In The News

Senate’s chief budget writer increases deficit estimates

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Sep 1 2010

By Jim O'Sullivan, tate House News Service / The Boston Globe

"The spending is only going to get worse, not better, in terms of the underfunding,'' said Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "The caseloads, the pressure's obviously only growing, not lessening.''
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Editorial: Candidates must back changes to municipal health, pensions

Aug 29 2010

The Boston Globe

MASSACHUSETTS CITIES and towns need to get a firmer grip on their costs. Candidates for the Legislature can help by endorsing a slate of reforms proposed by the Massachusetts Taxpayers' Foundation: clear, simple ways to curb excesses in municipal pensions and health care, thereby saving enough money to withstand flat property-tax revenues and cuts in state aid.
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Billions on the ballot

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Aug 23 2010

By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org

The nonpartisan Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation opposes the sales-tax cut measure, citing "dramatic consequences" to the state budget.
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OUR VIEW: Prohibitive premiums — Why should taxpayers pick up the tab?

Aug 22 2010

South Coast Today

The Massachusetts Municipal Association, which represents cities and towns, and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation said they will try to put the issue to a popular vote if the Legislature fails to act next year, but it shouldn't come to that.
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Monthly tax holiday seems a strong sell

Aug 20 2010

By Wayne Woodlief, The Boston Herald

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, was skeptical of the monthly-holiday proposal when I first mentioned it to him. He said the Department of Revenue estimates that last weekend's spree will cost Massachusetts about $20 million in lost taxes and that if it were extended to once a month it could cost an already strapped state $250 million.
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Back for seconds

Aug 15 2010

By Kathy McCabe, The Boston Globe

"The meals tax has shown itself to be an important source of revenue,'' said Michael Widmer, executive director of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a nonprofit that monitors state finances. "I think we'll see more communities look to adopt it. . . . It's largely painless for the taxpayers.''
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Cash-strapped communities trying to confront burgeoning health care costs

Aug 15 2010

By Steve Decosta, South Coast Today

"It's a huge issue," said Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "The benefit is enormously rich and very difficult to change." It isn't just rising premiums that are making it harder for cities and towns; the economy, joblessness and the deterioration of private employers' health care plans play a role, as well.
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SPEARHEADING SWEEPING REFORMS OF THE STATE’S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Aug 9 2010

Governmental Research Association

The Foundation won the GRA's 2010 award for Outstanding Policy Achievement for its vital role in passage of transportation reform. The Foundation was recognized for its efforts beginning in 2004 and culminating in last year's reform legislation, which created a much stronger and cohesive Department of Transportation and generated savings of tens of millions of dollars each year through changes in MBTA health benefits and other efficiencies.
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Activists: John Kerry boat flap boon to tax ballot question

Jul 26 2010

By Edward Mason, The Boston Herald

The sales tax was hiked from 5 percent to 6.25 percent last year to raise about $900 million to help balance the state budget. Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said dropping the sales tax to 3 percent would devastate police, fire and school funding.
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Amid economic bust, a boom at UMass

Jul 25 2010

By Robert Gavin, The Boston Globe

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a nonpartisan research group, says UMass's role as a catalyst is often overlooked, but its research and graduates, most of whom stay in the state, create "a very powerful combination'' for the state's economy. "One of the keys,'' he added, "is they've recognized that they have to master their own future, and steer their own course.''
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