Representative Don Humason



REFORM FIRST! By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. December 20, 2008 I’d like to thank everyone who came to my free ice skating party last Saturday at Amelia Park. I think it was a great event. We had over 300 people of all ages at the party. I’ll definitely do it again next year. The annual Community Carol Sing sponsored by the Westfield Evening News was held this year in honor of recently deceased publisher Carol Mazza. Despite rain showers hundreds of Westfield people showed up Monday night on the Green to sing Christmas Carols accompanied by the Westfield High School Brass Band and their Director Pat Kennedy. As Carol’s daughter described it, “It was just a great slice of Americana.” I’ve been spending more time in Boston than usual this December. We are about to start a new legislative session January 7, 2009 and, unfortunately, despite the endless promises of reform and change, the same old liberals who like to tax and spend are putting up their trial balloons for new taxes and fees. From what I am hearing across Westfield and the Commonwealth, residents are struggling more than ever to make financial ends meet. In the face of a recession, I believe now is exactly the wrong time to increase taxes and the cost of government. We in government need to be coming up with ways to help people with their fiscal burdens instead of making them even heavier. Such is the price we continue to pay for one-party rule in Massachusetts. The State House News Service reported that “Former Governor Michael Dukakis said lawmakers and the Patrick administration should seriously consider repealing a slew of tax breaks enacted in the ’90s, restoring tolls between Worcester and the New York border and implementing a small, annual gas tax hike to help navigate through the difficult economy. “My successors in the Legislature passed 40 different tax cuts, most of which were sold as incentives,” he said. “We basically threw $3 billion in revenue out the window.” The Brookline Democrat, who dealt with his own fiscal crisis in the late 80s, said Massachusetts could be in line for “three, four, five billion dollars” in federal stimulus dollars, and that Governor Deval Patrick should “really push the infrastructure stuff.” Dukakis said a gas tax hike of two cents a year for the next five years – “something so it doesn’t have a huge impact but you at least begin to restore some of what you need” – would be advisable. “I paid a buck fifty-nine for gas the other day,” he said, emphasizing the steep decline in the price of a gallon of gasoline.” I don’t know about you but Governor Dukakis’ words terrify me. Remember his Massachusetts Miracle and the recession he brought on our state in the late 1980’s? I sure do. Nightmare! According to recent media reports, House leaders are working behind closed doors on gas tax increases and turnpike toll legislation in an effort to fix the state's alleged transportation funding deficit, including the likely potential for the turnpike to be burdened with some $450 million in near-term debt payments. This should not be a surprise to anyone who has been watching the mismanagement and overspending of the Turnpike Authority. In response, the authority's board voted earlier this month for the toll increases. Under its plan, the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnel tolls would double to $7 for regular customers and jump from $5.25 to $9 for taxis. Last year the financing commission estimated the funding gap, to maintain current infrastructure without any further reforms or expansion, at up to $20 billion over the next 20 years. Governor Patrick recently argued for toll hikes to support the turnpike's finances and said he was not opposed to hiking the state's gas tax. The governor, who, ironically, was elected two years ago on a message of change, reform and fiscal responsibility, challenged elected officials to consider the long-term funding needs of the state's transportation system rather than piecemeal solutions. In other words, the governor is supporting both increases in tolls AND the gas tax. Long before we consider raising taxes or tolls, I think we must fully examine every budget line item, look for anywhere we can cut spending, and minimize the heightened burden on our taxpayers. Instead of finding ways to save money and make government more efficient and accountable, legislative leaders and the Patrick administration are brainstorming to find ways to raise taxes. This has to stop somewhere; there must be some accountability for the state's financial problems, and that accountability rests with the government, not the taxpayers. My fellow Republicans and I believe we need reform first before taxes. What do you think? * * * Representative Humason and his Legislative Aide Jonelle Gingrich may be reached at his State House office, Room 542. Boston, MA 02133. (617) 722-2803. Representative Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at his Westfield district office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085. (413) 568-1366. Representative Don Humason’s website is www.DonHumason.org
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REFORM FIRST!

