patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Cigarette Tax

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Mass. Tax Plans: Too Much, Too Soon? Or Too Little, Too Slow?

Should the state forge ahead with Gov. Deval Patrick's bold plan to invest now? Or should it follow the Legislature leadership's proposal to address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives?

Massachusetts legislators this week answered Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education with a $500 million plan of their own, which says the governor is asking for too much, too soon as the Bay State shakes off the effects of the Great Recession. Who's right? Should the state forge ahead in a bold plan to invest now? Or should it cautiously address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives? While Patrick's plan includes funding for both the state transportation system and increased education funding from preschool through college, House and Senate lawmakers eschew new revenue for education, focusing solely on closing the transportation budget gap over the next five years. The …

Comment_arrow
Patch_comments_icon

Andrew Sylvia

9:26 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Bottom left of the page under "About Patch"   more ›

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Patrick Proposes Sin Taxes For State [POLL]

A tax on cigarettes and junk food aims to raise money for state and make residents healthier.

Under a proposal by Gov. Deval Patrick, "sin taxes" on cigarettes will increase and new sales taxes on candy and soda will be put into place.  Patrick is proposing the increase as a way to raise $260 million in new revenues for the state budget, according to an Associated Press article on Wednesday.  Under the plan, the cigarette tax will be increased from $2.51 per pack to $3.01 per pack - an increase of 50 cents. The plan will also ask to impose the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax on candy and soda — both items are currently exempt from the tax — and expand the state’s bottle deposit law to include bottled water, sports drinks and other beverages, the Associated Press reported.  The plan would also double the taxes paid on other tobacco …

Got a Hot Tip?