Constitutional Convention Advances Graduated Income Tax Vote to June  

Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Statement – “No”

BOSTON 5-9-2019 – The House and Senate held a constitutional convention and approved 156-37, (House approved 121-33, Senate approved 35-4), a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow a graduated income tax in Massachusetts and impose an additional 4 percent income tax, in addition to the current flat 5.1 percent one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million. Language in the amendment requires that “subject to appropriation” the revenue will go to fund quality public education, affordable public colleges, and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation.

Responding to efforts by some big government lawmakers, including state Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) and Representative James O’Day’s (D-Worcester), to revive the recently rejected proposal to amend the state constitution and shift Massachusetts to a graduated income tax, the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance made the following statement in response to today’s Constitutional Convention.

“The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance stands with the voters, who on five separate occasions voted against making Massachusetts a graduated income tax state, and with the state’s highest court which recently rejected a similar scheme as unconstitutional,” stated Paul D. Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

“Some lawmakers think history started in 2019, but this policy idea is the most rejected in the state’s history. The answer should always be NO, when considering removing our constitutionally protected guarantees of equal taxation,” he continued.

Did you see this tweet from the State House News Service?

House members were just instructed to go to a lounge to debate state budget amendments pertaining to public safety and the judiciary. If you are wondering about details of that debate, you'll have to find out from the reps themselves as it's a members-only gathering. #mapoli

— State House News (@statehousenews) April 23, 2019

The House is expected to begin debate on amendments to the state budget today. First up, are amendments that deal with revenue, aka tax hikes or new taxes. 

MassFiscal was pleased to see the Governor’s tax hike proposal to the real estate excise tax (Stamp Tax) was not included in the budget and not included as an amendment idea, but we were disappointed to learn that Representative Jones (R-Reading), the Republican House Minority Leader, proposed to reinstate two tax increases that were included in the Governor’s original budget, but were left out of the House Way and Means version.