Voters reject income tax repeal!

 

The Truth About Income Tax Repeal - Times are hard enough. Let's not make them worse.

Income Tax Repeal: A group called the Committee for Small Government has qualified a question for the November ballot that would repeal the state personal income tax. If Question 1 passes, this initiative will become law, costing the state more than $12 billion a year in revenues, or about 40 percent of the state budget. A similar question on the 2002 ballot garnered 45 percent of the vote, and early poll results show that this question could pass if the public is not educated about how much damage it would cause. The Coalition for Our Communities strongly opposes the initiative because it would devastate the economy, public education and our quality of life in Massachusetts . The consequences would be dire: Click HERE to visit the Vote NO on Question 1 website.

· Economy: By making deep cuts in investments in education, public safety, roads and bridges and many other areas, this proposal would do severe damage to our economy, making it harder to attract new businesses to the state.

· Public Education: Slashing state revenues would lead to unprecedented and unsustainable cuts in public schools and higher education, which receive a substantial share of their funding from the Commonwealth. Our schools would be thrown into chaos and dysfunction. Our public colleges and UMass would have to cut services and sharply increase tuition and fees, putting the cost out of reach for many students.

· Property Taxes: The initiative would force local communities to raise property taxes significantly to lessen the damage. Those who think New Hampshire has a tax model we should follow should consider that New Hampshire ranks first in the country in property taxes as a share of personal income.

· Coalition Opposes Ballot Measure: This ballot proposal is opposed by a growing coalition of labor, civic, human services and business organizations. Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-backed budget watchdog group, said, “The income tax repeal would have a dramatically negative impact on the Massachusetts economy. Essentially, the sponsors of this ballot question are attempting to repeal the 20th century.”

If you or your organization would like to become part of this important Coalition, please download an endorsement form HERE.

Make Your Own Budget: If Question #1 passes Governor Deval Patrick and the Legislature will have to figure out how to cut nearly 40% of the State's revenue. Click Here to play an interactive game where you can decide what should be cut from the budget and find out how these cuts will negatively effect you and the State of Massachusetts.

Here are 7 ways you can help in the final 7 days:

1. Pledge to Vote No! Click HERE to fill out a pledge online to Vote No on Question 1.

2. View the "Vote No on 1" TV Ads. Click HERE to see the television ads urging voters to Vote No on Question 1.

3. Write a "Vote No on 1" Letter to the Editor. Click HERE for a sample "letter to the editor" you can send to your local papers. Included is a complete list of Massachusetts newspapers to help you find the best one or two for your letter.

4. Send a "Vote No on 1" Email to your Personal Network. Click HERE for a sample email, including links to all the Vote No on 1 TV ads, to send to your personal network.

5. Call into Talk Radio Programs. Click HERE for information about talk radio programs on stations all over Massachusetts that you can call into to express your opposition to eliminating the income tax. Click HERE for talking points.

6. Volunteer at Phone Banks and other Events. Click HERE for a list of phone banks and other events between now and Election Day.

7. Volunteer on Election Day. Click HERE for a list of visibilities on Election Day.

 

Oct. 7th Globe, cartoon by Dan Wasserman.