In The News

States without income tax find other revenue [1]

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Revenue [2]

Jan 4 2009

States without income tax find other revenue [3]

By Lyle Moran, The Lowell Sun

After examining the nine states without income taxes, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation concluded that Massachusetts would have been forced to raise sales and property taxes, shifting the tax burden from higher earners to middle- to lower-income earners. "Plain and simple, the nine states without the income tax turn to other taxes, primarily the sales and property tax," said foundation president Michael Widmer.

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Ballot questions: Pure democracy or special interest? [5]

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Municipal [6]

Jan 2 2009

Ballot questions: Pure democracy or special interest? [7]

By Tait Militan, The Milford Daily News

Michael Widmer, director of the Massachusetts Taxpayer Association and a Question 1 opponent, said ballot questions give too much power to special interest groups. Because voters vote with a simple yes or no, ballot questions often oversimplify issues and leave no room for compromise, Widmer said.

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Unions, municipalities balk at cost-saving plan [9]

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Health Care [10]
Municipal [6]

Jan 1 2009

Unions, municipalities balk at cost-saving plan [11]

By Naoko Yoshida, The Metrowest Daily News

Health insurance costs for city and town employees increased 63 percent between 2001 through 2005, according to a 2005 survey by the Massachusetts Municipal Association and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. The figure was nearly double the state's annual increase in health costs.

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Gov. Patrick warns of new budget cuts [13]

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FY 2009 [14]
Municipal [6]

Dec 31 2008

Gov. Patrick warns of new budget cuts [15]

By Stephen Iandoli, NECN

MA Taxpayers Foundation's Michael Widmer says people need to learn how to deal with the upcoming round of cuts, wherever they hit, because it's not the last time we're going to hear it.

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Deval Patrick to slash budget by $1B in ’09 [17]

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FY 2009 [14]
Municipal [6]

Dec 31 2008

Deval Patrick to slash budget by $1B in ’09 [18]

By Hillary Chabot, The Boston Herald

"It's going to be a triple whammy," said Michael Widmer, executive director of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "Homeowners will see their property taxes go up, the value of their homes go down and their services will be cut."

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Editorial: State leaders ready to push hard on health-care savings [20]

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Health Care [10]
Municipal [6]

Dec 30 2008

Editorial: State leaders ready to push hard on health-care savings [21]

The Daily News

Indeed, it would help - enormously. In Newburyport, Mayor John Moak estimated it could have saved taxpayers about $500,000 a year. Statewide, if every municipality had joined the GIC, they could have collectively saved $100 million this year, according to a report by the Boston Municipal Research Bureau and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

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Cities, towns could save millions on health care [23]

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Health Care [10]
Municipal [6]

Dec 28 2008

Cities, towns could save millions on health care [24]

By J.J. Huggins, The Lawrence Eagle Tribune

Massachusetts cities and towns could have saved as much as $100 million this year, $750 million in fiscal 2013 and $2.5 billion in fiscal year 2018 if they all joined the GIC this year, according to a report jointly released in August 2007 by the Boston Municipal Research Bureau and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

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Editorial: Massport pork [26]

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Transportation [27]

Dec 26 2008

Editorial: Massport pork [28]

The Lowell Sun

We agree with Michael Widmer, director of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, who has recommended the governor order a complete review of the benefits packages at all independent public agencies, including Massport. Widmer is also pushing for Gov. Deval Patrick to review compensation levels.

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Ex-senator wants double pension [30]

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FY 2010 [31]
FY 2009 [14]
Public Finance [32]

Dec 24 2008

Ex-senator wants double pension [33]

By Michael Levenson, The Boston Globe

Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, echoed the sentiment. "This is another pension excess that is causing increasing outrage to taxpayers," he said. "You have these thousands of employees who earn legitimate pensions and then these kinds of abuses undercut support for the entire system. It is past time for the Legislature and the governor to close these kinds of loopholes."

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