House and Senate Minority Leaders’ Statement on Democrats’ Technology Tax About-Face

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester) issued the following statement today in response to Democratic Leadership’s support of repealing the technology tax:

“For close to six months, House and Senate Republicans have been warning the technology industry, general public, and our colleagues across the aisle of the disastrous effects of a tax on the computer software industry. Our warnings were not heeded, and the Democratic-majority green lighted the largest and broadest tax on computer and software services in the nation.

Today’s about-face is a clear indication that our Democratic colleagues finally understand how reckless and destructive it is to tax one of our state’s most profitable sectors.

We urge the Speaker and Senate President to immediately consider legislation filed by the House and Senate Republican caucus which would repeal the misguided and destructive revenue measure – without replacing it with a new revenue source.”

We Remember...

Today, we gather as families, communities, and more importantly as Americans to remember those individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Let us never forget.

Special Elections – 6th Bristol, 16th Worcester, and 12th Suffolk Districts

In case you forgot, today is the special election for three seats in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

In the race for the 6th Bristol District, Republican David Steinhof is facing off against Democrat, and former Governor’s Council member, Carole Fiola. This race is for the seat left vacant when Representative David Sillivan of Fall River resigned to lead the Fall River Housing Authority.

The second special election contest being held today is in the 16th Worcester District for the seat vacated by John Fresolo. The race for this seat finds Republican Carol Claros facing off against Democrat Daniel Donohue.

Finally, the 12th Suffolk District finds Democrat Dan Cullinane facing off against Independent Lincoln Larmond, and Edmond Romulus. The seat the three cadidates are vying for was vacated when Linda Dorcena Forry was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate.

To find out where you vote, please click here.

Republican Legislators Unleash New Effort to Repeal Technology Tax

Today, Republican legislators from both the House and Senate Caucuses unveiled legislation to repeal the Democrat-approved job killing computer services tax. The legislative measure, which contains the same language as the ballot question recently approved by Attorney General Martha Coakley, is just the latest effort the minority party has put forth in eliminating this unprecedented tax.

Announced during a press conference at Genuine Interactive, a leading interactive agency, the proposed bill puts forth a targeted approach to repealing the largest and broadest tax on computer and software services in the nation.

“We can’t afford to penalize innovation and job creation in one of the state’s most promising sectors if we hope to have the kind of robust economic recovery that creates the jobs people need and the tax revenue state government depends on,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “The time is now to change course from increasing taxes on productivity and focus on creating a climate for job growth and reform and efficiency in our state’s operations.”

The filing of legislation comes on the heels of the Massachusetts House and Senate Republican Caucus’ statewide 2013 Technology Tax Business Roundtables. The weeklong series of roundtable discussions conducted by Republican lawmakers included conversations with technology industry professionals and representatives from area chambers of commerce about the negative effects of the technology tax. The roundtable discussions were initiated due to the fact that Democratic leadership did not provide a public hearing to solicit public testimony from those affected by the tax on software and computer services.

“Since this reckless tax on the technology industry was approved, we have seen a steady decline in business confidence within Massachusetts,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “There remains absolutely no appetite for this tax, and it continues to hurt the economic prospects for one of our state’s most vibrant and prosperous trades, as well as other industries who are suffering from the trickle-down effect of this careless revenue mechanism. The way to encourage growth and development within the Commonwealth is not through ill-conceived taxes, but through business-friendly directives and initiatives.”

Republican lawmakers highlighted the fact that the Commonwealth does not collect taxes on any other service, and expressed fear that the computer services tax sets a dangerous precedent for future efforts to tax other vital services. Furthermore, House and Senate Republicans had each offered revenue-neutral proposals, which if passed, would have avoided the implementation of the technology tax. Industry leaders such as the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and the Massachusetts High Technology Council have repeatedly warned of the destructive nature of the new tax which is slated to stifle the high-tech industry by close to $500 million a year.

"Genuine Interactive started off as a four person agency in 2005 and since then, it's grown to a 100 person company," said John Grayson, Chief Executive Officer of Genuine. "This tax on technology services is negatively impacting the business and is threatening the future of the entire technology and innovation industry. Out-of-state vendors are seeing this as an opportunity to attract businesses away from Massachusetts and that is going to affect the overall economy of the Commonwealth. In a market where work is already being outsourced to other countries, this puts yet another burden on the technology economy in Massachusetts."

Having been filed in both the House and Senate, the joint legislation awaits assignment to a legislative committee.

MEDIA ADVISORY - Republican Lawmakers to Unveil Legislation Repealing Technology Tax

Republican lawmakers, led by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones (R–North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester), will hold a press conference Monday afternoon to unveil legislation aimed at repealing the technology tax.

The filing of legislation comes on the heels of the Massachusetts House and Senate Republican Caucus’ statewide 2013 Technology Tax Business Roundtables. The weeklong series of roundtable discussions conducted by Republican lawmakers included conversations with technology industry professionals and representatives from area chambers of commerce.

The Republican lawmakers will be joined by John Grayson, Chief Executive Officer of Genuine Interactive, a Boston-based interactive agency.

The press conference will be held Monday afternoon (September 9th) at 2:30 p.m. at Genuine Interactive – 500 Harrison Avenue, 5R, Boston, MA 02118.

House Minority Leader Brad Jones’ Statement on Attorney General’s Certification of Ballot Initiative to Repeal Technology Tax

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to Attorney General Martha Coakley’s certification of the ballot initiative to repeal the technology tax:

“I am pleased to hear that Attorney General Martha Coakley has certified language aimed at repealing the crippling technology tax. By clearing this hurdle, activists and proponents can now turn their attention to collecting the necessary amount of signatures to place this initiative on the ballot next November.

