Posted on 08/20/2008 7:00:52 AM PDT by reaganaut1
On Election Day, Massachusetts will vote on whether to eliminate its state income tax. Advocates hope victory in a place long thought of as a free-spending liberal bastion will pave the way for similar initiatives in other states over the next few years. Critics insist a yes vote would lead to fiscal disaster.
While Americans are focusing on the presidential and congressional races, voters in Massachusetts and other states will decide the fate of dozens of state and local tax and spending issues.
It's still unclear precisely how many of these issues will be on ballots on Nov. 4. Some still haven't received final approval from state officials or may face challenges in court. But Kristina Rasmussen, director of government affairs at the National Taxpayers Union, a nonprofit group based in Alexandria, Va., estimates there are more than 60 ballot measures that would have "some significant impact" on taxpayers.
Oregon voters, for example, will decide whether to allow taxpayers to deduct an unlimited amount of their federal income taxes on their state returns. Nevada is expected to vote on a constitutional amendment that would restrict property-tax increases. North Dakota voters may vote on whether to chop the state's personal income tax in half. And Minnesota will vote on a proposed amendment to its state constitution to raise the state sales tax by three-eighths of a percentage point, with the money going to protect the environment and to benefit the arts.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
This will pass in MA where the Legislature will ignore the will of the people.
“It’s a Hackarama!”
Bump
Taxachusetts?
No way!
But but...
What about the chiiiiiiiiilrens?
They don't have to say. They will close libraries, parks, fire stations and limit police hours. Government will not cut make-work projects, money for the idle and pet programs. The sad thing is that the same folks who vote to eliminate their income taxes will blindly vote for more bonding authority (future taxes) on special projects.
Yes, they’ll throw a hissy fit and scream and yell. Depriving a liberal of other people’s money, the greatest show on earth!
Or, the old tried and true stunt where the politicians cut funding to the most necessary and basic of government services first.
Example: "We in the legislature have been forced to cut all state funding to Fire, Police and all other Emergency Services due to cuts in the State's budget...", While the welfare checks continue to print and the bureaucracy remains bloated.
? In LIBERAL Massachusetts?? If it can pass there, it could pass anywhere...
I wonder, would LIBERALS - from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine - move back to Mass. and leave those states for CONSERVATIVES?
or the courts will nix it
Are you familiar with the entmology of the expression; “Your’e fired”?
Exactly so. It will be “just another day at the office” for the Dems. My guess is that they will simply have one of their cooperative judges find a legal technicality to “remove the problem”.
We actually DO have “representative government” in MA. It just doesnn’t represent what it is supposed to.....
If the state income tax is eliminated, retirees who don’t pay that much income tax will likely be faced with greatly increased property taxes. Also the MA legislature can always pass state laws for stuff that cities have to fund. You’re likely gonna get it in the masshole regardless.
If the state income tax is eliminated, retirees who don’t pay that much income tax will likely be faced with greatly increased property taxes. Also the MA legislature can always pass state laws for stuff that cities have to fund. You’re likely gonna get it in the masshole regardless.
Ignoring, of course, that there has already been a huge fiscal disaster for many years, the result of:
Spending on illegal pet projects that the state has no business doing.
Spending more than the actual income.
Deferring current debt to a future date and to future taxpayers.
Criminal neglect of a real contingecy/emergency fund.
And of course, setting their own salaries to shield themselves from their own stupidity.
Other than that, no problem.
That’s why it is on the ballot in Mass. People are tired of losing all the jobs and taxpayers to New Hampshire. Mass. has a serious border problem because NH doesn’t have a state income tax and never will.
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