Governor Deval Patrick Massachusetts
“In light of the recent developments, we believe it is critical that we stand united in our shared commitment to restoring the public trust,” the statement read. “Therefore, we have agreed that ethics reform legislation will be passed and signed into law swiftly that includes the best provisions from all three of our proposals. We owe the people of Massachusetts nothing less.”
Rather than confront the correlation between lower income taxes and higher property taxes and fees, as he did in his campaign, Patrick first cast his lot with the casino industry in a scheme ostensibly intended to increase state revenue. Now he finds himself pushing another unpopular plan to raise revenue through a proposed 19-cent per gallon gas tax hike.
Patrick told reporters he would be open to a smaller increase, but declined to specify a number, according to the Associated Press. When he unveiled the plan last week, he said he expected legislators to offer alternatives, but did not say how much he would be willing to yield.
He told reporters yesterday that a 4-cent increase would be enough to avert the set of toll hikes approved Tuesday but would not be enough to address all of the state’s transportation problems. He also repeated his vow to veto any bill that does not make the state’s transportation system more efficient.
