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Tom Reilly on Tax Reform
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No right to ignore will of the voters on income tax rollback
REILLY: A big issue in this campaign is rolling back taxes. The people have voted on it [and we don't have] the right to ignore the will and the mandate of the people. I'm the only Democrat in this race who is willing to stand up and fight for the
people. PATRICK: Small wonder people say, give me my money back. But the tax to cut, is the property tax. That's the one squeezing people, and the only way to do that is to that is to restore state aid to cities and towns. And the only way to do that
is to postpone the income tax and invest in ourselves.
REILLY: No one has a right on taxes to substitute your judgment for the will of the voters.
GABRIELI: I disagree with Deval [as saying] "here's what you can't do." I've put forward a can-do plan:
We can cut the income tax by taking 40% of income growth [towards tax cuts], and leave 40% in there for continuing local aid and investments. But I can hold down the property taxes just as well. I don't think we should ignore the voters.
Source: MA gubernatorial debate on CBS4 news, moderator: Jon Keller
Sep 13, 2006
Lift lottery fund cap to increase local aid
Reilly wants to lift the current cap on lottery funds, to send more money to cities and towns. Reilly also wants to direct the state's budget surplus to communities to provide services and offer property tax relief.
Source: Boston Globe Issue Outlines: Taxes
Jun 3, 2006
Rollback taxes to 5.0% to keep promise to voters
Reilly as late as April 2005 was quoted as saying he was "opposed to the income tax rollback to a flat 5 percent." During last night's debate, Reilly took the completely opposite position, saying the government should honor the plan approved by
voters. "This is about keeping a promise," Reilly said. "I believe the income tax should be rolled back to 5.0. This is real money in people's pockets."
Source: Dave Wedge, Boston Herald, "Governor's debate"
May 25, 2006
Disallow cities to raise local meals taxes-no more burden
Former Assistant US Attorney General Deval L. Patrick said yesterday he would support giving Massachusetts cities and towns the right to raise local meals taxes, while his rival for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Attorney General Thomas F.
Reilly, flatly ruled out any such increase.The sharp disagreement occurred during a face-to-face meeting between the two men before a key constituency--local officials. ''I am not in favor of any additional tax burdens on the people of Massachusetts,"
Reilly told the local officials.
But Patrick said he would support increases on what are known as local-option taxes, saying they would help cities and towns manage their budgets without having to raise local
property taxes. ''I'm interested in trusting you -- the local officials," Patrick said. ''I know what's happening in your communities."
Source: Michael Levenson, Boston Globe, p. A1
Jan 15, 2006