Saturday, April 6, 2013
Should the state forge ahead with Gov. Deval Patrick's bold plan to invest now? Or should it follow the Legislature leadership's proposal to address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives?
Massachusetts legislators this week answered Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education with a $500 million plan of their own, which says the governor is asking for too much, too soon as the Bay State shakes off the effects of the Great Recession. Who's right? Should the state forge ahead in a bold plan to invest now? Or should it cautiously address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives? While Patrick's plan includes funding for both the state transportation system and increased education funding from preschool through college, House and Senate lawmakers eschew new revenue for education, focusing solely on closing the transportation budget gap over the next five years. The …
Friday, November 30, 2012
Massachusetts Democrats in Congress want to avoid cuts in benefits as part of any deal, but proposals such as raising the eligibility age for Medicare are still on the table. What would you do?
As Congress negotiates a deal to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" on Jan. 1, Massachusetts' congressional representatives have voiced their opposition to any cuts in benefits such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the Boston Globe reports. However, there are proposals still on the table that would change those benefit programs, including linking Social Security benefits to a more conservative inflation index that would slightly reduce annual increases, or raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. The Globe reported that while the Bay State's legislators were united against changes to Social Security, there's some wiggle room on Medicare. Rep. Ed Markey opposes raising the Medicare eligibility age; Rep. Michael …
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Some offer complaints, kudos and ideas.
Remember the hue and cry early this year when the T proposed to cut road and rail service or raise rates for riders? Fares went up. So did ridership, across public transportation modes, according to Jonathan Davis, acting general manager and rail and transit administrator of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which is part of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). What do residents of the Commonwealth want in their public transportation system statewide? MassDOT, which oversees public transportation on roads, rails and tarmacs here, held a meeting at the McGlynn Middle School Tuesday night, part of a series of “conversations” statewide, to hear ideas about the transportation system people want and what the …
Friday, November 23, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick plans to ask lawmakers to raises taxes to make up for the shortfall in Massachusetts' transportation system. What options should they consider and what's off the table?
Would you be willing to pay more at the pump, have a tracking system on your car that taxes you by the mile, or see tolls on state highways? Those are just some of the possibilities looming as Massachusetts looks to erase the state's transportation system's deficit. The Boston Globe reported that Gov. Deval Patrick will ask lawmakers to raise taxes in order to pay for a transportation system—from the MBTA to roads and bridges—that continues to operate in the red. The administration will present a specific proposal by Jan. 7. One option is raising the gas tax, a route Patrick sought in 2009 only to be rebuffed by the legislature. Patrick sought a 19 cent increase while business groups endorsed a 25 cent increase. Ultimately, the state …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Mother Jones released a video of Mitt Romney telling a private audience that 47 percent of Americans are dependent on the government and will never vote for him. Was this a ruinous gaffe, or has Romney told a hard political truth?
A secret video obtained by Mother Jones magazine has rocked the political world. In that video, Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said 47 percent of Americans believe they are victims, are dependent on the government and will never vote for him. He went further, saying he wasn't worried about them. The magazine released a portion of the video Monday. In a late night press conference Monday, Romney said the comments were not "elegantly stated," but were part of a larger conversation about the role of personal responsibility. Romney went on to say the comments were a reflection on "the political process of winning an election, and, of course, I want to help all Americans—all Americans—have a bright and prosperous future." Mother …
Friday, April 6, 2012
H&R Block is the place to go, readers say.
If your tax forms read like a foreign language, if you just can’t make sense of it all, H&R Block in Arlington Center is the place to go, according to our readers. H&R Block is our Best of Patch Readers’ Choice winner for tax help. The Medford Street office received the most votes in our poll, which asked: “Where’s the best place to have your taxes done (at the last minute)?” Tax Preparation and Planning, at 94 Pleasant St., also received votes. Be sure to review the accountants yourself on our Patch Places page. We're doing a poll on the Best Place to Buy Sporting Goods next week. Want to nominate a place that should be included in our poll? Send your nomination to John Waller at johndwaller@gmail.com. This will allow us to be sure we don…
42.41474
-71.151289
1 Medford St, Arlington, MA
/articles/in-need-of-tax-help-0ade6fd8
/locations/6749183
Monday, April 2, 2012
Let us know this week in our newest Readers’ Choice contest.
It’s that time of year again: Tax time. And with the deadline fast-approaching, we want to know: Where’s the best place to have your taxes done (at the last minute)? Here are some of our favorite places in Arlington. If we’re leaving one off of the list, please let us know in the comments and we’ll add them. Voting's open until 9 a.m. this Friday, April 6. Ties will be broken by whichever business has the most positive comments posted below. We will announce the winner at noon Friday. Because this poll is not scientific, it is not the sole consideration in choosing a winner. A winner will be determined by Patch editors, based on poll results and reviews on Patch Places. Please vote only once per survey, per Patch. Voting results posted in …
42.416321
-71.148819
Abbott & Associates Inc
1 Chestnut St, Arlington, MA
/articles/best-of-patch-readers-choice-best-place-to-have-your-taxes-done
186585
/locations/6708202
Andrew Sylvia
9:26 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
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