Taxachusettss is Baaaaaack !!!!

Well, it seems that Massachusetts is well in its way to live up to its nickname of Taxachusettss.
Governor Patrick has come up with the brilliant idea of raising the gas tax from 23.5 to 23.69 a .19 cents increase. Cigarette tax was already increased, the Governor wants to tax certain beverages and will increase an array of state fees. With this shaky economy and with consumers being more cautions on their spending habits, this is a terrible time to even think of raising any kind of taxes. Unfortunately, Beacon Hill thinks that the only way to gain state revenues is to tax its residents. Taxing the people in this shaky economy will result in an even more fragile private sector. As people give their hard earn money to the government, they will have less to spend. Employers will lose revenues and they will be forced to give lay offs to its employees. What effect will this gas tax have in Springfield? Well, in simple words: DEVASTATING. As it is Springfield has the HIGHEST business tax rate-- a brilliant move from the Springfield City Council. The housing market has taken a steep decline, and jobs are just not coming to Springfield. Private businesses will lose revenues and might give layoffs to its employees. As we have seen in recent months, some non-profit and private corporations have already given out layoffs. Increasing the gas tax will only hurt Springfield's trouble economy.

The Governor has often say that we can not expect to have roads for free. I find this insulting. We pay excise tax, gas tax, that help with the state's road infrastructure, Mr, Governor we already pay for the roads !!. So the question remains of where do we come up with the needed revenue to close the state budget shortfall? REDUCE GOVERNMENT WASTE !! REDUCE NON-EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, TIE IN THE LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S SALARIES TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY. The state legislature recently received a salary increase. Many courageous and conscientious legislators did not accept the salary increase because of the state of the economy. Other greedily accepted the pay increase. I believe that the legislature should do the right thing and not allow legislator's salary increase when there is a known budget shortfall as it was known and warned by Governor Patrick.

And the story goes on, you work hard for your money only to give it to the state government. You pay state income tax, gas tax, excise tax, cigarette tax (if you smoke), property tax, food tax, alcohol tax, capital tax, tax, tax.............