Gov. Deval Patrick’s lightning fast reversal yesterday on a controversial $5 Registry of Motor Vehicles fee unveiled by the Herald was an election year bid by the struggling governor to prove he can be responsive to Bay State voters, said political analysts.“There’s such a populist outrage against any new taxes or hidden taxes, he couldn’t take on another charge that he has a tin ear to the people,” said Boston University political professor Thomas Whalen.
Patrick halted the fee - and vowed to hand out refunds - only one day after the Herald reported his administration had quietly installed a $5 charge for customers who renew their license or registration with an RMV employee at a branch office or on the phone.
“I appreciate what the registrar and (transportation) secretary are trying to do, but we’re going to have to look for another way to do this because the pushback has been actually quite understandable,” Patrick said.
Critics branded the new charge, which even caught legislators by surprise, as a “backdoor” tax on the poor and elderly.
Patrick said yesterday he supports the move to encourage more RMV transactions online, but said he didn’t want to burden taxpayers during hard economic times. The fee will be rescinded as soon as possible.
“I think he knows he’s got to look a lot better,” said John C. Berg, a political professor at Suffolk University.
Patrick’s dismal showing in recent polls means “he’s got to campaign from now to the election if he’s going to convince voters he’s on their side,” Berg said.
RMV began charging the fee Monday for anyone who walked into a branch office to renew a license, a registration or request a duplicate license. Motorists who used mail, the Internet, or the automated phone system were not charged.
UPDATE: Please be sure to join us Wednesday night at 8:00pm EST for the latest edition of The Notes on Blog Talk Radio! Our guests will be authors Dr. Roy W. Spencer and Steven L. Pease. Plus, more from the Herald.
SECOND UPDATE: More from the AP, Herald and Globe.
THIRD UPDATE: More from the Herald, CNN.com and the AP.