Representative Don Humason



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2008 Contact Rep. Don Humason, Jr., cell (413) 204-4917 REP. HUMASON CRITICAL OF GOVERNOR’S BUDGET; SAYS OUTSIDE SECTION 17 WILL HURT BARNES AIRPORT, COST STATE JOBS Don Humason, Westfield’s State Representative, criticized the Patrick Administration for their proposal to repeal an exemption on sales tax of airplanes and airplane parts. “I was reviewing Governor Patrick’s House 2 budget for FY 2009 when I came upon outside section 17 that would undo what my predecessor, Representative Cele Hahn, and Senator Mike Knapik worked so hard to pass seven years ago in Ch. 177, Section 19 & 19A, Acts of 2001,” Humason said. Humason, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Aviation Caucus with Marlborough Representative Steve LeDuc, represents Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield. He also serves on the Transportation Committee. “Airports like Barnes, Westover, and the nearly 38 public and private-public-use airports across the state were losing the extremely mobile aircraft industry and general aviation business left and right until this exemption on aircraft and aircraft sales taxes was passed,” Humason said. “Then, Fixed Base Operators (FBO’s) and businesses that catered to pilots and aviation related industries began to flourish in Massachusetts.” He points to the growth and expansion of businesses at or around Barnes Airport, like Gary Potts’ Airflyte, Inc. or Five Star Jet Center as an example. He continued, “To a pilot, Massachusetts is a pretty small state. If our tax policies create a disincentive to buy aircraft or aircraft parts here, pilots will just fly over the Bay State and go to any one of our nearby neighboring states to do business. And they take the revenue and jobs with them.” “Governor Patrick claims his administration is focused on economic development for the state and job growth. Well, this outside section in his budget will repeal a tool that has proven to be successful to bringing new jobs, high-paying, skilled jobs to Westfield and the Commonwealth.” Humason pledged to work to help educate the new governor and his staff about the economic damage this section could do if passed; and he indicated he would work with House budget writers to make sure that section would not be in the House version of the FY ’09 budget. He will enlist the assistance of Senator Mike Knapik, Barnes Airport Manager Christopher Willenborg, the WMass Economic Development Council, the Massachusetts Airport Managers Association, and the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission. + + + Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2008
Contact Rep. Don Humason, Jr., cell (413) 204-4917

REP. HUMASON CRITICAL OF GOVERNOR’S BUDGET;
SAYS OUTSIDE SECTION 17 WILL HURT BARNES AIRPORT, COST STATE JOBS

Don Humason, Westfield’s State Representative, criticized the Patrick Administration for their proposal to repeal an exemption on sales tax of airplanes and airplane parts.

“I was reviewing Governor Patrick’s House 2 budget for FY 2009 when I came upon outside section 17 that would undo what my predecessor, Representative Cele Hahn, and Senator Mike Knapik worked so hard to pass seven years ago in Ch. 177, Section 19 & 19A, Acts of 2001,” Humason said.

Humason, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Aviation Caucus with Marlborough Representative Steve LeDuc, represents Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield. He also serves on the Transportation Committee.

“Airports like Barnes, Westover, and the nearly 38 public and private-public-use airports across the state were losing the extremely mobile aircraft industry and general aviation business left and right until this exemption on aircraft and aircraft sales taxes was passed,” Humason said. “Then, Fixed Base Operators (FBO’s) and businesses that catered to pilots and aviation related industries began to flourish in Massachusetts.” He points to the growth and expansion of businesses at or around Barnes Airport, like Gary Potts’ Airflyte, Inc. or Five Star Jet Center as an example.

He continued, “To a pilot, Massachusetts is a pretty small state. If our tax policies create a disincentive to buy aircraft or aircraft parts here, pilots will just fly over the Bay State and go to any one of our nearby neighboring states to do business. And they take the revenue and jobs with them.”

“Governor Patrick claims his administration is focused on economic development for the state and job growth. Well, this outside section in his budget will repeal a tool that has proven to be successful to bringing new jobs, high-paying, skilled jobs to Westfield and the Commonwealth.”

Humason pledged to work to help educate the new governor and his staff about the economic damage this section could do if passed; and he indicated he would work with House budget writers to make sure that section would not be in the House version of the FY ’09 budget.

He will enlist the assistance of Senator Mike Knapik, Barnes Airport Manager Christopher Willenborg, the WMass Economic Development Council, the Massachusetts Airport Managers Association, and the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission.

+ + +

Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group