“We need to be thinking critically about the things that the state should be doing — but also very mindful that there is a state-federal partnership,” said Doug Howgate, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-backed budget watchdog. “It’s not feasible for us to say, ‘We’re…

The Healey-Driscoll administration has released its inaugural budget, 8 weeks after being sworn into office. The $54.8 billion spending plan builds in ongoing tax relief, while making major new investments in several critical areas, and continues to build long-term reserves. It includes $1 billion…

Doug Howgate, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said Healey’s budget shows the state remains in a strong financial condition, giving the administration high marks for its tax relief plan, early education investments and what he called a “transparent approach to tracking and using…

Doug Howgate, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said cutting taxes, boosting spending, and socking money away is an amazing trifecta that doesn’t come around very often and makes crafting a budget a lot easier. “You don’t normally see that unicorn,” he said. “…

Doug Howgate, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, noted that paring the short-term capital gains tax will still help address some of the impact from the millionaires tax. “Nothing we’re talking about in the tax code . . . is going to be a silver bullet in terms of…

Doug Howgate, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said Healey’s tax relief plan would make Massachuetts “less of an outlier” on taxes and help “retain and grow its population, jobs and investment.” “Significant tax relief is not only affordable, it is critical,” Howgate said in a…

“We need to address the trends that are pricing out low- and middle-income residents, and stop incentivizing higher earning residents and businesses to leave,” Doug Howgate, the President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation said in a statement. “The proposal laid out today would help make…

“Significant tax relief is not only affordable, it is critical. The Healey-Driscoll Administration’s package would ease the cost crunch that’s making it tough for Massachusetts to attract and retain families, seniors, and employers,” said Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Doug Howgate.

The nonpartisan Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation said Healey’s plan noticeably fell short of the foundation’s own $1.3 billion tax relief vision. But the foundation remarked Healey’s proposal is significant and described the package as “a strong start to tax relief discussions this year.” “At…

“It’s a big step in the right direction,” said Doug Howgate, the president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, in an interview. “It shows she’s pragmatic and she wants to solve problems.”