Real MA Tax Fairness? Elect new faces to Beacon Hill

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

Also, it's clear what the coordinated, talking point is going to be for some state candidates this election year. Actually, the young Joe Kennedy used this politically charged word so much in his recent announcement for Congress, I thought the DVR replay button on my 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 Mass. homeowner loan modifications?

• Is it "fair" for every $1 in 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 governments 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 corporate welfare and crony, connected subsidies are equally corrosive to our Economic Recovery.

• Is it "fair" to impose the * highest Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax rate (15.4%) on MA job creators even though Mass. small businesses 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. Our goal in public office 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, that 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 Sudbury's local budget and vanishing commercial tax base. 

What is truly "fair" in 2012 is the election of new faces who won't simply raid the taxpayers' wallets every time policies fail and massive amounts of borrowed money doesn't put people to work.

Dean Cavaretta

Candidate for State Senate

Middlesex and Worcester District