when Mini Me laid down his assault plan on the working class and when she was asked to respond she looked at Mini Me for an answer. Painful!

If he can't get these taxes in or the .30 gas tax, or the milage tax does he move to raise the debt cieling becasue he's squandered to much on assistance programs?

A little over a half century ago in his inaugrual address JFK made the statement "Don't ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". Today low Information Voters, come out of the woodwork to vote for the same democratic party politicians who have a new agenda.

I don't want the schools you have described or the rail and road services you have laid out if it means an increase in my taxes.

I am all for investing in out future but I cannot afford another tax increase at this time. I'm just barely getting by as is.

We just saw a 2% loss in our paychecks after the payroll tax holiday ran out. Now you want us to pony up another 1%...? I've always voted democrat but I'm starting to see what the republicans are talking about. This is getting to be too much!

Let's put all those scamming ssdi and welfare freeloaders to work..they'll get that choo choo train working soon..just promise a couple Xbox games and a Barack Obama shirt

I see in the Herald he is coming out with some more taxes before he even finishes up with this. Good grief, I can't keep up with this guy. He is going to bury us. Will be better off staying home and collecting than going to work at this rate. Water, soda, sports drinks, tobacco products and you will be taxed on candy and soda products. Not that any of that will effect me, but he is just coming at us from all sides. I suppose next week it will be health food. Whatever they take from us it will never be enough. NH, no state or sales tax, what gives.

@ Chev

No, I said YOU do not make sense. As for me, I make lot of sense, because I've seen, I mean I've heard over and over, people such as yourself always complaining about their poor, pitiful situations. Life is tough, life is unfair, you just have to make the best out of it, and drop the "wow is me"attitude.

Quasi,
I guess that means you are "paying a little more than" and not minding. Good for you.
This proposal makes it more likely that a company with a choice of NH or MA as a location will pick NH. Why, because its employees will prefer to live in NH. The reduction in the sales tax will not incent people to spend more and will have no real impact. Again if the the better option is zero sales tax.

And by the way, if someone says that they cannot afford to pay more, a comment like your smacks of elitist snobbery and you were the first in line to jump on Romney.
Saying "wow(a type) is me" is the same as what Romney said, he he got blasted.

Deval is going to add Dental to Mass Health.

Two studies have proven Head Start to be a failure. Now Deval wants to fund “educating” our infants. He can’t be serious!

Head Start Impact Evaluation Report Finally Released:
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/01/head-start-impact-evaluation-report-finally-released

Today's PROGRESSIVES want to begin controlling your child's mind as early as possible. Money well spent

Steve,
Because the average American voter is an economic illiterate. All they heard was that the problems in the economy were caused by those greedy wall street types and they should pay their fair share, a little bit more. Unfortunately Romney could not get out of his own way. No one wants to cut spending if they are going to suffer as the result of the cut.

And people buying houses they could not afford and getting forclosed had nothing to do with it either.

And by the way, everyone can agree that Romney's comment was poorly thought out and can be attacked. It was dumb. However the basic premise remains, too many people who voted for EW and Obama voted based upon a easy way out, all our problems were caused by rich people who are greedy and are taking advantage of the system.

Steve,
who said they were admired and no one made them sign up for a mortgage they could not afford. I am always amazed by the logic, who made them do it, were they dragged off the street and told to buy the house, if you want assign greed I would say it takes two people to complete the transaction. If no one wanted to buy the house and sign the no doc loans there would not have been a market. Mean while the buyer is in a house they could not afford and they knew it, but were more than happy to take advantage of the process. Steve keep talking and maybe you will convince yourself they each one of the poor home buyers were not innocent bystanders.

Steve,
First of all please read carefully, I said, it takes two people. Also, no one is comparing this too getting mugged. If you actually knew how a foreclosure worked maybe your opinion would have value. In many cases there was no downpayment, and it may take as long as a year to get someone out of the house which in many cases is trashed as well. The person again in many cases may not pay any mortgage payments for up to a year and thus live in the house rent free and pay nothing in taxes as well as no mortgage payments. As far as promotions, really? and yes the person handling the mortgage got a commission. My point remains, many people bought houses they could not afford and knew they could not. To compare this to a person who is mugged walking down the street just shows how desperate you are to try and make a point. I am tired of people who refuse to admit that sometimes there is another side to the equation.

The loan apps were fudged so that it looked like the buyer coulkd afford it. The real eastate people were promising thet the roll over would be tremendouse and they could turn the house and make a large profeit. Odviously it could not happen. Remember the banks used to be very strict at one time.

Mr. Cavaretta, all too often, I try and engage people on the internet, by using some sort of civility. Most times I'm successful in doing that. I thought my last response had accomplished that. Clearly, I was wrong to assume that, so I'm just going to say this....this will be my last response to you on anything here, because, clearly, my attempt at being civil to you was, sadly, an exercise in futility. You, sir, can take your origination documents, and politely shove them up your ass! Good day, sir!

Does anyone understand what WS has gotten away with? Did you see, "Inside Job", "Margin Call"? Some people understand the plutocracy regime which is never going to be satisfied until we are all living under one big slum lord. Could they possibly cause any more civil unrest than we already have? The only thing they fear is exposure of the truth, but what media outlet would be brave enough to walk that walk? Very few, considering the corporate world owns them as well.

Unless the spineless decide to grow a backbone and demand trillions of taxpayers money be refunded back to the U.S. Treasury, along with trillions of tax evaded off shore accounts, the middle class will keep paying for the crimes of corporate raiders and freeloaders.

So you don't like people on welfare, but you prefer corporate welfare?

Is that because they have increased your 401k by 400% this month?

Are you keeping a close eye on those numbers? How much have your investments earned over the past 5 years? Do you have enough for retirement? Well, don't hold your breath. They made sure all our investments are now failed investments--our homes being the greatest losses of all. Didn't the same occur in the 30's? Why are you surprised?

It's really simple--they have armies of lawyers to keep them from being prosecuted and they are using our tax dollars to save them from life without parole.

How does that make you feel?

"Homes underwater"? That is a pretty funny comment. All of our homes are underwater even those which are paid for--They will continue to keep taking away from those who have it. So just keep that check book handy.

What's next?

How, do you lose your house if you make your payments on time ever month?

Anyone else notice they don't run DiTech ads on TV anymore?