Taxes

"All the evidence shows that this is a very costly tax credit with minimal economic impact, and the failure to limit it will require deeper cuts in other state programs, including aid to cities and towns,'' said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-funded watchdog group.

Patrick is proposing to cap the tax credit at $50 million a year, down from about $125 million, and the governor's got a supporter in Michael Widmer, president of the Mass. Taxpayers Foundation. "In my 20 years at the foundation . . . I would say this is probably the most costly tax credit with the least economic benefit in my experience,'' said Widmer.

"This is probably the most costly tax credit with the least economic benefit in my experience - $125 million a year is the estimate for the next fiscal year," said Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.