STATE HOUSE NEWS: Gov. Patrick signs sales tax holiday

Although the Governor acknowledged that the two-day sales tax holiday is not a fiscally prudent policy for MA, he signed the bill because it is popular.  Wouldn't you think someone not running for re-election would be more concerned with the viability of healthy and secure communities than popularity?

Opponents said the holiday simply shifts purchases that would already be made to a single weekend in August, adding staffing and overtime costs on employers and jeopardizing revenue needed for other services important to communities.

Advocates said consumers will spend more throughout the economy that weekend, paying gas taxes and meals taxes while they are out shopping and creating momentum for the economy while recovering some sales that might have lost to the Internet or New Hampshire. [Full Article: Wicked Local Avon]