FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PLEASE CONTACT:
August 3, 2006 Michael Bloom, 617.722.1650

BARRIOS AND JEHLEN MOVE THE EDWARD G. CONNOLLY MERIT BILL THROUGH THE SENATE

BOSTON- Veterans will see additional tax exemptions with a bill pushed by State Senator Jarrett Barrios and Senator Patricia Jehlen, and passed by the Senate last week. The Senate unanimously passed the Edward G. Connolly Massachusetts Military Enhanced Relief Individual Tax (MERIT) bill which will provide property tax relief for veterans and their surviving spouses.

The bill, named after the late Edward G. Connolly (D-Everett), is a tribute to the eight-term State Representative, who passed away earlier this May. A member of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs and the Chairman of the House Special Committee on Veterans, Representative Connolly was a tireless advocate of veterans’ causes. In this session alone, Representative Connolly was a sponsor of approximately 30 bills benefiting the veterans of the Commonwealth.

“Property taxes are the biggest strain on the pockets of citizens living in the Commonwealth,” said Barrios. This legislation will help with that and we can never do enough for the men and women who fought for this country,” said Barrios.

The bill would allow cities and towns to offer property tax relief to veterans and includes a new 100 percent property tax exemption for surviving spouses (Gold Star Spouses) of veterans, who die as a result of service in the combat area for the first five years after the veteran’s death. The bill also allows cities and towns to suspend the payment of property taxes due by a member of National Guard, the Reserves or their dependants while on active duty for six months after that duty is complete.

The legislation is now in the House of Representatives.


 

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