We’re all getting taken for a ride
By Howie Carr | Sunday, December 2, 2012 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Columnists
Photo
Photo by Angela Rowlings
Another week, another transportation-tax trial balloon. But look on the bright side. This time the “advocates” say it’s just a “small” tax, as opposed to the so-called robust tax hikes they were floating two weeks ago.
This time all these front groups with the funny names (is On the Move anything like On the Dole?) want a new .75 percent payroll tax on anybody making more than $100,000. But wait, you say, that would be a progressive income tax, which is forbidden by the state constitution.
Not to worry, the “advocates” double-talked at the State House. They’ve got a way around that. The taxes will be imposed on the employer, not the employee. Yeah, right.
They say the new income tax would just be the same system they have in New York to pay for transportation. And look how great that’s working — this morning the cash toll to use the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels increases from $12 to $13.
The last toll increase was last year. The next one is next year.
This latest trial balloon follows proposed increases in the gas tax, not to mention a tax on miles traveled per vehicle. But they’re not really taxes, you understand, they’re investments. Investments in the future, and in job creation. Hack job creation — lots more assistant associate deputy senior commissioners for governmental regulations.
Stepping up to the public trough this week was something called the “Green Justice Coalition,” a name that should terrify anyone who works for a living.
You know what green means — think Solyndra, or Evergreen, or A123, or the Volt. Crony capitalism. As for “justice,” that means somebody with a job gets stuck paying for another handout for somebody who doesn’t haven’t a job.
They call it economic justice. I call it highway robbery.
This report was authored by another front with an ominous title, “Public Transit – Public Good.”
A more accurate moniker might have been, “Public Transit – Massive Boondoggle” or “Hack Jobs for Tomorrow.”
Another goo-goo group recently conducted a poll asking people in Massachusetts what they blamed the state’s continuing transportation red ink on. Waste and mismanagement, answered 71 percent. I assume that’s the same 71 percent that has ridden the T in the last year.
According to The Associated Press, the moonbats want the proposed graduated income tax to provide “a more equitable fare structure that would give breaks to low-income riders.”
Is equity — fairness — what we’re looking for here? Then I have a solution. The people who use the MBTA, and all the other regional systems — let them pay for the public transit instead of the people who don’t use it. What could possibly be fairer than that?
After all, don’t the hacks tell us that we have no right to complain about, say, tolls, or the gas tax, because those are merely “user fees?” If you don’t want to use the Mass Pike, just take Route 9 to the New York state line.
Aren’t T fares user fees too? Why must T fares be endlessly subsidized by those who don’t use the system, when Pike tolls aren’t? I remember during one such debate over the T deficits many years ago, when the House was debating whether to increase the assessments on the T communities.
An ancient Democrat from Worcester, Andrew Collaro, stood up and said:
“Most of my constituents don’t even know they’re paying for this, and as unhappy as they’re going to be when they find out, they’re going to be a lot angrier when they find out you people here in Boston want to double it.”
Speaking of which, here’s another proposal making the rounds. Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral of New Bedford wants to put a “green fee” on drivers. If you own a Prius, Rep. AFDC wants you to pay an extra $7.50. If you drive something that’s Ram Tough, well, you can figure it out ...
Perhaps you remember Rep. AFDC. In 2005, the state Department of Revenue placed a lien on his home in New Bedford for non-payment of income taxes. Now this deadbeat who wouldn’t pay his own taxes is trying to jack up yours.
Get used to it. Elections have consequences.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1061178766
Imagine if you will that for the past 30 years Boston has been a one newspaper town. Only one. The Boston Globe. Thankfully that was not the case. 30 yrs ago Rupert Murdoch bought the Herald and the paper did NOT shut down. “YOU BET WE’RE ALIVE!”
Thank you Rupert, and Pat Purcell. See the article below and watch the video which has Howie (and yes Magpie Eagan too)
Imagine if you will that for the past 30 years Boston has been a one newspaper town. Only one. The Boston Globe. Thankfully that was not the case. 30 yrs ago Rupert Murdoch bought the Herald and the paper did NOT shut down. “YOU BET WE’RE ALIVE!”
Thank you Rupert, and Pat Purcell. See the article below and watch the video which has Howie (and yes Magpie Eagan too)