Boston – The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance released the following statement in response to legislation in Michigan that would subject both legislators and the Governor’s office to the state’s public records laws.

The bipartisan proposal has the support of leadership and is currently working its way through the legislative process.  If signed into law, Massachusetts would be isolated as the last state in the country that excludes both the legislature and Governor’s office from Freedom of Information Act requests. For more on Michigan, click here.

Massachusetts Employers Need to Feel Biden’s Love

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance released the following statement in response to former Vice President Joe Biden and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh joining a Stop and Shop picket line in Dorchester today.

“As millions of Massachusetts taxpayers pay their taxes this week, it would be more appropriate for Mayor Walsh and Vice President Biden to show some warm feelings toward our state’s employers, rather than just joining the picket line. The Vice President should make time to meet with employers. It’s a great opportunity for an elected official to figuratively give our employer community a warm embrace,” stated Paul D. Craney, spokesperson of MassFiscal.

On Tax Day – Taxpayers Are Reminded of the Airbnb Tax

Taxpayers Will Be Hit With a New Tax This Summer, Passed Without Roll Call Vote

Boston – Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance (MassFiscal) released the following statement today on April 15, Tax Day. As thousands of individuals across the Commonwealth are forced to cut checks to the government, it’s important to be mindful of tax hikes that may still be coming down the pipeline from our legislative leaders in the months to come.
 
The Governor’s budget was proposed in February, and it included a sprinkling of new and higher taxes including a new tax on opioids as well as applying the cigarette tax to vaping products. The Governor proposed increasing the real estate excise tax (stamp tax), and MassFiscal advocacy to communicate with thousands of constituents across the state to successfully stop it. While these seemed like low hanging fruit for the House to include in their budget, they decided to play coy. Speaker Bob DeLeo stated that“further action” wouldn’t be taken on taxes until later in the year.