Tuesday, August 27, 2013
2013 GOP Technology Tax Business Roundtables Announced
House and Senate Republicans to Hold Discussions
Around Commonwealth
BOSTON— 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
August 28, 2013
Quinsigamond
Community College
Southbridge
Campus – Room 305
5 Optical Drive
Southbridge, MA
01550
9:00-10:00am
August 28, 2013
Mansfield Town
Hall
6 Park Row
Mansfield, MA
02048
1:00-2:00pm
The Training
Associates
281 Turnpike
Road – 3rd Floor
Westborough, MA
01581
9:00-10:00am
August 29, 2013
Wakefield
Savings Bank
351 Main Street
Wakefield, MA 01880
3:00-4:00pm
August 28, 2013
Plymouth Area
Community Television
4 Collins Avenue
Plymouth, MA
02360
1:00-2:00pm
August 29, 2013
Westfield
Athenaeum
Lang Auditorium
6 Elm Street
Westfield, MA
01085
3:00-4:00pm
###
