House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has announced backing for a sales tax holiday this summer, after initially vowing support and then later appearing to change his mind. In an e-mailed statement, DiMasi said, “For the past four years, thanks to the Legislature’s economic stimulus bills, the sales tax holiday has served as a great incentive to consumers in Massachusetts and provided a much-needed boost to retailers in the otherwise slow sales month of August. There is no doubt this year that consumers need a break and that retailers need a shot in the arm. I believe the state can afford the sales tax holiday and I am going to encourage members to support it when we consider the bill — hopefully next week.” Senate President Therese Murray has already come out in favor of the bill. Critics of the holiday say it just shifts sales that would have otherwise occurred and doesn’t provide the economic jolt that proponents claim. The proposal may surface for debate next week in the House. Lottery revenues up, agency announces through herald State Lottery revenues totaled $4.7 billion in fiscal 2008, up $237 million over the prior fiscal year, Lottery officials announced Friday morning through the Boston Herald . Scratch ticket sales, which Lottery chief Mark Cavanagh called “a little bit of hope on cardboard,” totaled $3.3 billion and once again propelled sales. Sales of scratch tickets were up 8.3 percent as Massachusetts residents suffering ...
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