BOSTON -- Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal to raise the state income tax rate to pay for investments in transportation and education has been endorsed by a group of more than 50 economists.

The economists -- who come from public and private universities around Massachusetts -- said in a statement on Monday that the investments are critical to the state's long-term economic health.

They added that the income tax is the most equitable way to raise the revenue needed for transportation and education.

Patrick has called for hiking the state income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent, while doubling the personal exemption and eliminating dozens of itemized deductions.

He also wants to lower the sales tax.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo said last week he favored a "significantly smaller" tax hike. Concord, N.H.:
Mass. gets an ‘F'
on transparency

CONCORD, N.H. -- An analysis by a nonpartisan nonprofit that focuses on making government transparent and accountable is giving the Legislatures in New Hampshire and Connecticut an ‘A' grade for how they make legislative information available.

The Sunlight Foundation also gave the top mark to Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina, Texas and Washington.

Two New England states got an ‘F.' They are Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Others in that category are Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska.

Vermont got a ‘B' and Maine got a ‘D.'

The

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foundation rated legislative websites on such factors as completeness of the information on bills, votes and events; how quickly the information was updated; how easily the sites are to navigate; if the information was easily viewed with common software; and if information was preserved for future viewing.

-- Associated Press