Holy f*cknuts...this is NOT from the Onion, it's from Esquire:
“It now costs to be blind in Massachusetts. The state’s approximately 35,000 blind and legally blind residents must now pay $10 annually for a certificate of blindness and $15 every four years for a blind identification card. Without the formerly-free documents, blind people cannot take advantage of tax abatements, affordable housing programs, health care services, transportation discounts and other benefits. ... The fees originated in February, in Gov. Mitt Romney’s budget proposal for fiscal 2004.” (Shaun Sutner, “Advocates Fight Fees For The Blind,” Telegram & Gazette, 8/5/03)
But wait, there's more...according to the
original article (Business Insider),
Romney Also Proposed Imposing A Fee On The Mentally Retarded:
“The committee will also accept most of the fee recommendations made by Romney, Rogers said, but would not endorse ... a new fee for some mentally retarded citizens...” (Jennifer Peter, “House Leaders Agree With Romney’s Plan To Eliminate Urban Park Agency,” The Associated Press, 4/16/03)
Good heavens. I haven't seen someone this cartoon-villainish since...well, since Dick Cheney
shot his friend in the face, then managed to get the
friend to apologize to
him.
Personally, I prefer Wonkette's headline on the story:
AS MASS GOVERNOR, CARTOON PLUTOCRAT MITT ROMNEY TAXED PEOPLE FOR BEING BLIND