Sunday, July 5, 2009

Governor Patrick Hints at Desire for Progressive Tax

MassGOP to Patrick and Murray: Show Us What You Paid?


BOSTON - Yesterday our tax-happy Governor Patrick expressed interest in bringing a progressive tax to Massachusetts after his first term.

In an interview with State House News, Governor Patrick said:

"What we have in Massachusetts is a number of wealthy people who would be willing to contribute more - not all of them, but certainly have the capacity to contribute more - to relieve some of the pressure on the working poor."

Yet citizens already have the option to pay a voluntary higher income tax rate of 5.85 percent rather than 5.3 percent, and not shockingly, they do not want to pay more taxes.

According to a Boston Herald report, only .04% of Massachusetts taxpayers in 2008 chose to pay the voluntary rate of 5.85 percent. Only 802 individuals out of 2.1 million think this is a good idea.

In a statement today, MassGOP Communications Director Tarah Donoghue said:

"We want to know if Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray paid the voluntary income tax rate of 5.85 percent. How much of the Governor's book advance will go towards the working poor? The fact is, Governor Patrick is out of touch and just can't get enough of taxing citizens of the Commonwealth."

"Donkey of the Week"

Barn Yard Behavior by Massachusetts Democrats...Every Wednesday!

BOSTON - Today Rep. Kevin Murphy has the distinct honor of being named the "Donkey of the Week" by the MassGOP.

Rep. Murphy has a conflict of interest problem...

According to an article in the Lowell Sun, in addition to being a full time legislator, he is also a lawyer who represents union clients in contract negotiations with the City of Lowell. So he can vote on funding for public agencies--and at the same time represent his clients who are seeking a piece of that funding.

Several public-sector organizations are part of Rep. Murphy's client base at his $100,000 per year Chelmsford law office.

For example, Rep. Murphy represents the bus driver's union in Lowell, which is in contract re-negotiation talks with the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA.) The LRTA receives a quarter of its operating budget from state funding--which Rep. Murphy gets to vote on.

He even represented Lowell's four assistant school superintendents in contract renegotiations-one of which was his wife. (For which Rep. Murphy secured a $10k raise two years before his wife's contract expired.)

And how is this not a conflict of interest?

According to Beacon Hill Democrats, the Ethics Reform Bill is the answer. The Bill is certainly a step in the right direction and tightens some loopholes. Yet the Ethics Bill does not change the conflict-of-interest statute that Rep. Murphy has repeatedly violated.

More importantly, the Ethics Bill does not change the behavior of irresponsible and unethical Democrat lawmakers.

For more on Rep. Murphy's barnyard behavior, click here.


MassGOP to Governor Patrick: Stop the Disappointment

BOSTON - In a YouTube video message today, MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour called attention to Governor Patrick's disappointing and ineffective leadership in Massachusetts.

Today at 4 pm, Governor Patrick will increase the sales tax by a whopping twenty-five percent, and raise taxes in the Commonwealth by a billion dollars--after Republican lawmakers suggested a billion dollars in reforms.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH