That's the explanation being given by state Rep. Michael Rodrigues, whose car - emblazoned with his House of Representatives plates - a Herald reader photographed at a New Hamphsire state liquor store. Where, of course, they don't charge sales taxes, such as the ones Rodrigues voted to increase.

The tax on meals, already set to increase to 6.25% next month, will go up to 7% Oct. 1 under a plan released today by Mayor Menino to combat a drop in state aid.

The Globe has the details.

Who knew the state legislature was full of such delicate flowers?

House passes sales-tax increase by veto-proof margin.

Mike Ball asks that you call your legislators and tell them that's meaningless without reform: Don't let those clowns think they've done enough!

The Outraged Liberal says Patrick could win the war for losing this battle: Patrick either ultimately gets the reforms he wants from the legislature or he has a ready-made issue to use against Republican Christy Mihos next year:

... Higher turnpike polls become lawmakers' problems and they will have hell to pay for the next round of MBTA service cuts and fare hikes. Not to mention they will own the crumbling roads and bridges.

Patrick's popularity numbers may be in the tank, but no politician has ever gone wrong running against the legislature or Congress. The beleaguered Patrick has put an important downpayment on his campaign by taking a stand here. ...

Blue Mass. Group has the roll call vote.

And nobody knows that more than people in the news business, who cannot do math to save their lives (raises hand). So, it's probably not surprising we're now seeing stuff like this AP headline: MA House to debate 1.25 percent sales tax hike.

No, guys, they're not debating a 1.25% sales tax hike. They're debating a 25% sales tax hike. Go divide 1.25 by 5 and tell us what you get for an answer. Or go talk to one of your Wall Street reporters about percentage points (or "basis points" or whatever they call them).

By 25%, why not extend it to professional and telecommunications services - and gasoline - the Outraged Liberal wonders.

House considers raising sales tax 40%, the Globe reports.

The Outraged Liberal analyzes the apparent consensus in the legislature to raise just the sales tax, and that by 20%, even though that would hit the poor harder than people at the upper ends of the income spectrum.

Hot off the newswires:

I just called my state senator's office to see if there was any news on the issue of a tax-free weekend in Massachusetts this year, an issue that was reported on last week and seemed to gain steam for all of about five minutes. I figured it couldn't hurt to register my support for doing it again after several successful years, especially since I'm shopping for new living room furniture. ;-P Well, Senator Petrucelli's office informed me that the vote passed (today, I think) and Massachusetts will waive sales tax on purchases of most items under $2,500 on August 11 & 12.

I don't see it mentioned online anywhere yet. Anyone else have confirmation?