In his annual address, House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he does not support raising taxes to adjust to the Bay State’s new budget.
“I hear time and time again from business leaders that predictability and consistency in the tax code are what’s most important,” DeLeo said in his address on Wednesday, according to a State House press release. “For the past two years, this House has rejected balancing the budget with new taxes and fees.”
The Commonwealth needs to work to maintain its “competitive edge” amongst local businesses, he said.
“Any changes to revenue policy should be approached with extreme caution and should never be done piecemeal,” DeLeo said. “As such, we will release a budget from the House Committee on Ways & Means that does not rely on new taxes and fees.”
This opposes Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposal to increase cigarette taxes by 50 cents and add a tax on candy and soda. The tax hike, if approved, would have been directed toward raising $260 million in revenue for the state budget.
Since a tax cannot be official without the House’s approval, it is unlikely a tax increase will occur on these items.
DeLeo also addressed state healthcare, saying he remains committed to reforming the state’s healthcare system.
“Health care is extremely personal. When we are at a time of need, we want to make sure we are able to get the very best care available,” he said. “That will not change under any plan offered in this House. Nevertheless, we have to find ways to reward quality and efficiency and make sure our system is sustainable for years to come.”
He also said community colleges in Massachusetts are important pieces of the state’s “ability to attract and retain employers.”
“Community colleges can build on their existing relationships with our state university system as well as their own capacity to prepare individuals with skills to support our existing and emerging industries,” he said. “With greater coordination and support these institutions can be an even more vibrant and integrated component in our overall workforce development system here in the Commonwealth.”
He said the state can capitalize on growth from public services, and Massachusetts can invest in its own sectors for economic interest.
“We can also generate new investment by continuing to make it easier for businesses to start, locate, and expand here,” DeLeo said. “Massachusetts has successfully nurtured new economic activity by pioneering innovative approaches to development and public infrastructure improvements. We will build on that success by exploring new ideas that promote growth and improve public services.”
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