Sales Tax Decreases Key for Marty Lamb

Submitted by Elect Marty Lamb

Marty Lamb, Republican candidate for State Representative in the Eighth Middlesex District, announced that he will work to roll back the sales tax to 5%.

"This tax puts our state at a competitive disadvantage plus it is the most regressive tax. It hits the poor the hardest," said Lamb. "Last weekend we saw overwhelming crowds at the stores attempting to avoid the sales tax. It was a protest. And it is time for people on Beacon Hill to listen."

Three weeks ago the legislature passed the annual sales tax holiday which is designed to be a political boost for incumbent campaigns. Lamb strongly believes that Massachusetts needs to roll back the sales tax from 6.25% to 5%. According to the think tank, the Beacon Hill Institute, the higher sales tax has cost the Commonwealth 10,000 jobs.

"If we had more people at the State House with business experience, then there would be better understanding of how these high taxes hurt our economy," said Lamb, who is a small business owner.

Incumbent Carolyn Dykema has a different view when it comes to taxes. She has repeatedly supported increasing this tax. Her votes include:

• Roll Call 11-130, she voted with the Speaker on a parliamentary maneuver to block rolling back the sales tax from 6.25% to 5.75%.
• Roll Call 11-094, she voted with the Speaker on a parliamentary gimmick to block the vote on designating a permanent weekend in August as the sales tax-free weekend.
• Roll Call 09-155, she voted with the Speaker to enact the budget that raised taxes and fees by $1 billion.
• Roll Call 09-087, she voted with the Speaker in favor of the sales tax increase.
• Roll Call 09-264, she voted with the Speaker to double tax alcohol.