They don't call it TAXachusetts for nothing.

massachusetts is run by democrats and already takes in 2 dollars for every 1 it spends (Hallelujah fiscal responsibility)... are really they still in debt?

This state sucks

Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh, those big mean liberals are taxing us!!

Massachussetts helps prop up less fiscally responsible states (red states for the most part) by paying more in federal taxes than they receive in federal benefits. If it weren't for states like Massachussetts, red states would either have to raise taxes or go bankrupt.

Democrat-style government enables Republican-style government. Fancy that.

and they decriminalized it.

I'd pay a little extra tax to live there.

Good for them!

"As I talk to colleagues in the House and Senate, there is a growing movement toward a small increase in the gas tax. Everyone recognizes the unfairness of the toll increase," Linsky said.

Wait --- I thought Democrats raised taxes to make sure everyone paid their FAIR SHARE?

Oh, and great jorb on getting rid of the greyhound racing, citizens! - - kill an industry AND wipe out a revenue source in one fell swoop. MASSHOLES is an apt name.

wow 5.5 cents per litre in taxes... that's socialism!

Massachusetts is one of the Blue states that leads the US in Average IQ, Median Income, Level of Education, they are also on that Blue State list that gets back less from the Federal Government then into what they pay.

The red states are low on IQ, income, education, all the while living the socialist dream of sucking at the teat of the Federal Government.

Digeratus: Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh, those big mean liberals are taxing us!!

Massachussetts helps prop up less fiscally responsible states (red states for the most part) by paying more in federal taxes than they receive in federal benefits. If it weren't for states like Massachussetts, red states would either have to raise taxes or go bankrupt.


I keep hearing this tired argument. Go look at a map of red and blue states. See all the pretty blue states on the edge of the map? See all the red states in the middle? It takes infrastructure to move things between the blue states on one side of the country to the other and to move manufactured goods and farm products from red states to blue states. Many of the states (i.e. Kansas, Nebraska, etc.) don't have the population to justify the infrastructure needed for the interstate transport of these goods, this is a large part of why the red states receive more federal dollars per capita. I think we should do away with the highway funds, and just use tarriffs.

Digeratus: Massachussetts helps prop up less fiscally responsible states (red states for the most part) by paying more in federal taxes than they receive in federal benefits. If it weren't for states like Massachussetts, red states would either have to raise taxes or go bankrupt.

That argument assumes that the red states would spend the same money out of state coffers if the federal government didn't provide it.

Think "Bridge to Nowhere": It wasn't a matter of whether the State or the Federal government pays for it. It was a matter of whether the Federal government would pay for it or it wouldn't get built at all. The state wasn't jumping in.

I don't have any data to show how many federal dollars are for things that wouldn't be done had the dollars not been there, in fact that kind of data would require looking into the intent of the state legislatures. Quite an impossible endeavor. But at any rate, your little argument holds little water.

DarthBrooks: "As I talk to colleagues in the House and Senate, there is a growing movement toward a small increase in the gas tax. Everyone recognizes the unfairness of the toll increase," Linsky said.

Wait --- I thought Democrats raised taxes to make sure everyone paid their FAIR SHARE?

Oh, and great jorb on getting rid of the greyhound racing, citizens! - - kill an industry AND wipe out a revenue source in one fell swoop. MASSHOLES is an apt name.

I did not know this was on the ballot until I was in the booth but as soon as I saw it I knew it wold pass. I voted to keep it legal, too bad I had never even seen a dog race.

/Voted no to getting rid of the income tax
//Voted yes on the weed one, at least that passed

No shiat. Politicians never saw a revenue source they didn't like.

eddyatwork: No shiat. Politicians never saw a revenue source they didn't like.

Unless if it's connected to terrorism, abortion, communism, socialism or homosexuality.

/ For the republicans.
// "Oil money, wheeeee!"

CrispFlows: eddyatwork: No shiat. Politicians never saw a revenue source they didn't like.

Unless if it's connected to terrorism, abortion, communism, socialism or homosexuality.

Or marijuana. Or gambling.

ottawaboy: wow 5.5 cents per litre in taxes... that's socialism!

That's fark all.

A small step into the right direction. Gas taxes need to increase massively Link (new window), and now that gas prices have gone, it is a perfect time to do so.

How 'bout getting rid of some of that dead weight up there on Beacon Hill, you farking hacks?

So glad I don't have to use the Pike all that much anymore.
Gas was $2.07 this morning when I gassed up... knew that wasn't going to last for long one way or the other.
At least, I don't have to worry about going to jail for having a bit of weed on me anymore...

Still love living in the Commonwealth and wouldn't live anywhere else in the country (well, maybe Rhode Island) at this point in my life.

InternetLOL: CrispFlows: eddyatwork: No shiat. Politicians never saw a revenue source they didn't like.

Unless if it's connected to terrorism, abortion, communism, socialism or homosexuality.

Or marijuana. Or gambling.

Or Prostitution, or Porno, Or Child labor, or Duke university.

/ Exception to porn: Playboy. America's Accepted Porn rag.

