The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance made the following statement in response to early morning news that Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka, along with the legislative leaders, were unwilling to pass their modest economic development bill, despite extending their legislative session several hours past the midnight deadline.

The economic development bill contained some very basic tax relief measures. Democratic legislative leaders were unwilling to act due to potential taxpayer relief stemming from a 1986 referendum championed by Citizens for Limited Taxation that could kick back $3 billion or more to taxpayers, compared to the Speaker and Senate President’s failed modest tax relief package of about $1 billion.

“Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka and Democratic leaders have been shooting down tax relief all year despite record tax collections, and this morning they shot down their own tax relief package,” said Paul Diego Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

“Let’s face it, the Speaker and Senate President have never had any record on giving back money to the taxpayers, so early morning news that they failed to act once again should surprise no one. Instead of spending the last few days passing tax relief, they spent them trying to hold onto as much taxpayer money as humanly possible. Despite record tax collections, Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka have proven once again they are so greedy, they rather scrap an entire economic development bill than having to give even a penny more back to taxpayers,” continued Craney.

“Taxpayers should remember this hard lesson come the fall when the Speaker and Senate President have their deceitful tax hike ballot question before the voters. If we cannot even trust them to pass a mild tax relief package despite record tax collections, how can we trust them with raising the income tax by 80 percent on some small businesses and high-income earners? They will always want more,” concluded Craney.