Politics & Government
MA Lawmakers Nix Baker's Idea For Two-Month Sales Tax Holiday
The plan would have cost the state an estimated $900 million. For now, shoppers will have to settle for the sales tax weekend on Aug. 14-15.
MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker's plan to waive the state's 6.5 percent sales tax for the months of August and September isn't happening this year.
Baker said at a news conference he met with Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano about the proposal Monday, but the three "agreed to disagree." Lawmakers had been cool to the idea since it was first proposed in June, but Baker said he wanted to help businesses and shoppers after the state collected higher-than-expected sales tax revenue in the fiscal year ended June 30.
"I still think it’s the right thing to do for the people of Massachusetts...we should give some back," Baker said Monday.
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State lawmakers already approved the usual, two-day sales tax holiday for Aug. 14 and 15 this year. Like the two-day holiday, Baker's proposal called for waiving the tax on items under $2,500 purchased for personal use.
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