Masschusetts Ballot Questions

[bicker]

Question 1: Abolish State Income Tax (5.3% flat tax)

Although this would put $3,600 (on average) directly into the bank accounts of the average taxpayer each year, it would wipe out 40% of the state budget and take with it a whole host of social services that we've come to enjoy over the past few decades.



Question 2: Decriminalize Marijuana Possession

This would replace criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of the drug with civil penalties, making it comparable to a parking ticket.



Question 3: Ban Greyhound Racing

Would place a permanent ban on greyhound racing in Massachusetts.



If you live in Massachusetts, and aren't sure of your vote on any of the questions, please just hold off voting until you're sure. Thanks! (You can see the current status of the votes, without voting, by clicking HERE.)

 

[BCV513]

The amount of misinformation that is circulating on question 1 boggles my mind. Abolishing the income tax will not put thousands of dollars into anyone's pocket. Most people will see between 300 and 500 dollars. And how will the state make up for the 40% of its budget it will lose? Property taxes will go through the roof, sales tax will go up, gasoline tax will go up, excise tax will go up. Cutbacks will have to be made in state programs. The first things to be hit? School programs, police and fire.

I work for the state, and right now we do not have enough money to make ends meet. I cannot fathom what will happen if we lose the income tax.

 

[HakunaMatata2]

You missed one category - 'I don't want to live there!'. Massachusetts is one of the most overtaxed and corrupt states in the country. It is one messed up place and has steadily lost population over the last decade.
This state has been extremely liberal for many years and now can't balance its budget so it has requested a bailout for its budget from the federal government.
Anyone thinking of voting for Obama should take a good look at Mass. and note what years of liberal government have done for it.

 

[Charade]

The amount of misinformation that is circulating on question 1 boggles my mind. Abolishing the income tax will not put thousands of dollars into anyone's pocket. Most people will see between 300 and 500 dollars. And how will the state make up for the 40% of its budget it will lose? Property taxes will go through the roof, sales tax will go up, gasoline tax will go up, excise tax will go up. Cutbacks will have to be made in state programs. The first things to be hit? School programs, police and fire.

I work for the state, and right now we do not have enough money to make ends meet. I cannot fathom what will happen if we lose the income tax.

I don't live in Mass but our state (Pa) has income tax (about 3 %). Based on my salary, I'd see an in pocket increase of much more than the numbers you state (3-500) at 5.3 %. At that rate, it would be almost double.

Of course the state would have to make up for the shortfall somewhere else. Personally, I'd rather have my property taxes reduced than taking away the state income tax. I think most property taxes are quite inequitable.

 

[bicker]

Anyone thinking of voting for Obama should take a good look at Mass. and note what years of liberal government have done for it.

Wow, good job taking the thread off-topic and spreading hateful rhetoric around where it is unneeded.

Anyway, in the interest of countering your inflammatory misdirection:

"Schwarzenegger [Republican - California] to U.S.: State may need $7-billion loan"

Now, let's get back to a discussion about these three issues.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Don't live in MA, but I'd vote yes on all 3 provided the state could come up with an acceptable alternative to fund those social programs, such as our hotel bed tax and other tourism industry related taxes here in Florida. If you can find others, who aren't residents, who are willing pay for your state's social programs as part of a trip to Walt Disney World, I say more power to them!

 

[bicker]

This is my biggest concern about Q1: They're cutting revenues before they're cutting spending -- that's backwards to me. Why didn't the supporters of Q1, instead, put a proposal on the ballot to cap expenditures for specific programs at some (lower) level, and make that part of the lowering (or if they'd prefer, elimination) of income taxes???

 

[crcormier]

I voted No, Yes and Yes.

 

[crcormier]

You missed one category - 'I don't want to live there!'. Massachusetts is one of the most overtaxed and corrupt states in the country. It is one messed up place and has steadily lost population over the last decade.
This state has been extremely liberal for many years and now can't balance its budget so it has requested a bailout for its budget from the federal government.
Anyone thinking of voting for Obama should take a good look at Mass. and note what years of liberal government have done for it.

Wow, that's a lot of hyperbole that you can't back up with facts...

According to The Tax Foundation: estimated at 9.5% of income, Massachusetts' state/local tax burden percentage ranks 23rd nationally, just below the national average of 9.7%.

We, as all other states, have our share of corruption, but there is no evidence that we are the most corrupt state in the country. According to the Corporate Crime Reporter's report Public Corruption in the United States , Massachusetts ranks 26th.

From 2000 to 2006 Massachusetts population increased 1.4%.. I couldn't find any statistics for the last two years.

