STATE HOUSE — House Speaker Robert DeLeo said Tuesday he regrets not getting a charter school bill done and thinks the complex and controversial education policy issue shouldn't have been left to be settled at the ballot box this November.
Question 2 on November's ballot will ask Massachusetts voters whether to allow state education officials to approve up to 12 new charter schools or enrollment expansions per year. A heated campaign is underway, with charter supporters saying the schools provide critical education opportunities to students who would otherwise lack them while opponents say they drain resources away from traditional public schools that serve a much larger portion of the state's students.
If you were planning to purchase a new washing machine and dryer during the state's annual "sales tax holiday," you can forget about it for the next year. Massachusetts' Democratic legislative leaders, with the acquiescence of Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, have decided to deny consumers the 6.25 percent discount that accompanies the traditional tax-free weekend.
At a total price of $1000.00 or more for a washer and dryer, a tax holiday would save you approximately $62.50 or more, depending on the final sales figure. Add a $999.00 refrigerator to your order, and the savings would double to at least $125.00. Small change to the big spenders on Beacon Hill; real money to working families.
