In The News: Taxes

Keller @ Large: Looking Back At Gov. Mitt Romney’s First 100 Days [2]

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May 3 2012

Keller @ Large: Looking Back At Gov. Mitt Romney’s First 100 Days [6]

By Jon Keller, CBS Boston

“Gov. Mitt Romney’s first budget proposal contains overdue and comprehensive reforms of the way state government operates but is undercut by overstated claims regarding its short-term fiscal benefits," according to the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

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Massachusetts Commission Recommends Tax Break Review [8]

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Taxes [1]

Apr 23 2012

Massachusetts Commission Recommends Tax Break Review [9]

By Sarah Birnbaum, New England Public Radio

But economist Michael Widmer of the business backed Massachusetts Taxpayers foundation says while the recommendations are well intentioned, it's difficult to judge how well corporate tax breaks work. "When an individual purchases legal services, he or she doesn't pay a tax, or a haircut - no tax. How are we going to assess whether that's good or bad? That's a public policy decision."

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What’s up with the sales tax? [11]

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Sales Tax [12]

Apr 10 2012

What’s up with the sales tax? [13]

By Paul McMorrow, CommonWealth Magazine

Andrew Bagley, director of research at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, believes the sales tax has suffered because Massachusetts never regained all the jobs it lost in the 2001 recession. When the economy was on the upswing, he says, the state saw no real job growth; the most recent recession, he says, has “decimated consumer spending, and consumers are deleveraging.” Bagley says the sales tax will continue to “lag in growth,” making the state budget more dependent on income taxes. That also means the T shouldn’t expect a big revenue bump any time soon.

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Massachusetts Commission Seeks to Simplify Tax Code [15]

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Taxes [1]

Mar 21 2012

Massachusetts Commission Seeks to Simplify Tax Code [16]

WAMC

Michael Widmer, President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, an independent public policy analysis organization, believes that the defined total of $26 billion in revenue being lost due to tax expenditures should be more specific.

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Mass. taxpayers to gain bit of relief starting Jan. 1 [18]

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Income Tax [19]

Dec 16 2011

Mass. taxpayers to gain bit of relief starting Jan. 1 [20]

By Noah Bierman, The Boston Globe

Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said the small reduction announced yesterday is a positive step toward meeting the 5 percent promise, but acknowledged there is a price to be paid. “On the other hand, given the realities of 2013, this will likely mean additional budget cuts,’’ he said.

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Falling home prices, rising taxes squeeze towns [22]

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Property Tax [23]

Dec 15 2011

Falling home prices, rising taxes squeeze towns [24]

By Matt Carroll, The Boston Globe

“Cities and towns are facing a permanent fiscal squeeze, in which costs are rising faster than revenues,’’ said Michael Widmer, president of the foundation.

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Job picture mixed under Romney [26]

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Corporate Tax [27]
Economy [28]

Oct 2 2011

Job picture mixed under Romney [29]

The Advertiser / AP

Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, described Romney's jobs record as "mixed," saying Romney failed to take the long view in his planning. "The administration never really put together an overall economic development strategy to improve the state's economic competitiveness," he said. "They did bits and pieces but they never really had an overall game plan."

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Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business [31]

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Corporate Tax [27]
Economy [28]

Oct 2 2011

Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business [32]

By Michael Barbaro, The New York Times

However, by 2005, when Mr. Romney proposed his third round of corporate tax loophole closings, “frustrations had reached a boil,” said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

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Another movie headed for filming in Massachusetts [34]

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Tax Credits [35]

Aug 22 2011

Another movie headed for filming in Massachusetts [36]

By Colleen Quinn, The Patriot Ledger

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, in April called the state's film industry tax policies the “classic bad bet,” adding that he equates movie-making in Massachusetts, and the outflow of tax benefits, with laying off teachers and cutting services.

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Benefits of tax holiday in doubt [38]

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Sales Tax [12]

Aug 4 2011

Benefits of tax holiday in doubt [39]

By Chris Camire, Sentinel & Enterprise

"People either delay or accelerate their purchases to that weekend," said Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "There have been various studies over the years about the impact of sales-tax holidays that all conclude there doesn't seem to be any significant additional economic activity."

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In The News: Taxes

View more in Taxes [1]

Keller @ Large: Looking Back At Gov. Mitt Romney’s First 100 Days [2]

May 3 2012

Keller @ Large: Looking Back At Gov. Mitt Romney’s First 100 Days [6]

By Jon Keller, CBS Boston

Massachusetts Commission Recommends Tax Break Review [8]

Apr 23 2012

Massachusetts Commission Recommends Tax Break Review [9]

By Sarah Birnbaum, New England Public Radio

What’s up with the sales tax? [11]

Apr 10 2012

What’s up with the sales tax? [13]

By Paul McMorrow, CommonWealth Magazine

Massachusetts Commission Seeks to Simplify Tax Code [15]

Mar 21 2012

Massachusetts Commission Seeks to Simplify Tax Code [16]

WAMC

Mass. taxpayers to gain bit of relief starting Jan. 1 [18]

Dec 16 2011

Mass. taxpayers to gain bit of relief starting Jan. 1 [20]

By Noah Bierman, The Boston Globe

Falling home prices, rising taxes squeeze towns [22]

Dec 15 2011

Falling home prices, rising taxes squeeze towns [24]

By Matt Carroll, The Boston Globe

Job picture mixed under Romney [26]

Oct 2 2011

Job picture mixed under Romney [29]

The Advertiser / AP

Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business [31]

Oct 2 2011

Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business [32]

By Michael Barbaro, The New York Times

Another movie headed for filming in Massachusetts [34]

Aug 22 2011

Another movie headed for filming in Massachusetts [36]

By Colleen Quinn, The Patriot Ledger

Benefits of tax holiday in doubt [38]

Aug 4 2011

Benefits of tax holiday in doubt [39]

By Chris Camire, Sentinel & Enterprise