December 18, 2008 Newsnight: Tax hikes inevitable? Play video

(NECN) - The hole in the Massachusetts budget just keeps getting bigger, upwards of three billion dollars says the Massachusetts Taxpayer's Foundation. So far, Governor Deval Patrick hasn't had to raise taxes. This week, neighboring New York got there first.

Governor David Patterson is proposing higher taxes on everything from soft drinks to luxury goods and income if you're wealthy. Also, higher beer and wine taxes, and a tax on services such as haircuts. A grand total of four billion dollars of taxes and fees. Could it happen in Massachusetts?

On this segment of Newsnight, Chet Curtis is joined by Representative Vinney Demacedo, Republican of Plymouth, and Senator Bruce Tarr, Republican of Gloucester, and Representative Bill Straus, Democrat of Mattapoisett.