The Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday bounced an income tax ballot question from consideration this year, citing what it called a “significantly misleading” summary of the measure assembled by Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office.
Reactions poured in to the blockbuster ruling from people who are thrilled with the outcome, but had little to say about the details of the decision, and others who are angry and disappointed about the outcome and calling for procedural reforms.
MassBudget Reference:
MassBudget President Viviana Abreu-Hernández:
“This is a win for Massachusetts’ residents. The income tax ballot question was inaccurately presented to signers and voters. Cutting the income tax – the largest single source of state revenue – would have caused an extraordinary reduction in state revenue with damaging consequences to the state budget. This would have resulted in harmful and destabilizing funding cuts to public programs. MassBudget’s research shows that once fully phased in, the ballot initiative to cut the personal income tax rate would have reduced annual tax revenue by approximately $5 billion. During a time when Massachusetts is already facing federal funding cuts and families are struggling to afford to live in our state, any cuts to state revenue would be devastating. We need to invest in housing, health care, education, transportation, and other human service programs in key areas to make the state more affordable.”
