MTA Takes My Words Out of Context
by Barbara Anderson, July 8th, 2008 at 02:46pm
An alert CLT member has sent me a page of MTA Today, the Mass Teachers Association newsletter, opposing Carla Howell’s ballot question for repeal of the state income tax — and MY NAME is taken in vain! It states:
Even Barbara Anderson, director of Citizens for Limited Taxation and the state’s most famous anti-tax activist, recently agreed that the current fiscal situation is dire for cities and towns. She told Commonwealth magazine last fall: “[It’s] not just the usual ‘the sky is falling’ that you hear all the time. This time I think the sky really is going to fall.”
So far, accurately quoted. However, the MTA for some reason neglected to continue my thought.
Commonwealth writes, “Anderson sees it as a spending problem, with communities unable or unwilling to get a handle on things like public employee salaries and benefits”.
I would add today: maybe a yes vote on Carla’s income tax repeal will help communities, and Beacon Hill, get that handle. Without it, duck, here comes the sky.
Entry Filed under: Proposition 2 1/2
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1 Comment
1. George Foord | July 14th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Barbara Anderson’s statement not quoted by the MTA:
“Commonwealth writes, ?Anderson sees it as a spending problem, with communities unable or unwilling to get a handle on things like public employee salaries and benefits?.
not only essentially defines what is meant by the term “structural deficit” but also identifies how to fix it. Municipal/state revenues are certainly rising consistently at or more than the sustainable rate of growth in the U.S. economy. The expenditure side of our income statements unsustainably outstrips resources. Long term costs must be conquered or its go East young man! In the case of Newton, for example, salaries/wages and benefits consume 80% + of the city budget. How can you not look at personnel-related costs?