Representative Don Humason



MORE ABOUT TAXES By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. February 28, 2009 The outcry against Governor Patrick’s proposal to increase the Massachusetts gas tax by 19 cents a gallon has been nearly universal. Equally egregious, according to many of you who have contacted me is his plan to imbed a microchip in your motor vehicle inspection sticker to track the miles you drive in the Bay State. I thought about that this week when I went to have my truck inspected at Cory DeGray’s garage.& nbsp; (Just a reminder, check your inspection stickers to make sure yours doesn’t expire. Inspections cost $29, but the penalty for driving an uninspected motor vehicle is much higher.) How “Big Brother is watching” of the Governor to propose tracking our movement around the state for the purpose of charging us more in taxes and fees. Just so you know, it’s not a done deal yet. The Governor still has to file his proposal as a piece of legislation. Then it goes through the legi slative committee process and before both the House and Senate. Governor Patrick already warned legislators this week that he would veto any bill that didn’t contain a high enough gas tax increase to meet the needs of Massachusetts as he sees them What can you do? Well first, thanks for letting me know how you feel. Tell your friends and family outside of Westfield to call their Senators and Representatives as well. I also suggest you call Governor Patrick’s office directly at 413-784-1200. Tell his aides how you feel as a Western Massachusetts resident and motorist that he wants to increase your gas tax to help the MBTA and Boston drivers with their tolls. I would also ask you to call Speaker Bob DeLeo’s office directly. His number is 617-722-2500. Since the Governor’s bill will have to go through the House first, let Speaker DeLeo’s office know why you think a gas tax increase would hurt the economy. The Joint Committee on Transportation is holding 4 public hearings across the state on the proposed transportation reform bills, including the gas tax increase. The first hearing is next Wednesday, March 4, at 4PM at Springfield Technical Community College. As a member of the Transportation Committee I intend to be at that hearing unless the House of Representatives is meeting in a formal session. I invite you to attend and testify. By the way, the Republican State Party held an anti-tax rally in front of the State House this week to protest this. They reported that there seems to be some disagreement between the Governor and Speaker on this issue. Governor Patrick is on record as saying "There is no way - let me be unambiguous - there is no way that the citizens of Massachusetts are going to pay or I'm going to permit both a toll increase and a gas tax increase." While the Speaker is on record saying "I think it has to be a combination of both." On Thursday, the House and Senate Republican legislators held an anti-tax increase press conference in front of the House Chamber, calling attention to the host of tax and fee increases the Governor is seeking rather than cutting and reforming state government first. Speaking of taxes, the Commissioner of Revenu e has announced the 2009 tax amnesty program created by a vote of the Legislature. The program will begin March 1, 2009 and end April 30, 2009. This program will allow taxpayers to pay previous unpaid taxes and interest, while the penalties will be waived. This program is for taxpayers who have an unpaid and previously self-assessed tax liability for personal income tax, personal use tax and/or cigarette excise (pertaining to purchases for individual consumption.) This program does not include taxpayers who were the subject of a tax-related criminal prosecution or investigation or taxpayers who have signed a settlement agreement with the DOR. Taxpayers will be notified if they are eligible to participate in this program. Eligible taxpayers who make a full payment of all tax and interest due under the Amnesty Program for a particular tax type and tax period will be granted amnesty for unpaid penalties associated with such period. Additional information about this limited Amnesty Program is available on DOR’s website at www.mass.gov/dor or by calling toll free within Massachusetts at 1-800-392-6089. * * * 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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MORE ABOUT TAXES

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

February 28, 2009

The outcry against Governor Patrick’s proposal to increase the Massachusetts gas tax by 19 cents a gallon has been nearly universal. Equally egregious, according to many of you who have contacted me is his plan to imbed a microchip in your motor vehicle inspection sticker to track the miles you drive in the Bay State.

I thought about that this week when I went to have my truck inspected at Cory DeGray’s garage.& nbsp; (Just a reminder, check your inspection stickers to make sure yours doesn’t expire. Inspections cost $29, but the penalty for driving an uninspected motor vehicle is much higher.) How “Big Brother is watching” of the Governor to propose tracking our movement around the state for the purpose of charging us more in taxes and fees.

Just so you know, it’s not a done deal yet. The Governor still has to file his proposal as a piece of legislation. Then it goes through the legi slative committee process and before both the House and Senate. Governor Patrick already warned legislators this week that he would veto any bill that didn’t contain a high enough gas tax increase to meet the needs of Massachusetts as he sees them

What can you do? Well first, thanks for letting me know how you feel. Tell your friends and family outside of Westfield to call their Senators and Representatives as well. I also suggest you call Governor Patrick’s office directly at 413-784-1200. Tell his aides how you feel as a Western Massachusetts resident and motorist that he wants to increase your gas tax to help the MBTA and Boston drivers with their tolls.

I would also ask you to call Speaker Bob DeLeo’s office directly. His number is 617-722-2500. Since the Governor’s bill will have to go through the House first, let Speaker DeLeo’s office know why you think a gas tax increase would hurt the economy.

The Joint Committee on Transportation is holding 4 public hearings across the state on the proposed transportation reform bills, including the gas tax increase. The first hearing is next Wednesday, March 4, at 4PM at Springfield Technical Community College. As a member of the Transportation Committee I intend to be at that hearing unless the House of Representatives is meeting in a formal session. I invite you to attend and testify.

By the way, the Republican State Party held an anti-tax rally in front of the State House this week to protest this. They reported that there seems to be some disagreement between the Governor and Speaker on this issue.

Governor Patrick is on record as saying "There is no way - let me be unambiguous - there is no way that the citizens of Massachusetts are going to pay or I'm going to permit both a toll increase and a gas tax increase." While the Speaker is on record saying "I think it has to be a combination of both."

On Thursday, the House and Senate Republican legislators held an anti-tax increase press conference in front of the House Chamber, calling attention to the host of tax and fee increases the Governor is seeking rather than cutting and reforming state government first.

Speaking of taxes, the Commissioner of Revenu e has announced the 2009 tax amnesty program created by a vote of the Legislature. The program will begin March 1, 2009 and end April 30, 2009. This program will allow taxpayers to pay previous unpaid taxes and interest, while the penalties will be waived.

This program is for taxpayers who have an unpaid and previously self-assessed tax liability for personal income tax, personal use tax and/or cigarette excise (pertaining to purchases for individual consumption.)

This program does not include taxpayers who were the subject of a tax-related criminal prosecution or investigation or taxpayers who have signed a settlement agreement with the DOR. Taxpayers will be notified if they are eligible to participate in this program.

Eligible taxpayers who make a full payment of all tax and interest due under the Amnesty Program for a particular tax type and tax period will be granted amnesty for unpaid penalties associated with such period.

Additional information about this limited Amnesty Program is available on DOR’s website at www.mass.gov/dor or by calling toll free within Massachusetts at 1-800-392-6089.

* * *

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