2008 Statewide Ballot Questions
Gotta love the legalese on <a href="http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ELE/elepip08/pip081.htm">Question 1,</a> wherein we vote whether or not to abolish State Tax. The last line sez: "The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the other parts would stay in effect." So what's to stop the lawmakers to say some element of the law was invalid should the vote pass? I mean, for crying out loud! Everybody knows Massachusetts is a Commonwealth, not a State! You heard it here first, that's the loophole those snakes will use to reverse this vote! Democracy in action (inaction?)!
In other notes, Question 2 offers proposals to reform our marijuana laws. Spark it up theduane, wherever you are.
Massholes recognize how drastically other taxes would increase w/o an income tax. (Like say a sales tax of 8%, which adversely effects the less wealthy.)
Regardless, the proposed law seems to say that if some part is invalid, the rest "would stay in effect" which is essentially the opposite of what you're worried about; they cannot reverse the measure even if a piece is invalid.
It's basically saying "if a judge rules one part of this law unconstitutional, we only throw out that part, not the whole law". Most longish proposed laws have a bit like that in them. Even cell phone contracts have shit like that now.
CC might be right about whether it passes or not, but supposing the measure does pass, I think MC is right to be concerned that the legislature will reverse it. The legislature can add, repeal, or amend any law it wants to. So, if the question passes, the legislature could repeal it. If I recall correctly, this is exactly what happened to the "clean elections" bill: it passed on the ballot, and then the legislature repealed it.
If this happens, and voters don't like it, then they can of course not re-elect the reps/senators who voted to repeal.
1) More people vote in a Presidential election than a Senatorial one. Both the '94 and '02 ballots weren't Presidential.
2) There's a financial crisis (depending on your perspective) going on right now. And people will read that bill and think they'll save more money should it pass.
Sales tax is less fair because it hits lower income people harder.
Property tax is less fair because it is done at the local level, so rich towns get more of this money than poor towns.
How does NH state government get its money? With no income and sales taxes, it's all property tax, right? In Mass, property tax is levied by the local town/city. Is it statewide in NH? Or does the state collect money from the towns somehow?
Property taxes in the Northeast are high already. Expect a bump of at least $1,000 to the median real estate tax in MA if No. 1 passes. Which effects renters, too, of course.
http://www.retirementliving.com/RLtaxes.html
If I was asked and replied "0%", would I be included in Carla Howell's average? What if I had said "100%"?
Are you talking about the little web poll on her site there? Web polls are good... if you're looking for the opinions of zealots who are new to the internet.
<a href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/09/21/repeal_eliminates_waste_lines_our_pockets/">41 cents wasted</a>.
But at last check, NH was still looking for a constitutionally 'adequate' education system.</a>
But, one way that could happen would be if the state stops local aid to the cities and towns. It looks like local aid last year was about $5 billion. Eliminate that, and the towns have to make that up with property taxes. There are about 3 million housing units in the state, so the average property tax bill would be about $1600 higher. That's average, though, not median. So I think you're about right on with the $1000 estimate.
Another thing though is that income tax pulls in about $11.5 billion for the state. Subtract the $5b for local aid, and that still leaves over $7 billion the state needs to take care of. So, I would expect an increase to the sales tax as well. Sales tax currently brings in about $4b a year. So, might we be in for a tripling of the sales tax to make up?
I also noticed that the state pulls in over 4.6 billion (10% of its income) from the lottery. That means that the average Massachusetts resident pisses away about $750 per year on the fucking lottery?!?!?!? Jesus.
2) True, "Never underestimate the stupidity of the voting public". But I do think people in MA are more aware of their tax burdens.
My assumption is that local aid would be the first thing to be cut, and property taxes would have to increase so that localities can continue to provide cops, firefighters, teachers, snow plows, etc.
The state average (how about that for the "middle class"?) was $1506 in 2005. http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/35.html
N=69% : Yes=31%
Biggest defeat of this idea to date.
Question 2
Yes=65% : No 35%
Should be interesting to see implemented. Will this affect anything?
Question 3
Yes=56% : No=44%
Not that close, but the closest of the ballot questions. Adopt a greyhound next year?