Representative Don Humason



YOU DON’T GET IT April 25, 2009 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. On Monday, April 27, the House of Representatives will begin debating the version of the state budget proposed by the House Committee on Ways and Means for the fiscal year that begins July 1. It is an austere budget. It is some $500 million less than Governor Patrick’s budget proposed just 3 months ago. It is some $1.5 billion less than the FY 2009 state budget passed a year ago. In essence, it reflects the times and economy that we in the Bay State find ourselves in. It is thin, it is stark, it is necessary. As I related in my column last week, Clichés, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee stated, “Tax receipts are down drastically, the federal stimulus money, while welcome and helpful, is fleeting, our FY10 consensus revenue forecast risks being downgraded, and our rainy day fund balance is alarmingly low. Additionally, we must realize the choices we make today will have a great impact upon the decisions we will be forced to make in FY11 and FY12. The next few weeks will not be easy for us, or for the people we represent. It is my hope, however, that through our collective efforts we will be able to craft a budget that is a true representation of the will of the body, and in the long-term best interests of the Commonwealth.” Unfortunately, after a week of reviewing the 1,003 amendments filed by many of my fellow representatives, I have to shake my head and say to them, “You just don’t get it!” A dozen or so of my colle agues filed 22 amendments to the budget that increase taxes. Obviously they are unaware of the rising unemployment rate in the Commonwealth, the number of Massachusetts businesses downsizing or shuttering their doors, the report of the International Monetary Fund that said the global economy was going to shrink this year. They must never have heard the old clichés that “what goes up must come down” and “you can’t get blood from a stone.” In the face of the longest, deepest, worst recession since the Great Depression, my well-intentioned friends filed amendments that raise the sales tax, the income tax, the meals tax, the hotel tax, the corporate tax, a sales tax on services, a tax on beer, a tax on candy, soft drinks, smokeless tobacco products, internet sales, and internet banking. Whew! Oh, I just remembered a cliché I didn’t use last week: “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” And don’t for a second think any of these taxes will be “temporary.” Remember the last time the Legislature raised taxes during an emergency and promised to reduce the tax as soon as the economy improved? Yeah, taxpayers are still paying 5.3% in state income tax and waiting for that promised rollback to 5%. Look, I appreciate that taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society. I really do. And I certainly respect and appreciate the dozens of constituents who have contacted my office this past week asking me to sign on to amendments that raise taxes or restore cuts that were made in the Ways and Means version. I wish I could promise that I will vote for every amendment or earmark. I wish I could promise we can find the money somewhere. It would be so much easier than saying no. But my fellow legislators and I swore an oath when we started the legislative session to uphold the state Constitution. That Constitution requires us to pass a balanced budget. I take my oath seriously. < span style="color: black">Finally, I know what it’s like to sit around the kitchen table with my checkbook trying to pay the bills and make ends meet. My wife has been out of work for 6 weeks. As taxpayers, we sometimes have to find creative ways to pay our bills or we have to cut our expenses to match our income. The Commonwealth should do the same. W hen times are good and revenue is coming in we can expand the budget and provide programs and services that are not essential. But in the rare times when revenues shrink elected officials need to be responsible and live within their means, just as the people we represent must do. I’ll do my best next week during the House budget debate to fight for my district and for the taxpayer, to keep my oath, and do the difficult albeit responsible thing. Thank you for your understanding and support. Good luck to us all. * * * 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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YOU DON’T GET IT

April 25, 2009

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

On Monday, April 27, the House of Representatives will begin debating the version of the state budget proposed by the House Committee on Ways and Means for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

It is an austere budget. It is some $500 million less than Governor Patrick’s budget proposed just 3 months ago. It is some $1.5 billion less than the FY 2009 state budget passed a year ago. In essence, it reflects the times and economy that we in the Bay State find ourselves in. It is thin, it is stark, it is necessary.

As I related in my column last week, Clichés, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee stated, “Tax receipts are down drastically, the federal stimulus money, while welcome and helpful, is fleeting, our FY10 consensus revenue forecast risks being downgraded, and our rainy day fund balance is alarmingly low. Additionally, we must realize the choices we make today will have a great impact upon the decisions we will be forced to make in FY11 and FY12. The next few weeks will not be easy for us, or for the people we represent. It is my hope, however, that through our collective efforts we will be able to craft a budget that is a true representation of the will of the body, and in the long-term best interests of the Commonwealth.”

Unfortunately, after a week of reviewing the 1,003 amendments filed by many of my fellow representatives, I have to shake my head and say to them, “You just don’t get it!”

A dozen or so of my colle agues filed 22 amendments to the budget that increase taxes.

Obviously they are unaware of the rising unemployment rate in the Commonwealth, the number of Massachusetts businesses downsizing or shuttering their doors, the report of the International Monetary Fund that said the global economy was going to shrink this year. They must never have heard the old clichés that “what goes up must come down” and “you can’t get blood from a stone.”

In the face of the longest, deepest, worst recession since the Great Depression, my well-intentioned friends filed amendments that raise the sales tax, the income tax, the meals tax, the hotel tax, the corporate tax, a sales tax on services, a tax on beer, a tax on candy, soft drinks, smokeless tobacco products, internet sales, and internet banking. Whew!

Oh, I just remembered a cliché I didn’t use last week: “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” And don’t for a second think any of these taxes will be “temporary.” Remember the last time the Legislature raised taxes during an emergency and promised to reduce the tax as soon as the economy improved? Yeah, taxpayers are still paying 5.3% in state income tax and waiting for that promised rollback to 5%.

Look, I appreciate that taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society. I really do. And I certainly respect and appreciate the dozens of constituents who have contacted my office this past week asking me to sign on to amendments that raise taxes or restore cuts that were made in the Ways and Means version.

I wish I could promise that I will vote for every amendment or earmark. I wish I could promise we can find the money somewhere. It would be so much easier than saying no. But my fellow legislators and I swore an oath when we started the legislative session to uphold the state Constitution. That Constitution requires us to pass a balanced budget. I take my oath seriously.

< span style="color: black">Finally, I know what it’s like to sit around the kitchen table with my checkbook trying to pay the bills and make ends meet. My wife has been out of work for 6 weeks. As taxpayers, we sometimes have to find creative ways to pay our bills or we have to cut our expenses to match our income. The Commonwealth should do the same.

W hen times are good and revenue is coming in we can expand the budget and provide programs and services that are not essential. But in the rare times when revenues shrink elected officials need to be responsible and live within their means, just as the people we represent must do.

I’ll do my best next week during the House budget debate to fight for my district and for the taxpayer, to keep my oath, and do the difficult albeit responsible thing. Thank you for your understanding and support. Good luck to us all.

* * *

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