I called my Rep. in the Mass. Legislature. He said he'd be willing to
consider a bill to repeal this tax, but he could use help figuring out
who else in the Legislature would support such a bill. I mentioned that,
as a software engineer, I participate in some software-related mailing
lists and forums. He suggested that I ask other Mass. residents on those
forums to call their legislators and ask if they'd support repealing
this tax. It's far more effective if one of their constituents calls
than if someone outside their district calls.
If you want to make a difference, please do the following:
1.
Make two phone calls - one to your Mass. State Representative and
one to your Mass. State Senator.
You'll almost certainly be passed off to a legislative aide.
2.
Explain to the aide:
1.
this is urgent
2.
this tax will devastate an industry that's one of the primary
reasons that the Massachusetts economy isn't the basket case
that many other states are
3.
you need the aide to schedule some time for you to talk directly
to your legislator
3. When you talk to the legislator, don't assume the aide has conveyed
much of anything you said. Explain directly to your legislator that:
1.
this tax will devastate an industry that's one of the primary
reasons that the Massachusetts economy isn't the basket case
that many other states are
2.
ask your legislator if he/she would be willing to support a bill
to repeal this tax before it destroys the Massachusetts economy
I told my legislator I'd keep track of which legislators are willing to
support a bill to repeal the tax and let him know. In order for me to do
that, I'd like to ask any of you who call your legislator to email me
the results of your phone call.
After you call your legislator, email me at: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
In the body of the email, please provide the following information:
1.
The legislator's name and title - i.e. Senator or Representative
2.
Did you speak directly to that legislator?
3.
If you didn't speak directly to your legislator, what's the name and
job title of the person you did speak with?
4.
Legislator's willingness to support repeal: 1) yes - will support
repeal, 2) unwilling to commit, 3) no - will not support repeal
Mark Rosenthal
On 8/1/2013 1:07 PM, Joseph Guarino wrote:
Hello Everyone,
Sadly, it is so expansively written because it is to apply to any IT
firms engaged in any IT hardware or software services or implementation.
This open ended and expansive language can only mean it will be applied
in this way. At first it was labeled a "cloud tax" now it has morphed
into any everything IT tax. It is going to make our state less
competitive and end up costing us jobs. Remember only 3 other states
are as out of touch to apply this short of poorly conceived tax.
I'm not the only one taking this opinion -- in fact every other article
I've found on the subject was equally alarmed and annoyed at this
horrible idea. Here are just a few of the Google results.
http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2013/05/new_massachusetts_software_tax_plan_does.html
http://www.telegram.com/article/20130729/NEWS/307309973/1116
http://www.networkcomputing.com/next-generation-data-center/news/servers/massachusetts-tax-may-leak-into-the-clou/240151527
http://ward.vandewege.net/blog/2013/07/i-object-to-the-new-massachusetts-tax-on-software-services/
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/07/05/taxpayer-group-moves-rein-software-tax/cqHzSqU0fpVWIAHimXtdJK/story.html
http://www.informationweek.com/government/state-local/massachusetts-computer-services-tax-rile/240158584
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/07/17/tech-sector-powerless-stop-new-software-tax/eEJi5ankQ3zNz2AGr9qeTK/story.html
http://www.necn.com/07/26/13/Uproar-follows-impending-Mass-software-t/landing_business.html?blockID=847691&feedID=11106
Thanks,
Joseph Guarino
A+,CISSP,LPIC,MCSE2000-03,PMP,Healthcare IT+
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