As for needing to be bailed out by the federal government, I have no idea what you're talking about. Are you referring to state aid that all other states get?

All your other claims have been refuted. Anyone looking to vote for Obama can look at Massachusetts and see a state that's doing just fine.

Will you admit that you were wrong and making claims you could not back up, or will I need to warn others that you refuse to back up any political claims you make and should therefore be ignored as unreliable?

 

[HakunaMatata2]

Wow, good job taking the thread off-topic and spreading hateful rhetoric around where it is unneeded.

Anyway, in the interest of countering your inflammatory misdirection:

"Schwarzenegger [Republican - California] to U.S.: State may need $7-billion loan"

Now, let's get back to a discussion about these three issues.

California may have a Rep. governor, but last I looked that was a blue state and has been for quite a while. I'm not sure the a liberal Rep. governor can updo years of work by the Dems.

I don't mean to pick on your state, but isn't it about time that Mass. residents started to ask what exactly you are getting for your tax dollars? You have an income tax, 5% sales tax, high property taxes, and fees for every service. Yet, the state is unable to balance a budget and needs a bailout.
The state has crumbling schools, decaying cities, and potholed roads littered with trash. How, as residents, can you allow this without even questioning the budget and spending? Considering all the tax dollars you spend, shouldn't you be getting better?

 

[crcormier]

California may have a Rep. governor, but last I looked that was a blue state and has been for quite a while. I'm not sure the a liberal Rep. governor can updo years of work by the Dems.

I don't mean to pick on your state, but isn't it about time that Mass. residents started to ask what exactly you are getting for your tax dollars? You have an income tax, 5% sales tax, high property taxes, and fees for every service. Yet, the state is unable to balance a budget and needs a bailout.
The state has crumbling schools, decaying cities, and potholed roads littered with trash. How, as residents, can you allow this without even questioning the budget and spending? Considering all the tax dollars you spend, shouldn't you be getting better?

How do you know about the state of our schools, cities and roads if you don't live here?

Oh, right, you don't back up your claims.

 

[bicker]

I don't mean to pick on your state

With respect, it sure looked that way, and the fact that you haven't edited your off-topic and inflammatory accusations don't help convince me otherwise.

but isn't it about time that Mass. residents started to ask what exactly you are getting for your tax dollars?

Don't worry; we are. Remember, I'm pro-business and a fiscal conservative, so I know what you're speaking of. However, as a fiscal conservative, I know that the real issue is the debt (and of course deficits cause the debt). You need to cut spending, then you can cut taxes. Not the other way around. Cutting taxes first is irresponsible.

You have an income tax, 5% sales tax, high property taxes, and fees for every service. Yet, the state is unable to balance a budget and needs a bailout.

How does your state compare, both with regard to these issues, and with regard to literacy, young people graduating from college, people living in poverty conditions, etc. I'm not saying MA is better or worse (since I don't even know what state you live in) but what I am saying is that there is a big picture here. Focusing on just taxes is irresponsible, as I said.

The state has crumbling schools, decaying cities, and potholed roads littered with trash.

The same can be said about many states. Massachusetts is actually quite average in many respects. I'd be more concerned about the states where there is more poverty, more people who don't have adequate health care, etc. No question that Massachusetts' highway infrastructure is weak, but we haven't had an Interstate bridge collapse, while a couple of other states have. And our tunnel collapse wasn't because the infrastructure was crumbling -- the tunnel was brand new.

How, as residents, can you allow this without even questioning the budget and spending?

It is insulting and irresponsible of you to assert we don't. You are incurring a very large social debt with your comments; you owe a great many people apologies for your ill-informed and inflammatory comments.

Anyway, this isn't a thread about Massachusetts versus other states. This is a thread about these three questions, yes versus no. Please keep comments limited to those things. Thanks.

 

[Golf4food]

Not in Mass but we had something quasi-similar in Florida last year - dropped the state property tax and changed the future calculations. Supposedly it would save home owners money, but of course the individual counties and/or cities just upped taxes on other things or added new fees to try and make up the difference. Be carefull what you wish for. The government WILL find or create a way to take your money if they want it, and they always want it. Net result for us is a very small savings this year but in a year or two we'll wind up paying MORE than we were under the old method. But people is dumb and will vote with short sighted joy for lower/no tax and not think about the future consequences.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

The income tax one is the only one I have a personal issue with. I live in NH, but work in MA. NH already has no state income tax, but since I work in MA, I have to pay non-resident income tax, which is more than resident tax. I would like to not have to pay that anymore and, since I don't live in MA, I don't get the benefits of the tax dollars I'm spending. I would like to see no more state income tax, but purely for selfish reasons.

