We Need More Mass Taxpayers, Not Higher Tax Rates

I find it remarkable that some Beacon Hill pols can be shocked at the idea of negative repercussions related to Massachusetts 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 percent of the available 800 Billion in 2008 TARP funds under this Administration has actually been spent on Massachusetts homeowner loan modifications?

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

• 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 percent) 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 Massachusetts number 1 on its Cost of Doing Business Index.

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 the Constitution. But, this lowest common denominator proposal is what voters unfortunately receive in the absence of true competition and balance under the Golden Dome.

Newly elected people can change that.

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.

Dean Cavaretta
2012 Candidate for State Senate