  During the recent 2013 GOP Technology Tax Business Roundtables, Republican legislators heard from computer software businesses and Chambers of Commerce about the devastating effect of this reckless tax on the computer services industry.

While I remain extremely supportive of the ballot effort, House and Senate Republicans will continue our quest to ensure that this tax is eliminated at the legislative level.”

March on Washington - 50th Anniversary

As many of you know, today marks the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, and the “I Have A Dream” speech.

On August 28, 1963 large groups of civil rights, labor, and religious activists descended upon our nation’s capital to rally for job and education equality for all, regardless of race. At that rally, a clergyman and activist by the name of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed a crowd of thousands with a speech calling for the end of racism in America. To this day, the march is widely credited with helping to pass the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965).

While America continues to make great strides towards equality for men, women, and children - regardless of race or gender - we pause to remember the framework laid 50 years ago today by Dr. King and the hundreds of thousands of activists who stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.

2013 GOP Technology Tax Business Roundtables Announced

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester), along with the entire House and Senate Republican Caucus, today announced the launch of the 2013 GOP Technology Tax Business Roundtables.

Announced as part of a concerted effort by the Massachusetts House and Senate Republican Caucus to repeal the crippling technology tax at the legislative level, the weeklong series of roundtable discussions will include conversations with technology industry professionals and representatives from area Chambers of Commerce.

“The Massachusetts economy has long relied upon, and benefited from, the services rendered by the high-tech industry,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones. “Since the Democratic-led legislature approved the crippling technology tax, one of the Commonwealth’s most vital sectors is just beginning to deal with the adverse effects of the tax. The 2013 GOP Technology Tax Business Roundtables will serve as an opportunity for businesses and Chambers of Commerce, which have been severely impacted by this reckless tax, to have the opportunity to discuss the detrimental effects and ways to reverse what is sure to suppress future economic growth within the technology industry and the Commonwealth.”

As the largest and broadest tax on computer and software services in the nation, no business, regardless of size or sector, is immune from the wide-ranging tax. House and Senate Republicans had each offered revenue-neutral proposals, which if passed, would have avoided the implementation of the technology tax all together, but the common-sense solution was defeated at the hands of legislative Democrats.

“We have seen clearly what happens when you tax first and ask questions later,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. “In the face of a job killing new computer services tax, we are choosing a different path, one that first seeks information and then leads to action to prevent the economic damage the tax will bring.”

The technology tax, first billed with a fiscal impact of $161 million per year, will exceed that estimate, and stifle the innovative industry by close to $500 million a year.

“Supporting the Commonwealth’s technology economy should never be a partisan decision and we value any legislative support in defense of this critically important sector,” said Christopher Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council. “The tech tax is aimed squarely at the heart of our innovation economy and will cause considerable harm if not repealed. We applaud those lawmakers who have spoken out against the tech tax and encourage more of them to join us in showing their clear support for the state’s tech economy and the hundreds of thousands of people who are part of it.”

Details for the Technology Tax Business Roundtables are as follows:

August 26, 2013

ShotgunFlat Creative Agency
12 South Main Street Middleboro, MA 02346
1:00-2:00pm

August 28, 2013

Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce
100 Sherman Avenue Devens, MA 01434
9:00-10:00am

Quinsigamond Community College
Southbridge Campus – Room 305
5 Optical Drive Southbridge, MA 01550
9:00-10:00am

Mansfield Town Hall
6 Park Row Mansfield, MA 02048
1:00-2:00pm

Plymouth Area Community Television
4 Collins Avenue Plymouth, MA 02360
1:00-2:00pm

August 29, 2013

The Training Associates
287 Turnpike Road – 3rd Floor
Westborough, MA 01581
9:00-10:00am

The Savings Bank
351 Main Street Wakefield, MA 01880
3:00-4:00pm

Westfield Athenaeum
Lang Auditorium
6 Elm Street Westfield, MA 01085
3:00-4:00pm

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House Minority Leader Brad Jones’ Statement on Ballot Initiative to Repeal Crippling Technology Tax

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to the recently announced ballot initiative to repeal the technology tax:

“I am pleased to lend my full support to the recently announced initiative to repeal the crippling technology tax, and I look forward to my continued communications and involvement with the proponents of the effort to place this question on the ballot next November.

In a state which thrives on the services rendered by the high-tech industry, this ill-conceived and ill-timed tax on certain software services will not only stifle the Commonwealth’s entrepreneurs, but will have a detrimental trickle-down effect on residents and customers alike.

Should this reckless tax on the computer services industry be allowed to stand, it sets a dangerous precedent for future efforts to tax other vital services – thus suppressing future economic growth.

The opposition to this tax transcends party lines, and represents a broad demographic. Our voices will be heard, and our efforts will be relentless.”

House Minority Leader Brad Jones’ Statement on Transportation Finance Veto Override

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to the House of Representatives’ rejection of Governor Patrick’s veto to the tax-riddled transportation finance bill:

“Today’s vote in the House of Representatives is about one thing, and one thing only – a crippling tax increase. Massachusetts’ taxpayers should not be lulled into a false sense of hope that the $500 million tax increase approved by House Democrats is better than the nearly $2 billion increase being pushed by Governor Patrick.

In voting to sustain Governor Patrick’s veto, House Republicans were eager for the opportunity to get back to the transportation finance drawing board where we would have once again offered to the Legislature and taxpayers our transportation finance proposal – free of any statewide tax increases.

Unfortunately, there is now only one number that needs to be on the mind of residents across the state – seven. In seven days the taxpayers and small businesses within the Commonwealth will begin to pay for the tax and spend approach approved by House Democrats.”