Jobs

People are talking about the loss of jobs at Wonderland. For Wonderland's employees, others who make their livings at the track, and their families the closing of the track is a devastasting blow. But it is also an example of a bigger problem. Massachusetts reached its peak job number in 2001. Massachusetts has not created any new net jobs in almost 10 years. Our state government has made it difficult to do business and we have suffered for it.
Massachusetts has not had a consistent, fair tax policy. One year our legislature said "no" to the sales tax holiday and, in fact, in the middle of a recession, they voted to raise the sales tax. The next year -- an election year -- the legislature passed a sales tax holiday. This kind of erratic behaviour has to stop. To begin the road to recovery:

• I will support an immediate cut in the sales tax to 5%. If the voters approve a cut of the sales tax to 3% at the ballot box, I pledge to support the will of the voters and will vote to implement it;
• I will support an immediate cut in the state income tax to 5%.

There is lots to do, but cutting the sales and income tax is a critical first step.