From Patrick’s Crackpot Taxes to Obama’s Budget - Massachusetts Tea Party – Springfield – “Go Tax Yourself”

From WWLP Springfield, MA : The grassroots Tea Party movement drew several hundred people in the Bluest Corner of the Bluest State today. Tea Party’s protesting the Governments abuse of the Constitution (excessive taxes) are being held around the country today. It is, perhaps, most relevant in the State of Massachusetts, where the first Tea Party was held in Boston in 1773, a rallying cry for Patriots who longed for a representative government by and for the people. Today, Massachusetts, under the administration of Governor Duval Patrick (D), is one of the most excessively taxed States in the Country. Massachusetts Taxpayers fees and taxes are notorious. From owning the 4th highest corporate tax globally, to increases in fees for auto registration and high fees assessed and paid to the Department of Revenue for not participating in the State Run Universal Health Insurance Program – what is left of the middle class in Massachusetts may soon be unable to carry the burden any longer for the excesses of the Governor and Beacon Hill. New taxes proposed by David Axelrod’s Boy Wonder (the .19 Cent per Gallon Gas Tax aside) include: (Boston Globe):

Meals tax
Increase the statewide meals tax by 1 percentage point, to 6 percent, which would raise $125 million for next fiscal year. Also give municipalities the option to raise the tax by an additional 1 percentage point, to 7 percent.

Hotel tax
Increase the statewide hotel tax by 1 percentage point, to 6.75 percent, which would raise $24 million next fiscal year. Also give municipalities the option to raise the tax by an additional 1 percentage point, to 7.75 percent.

Alcohol, soda, and candy tax
Eliminate a tax exemption on sales of alcohol, soda, and candy. Currently food sold outside of restaurants is exempt from the state's 5 percent sales tax; the governor wants to eliminate that exemption for certain items. For next fiscal year, the move would raise $150 million, $121.5 million of which would go to state coffers and $28.5 million to a fund used to build public schools. The proposal would have raised $24 million this year if the Legislature had implemented it by April 1.

RMV fees
Increase a variety of fees that residents pay when they go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. All told, $74.5 million would be raised for during the next fiscal year. It would have raised $18 million this year, if the Legislature had implemented it by April 1.

Telecommunication tax
Eliminate a tax exemption for telecommunications companies, which would raise about $52 million.

Bottle deposit fees
The state's 5-cents -per-container charge on carbonated sodas, beer, and malt beverages would be expanded to also include noncarbonated beverages like sports drinks, water, and juices. It would raise $20 million in state revenue for next fiscal year.

Now that’s a stimulus that would motivate the middle class to move to say – Texas!

Most of the taxpayers, nationwide, are not in the same league as say, Obama’s Treasury Secretary Geithner (one of many), a fact known to anyone not living under a rock – and the resentment is growing. The Tax Day Tea Party Protests will, undoubtedly be given little heed by those who feel above and beyond the common people, until November 2010.