What is "fair" to Beacon Hill Pols?

I find it remarkable that some Beacon Hill pols can be shocked at the idea of negative repercussions related to MA casinos, yet were perfectly willing to 'gamble' with the People's Money (-58 million) on special tax giveaways to the now bankrupt Evergreen Solar.

Yet, we have a so-called revenue problem in state government?

It clear what the coordinated, 2012 talking point is going to be for some candidates this election year.  Actually, the young Joe Kennedy the III used the word so much in his recent announcement for Congress, I actually thought my DVR replay button on the remote was broken.

But really, what is "fair" Massachusetts fiscal and economic policy for the one party dominating Beacon Hill?  What is "fair" treatment for taxpayers still struggling to put the Great Recession behind them? Before we answer those questions, I have a few:

• Is it "fair" that less than 1% of the available 800 Billion in 2008 TARP funds under this Administration has actually been spent on Mass. homeowner loan modifications?

 

• Is it "fair" for every one dollar in taxes that goes to Boston, many if not all of Middlesex and Worcester communities receive (approximately) 64 cents back? Is that really fair to our local students or municipal workers? 

 

(In fact, since 2008, our hometown of Acton has experienced a 36% reduction in Local Aid from this Legislature and Governor).

• Is it "fair" to propose state tax increases on: gasoline, income, capital gains, dividends and local fees to the General Fund all while the federal and state government have wasted millions on failed stimulus or subsidies to connected industries? How is that any less "fair" than corporate welfare policies so chastised by the Left as being unjust? Both are equally corrosive to Economic Recovery.

 

• Is it "fair" to impose the highest Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax rate (15.4%) on MA job creators even though small businesses and/or individual S Corporations already pay such an exorbitant high cost burden?  Note: Forbes Magazine recently ranks MA #1 on its Cost of Doing Business Index.

 

Clearly, times must change. The goal should be to create more MA taxpayers NOT create higher tax rates under the guise of so-called "fairness" no matter how many times Joe Kennedy III's political consultant has him repeat the word.  

Income redistribution, class warfare, and artificially imposing 'equality of outcomes' (instead of equality of opportunity) on Massachusetts residents and small businesses doesn't work. It goes against our Constitution.  But, this lowest common denominator proposal is what voters unfortunately receive in the absence of true competition and balance under the Golden Dome.

The Legislature needs to protect taxpayer funds, accelerate infrastructure projects and make Education Reform local. Especially now, when home values and Local Aid both continue to fall, causing even more strain on local budgets and our vanishing commercial tax base.