Open House Forum w/ Rep. Jay Kaufman

This month’s OPEN HOUSE explores what makes for a good tax system

Representative Jay Kaufman hosts “A community conversation on taxes”

Representative Jay Kaufman’s award winning public policy forum, OPEN HOUSE, this month tackles the tough question of taxes, on Thursday, January 17, 2008, from 7:30PM-8:30PM, at the historic Depot in Lexington Center. The discussion will focus on taxes. We all pay them. We all have thoughts about them. Few would think we pay too little, most would say we pay too much. Come share your ideas on how public input can help to shape a good – fair, adequate, and sustainable – source of revenue for the public services we all need.

Representative Kaufman will engage the audience in an open-ended conversation on what we can do about having an impact on what you can do to make your voice heard on the matter of taxes as the central revenue component of our economy.

· What’s the right formula for setting income and property tax rates?

· How important are sales and excise taxes?

· What does your tax dollar buy you, are you getting a fair value?

· Do corporations pay enough? Will closing corporate loopholes help or hurt our state economy?

· Should local communities have greater ability to garner tax revenue?

· Are alternative programs like casino gambling taxes worth the risk?

Rep. Kaufman launched OPEN HOUSE shortly after taking office in 1995 to pro­vide a forum for discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the community and Commonwealth. OPEN HOUSE has been named the best television series by the Massachusetts Cable Television Commission, and was awarded the cable industry’s Beacon Award as the nation’s best government relations series. OPEN HOUSE is produced in partnership with the Lexington Historical Society and the Woburn Public Media Group, and is broadcast throughout eastern Massachusetts. For more information, please call Rep. Kaufman’s State House office at 617-722-2240.