tax Rollback Ignored Again

Tax Rollback Gets Ignored Again in Massachusetts Because of New Healthcare Law
       The Senate Ways and Means Committee released a budget yesterday (Wednesday) that once again ignored the income tax rollback that was mandated by Massachusetts voters in 2000.
       The $25.4 billion budget follows through on significant new financial commitments to health care reform, MassHealth expansion, and substance abuse programs.
       Despite the fact that revenues for the state have been at record levels and climbing each month, both the House and Senate rejected any attempt to implement the tax relief that was promised to the voters once the state regained its fiscal footing after the deep deficits earlier this decade.
       “The Commonwealth is continuing on a slow but steady path to recovery” said Ways and Means chair Therese Murray (D-Plymouth). “However, we are still struggling with high unemployment, failing to recover more than 160,000 of the 200,000 jobs lost during the most recent recession.”
       Gov. Mitt Romney, Lt. Gov. Healey and Atty General Tom Reilly have all agreed that it is time that the voters receive the cut they have voted for. The legislature however, has opted to spend whatever surpluses might accrue.
       Murray said the committee had weighed one member’s request for the cut, but “We felt we would rather invest the money in education and higher education and health.”