Mass. attacks Uber: taxi subsidies.

• Author: Soave, Robby
• Position: Citings - Brief article

Uber and other ride-sharing apps are out-competing taxis by offering a better service. Taxi companies don't like that, and neither does the government of Massachusetts.

To assist the dying taxi industry in the state, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker approved a new 5-cent service charge on every single ride taken through a ride-sharing app. The funds will be used to subsidize taxi companies and to help them develop new technologies, such as an iPhone app that will let customers hail a cab.

Uber, Lyft, and similar apps already offer essentially the same service, which means the state is robbing Peter to pay Paul so Paul can become more like Peter. That doesn't sit right with the ride-sharing companies. "I don't think...