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:
Monday, August
26, 2013
ShotgunFlat
Creative Agency
12
South Main Street
Middleboro,
MA 02346
1:00-2:00pm
Wednesday, 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
Thursday, August
29, 2013
The
Training Associates
281
Turnpike Road – 3rd Floor
Westborough,
MA 01581
9:00-10:00am
Wakefield
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
