Why do people continue to vote for Barry Finegold?

[Wayne Knight]

Our esteemed state senator Barry Finegold has just stolen more money out of our wallets with a 14.3% gas tax increase, and he's hoping that we don't remember the next time he comes up for re-election. He joined his fellow pick-pocketers by linking the gas tax increase to inflation so that it automatically goes up in the future. Talk about profiles in courage.

So why do people continue to vote for Barry Finegold?


Legislators' votes on tax hikes listed
The Lowell Sunlowellsun.com
Updated: 06/28/2013 06:36:01 AM EDT

By Bob Katzen

Beacon Hill Roll Call

BOSTON -- The Massachusetts House, 105-47, and Senate, 34-6, approved a conference committee version of a transportation package that proponents say will raise $500 million through tax hikes. Some opponents of the measure dispute the proponents' projections, and argue that the total in tax hikes will be dramatically more than $500 million.

Provisions include a 3-cent-per-gallon hike in the state's current 21-cent-per-gallon gas tax, which, beginning in 2015, would also be indexed to inflation. Other provisions include a $1 hike in the current $2.51-per-package cigarette tax, an increase in the tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco, a change in the way utilities are classified for tax purposes, and the reinstatement of tolls at exits 1 through 6 on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Western Massachusetts. The legislation also imposes a new 6.25 percent sales tax on computer system design services as well as services to modify prewritten software.

Supporters said the bill is a reasonable package that will provide $805 million in revenue by 2018 to begin to solve many of the structural and financial problems that plague the state's transportation system.

Opponents said the proposed tax hikes will hurt already overburdened taxpayers and businesses and they urged the Commonwealth to live within its means.

The vote margins in both branches are sufficient to override a possible veto by Gov. Deval Patrick.

(A "Yes" vote is for the tax hikes. A "No" vote is against them.)

YES: Rep. Cory Atkins, Rep. Jennifer Benson, Rep. Thomas Golden, Rep. Kenneth Gordon, Rep. Kevin Murphy, Rep. David Nangle, Sen. Michael Barrett, Sen. Kenneth Donnelly, Sen. Eileen Donoghue, Sen. James Eldridge, Sen. Barry Finegold, Sen. Jennifer Flanagan.

NO: Rep. James Arciero, Rep. Colleen Garry, Rep. Sheila Harrington, Rep. Marc Lombardo, Rep. James Lyons, Rep. James Miceli, Sen. Bruce Tarr.

[U8Coach]

So the problems plaguing the state's transportation system is lack of funds? Not mismanagement, fraud, waste, double dipping, pensions and contracts which the budget cannot support, etc?

Typical government at work:

"We have a problem."

"Will money solve the problem?"

"Of course, but the budget is stretched thin as it is."

"Can we reduce costs, streamline operations, remove waste, etc?"

"Of course but then I won't get re-elected."

"What if we raise money through increases in taxes?"

"That has always worked in the past and I still got re-elected."

"Well, that was easy."

Kudos to Miceli and Lyons for their common sense and for opposing this package. When will the government learn that structural problems in the budget cannot be fixed long term by throwing money at them.

[Wayne Knight]

http://bostonherald.com/print/news_opin ... se_control

Gas tax on cruise control
Saturday, June 29, 2013 -- Anonymous (not verified)
Sections:
Howie Carr Sunday, June 30, 2013

The Legislature did an amazing thing this week. It overwhelmingly decided to never, ever vote to raise gas taxes again.

That doesn’t mean gas taxes aren’t going to keep going up and up and up. It just means the General Court will never have to go on record as raising them. Because from now on the state gas taxes are going to increase ... automatically!

Who says the hackerama at the State House is incapable of innovations? When new ways are needed to pick the taxpayers’ pockets, Beacon Hill will invent them.

Instead of having actual roll-call votes on whether to increase the gas tax — votes that might be used against the hacks in the next election — from now on they’re going to use a formula based on the Consumer Price Index.

You know, the same CPI that overestimates inflation so much that even Barack Obama has been complaining about it.

The hacks at the State House used to vote on their own pay raises, which proved to be an extremely hazardous roll call. Afterwards, in the next election, a few of the feebler solons would always be culled from the herd. So the hacks now determine their inevitable pay raises with this marvelous new CPI dodge, which has proven so successful that they’ve decided to use it on gas taxes.

But just for old times’ sake, they decided to raise the gas tax one final time — by 3 cents per gallon.

Maybe you didn’t hear about this new scheme, I mean plan, to never vote on raising gas taxes again. It got buried in the larger story about the latest tax increase, which is somewhere between $500 million and $1.2 billion, but hey, who’s counting, it’s only taxpayers’ money.

The tax increase is to be used for transportation funding, well, some of it is, at least a third maybe. But as the years go by, they’re hoping to use more of it for actual things like roads. You can trust them, after all, they’re not like the others.

But right now, you see, Deval et al. need the money for their beloved programs, like $270 million in Mass Health benefits for illegal aliens and God only knows how much more for their free in-state college tuitions and their Section 8 Tsarnaev housing.

See, after providing a proper welcome to all the newcomers, the state is short — oh wait, actually, the actual revenue figures for the fiscal year that ends tonight are $600 million above estimates.

Another hike: an extra buck for a pack of smokes — but you’ll never even miss it, just like you never noticed that 2 percent cut in your pay Jan. 1 for Social Security, right?

Oddly, the Legislature did not begin debating the “t” word until after the U.S. Senate special election was over. Just a coincidence, I’m sure.

About the only word in the debate that had any real meaning was “fix,” in its drug definition. The hackerama needed another fix, because they’re junkies, addicted to tax dollars.

Nobody cares anymore, apparently. As long as they don’t have to actually work, the hacks are content to bankrupt the state, while everyone with a real job is figuring out a way to flee, permanently. Only a handful of Republicans are left to complain.

Rep. Jim Lyons of Andover pointed out that MBTA painters make $79,000 a year, while painters in “regular government” get $46,000. Wonder how much they make in the Dreaded Private Sector.

Rep. Ryan Fattman of Sutton mentioned the greatest accomplishment of the Patrick administration: “We have had more dead people receiving EBT benefits in a decade than jobs have been created.”

And Sen. Bruce Tarr noted how the “reforms” invariably work out with the state’s bloated bureaucracies: “You didn’t save the money you said you would, so let’s give you some more money.”

But look on the bright side. You won’t have to read any more headlines about the gas tax going up. Because it’ll just be going up automatically.

[Josh Lyman]

all those lib supporters on this site are all getting handouts, what do expect the rest of the state is doing, with more of your money now? Barry will rebuild another section of Andover to improve yet another property he owns, all on your dime.

[reginas]

Why do people continue to vote for Barry Finegold?

(D)

[splice]

Nice to see that the Governor is sending the tax bill back. HE WANTS MORE!!! And as for you working stiffs, work more overtime so that we can send more income taxes in to fund a new choo-choo train and more EBT cards.

[splice]

Call Barry Finegold's office at the State House on Monday. Since the tax bill is being returned, he has a chance to correct his vote. Let him know how you feel. Stand up and be heard. Leave your name and address as well as phone number.

Call Rep. Miceli and thank him for his vote too.

[Rabib]

Does his office take calls from Tewksbury? Or just from Andover.