On the one hand are things like the Central Artery project that is such a perfect expression of the Yankee Ingenuity which, throughout our history, has looked boldly to the future for ingenious ways to meet whatever challenges were thrown our way. And on the other hand are places like Bunker Hill, the house where Paul Revere lived, Old Ironsides, the Old North Church, and the Old Statehouse that express our passion for preserving things that are, well, old. Today, the Massachusetts economy is once again the envy of the nation. Our per capita gross state product outpaces the nation by almost 50 percent. The real-estate market is white hot.
Inflation is low.
Business confidence is high. And the state's bank account bulges from this unparalleled bounty. But there's a danger. Giving our citizens a strong and stable economy is the reason we cut taxes 28 times. It's the reason we gave back two and a half billion dollars for our people to spend, to invest, to make our economy grow.