State Rep. Candidate Paul Girouard Criticizes Decision Against Sales Tax Holiday

NOTE: Paul Girouard is a candidate for State Representative for the 21st Middlesex District (Burlington, Bedford and Precinct 3 in Wilmington).

BURLINGTON, MA — Paul Girouard, candidate for State Representative, has announced his disappointment that there will be no sales tax free weekend this year and that this decision was made by only two people, not the entire legislature.

“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts elects 200 member of the legislature, not two. There was no vote in either chamber for or against the sales tax weekend. This decision was announced by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House. They are only 2 votes. This should have been decided by all the members of the legislature, not behind closed doors,” said Girouard.

Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg announced that there will be no sales tax holiday weekend this August, without any vote of the legislature.

“The Speaker and the Senate President are dictating not legislating. This is what happens when our legislators, including our current State Representative vote to make Robert DeLeo Speaker for life. It gives the Speaker excessive power to dictate terms. There was not even vote on the sales tax weekend. That’s wrong, and that’s not democracy.

According the Massachusetts Retail Association, the sales tax free weekend is a boost to local businesses and consumers. It generates jobs and keeps sales in Massachusetts that would be lost to New Hampshire.

The sales tax weekend was first instituted in 2004. It has been passed every year by the legislature except for 2009.

Girouard believes the weekend should be a permanent weekend in August. It helps families pay for back to school supplies or to replace a worn out appliance.

“As the next State Representative, I will work to make the sales tax holiday a permanent weekend in August every year. I strongly believe that taxpayers should be able to keep more of their hard earned paychecks. This weekend is one way to provide relief to families,” said Girouard. “New Hampshire doesn’t have sales or income taxes. Massachusetts can survive one weekend a year without sales tax revenue.”

(NOTE: The above press release is from the Girouard for State Rep. Campaign.)

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