Digeratus: Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh, those big mean liberals are taxing us!!

Massachussetts helps prop up less fiscally responsible states (red states for the most part) by paying more in federal taxes than they receive in federal benefits. If it weren't for states like Massachussetts, red states would either have to raise taxes or go bankrupt.

Democrat-style government enables Republican-style government. Fancy that.

This.

Here's Fiscal year 2005 with coloring from the 2004 election.

McManus_brothers: They don't call it TAXachusetts for nothing.

Except we have been in the bottom half of the "State/Local taxes taken as % of income" list for two dacades.

Digeratus: Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh, those big mean liberals are taxing us!!

Massachussetts helps prop up less fiscally responsible states (red states for the most part) by paying more in federal taxes than they receive in federal benefits. If it weren't for states like Massachussetts, red states would either have to raise taxes or go bankrupt.

Democrat-style government enables Republican-style government. Fancy that.

But it will be New York (the city and the state), Massachusetts, California and Pennsylvania that are asking the federal government for bailouts.

I live in NH and work in MA so I just gas up in NH.

/about $2.10

jaidev:
Here's Fiscal year 2005 with coloring from the 2004 election.

If you want states to get out what they put in why have the tax structure the way it is at all? I mean, your average tax rates tend to run about 18-20% fed, 5-7% state, and 2-3% local. Why not do 18-20% state, 5-7% local, and 2-3% fed.

Then the fed could stay the fark out of everyone's business, and your wonderful state that pays so much in federal vs what they get could actually use the money for the state instead, making it more desirable to live and do business there.

/There's a reason the founding fathers wanted state sovereignty.
//Both parties are guilty as sin for farking this concept up.

Please stop with the whole "red states are propped up with federal dollars of blue states." I assume you like groceries and eating. Much of the taxes that "get transferred" out are used to subsidize such things as farming and infrastructure to transport the goods around the country. If you truly wish to pay more for goods, stop "funding" this whole infrastructure. You benefit from the federal spending that goes on in the middle of the country, but seem to not realize this.

Seriously that is one of the dumbest arguments ever.

Before you start whining. Check out the gas prices in Maine.
Mass is still a bargin.

RandomExcess: Massachusetts is one of the Blue states that leads the US in Average IQ, Median Income, Level of Education, they are also on that Blue State list that gets back less from the Federal Government then into what they pay.

The red states are low on IQ, income, education, all the while living the socialist dream of sucking at the teat of the Federal Government.

Maybe you ought to research more on who represents the welfare queen states, snapperhead.


Looks to me like the leading welfare queen states have BLUE representation:
NM - Democrat Sen. Bingaman, two Dem reps.
ND - Democrat Sens. Dorgan and Conrad, Rep. Pomeroy
SD - Democrat Sen. Johnson, Rep.Sandlin
MT - Democrat Sens. Baucus and Tester
NE - Democrat Sen. Nelson, Rep. Coffee
IA - Democrat Sen. Harkin, Reps.Braley, Loebsack, Boswell
AR - Democrat Sens. Lincoln and Pryor, Reps.Berry, Snyder, Ross
LA - Democrat Sen. Landrieu, Reps. Jefferson, Melancon, Cazayoux
WV - Democrat Sens. Rockefeller and Byrd, Reps. Mollohan, Rahall

I could go on, but I won't.

/Do some research before you open your trap.
//These states might have gone Red in Prez elections, but they are solidly represented by BLUE politicians.

jaidev: Digeratus: Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh, those big mean liberals are taxing us!!

Massachussetts helps prop up less fiscally responsible states (red states for the most part) by paying more in federal taxes than they receive in federal benefits. If it weren't for states like Massachussetts, red states would either have to raise taxes or go bankrupt.

Democrat-style government enables Republican-style government. Fancy that.

This.

Here's Fiscal year 2005 with coloring from the 2004 election.

Totally specious argument.
The top 11 Red states on the list are represented as follows:

Senators: 12 Democrat, 10 GOP
Representatives: 19 Democrat, 24 GOP

Totals: 31 Democrat, 34 GOP (Doesn't take into account the changes wrought by the 2008 election.)

So you see, there's plenty of BLUE politicians lobbying for the pork.

ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL.

RandomExcess: Massachusetts is one of the Blue states that leads the US in Average IQ, Median Income, Level of Education, they are also on that Blue State list that gets back less from the Federal Government then into what they pay.

The red states are low on IQ, income, education, all the while living the socialist dream of sucking at the teat of the Federal Government.

The stupidity of this post is beyond belief. So, naturally a comment is appropriate. It seems to me that the economic basket cases and tax hell-holes are the blue states. Now you have the mayors of large cities in blue states trying to get a piece of the bailout pie. New Jersey has the highest tax rates in the country and Wisconsin and Minnesota are up there with New York with their onerous tax policies.

I've lived in four blue states and now work for a company based in Chicago, Il.. All have high, high taxes and nothing much in return unless you are on the entitlement program dole. The social programs have done nothing for either the intended recipients or for the people that actually pay for the b/s programs....the ones that work and pay taxes so that the sham is financed.