For too long, special interest groups have been influencing decision makers on Beacon Hill. As a result, Massachusetts has become less economically competitive. Below are simple reforms that could dramatically help Massachusetts. If you have a reform idea, please share it with us. Email tips, ideas or comments by clicking here.
Economic
Advocate for Fiscally Responsible Economic Policies.
- Reduce job killing regulations.
- Reform the unemployment laws.
- Restore the $500 million in local aid to relieve pressure on local property taxes.
- Roll back the sales tax from 6.25% to 5%.
- Roll back the state income tax level to 5%, as supported by the Massachusetts voters.
- Roll back the meals tax to 5%.
- Support and protect legislation that lowers the cost of utilities rates for consumers.
- Support the public charter school expansion to give choices to parents and students.
- Reduce the state's spending and debt per capita to levels that are sustainable.
- Reform the welfare laws to protect taxpayers and those in need of services.
- Eliminate the death tax (also known as the inheritance or estate tax).
- Eliminate the inventory tax.
- Eliminate, repeal or amend the anti-privatization Pacheco Law.
- Oppose the Paid Sick Leave mandate. Oppose the minimum wage increase. Oppose tax increases to fuel and gas. Oppose tax increases on beverages and snack foods.
Budget
Advocate for a Simpler Budget Process That Makes Understanding the Budget on Beacon Hill More Accessible to the Public.
Good Government
- Demand further scrutiny for earmarks, contracts, bidding and the grant awarding process.
- Demand the votes on budget items be made public and recorded.
- Demand that bills be posted online 48 hours before a vote is to be taken that bill.
- Balancing the budget so that borrowing and diverting of funds from the rainy day fund are eliminated.
- Support efforts that would require a two thirds majority in the Legislature in order to increase taxes.
Good Government
Advocate for Further Transparency on Beacon Hill.
- Demand Legislative committee votes are made public and recorded.
- Extend the open meeting laws to include the Governor and the Legislature.
- Support the bi-partisan Rule 28 Coalition which allows a simple majority in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to vote up or down on legislation, instead of the powerful Speaker or the Committee Chairs.
- Support information requests to be processed at no or little cost to the public and the media.
- Reform campaign finance laws to level the playing field with unions and corporations.