Actually, it would be wonderful if all tax increases would affect lawmakers 1 term before the public...

I am SO, so glad that I fanally left MA and moved to NH. Now, what do I get? A Democratic NH legislature talking about an income tax.

Here in Oregon, there's an annual rebate of sorts that's sent back to people and businesses. But there's no "rainy day" or backup savings for lean years. This year the business community offered to forgo the rebate if the State would only use that money to establish the Rainy Day fund. Our mostly Democratic legislature couldn't even agree to accept this funding. They're still trying to figure out a way to be fiscally responsible.

Let it be known that from this day forward, all legislation passed by the Congress and Senate will affect said houses to the degree of ten times the effect on the broad populace. This effect will remain permanent.

I agree that the idea of having a "future tax increase" be optional, and then watch who chooses the option, is a good one. Of course, I still think Texas does it better by having no state income tax. But I would be willing to see legislation considered for designating where people can send checks if they really feel the lack of a state income tax. The only problem is that we have our political culture so finely tuned to the idea that a politician who proposes a state income tax will not be asked to serve again after the next election that I wouldn't want to upset the balance.

Jay is just OBSESSED with Massachusetts. Its some kind of unhealthy preoccupation. I spent time in Mass and even lived there for a couple years, I didn't get the same impression he does. Much of the rural areas are die hard conservatives. There're not all marching in lockstep with Karl Marx.

"I spent time in Mass and even lived there for a couple years, I didn't get the same impression he does. Much of the rural areas are die hard conservatives. There're not all marching in lockstep with Karl Marx."

Consider yourself lucky Richard, I have lived in mASS my whole life, and "conservatives" what few are left I agree, ARE in rural west.
Jay's posts om mASS should be a WARNING to the rest of America, what will happen if loony friggan liberals get complete control of government. They will MANDATE and TAX your ass's to death while criminals will kill and steal what little you have kept.
Make no mistake mASS. is the WORST joke of a state in the country, and the proof will become clearer once Gov. Coup Deval starts enacting some of his lefty plans.

Liberals are greedy. This is news?

Voters overwhelmingly pass 5%. they get 5.3. this is a victory?

I've lived in MA my whole life and I can tell you that it is an overstatement to portray MA as ultra-liberal. There are certainly a lot of Liberal people in MA and they are the majority, but if you listen to the radio and talk to people on the streets, you will hear and see a large number of conservative people.

I think the thing about MA is that it is very socially liberal, and the conservatives in the area tend to be liberal with their societal ideas. MA is probably 50/50 when it comes to money, which is why we have had so many republican governors.

The sad fact is that MA gets only 80 cents back from every tax dollar it sends to Washington. Most red states, on the other hand, get more than they send to Washington - MA pays welfare to the red states in other words.

Hence an equally good suggestion would be for all those red states to simply refuse to take MA's money. With that extra 25% returned from Washington, MA would be able to avoid income tax altogether, without slashing any benefits! A win-win solution - red states would get the low taxes they love, and MA wouldn't have to pay local tax and still enjoy all their benefits.

Of course, if the red states still wanted the money, they could, um, volunteer to pay it themselves.