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 Fiscal Responsibility.
- Support Governor Charlie Baker's bi-partisan efforts to reform the MBTA.
- Reduce job-killing regulations.
- Reform unemployment and disability insurance to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
- 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 expansion of public charter schools to give options to parents and students.
- Reduce the state's spending and debt per capita to levels that are sustainable.
- Reform welfare laws to protect taxpayers and those in need of services.
- Eliminate the inheritance tax.
- Eliminate the inventory tax.
- Make it easier to take advantage of private-sector efficiencies by repealing the Pacheco Law.
- Oppose the Paid Sick Leave mandate.
- Oppose the proposed graduated income tax (millionaire's tax).
- Oppose the Affordable Care Act, including the medical device tax.
- Oppose an increase to the state's minimum wage.
Budget
Advocate for a Simpler Budget Process That Makes Understanding the Budget on Beacon Hill More Accessible to the Public.
Good Government
- Support budgets that are balanced without new taxes or spending from the rainy day fund.
- Demand that bills be posted online 48 hours before a vote is to be taken on that specific bill.
- Change the rules so that each amendment to the budget must be voted on individually.
- Support efforts that would require a two-thirds majority in the Legislature in order to increase taxes.
- Support efforts that would require public hearings on tax increases and new taxes before a vote takes place.
- Support efforts that would require an economic impact study to be conducted on new and higher taxes before a vote takes place.
Good Government
Advocate for Further Transparency on Beacon Hill.
- Demand legislative committee votes be made public.
- Support efforts to require Committee hearings to be broadcasted live and online during the hearing.
- Extend the open meeting laws to include the Governor and the Legislature.
- Support the public record law to include members of the legislature.
- Support making the MBTA pension fund open to the public.
- Reduce charges for providing public records to media and citizens.
- Reform campaign finance laws that would limit the influence of unions and special interests, and specifically the elimination of the "union loophole" in state campaign finance law.