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Conservatives have always been wary of the so called Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (MTF). Unlike the Citizens for Limited Taxation and other taxpayer organizations the MTF is a front for big business and big government. If you needed another piece of data to help you understand this is the case, tonight gives it to you. Governor Deval Patrick, the leader of the big government machine in Massachusetts, is giving the Keynote address to the MTF tonight. The Massachusetts Republican Party took the liberty of asking the Governor some questions ahead of his appearance. Why Does Patrick Favor High Union Pay Rates Over Taxpayer Savings? Patrick Waved Through High Union Pay Rates: "Gov. Deval Patrick missed out on additional savings when he waved through high union pay rates for his supposedly cost-cutting civilian flagger program, according to economists and a lawmaker - a 'lost opportunity' that could come back to haunt him during his re-election campaign…Patrick administration officials last year indicated they would suggest unions renegotiate the flagger rates, because the ones currently on the books are from the 1930s, but that negotiation never happened, said Andy Bagley, research director for the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "That was a lost opportunity," said Michael Widmer, executive director of the business-based foundation. "The Legislature left that open for (the Patrick administration) to pursue that line, but they've taken the rate that's on the books." (Boston Herald, 7/28/09)
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