Excuses Over the Border For Raising Taxes

For almost thirty years, lucky Massachusetts has had Proposition Two and a Half.
But it can be overridden by voters on the local level. On Sunday, Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr highlighted some justifications offered to elicit “yes” votes in advance of Brookline’s override ballot two days ago.

A snooty editorial writer for a local newspaper instructed the great unwashed as to how little money the Brookline hacks want to extract from workingmen:
“That difference of $110 a year is less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee per week.”
* * *
Barbara Anderson of Citizens for Limited Taxation, the best source for information about these votes, notes a new trend this year: raising the ominous specter of teen crime waves if, say, the high school chess club is eliminated.
“The kids may get lost and turn to destructive behavior,” wrote a woman from Ashland. “The crime threat to all citizens will increase.”

And my favorite, a euphemistic update of an oldie but a goodie:

The hacks used to say they needed to pick your pockets “for the children.” That’s become a cliche, although in Beverly they’ve tried to work around it. The override is no longer for the children, it’s for “our youngest citizens.”

While Brookline’s override passed, Chip Faulkner, Associate Director of Citizens for Limited Taxation indicated this afternoon that most Prop Two and a Half override ballots have failed. He cited as the cause voter anger over ever increasing taxes and over the generosity of public sector benefits.
The beauty of Prop Two and a Half is that permission for a property tax increase over 2.5% must be obtained from those responsible for the bill. Contrast with Rhode Island, where the increase threshold is higher and, worse, authority to cross it does not vest with taxpayers.

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George
George
16 years ago

One of the main reasons I’ve just about given up hope with RI is that after the General Assembly thumbed their noses at the people’s overwhelming support for voter initiative, the voters still voted the arrogant, no-good ………. back in.

OldTimeLefty
16 years ago

George,
Did it ever occur to you, as evidenced by the ballot box, that you are in a very loud minority. You are the one who expresses arrogance when you imply that somehow the election result was opposed to the popular will. You can write all you’d like in these blogs, and you can talk it up on the radio, but the results are what they are, your name calling notwithstanding.
OldTimelefty

rhode
rhode
16 years ago

George, I just hope you’re not one of those “Oh, they’re all a bunch of crooks…but not MY guy” voters. That’s how all the crooks keep getting re-elected.

Mike
Mike
16 years ago

You are right Old Time Commie and with today’s calamitious budget update the people will reap the whirlwind.

OldTimeLefty
16 years ago

Mike,
You have resorted to name calling again instead of presenting an argument. Unsubstantiated charge. Unsubstantiated assertion. What you freely state I just as freely deny.
Now go to your room.
Your fellow travelling U.S. citizen and U.S. Army veteran.
OldTimeLefty

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