Yellen: Recession Not Inevitable, Gas Tax Holiday Weighed
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday that she expects the U.S. economy to slow in the months ahead, but that a recession is not inevitable.
Window Closing For Legislature To Set Sales Tax Holiday
The speaker and Senate president made clear this week that a gas tax suspension isn’t in the cards, but people in Massachusetts will get at least some form of tax relief this summer regardless.
Gas Nears $5 Per Gallon Average
Prices have surged past the $5 a gallon mark at many stations and averaged out at $4.96 in AAA’s latest survey, taking a bigger bite out of household and business budgets and hitting low-income residents hard.
Tax Relief Finds Support From Dems, But Not Enough
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr cautioned that the forecast on tax relief “doesn’t look very good for the taxpayer” as Senate Democrats on Tuesday rejected his proposed package of tax breaks in favor of developing a different plan somewhere down the line.
Surveys Show Mixed Views Of Business Climate
Associated Industries of Massachusetts reported Monday that employers grew more confident in April despite high inflation and the economic contraction in the first quarter.
Mass. House Rejects Series Of Tax Relief Proposals
House Democrats kicked off debate Monday on a nearly $50 billion state budget bill by rejecting Republican-led efforts to weave tax relief into the annual spending plan.
Gas Prices Hold Well Above $4 Per Gallon
Gas prices continue to hold at elevated levels in Massachusetts, as residents and businesses shell out more to get around and move their products.
Spilka Hints at Climate Plans when Asked About Tax Relief
Senate President Karen Spilka said Thursday conversations among senators are ongoing about possible ways to provide tax relief to residents in the face of rising gas prices and inflation.
Key Legislator: Gas Tax Key to Transpo Funding
House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he’s waiting to learn more about a regional vehicle emission reduction pact before deciding how it will fit into his plan for transportation. But one of his top deputies said it hasn’t changed his mind about increasing the gas tax.
Fuel Carbon Price Plan Could Hike Gas Cost, Generate Millions for Transit
The pact being developed by Massachusetts and other East Coast states to cap carbon emissions from vehicles could add up to 17 cents to the price of a gallon of gas, according to the newest estimates, but could also generate more than $500 million in revenue for transit in Massachusetts.
Who Pays for the Things We Need?
Three important questions vaulted to the surface of...The Real Consensus on Transportation Doesn’t Involve the Gas Tax
A 50 percent gas tax increase could soon exacerbate the challenge of commuting to and from work in one of the most robust economies of the nation. But will this create any meaningful solutions to address the commonwealth’s congestion and climate change challenges? We don’t think so.
Alternatives To Gas Tax Pitched For Transpo Revenue
Supporters of increasing fees on ride-hailing trips, expanding highway tolls, and charging drivers for every mile they travel made their cases to lawmakers Thursday,
DeLeo Punts Transit Funding Debate into 2020
With just days remaining until the legislature recesses until 2020, House Speaker Robert DeLeo said Thursday he’s decided to push back his timeline for a hotly anticipated debate over new revenue for transportation until next year.
Poll: Voters Split on Key Transpo Revenue Ideas
Massachusetts voters support raising new revenue to make transportation investments, but a new poll shows they are divided over some of the key methods that lawmakers are weighing to generate funding.
Mayors, Muni Leaders Back 15-Cent Gas Tax Hike
Dozens of Boston-area municipal leaders on Wednesday endorsed new or expanded transportation revenue options, including a 15-cent increase in the state’s 24-cent per gallon gas tax, as House lawmakers approach a vote on the topic.
Transit Revenue Package ‘Hard to Build’ Without Gas Tax Hike
With a vote possible in the House next week on a transportation revenue bill, the details of such a package remain in development and its possible components include measures dealing with the gas tax and ride-share fees.
Banker & Tradesman’s Editorial Cartoon: The Loudest Noise in the Transit Debate
The state needs better transit. Better transit needs more money. What happens when you tell this to certain Bay State political leaders?
Business Coalition Shows Widespread Support for New Transportation Revenue
A consensus is emerging: More revenue is needed to improve our infrastructure, but also should be designed to influence behavior with an overarching goal of getting cars off the road and increasing the use of public transit.
Baker Opposes Any Gas Tax Hike
Gov. Charlie Baker this week said he wouldn’t support a “big increase” in the gas tax but that doesn’t mean the governor supports any increase in that levy.