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

December 20, 2008

I’d like to thank everyone who came to my free ice skating party last Saturday at Amelia Park. I think it was a great event. We had over 300 people of all ages at the party. I’ll definitely do it again next year.

The annual Community Carol Sing sponsored by the Westfield Evening News was held this year in honor of recently deceased publisher Carol Mazza. Despite rain showers hundreds of Westfield people showed up Monday night on the Green to sing Christmas Carols accompanied by the Westfield High School Brass Band and their Director Pat Kennedy. As Carol’s daughter described it, “It was just a great slice of Americana.”

I’ve been spending more time in Boston than usual this December. We are about to start a new legislative session January 7, 2009 and, unfortunately, despite the endless promises of reform and change, the same old liberals who like to tax and spend are putting up their trial balloons for new taxes and fees.

From what I am hearing across Westfield and the Commonwealth, residents are struggling more than ever to make financial ends meet. In the face of a recession, I believe now is exactly the wrong time to increase taxes and the cost of government.

We in government need to be coming up with ways to help people with their fiscal burdens instead of making them even heavier. Such is the price we continue to pay for one-party rule in Massachusetts.

The State House News Service reported that “Former Governor Michael Dukakis said lawmakers and the Patrick administration should seriously consider repealing a slew of tax breaks enacted in the ’90s, restoring tolls between Worcester and the New York border and implementing a small, annual gas tax hike to help navigate through the difficult economy.

“My successors in the Legislature passed 40 different tax cuts, most of which were sold as incentives,” he said. “We basically threw $3 billion in revenue out the window.” The Brookline Democrat, who dealt with his own fiscal crisis in the late 80s, said Massachusetts could be in line for “three, four, five billion dollars” in federal stimulus dollars, and that Governor Deval Patrick should “really push the infrastructure stuff.” Dukakis said a gas tax hike of two cents a year for the next five years – “something so it doesn’t have a huge impact but you at least begin to restore some of what you need” – would be advisable. “I paid a buck fifty-nine for gas the other day,” he said, emphasizing the steep decline in the price of a gallon of gasoline.”

I don’t know about you but Governor Dukakis’ words terrify me. Remember his Massachusetts Miracle and the recession he brought on our state in the late 1980’s? I sure do. Nightmare!

According to recent media reports, House leaders are working behind closed doors on gas tax increases and turnpike toll legislation in an effort to fix the state's alleged transportation funding deficit, including the likely potential for the turnpike to be burdened with some $450 million in near-term debt payments. This should not be a surprise to anyone who has been watching the mismanagement and overspending of the Turnpike Authority.

In response, the authority's board voted earlier this month for the toll increases. Under its plan, the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnel tolls would double to $7 for regular customers and jump from $5.25 to $9 for taxis. Last year the financing commission estimated the funding gap, to maintain current infrastructure without any further reforms or expansion, at up to $20 billion over the next 20 years.

Governor Patrick recently argued for toll hikes to support the turnpike's finances and said he was not opposed to hiking the state's gas tax. The governor, who, ironically, was elected two years ago on a message of change, reform and fiscal responsibility, challenged elected officials to consider the long-term funding needs of the state's transportation system rather than piecemeal solutions. In other words, the governor is supporting both increases in tolls AND the gas tax.

Long before we consider raising taxes or tolls, I think we must fully examine every budget line item, look for anywhere we can cut spending, and minimize the heightened burden on our taxpayers.

Instead of finding ways to save money and make government more efficient and accountable, legislative leaders and the Patrick administration are brainstorming to find ways to raise taxes. This has to stop somewhere; there must be some accountability for the state's financial problems, and that accountability rests with the government, not the taxpayers.

My fellow Republicans and I believe we need reform first before taxes. What do you think?

* * *

Representative Humason and his Legislative Aide Jonelle Gingrich may be reached at his State House office, Room 542. Boston, MA 02133. (617) 722-2803.
Representative Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at his Westfield district office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085. (413) 568-1366.
Representative Don Humason’s website is www.DonHumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group