In response to House Speaker Ron Mariano’s call for proponents of an income tax cut ballot question to “sit down with the House,” the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance noted that Speaker Mariano is continuing to ignore the urgent financial pressures facing Massachusetts families and businesses.

“Because of his indifference and the inaction of politicians on Beacon Hill, Massachusetts residents are being forced to take their concerns directly to the ballot box. Families struggling with high costs, employers grappling with rising expenses, and workers seeing opportunities vanish should not have to rely on the petition process to get their government to listen to their concerns,” said Paul Diego Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

Over the last few years, Massachusetts has experienced declining economic competitiveness, an accelerating loss of business and jobs, and a wholesale flight of people and wealth out of state. Instead of addressing these challenges head-on, Mariano continues to punt responsibility to voters and bureaucratic processes, leaving families and employers to shoulder the burden.

“There is nothing stopping Speaker Mariano from lowering taxes today to give working families and businesses relief. He has the ability to act and if he did, the people of Massachusetts wouldn’t need a ballot question at all. Yet he chooses to blame voters and pass the buck, warning of budget cuts as an excuse to avoid much needed meaningful reform,” said Paul Diego Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

“The voters do not need another lecture from Beacon Hill insiders. They need results. Passing the buck is not leadership; it is politics at the expense of Massachusetts residents. If Speaker Mariano truly believes in fiscal responsibility, he should act immediately to lower the income tax rate and work on reforming the state’s bloated budget,” said Craney.

MassFiscal calls on Speaker Mariano to stop delaying and start leading. Families, workers, and businesses should not have to wait months for relief while Beacon Hill punts the issue and Massachusetts falls further behind.