Will Brownsberger — State Senator, Democrat, 2d Suffolk and Middlesex District

I left David Chase and Jim Sloman know that I liked this article on pro-growth economic policies and asked for their comments and they had the exchange reproduced below. As a state representative, I focus on matters of state policy and especially on those matters of state policy where there is some potential for action. [...]

There’s been a bit of press about the drive to repeal the sales tax on alcohol. Personally, I’m not crazy about paying an extra $1.25 on a case of Harpoon IPA. I have some questions (which I can’t find answers to on the state web site) and a suggestion. Questions: What other taxes are there [...]

We passed the conference committee report this week. It now goes to the Governor’s desk for review.

I would support this law change if it were subject to a vote of the people consistent with the spirit of Proposition 2.5. As written right now, there is no such provision for a local electoral vote and I expect to vote against the change. I will make my final decision after listening to debate on the floor.

Last week, I voted with a surprisingly small minority to curtail the state’s film tax credit, which was expanded under the leadership of former speaker Sal DiMasi. Mike Widmer, the President of the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, has stated that “All the evidence shows that it is a very costly tax credit with minimal economic impact, [...]

While on a trip to NH to look for a “new address” I stopped at BJ’s Wholesale in Nashua. I actually had a hard time finding a NH license plate! 8 out of 10 were MA Plates doing there shopping in tax free NH! Nashua was PACKED! all those people with jobs catering to MA [...]

Keep up the good work. The tax that makes sense to me is increasing gas taxes and spending the money on, in priority order:  expanded mass transit (this helps drivers too by reducing congestion and wear and tear on the road), roads and bridges.  Making gas more expensive makes sense from a global warming perspective.  [...]

I was disappointed to read in the Belmont Citizen-Herald that you are proposing a bill to raise taxes on those making more than $140,000 per year to 7.5% per annum. In these economically difficult times, I believe that the state should be looking for ways to decrease taxes in order to encourage more business expansion. [...]

“I personally remain prepared to go further and increase the gas tax to better fund both roads and transit infrastructure.” You voted for the sales tax, you voted to Tax the Tax on beer and wine(ya that’s right! you taxed a tax!) What won’t you tax? Should I just sign over my check to you? [...]

Will the legislature reverse this rediculous sales tax increase once they realize they have caused the loss of jobs? as long as they get the free lunches, per diem’s, staff that (publiuc has no right to know about) 2010 , I hope the people of massachusetts say ENOUGH !

The legislature balanced the Fiscal 2010 budget primarily through program cuts and cost-savings, with important help from the federal government and with limited reliance on new revenues and rainy day fund usage.

Final passage of a landmark transportation reform bill, with a bipartisan vote of 130 to 25 in the  House today, signals an end to decades of costly balkanization of our transportation infrastructure.  I voted in favor –  nothing so controversial and complex can be perfect, but it is a very good bill. 

The House just voted it’s local aid resolution.  Based on the sales tax vote taken yesterday, the House was able to allocate an additional $205 million to local aid.   See figures here for Arlington, Belmont and Cambridge.

Even with the sales tax increase, the budget will sustain deep cuts and Massachusetts will have a roughly average tax burden compared to other states. The increase will fund local aid, Big Dig debt and limited restorations of key programs.

Pension reform is probably the most fundamental and controversial among the reforms on the agenda this year.  Now seated on the Public Service Committee, I expect to give this area quite a bit of my own attention.

Our mantra in the legislature this spring is “Reform before Revenue.”

A proposal to raise the personal income tax exemption and simultaneously raise the rate — so as to make the income tax more progressive — has merit, but it is not politically viable at this time.

An outline of the financial issues that will be front and center throughout the coming legislative session.

Most feedback to me has been overwhelmingly supportive of the gas tax — simple, fairer than high tolls, environmentally sound, definitely needed, a broad-based mechanism to fund a broadly-used commonwealth asset.

A conversation is developing about the gas tax and also about how to protect low and middle-income tax payers from additional financial stress.