NEW: Massachusetts Taxpayer Group Pledges to Block Rising Gas Tax

Email to a friend Permalink

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

GoLocalWorcester Politics Team

State Rep. Geoff Diehl of Whitman,MA, speaks at an announcement on the steps of the Massachusetts State House. Photo courtesy of Kate Campanale.

A group of Massachusetts taxpayers gathered on the outside State House stairs today to announce that they are filing a ballot initiative to cut the linkage between the gas tax and inflation which the legislature passed last month. The so-called transportation bill, which included a gas tax hike, a new tax on computer software, and a cigarette tax increase, also linked the gas tax to CPI which allows the gas tax to increase every year without a vote of the legislature.

“It is outrageous that Beacon Hill is increasing our gas tax every year for the rest of lives without a vote. That’s taxation without representation. It is wrong and we are going to stop it,” said Steve Aylward, the Republican State Committee member who ran a successful signature drive for Mike Sullivan last winter.

The initial supporters of the ballot initiative include Marty Lamb, Chris Pinto, Republican National Committeewoman Chanel Prunier, State Representative Geoff Diehl, and many more representatives and concerned citizens.

“This year our state took in over $600 million above projections. We don't need this tax package. I voted against this bill in the House and I am not going to sit on the sidelines now while the state reaches into our wallets every year for the rest of our lives for more and more money without an accountable vote being taken,” said State Representative Diehl.

“How much more will Beacon Hill take from our wallets? We don’t know. We just know it is going up automatically with no debate, no input and no oversight,” said Pinto.

“Our elected officials have failed us. Our only alternative is to pass a ballot question that will stop this taxation without representation,” said Marty Lamb.

The attorney for the group is former U.S. Attorney Mike Sullivan.

Since launching the Facebook page last week the group has over 695 friends. The plan is to launch a website shortly in preparation for collecting 100,000 raw signatures.