Modern Day Marhall Plan

(Following is a letter of thanks to Gov. Deval Patrick of MA and the State legislature. They just passed a huge new tax bill, increasing taxes on income, sales, tobacco, meals, and a new tax on alcohol on top of existing excise tax. The border state NH is a no sales tax, no income tax, and much lower tax on tobacco and alcohol).

I just wanted to thank the MA Legislature and the Governor for doing all they could to stimulate the NH economy.

I know they all worked long and hard hours to help us by seeing that the new twenty five, (25%) percent increase in the sales tax would pass ----and pass successfully it did!

But the bonus your state gave us with the increase in alcohol and meals tax was uexpected!

Also, the additional support your state gave us by mandating that the track in Revere and Raynham be closed, couldn't have come at a better time---Thank you!

Seabrook residents are out dancing in the streets as they wait to greet their new Bay State patrons to Greyhound Park. As we speak, vendors are actively increasing their inventories to meet the increased demands that will be placed on sales of everything from gas to cigarettes to beer, home goods and God knows what else.

And the best is that many of your state's welfare dollars will now be spent here thanks to that generous gesture of giving free cars to welfare recipients. Those who used to walk or take a train to the Wonderland Track can now drive to Seabrook. We also appreciate your including free insurance and free AAA membership for them. Because although NH is a non mandatory insurance state, it's good to know that welfare recipients driving their free cars to Seabrook will be able to cover any property damage they may cause. And the tow companies are pleased with your providing them free AAA because if there is an accident or breakdown, they have a guaranteed paying customer.

Wow!! it's like Christmas came early, and what better timing in the middle of a recession! I expect this will have an impact on unemployment figures here too, the increase in business will mean new jobs.

Yes, Massachusetts has done so much to help us bring major businesses to our state that I feel that we owe you a debt of gratitude that can not be expressed in words. It brings tears to my eyes when I drive through border towns like Seabrook and Plaistow and see the parking lots full with MA plates at major stores like, Home Depot, Sam's Club, TJ Max, Lowes Best Buy, and Staples. Our restaurants too are busy due to yor state's unprecedented generosity. It's a modern day Marshall Plan.

Just one more thing, and I hate to ask considering all of the sacrifices that your citizens have already made on our behalf. But do you think that you could OK that 19- cent - per - gallon increase in the gas tax that the governor proposed? It would go a long way to help our gas station owners.

Again, my personal thanks to Gov.Deval Patrick, legislators and all of you wonderfully generous taxpayers and citizens of Massachusetts to whom we are eternally grateful.

The Shark---eternally grateful to Massachusetts