Franklin Matters

Saturday, January 19, 2013

MassBudget: Analyzing the Governor's Proposals on Education, Transportation, and Revenue

MassBudget		Information.
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Analyzing the Governor's Proposals

Over the past week, the Governor has introduced a series of important policy proposals, including: 1) new investments in education; 2) a commitment to fix and improve the state's transportation system; and 3) a detailed plan to pay for these investments with new revenue.

MassBudget's "First Look at the Governor's Proposals" analyzes each of these initiatives, including the impact they would have on Early Education & Care, K-12, Higher Ed., Transportation, the Sales Tax, and the Income Tax. Among other things, the Governor's proposals include:

Significantly more funding for Early Education & Care, to help ensure that lower-income families have access to the kind of high-quality child care that helps prepare young children for success in school and in life.

A combination of sales taxes decreases and income tax increases that would help fund these investments in education and transportation with $1.9 billion in new revenues--while also making the state's tax system more fair.

Read A FIRST LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS

Other MassBudget Updates

A new factsheet, "The Regional Impact of a Minimum Wage Increase" provides a regional breakdown of the workers and families who would benefit from a minimum wage increase. In addition, we have also updated and expanded our previous minimum wage reports and our interactive tools.

Looking for a primer on Local Aid before the Governor releases his full budget next week? Senior Policy Analyst Luc Schuster explains what Local Aid is for--and how deeply it has been cut--in a new MassBudget video.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER

15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700

BOSTON, MA 02108


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In the News: Lt Gov Murray, head on crash, right to repair, stove rebates

Lt. Gov. Murray: I won't run for governor next year

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, after spending the last 15 years in local and statewide public office, will not run for governor in 2014, citing the time commitment that would be required to juggle his current job, a full-time campaign, and his responsibilities to his family.

Two hurt in head-on crash in Franklin

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

Two women were injured, one seriously, in a head-on collision on Rte. 140 near Franklin Village shopping center Thursday night, police said.

Note: the stub of the story available on Friday has been updated in this posting.

'Right to Repair' might need fixing

by David Riley/driley@wickedlocal.com

Get ready for Right to Repair déjà vu. Last year, the Bay State passed two versions of a bill requiring automakers to make previously guarded diagnostic and repair information available to independent garages. The measures conflict on key details, and now advocacy groups are lining up behind dueling bills on how to reconcile the differences.

State offers rebates for new woodstoves

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

The state's Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs today announced the second round of a program that provides rebates to residents for the replacement of old, inefficient wood or coal-burning stoves.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Downtown triangle signs

On the triangle, if you have driven by this week maybe you saw one side of the sign.

If you didn't go back the same way, maybe you did not see the other side of the sign

With the eventual reconfiguration of this intersection to allow two way traffic on Main St, I expect these signs will go away. I recall from one of the preparation meetings, there is a plan for the historical water trough. It wasn't always here and can be re-located.

I hope it finds a good place. It is one of the connections to where I grew up, down the road a piece in Pawtucket, RI.

Andy Puddicombe: All it takes is 10 mindful minutes (video)

"Most people assume that meditation is all about stopping thoughts, getting rid of emotions, somehow controlling the mind. But actually it's … about stepping back, seeing the thought clearly, witnessing it coming and going.” (Andy Puddicombe)

Hear this quote in the context of this 10 minute video

Then reward yourself with 10 minutes of nothing.

You can do it!

Governor Patrick calls for income tax hike, sales tax cut

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Governor Patrick calls for income tax hike, sales tax cut

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Bob Salsberg on 1/17/13

Gov. Deval Patrick asked the Legislature on Wednesday to support a net increase of $1.9 billion in state taxes to support major new spending on transportation and education. Patrick used his annual state of the state address to propose hiking the state income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent, while doubling the personal exemption for all taxpayers and eliminating dozens of itemized deductions. At the same time, he called for reducing the state sales tax from the current 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent.