Several hundred people rallied in support of Gov. Deval Patrick's plan for new revenue at the State House today.
In a packed auditorium at the State House, supporters chanted, “El pueblo unido nada mas sera vencido,” or, “The people, united, will never be defeated,” while waving bright yellow placards calling for investment in higher education, after-school programs and public safety.
Since his State of the Commonwealth in January, Patrick has been advocating for more money to preserve and enhance state services, including education, transportation, and care for the elderly.
“There is a tremendous amount of consensus that what we have proposed to do are things we should do and things that will make a difference, creating jobs and growth and prosperity,” he said.
Patrick acknowledged that the discussion of raising taxes remains controversial, despite a recent Boston Herald poll that indicated a surprising level of support for additional revenue.
“Instead of always doing what we seem to do in this Commonwealth and in this country, which is run the other way when it is time to talk about taxes, instead we should engage, not in a hysterical way, not in a threatening or belligerent way, but as grown ups in a fact-based way, about taxes, because taxes are the price of civilization,” Patrick said.
That price may go up for individuals who make more than $62,000 a year. If you make $100,000, your income tax would rise by $300 or $400.
Terrance Noonan, a lawyer from Needham attending the rally, said he hopes legislators realize that there is a ground swell of support for progressive taxation.
“To be perfectly honest, its going to actually hurt me,” Noonan said. “I will pay more, but I'd rather pay more so that we have bridges and we have nurses and we have psych facilities and we have clean water and we have the infrastructure that we need.“
Last week state House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he will push for a smaller increase in revenue than Patrick has proposed.
