Lewis’ tax plan

Sen. Jason Lewis plans to circumvent the decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court by filing legislation at the start of the next legislative session in January 2019, amending the Massachusetts Constitution to create a 4 percent surtax on annual individual income above $1 million. Lewis calls this “Fair Share.” A 4 percent surtax on the current 5.10 percent income tax rate raises the tax rate to 9.10 percent — a 78 percent increase!

Sen. Lewis is a self-described progressive, which is a euphemism for a Marxist. His proposed “fair share” amendment proves he is a Marxist! There is nothing fair about taxing some residents nearly double the rate of other Massachusetts residents. High taxes on the wealthy in nearby Connecticut have caused high achievers to leave the state, resulting in huge fiscal problems. A June 23 Wall Street Journal editorial writes, “New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is pushing for a new ‘millionaires tax,’ which would bump the top rate to 10.75 percent from 8.97 percent. New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney voted for a ‘millionaires tax’ several times when he knew former Governor Chris Christie would veto it. But now that state and local taxes can no longer be deducted on a federal return, Mr. Sweeney worries that Mr. Murphy’s

plan would send even more high-earning New Jersey residents packing for (no state income tax) Florida.”

Apparently Sen. Lewis has no such concerns for high-income earners here to leave Massachusetts.

President Trump and the Republicans passed large tax cuts late last year resulting in a humming economy — booming business, high GDP and low unemployment. Now Sen. Lewis wants to “kill the goose that laid the golden egg” by raising taxes in Massachusetts.

I hope Sen. Lewis loses his bid for re-election in November so he never gets to file legislation for an unfair income tax surcharge.

— Harry Hawkes, Melrose