House Transportation Bill: How Did Newton Lawmakers Vote?

The House's transportation finance plan would mean new taxes — but not nearly as many new taxes as Gov. Patrick's $1.9 billion plan.

  $500 million in new taxes. That's what the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved in a late-night vote Monday for its plan to make sorely needed improvements in Massachusetts roads, bridges and public transportation. As reported by the Associated Press, the House approved the bill 97-55 after more than 10 hours of debate. It includes a gas tax hike of 3 cents per gallon and increased tobacco taxes.  But that House bill is scaled back significantly from Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to bring in $2 billion in new revenue to help fund transportation and education. Among other measures, Patrick's plan calls for a hike in the state income tax.  So, how did the Newton legislators vote on the House bill? Both 11th Middlesex Rep. Kay Khan …

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Robert L. Cerra

5:16 am on Saturday, April 13, 2013

How did Newton Lawmakers vote ? None really believes that a liberal Democrat from Newton is going to vote against a tax hike. Representative Khan is priceless when she says "sometimes measures have to be dealt with "slowly and incrementally." Newton lawmakers should just leave a standing vote of YES to any bills that call for a new tax. Fiscal responsibility is heresy   more ›

Newton Legislators: Patrick's Budget Proposal is the Start of an Important Conversation

Newton's Rep. Kay Khan, Rep. Ruth Balser and Sen. Cindy Creem react to Governor Patrick's $34.8 billion fiscal 2014 budget proposal, which includes significant changes to taxes.

With a deteriorating transportation system and a need for more investment in education, Newton legislators said last week Governor Deval Patrick's fiscal 2014 budget and new tax proposals are the beginning of a long, but necessary, discussion in Massachusetts.  "[Patrick] has started an important conversation," Newton Rep. Ruth Balser told Newton Patch last week.  Last week, Patrick unveiled his $34.8 billion fiscal 2014 budget, which included a comprehensive package and tax proposal aimed at investing in the state's infrastructure and education. The proposal asks for an increase in the income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent coupled with a reduction in the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent. It also doubles personal …

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Newton Rep. Ruth Balser Receives Beacon of Justice Award

The Equal Justice Coalition honored Representative Ruth B. Balser (D-Newton) with the Beacon of Justice Award this week.

Legislature Hashing Out Update to Bottle Bill

Included as an amendment to a bigger jobs bill, the update would expand the bottle redemption law to include plastic bottles used for water and juice.

House and Senate leaders started debating Wednesday whether to include an expanded bottle deposit amendment in a bill designed to spur job creation.  The bill was passed in the Senate Thursday and is now being hashed out in a conference committee comprised of member of both chambers. Gov. Deval Patrick has said that he supports it. But the House has fought passage of an expanded bottle bill, which Speaker Robert DeLeo and others in the House view as a tax. But Sen. Robert Hedlund disputes this view, saying that taxes can't be redeemed.  The expansion to the 31-year-old law designed to promote recycling and reduce litter would add plastic bottles used for water, juices, iced tea and sports drinks to the list of containers subject to the 5-…

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Newton Legislators Discuss Budget, Health Care

State legislators met with local Newton residents Tuesday night to discuss key issues on Beacon Hill.

As the fiscal year deadline approaches, local legislators Tuesday night remained open and optimistic about completing a fiscal 2012 budget and achieving new legislation in the coming year.  State Senator Cindy Creem as well as State Representatives Kay Khan and Ruth Balser met with a group of local constituents at the Newton Senior Center last night to provide an update about key issues on Beacon Hill.  But before the Newton Democrats could get to the issues, each noted that the state budget has not yet been passed. With the fiscal year ending tomorrow, June 30, the legislators said they are busy working on a budget that will pass through both the House and the Senate successfully. Khan said that it has been an extremely “austere and …

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Local Legislators Visit Newton Tonight, Provide Update from Beacon Hill

The local state representatives and senator will look for community feedback.

If you're wondering what the latest word is from Beacon Hill, stop by the Newton Senior Center tonight to receive an update from your local legislators.  State Sen. Cindy Creem along with State Representatives Kay Khan, Ruth Balser and John Lawn will be at the senior center tonight to provide information on the latest activity from Boston. Locals are encouraged to come by the meeting and provide their feedback or questions.  The event, which begins a 7 p.m., is being put on by the Newton Democratic City Committee. 

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