The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance and Chris Carlozzi of the National Federation of Independent Business hosted a press conference via Zoom with several Massachusetts small business owners this morning to tackle the issue of the legislature’s 80% income tax increase amendment.

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, Citizens for Limited Taxation, Dr. David Tuerck of the Beacon Hill Institute, Chris Carlozzi of the National Federation of Independent Business, and a bi-partisan group of state lawmakers including State Senator Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton), State Representatives Colleen Garry (D-Dracut), David DeCoste (R-Norwell), Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) and Nick Boldyga (S-Southwick) came together for a press conference to warn the public about the upcoming ballot question proposed by the legislature that would amend the state constitution and allow the legislature to raise the income tax rate on specific groups.

Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance made the following statement today after Senate President Karen Spilka and Speaker Ron Mariano successfully pushed forward an amendment to the state constitution that would effectively eliminate the equal taxation clause.

On Wednesday, the legislature voted to advance an amendment to the state constitution to make Massachusetts a graduated income tax state and raise taxes by 80% on “high earners.” The grad tax would also impact locally owned, independent small businesses filing as S Corporations or pass-throughs.

On Wednesday, lawmakers will once again vote to amend the state constitution to make Massachusetts a graduated income tax state. Just like last time, they want to raise taxes by 80% on Massachusetts high earners. This is their seventh attempt! Similar attempts have been rejected by the voters in 1962, 1968, 1972, 1976, and 1994. In 1994, the voters rejected it by a 65% margin, with 316 of the state's 351 municipalities voting against it. To download a copy of the election results, click here.

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.