Some fees and taxes would increase steadily under Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to boost revenue.
Additional details have been revealed in Gov. Deval Patrick’s plan to increase state revenue, according to the Boston Globe. The plan, unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 16, is intended to help for the state’s crumbling public transit system and early childhood education. TAX CHANGES For more details on the plan, visit the Boston Globe story.
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Tell us: do you think Massachusetts needs to increase taxes to strengthen education and transportation?
In his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night, Gov. Deval Patrick proposed raising the state's income tax by a full percentage point and lowering the sales tax to pay for $2 billion worth of transportation improvements and early childhood education programs. "There is no good time to raise taxes. I know how tough the times have been on the people and families of the Commonwealth. And though the worst of the recession is over, many, many families still face tough decisions and have deep anxiety about the future. I would not ask if I did not believe in my heart that investing meaningfully today in education and transportation will significantly improve our economic tomorrows," Patrick said. Patrick said he wanted a more fair and…
The governor unveiled legislation Wednesday to strengthen gun laws in Massachusetts while increasing funding for mental health services. Sensible or reactionary?
Are new proposed laws regarding guns in Massachusetts and mental health services sensible and pragmatic steps, or reactionary measures that won't increase safety? Gov. Deval Patrick introduced new legislation Wednesday along those lines in the wake of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn. "I am encouraged by the palpable consensus in our Legislature that the time for action is now. All of us must pull in the same direction to bring about real change in this state and across the country," Patrick said in a press release. The bill would, among other things: Punishments for crimes involving guns would also sharpen, with tiered punishments for possessing different weapons on school property and giving police the authority to arrest without…
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10:30 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Don't forget more prisons. a 50 thousand bed facility would suit me. more ›
Where and when to watch or listen to the Massachusetts governor's annual address tonight.
I would suspect that the governor's annual State of the State address is not, usually, a TV ratings champ. But tonight's speech, which starts at 7:30 p.m., may attract more viewers and listeners than usual. Why? Since it happens on the heels of Gov. Deval Patrick saying he wants to raise $1 billion by hiking the Massachusetts income tax. So you may want to watch tonight. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: CBS ABC NBC NECN Streamed live on boston.com Streamed live on http://www.malegislature.gov/ If you know of other websites, TV stations or radio stations carrying the State of the State live, please add them to the comment section below.
7:31 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
No--the education money will go to failing schools. It always does. It doesn't matter how obvious it is that more money isn't the solution. more ›
Asked about toll fairness during a Patch live chat, Governor Deval Patrick asked a reader whether he'd support high-speed tolls. Are these a good way to share the transportation funding pain, or another money grab?
Are high-speed tolls along Interstate 93 and other highways a smart way to help fund transportation in the state? Governor Deval Patrick mentioned such a system during a Patch live chat on Thursday. If you've gone up Interstate 95 into New Hampshire, you've seen high-speed tolling in action. The system is designed to read your EZ-Pass (new Fast Lane) transponder while you breeze by at 65 miles per hour. There's no need to slow down or squeeze though a booth, as EZ-Pass users currently do on the Mass Pike, Tobin Bridge and harbor tunnels. The chat moved on to other topics, so no details about implementation were offered. What do you think? Would tolls along I-93 offer some fairness to riders in Boston, MetroWest and North Shore, who all …
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1:10 pm on Saturday, November 24, 2012
What is happening to all the taxes we are already paying for roads and bridges? more ›
Fairness of Mass Pike tolls and how to keep tech skills in-state were also among topics touched on in Patch's live chat today with Gov. Patrick.
Governor Deval Patrick is answering your questions now! To join the chat, enter your name and question in the widget above. We will try to get to as many questions as we can within the allotted 45 minutes, but can't guarantee every question will make it into the chat.
1:16 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
What a fascinating question. I'll add it to the list and see if we can get you an answer. more ›
Gov. Deval Patrick speaks with Patch readers live at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. What questions do you want him to answer?
If you could ask Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick one question, what would it be? Patrick will join Patch Thursday at 1:30 p.m. for a live chat with readers. Now's your chance to ask the executive of the commonwealth your question about casinos, the Jamaica Plain crime lab, the economy, elections or whatever else you want to know. Can't make it to the live chat? Leave your questions for Patrick in the comments to have them considered for the live Q&A session. We'll be sure to ask about the most popular topics when we chat Thursday. To join Thursday's chat, head on over to at 1:30 p.m., and check out a recap on Friday.
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Ask Gov. Deval Patrick about any topic you like during our live chat at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Gov. Deval Patrick will take your questions live on Patch this Thursday. The governor will spend 45 minutes fielding your questions as they come. Head on over to our homepage from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Thursday to join our chat. You'll simply have to provide your name, and you'll be able to ask your questions immediately. If you can't make the live chat, leave your questions as comments to this article, and we'll do our best to add them to the queue. We will publish the live chat transcript immediately and a recap first thing on Friday morning. Questions submitted will be subject to moderator approval. No vulgar or libelous comments will be allowed. Because we expect a high volume of questions for the chat session, we will keep the …
The governor on Saturday sent the anti-crime bill back to the Legislature.
Gov. Deval Patrick set in motion a wave of criticism when he vetoed the popular "three strikes" crime bill on the grounds that it lacked sufficient provisions for judicial discretion. Warning of possible unintended "unjust consequences" that can arise from mandatory sentencing laws, Patrick wrote in a letter to the Legislature, "None of us is wise or prescient enough to foresee each and every circumstance in which the new habitual offender provisions may apply." On Monday afternoon, the House rejected Patrick's amendment by a vote of 132-23, according to The Boston Globe. Patrick has not indicated whether he would veto a bill that doesn't have the amendment. Critics accuse Patrick of vetoing a good anti-crime bill by asking for …
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Did your kids wear black today? Do you think this is an effective practice?
Gov. Deval Patrick announced in early January that he had designated Jan. 25 as "No Name-Calling Day." The event, according to a press release from the governor's office, fulfills a provision of anti-bullying legislation signed by Patrick in 2010. The idea of the day is to have students wear black to symbolize efforts to "Black Out Bullying," but Boston Herald columnist Michael Graham finds the whole idea of the day to be ridiculous, going so far as to say "only here [Massachusetts] could a single government edict result in so much public embarrassment." "Does anyone really believe a politician can stop school kids from calling each other [EDITED]? Or [EDITED] or even [CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED AS A HATE CRIME]?" Graham writes. He goes …
Michael Fleming
1:13 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Please notice Patricks phraseology: "invest in the future". First the word "invest". It sort of sounds like a person socking money away for a rainy day huh? That is always a good strategy. Sound money management, judicious use of your hard earned money, right? One "invests" their money for a reward later on, like retirement or for a college fund. Thing is, it isn't that at all. It's another word … more ›