Perhaps the main things to underline at this stage are: (a) nothing at all is settled yet about the budget, reform or revenue; (b) all the major players endorse the principle of reform before revenue and are trying to do the right thing.
Budget
budget and local aid updates, community preservation act, financial outlook, local aid policy, priorities/requests, resources, revenue, taxes
Quinn bill — police educational incentives
I have been contacted by a number of folks about the Quinn bill — the police education incentive — on both sides of the issue. Today the House voted to compromise and to fund the incentive, but at a reduced state contribution level. I supported the compromise.
Voting for a sales tax increase
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.
Education stimulus funding proposal — tentative
The Governor’s announcement today of an allocation of stimulus funds for education was good news for Belmont and Arlington (not for Cambridge).
Fiscal 2010 Budget Priorities
Letter to Charlie Murphy, the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, outlining my state budget priorities.
Income tax reform
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.