Word: taxingly
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Mass. Governor Deval L. Patrick '78 approved a 25 percent increase in the state's sales tax last week, from 5 percent to 6.25 percent, drawing apathy from some local business managers but also concerns from others who fear the move will only aggravate a slumping economy...
...projected increase in sales tax revenue, $275 million will be used to bolster the state's transportation network and stave off planned toll increases on the Massachusetts Turnpike. While another $160 million will be allocated to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the agency recently announced that it will also recommend a package of subway fare hikes to be implemented in the next few months that would raise $69 million a year. The combined tax increases are expected to raise over $1 billion in revenue for the state each year...
...Despite the increases, which come as part of the state's $27 billion budget and will be effective Aug. 1, Massachusetts' sales tax is still relatively low compared to that in other states. Massachusetts first implemented a sales tax of 3 percent in 1966 and raised it to 5 percent in 1976, where it has remained since. Various essential goods, including clothing that costs less than $175 and unprepared food products, are exempt from sales tax...
...Obama wants to be a transformative President. To do that, he must transform the terms of debate - and the greatest impediment to change is the nation's crippling, 30-year tax allergy. He cannot finesse this. He needs to take these issues one at a time, make his argument clearly and hope that the public is finally ready for the sacrifices that make real progress possible...
...Senate floor, lawmakers have to figure out a way to pay for it, and their current proposal is running up against stiff resistance from Democrats. Polls show that voters are resistant to any means of paying for health reform - and especially to the idea of taxing benefits they are accustomed to getting tax-free. In June, for instance, a Washington Post/ABC poll asked respondents whether they would support taxing employer-provided benefits, even if it were limited to relatively generous plans worth $17,000 a year or more; 7 out of 10 said no. The Finance Committee had been hoping...