 

[kelleigh1]

The amount of misinformation that is circulating on question 1 boggles my mind. Abolishing the income tax will not put thousands of dollars into anyone's pocket. Most people will see between 300 and 500 dollars. And how will the state make up for the 40% of its budget it will lose? Property taxes will go through the roof, sales tax will go up, gasoline tax will go up, excise tax will go up. Cutbacks will have to be made in state programs. The first things to be hit? School programs, police and fire.

I work for the state, and right now we do not have enough money to make ends meet. I cannot fathom what will happen if we lose the income tax.

It will put $300-$500 in my pocket only to take out $3,000-$5,000 later on. No thanks. I really wonder where people think the money will come from to make up what we're taking away by eliminating the income tax.

 

[HakunaMatata2]

How do you know about the state of our schools, cities and roads if you don't live here?

Oh, right, you don't back up your claims.

You're right. I don't live there, now, but I did and still have business interests here.
Nothing I said about the state is wrong. The problem with Mass is that there are many social progams that are designed to help people, but the 'people' see little of it. It is a trickle down mentality using tax dollars.
It amazes me that taxes in Mass are so high and no one questions where the money is going exactly.

 

[crcormier]

You're right. I don't live there, now, but I did and still have business interests here.
Nothing I said about the state is wrong. The problem with Mass is that there are many social progams that are designed to help people, but the 'people' see little of it. It is a trickle down mentality using tax dollars.
It amazes me that taxes in Mass are so high and no one questions where the money is going exactly.

EXCUSE ME, I POSTED THREE SOURCES THAT PROVE WHAT YOU SAID IS WRONG.

 

[goofy4tink]

I voted No, Yes and Yes.

Me too....and that baby is beyond cute!!!

California may have a Rep. governor, but last I looked that was a blue state and has been for quite a while. I'm not sure the a liberal Rep. governor can updo years of work by the Dems.

I don't mean to pick on your state, but isn't it about time that Mass. residents started to ask what exactly you are getting for your tax dollars? You have an income tax, 5% sales tax, high property taxes, and fees for every service. Yet, the state is unable to balance a budget and needs a bailout.
The state has crumbling schools, decaying cities, and potholed roads littered with trash. How, as residents, can you allow this without even questioning the budget and spending? Considering all the tax dollars you spend, shouldn't you be getting better?

I've lived my entire 59 years right here, in beautiful Tax-achusettes. If they do away with the tax, my property tax is going to go out of sight. That money has to come from somewhere.
Now....crumbling schools? Not in my town, nor in most towns. It's the inner city schools that have those issues. And I feel badly for them. There are inherent issues there that need to be addressed. Decaying cities? Some, but not all. Potholed roads, filled with trash?? Again, some. That trash is not the fault of the state, it's the fault of people like whoever drove by my house the other day, tossing out their McD's trash all over my yard! Can't blame that on gov't.

I don't see a lot of other states in much better condition. Every state has it's own issues.

 

[crcormier]

Me too....and that baby is beyond cute!!!

I don't see a lot of other states in much better condition. Every state has it's own issues.

Thank you for the compliment, we love our little guys!

Back on topic, I've been here most of my 35 years and I love this state. The only reason I would consider moving is as I get older I find I like warm weather a little more... Maybe not move though, just become seasonal...

 

[bicker]

The income tax one is the only one I have a personal issue with. I live in NH, but work in MA. NH already has no state income tax, but since I work in MA, I have to pay non-resident income tax, which is more than resident tax. I would like to not have to pay that anymore and, since I don't live in MA, I don't get the benefits of the tax dollars I'm spending. I would like to see no more state income tax, but purely for selfish reasons.

This is something I feel very strongly about: If you don't live in Massachusetts, then feel free to not work here, if you prefer. There are more than enough residents looking for work to fill most slots vacated by out-of-staters. The reality is that Massachusetts spends a lot more money (gives a lot more tax breaks) to businesses to locate here than New Hampshire does, and that cost of a healthy employment market is very fairly passed-along to all folks who take advantage of it. Reflexively, I used to work on the road quite a bit, and used to have to pay tax to New York, Michigan and California, as well as Massachusetts. Every penny I paid to those other states came out of the tax I owed to Massachusetts. So other states charge out-of-state workers working in their state as well.

Beyond that, New Hampshire drivers do use Massachusetts roads to get to work. I know because about 15% of the cars clogging my commute to work each morning have New Hampshire license plates.