"Leaders nip, tuck healthcare policy; Limits enacted on drug firm gifts" by Scott Allen, Globe Staff | August 11, 2008
The changes come amid intense focus on the cost and quality of healthcare, which consumes one in every six dollars spent in Massachusetts. Two years ago, landmark legislation required almost everyone in the Commonwealth to have insurance. But the law has been so successful - prompting an estimated 345,000 people statewide to obtain insurance - that it has been far more expensive than expected, forcing Patrick to sign a bill last week raising more than $100 million in state funds and fees on private companies to help foot the bill.
It always is!
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And why wasn't this next story in the paper after I saw it on the website last night?
Why am I getting a frosty feeling around my buttho... OWWWWW!!!!
BOSTON --Gov. Deval Patrick has a message for Massachusetts taxpayers: There aren't any tax hikes in the works, but if the state wants the schools, businesses and infrastructure it needs to compete in a global economy, new taxes can't be off-limits either.
What, Hollywood and corporate want more loot hand-outs?
Patrick signed the recent $1-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax and backed the closing of so-called business tax loopholes. While the anti-tax stances of former governors were sometimes a matter of interpretation -- Romney approved hundreds of millions in higher fees and fines -- Patrick openly raises the possibility of new taxes.
Patrick: "People hate to pay taxes, but I think they hate broken roads and unplowed streets and failing schools even more."
Yeah, especially when the taxes aren't used for that, they are used as handouts to rich Hollywood folk, Wall Street, corporate and lottery favorites, golf courses, overpriced contracts to favored clients, primo tickets to the games, or TAXPAYER BAILOUTS for BANKS!!!!
So what? The governor is eating just fine, thank you!
Also see: The Big Pit
Critics also say that under Patrick the state is relying too heavily on borrowing -- including $1 billion, 10-year life sciences bill, a 10-year, $2.2 billion higher education bill and a a $3.5 billion transportation bond bill.
Yeah, I've noticed that, too!!!
Patrick and Beacon Hill lawmakers may have a much bigger tax headache in November if Massachusetts voters approve a ballot question to eliminate the state income tax. If the question passes, Massachusetts would be looking at a loss of 40 percent of its annual revenues -- a huge hit that would leave leaders scrambling to slash spending and find new revenues.
Yeah, I would expect the agenda-pushing Globe to minimize that particular remedy for this state.
Please read: The Boston Globe and Taxachusetts
Patrick has called the question "a dumb idea."
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I'm not going to type what I think of him, readers.
I think I just found out where the health $$$ is going to come from.
It's amazing here in Massachusetts: its corporate giveaways, bank pay-offs for the Big Pit, and party time for the political and economic elite. Screw the rest of us. This state is a dump.
And yet here is the Globe, keeping its pro-tax (so they don't have to pay) agenda-push roaring full tilt. I had never notived it until last year, and you can thank Ron Paul and his book for that.
