Deval Patrick on 'How To Cut Spending'

http://www.futureofcapitalism.com/2010/10/deval-patrick-on-how-to-cut-spending

The Wall Street Journal op-ed page has a feature headlined "Four Governors on How to Cut Spending" that includes a contribution from, of all people, the Democrat who is governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick. Governor Patrick was elected in 2006, when the Massachusetts State budget proposed by Governor Romney was $24.1 billion. For 2011, the governor is proposing to spend $29.4 billion. The guy increased spending by 22% over 5 years, and now he's writing opinion pieces in the Wall Street Journal on "How to Cut Spending"? Give me a break.

In the Journal article, Governor Patrick acknowledges, "We increased our sales tax to 6.25% from 5%." If he really cut spending, why would he need to raise taxes? The article doesn't mention Mr. Patrick's most important source of planned new revenue for the state, a vast expansion of casino gambling that he has championed.

by Ira Stoll  |  Oct 12, 2010 at 11:25 pm Related Topics:  Politics, Press, Taxes receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free futureofcapitalism.com mailing list