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Masschusetts Nurse | April 2000
MNA Joins Campaign for Massachusetts' Future
Union leaders in Massachusetts, including the Massachusetts Nurses
Association, are joining the AFL-CIO in a statewide campaign to
defeat:
• the income tax rollback to 5 percent ballot initiative (sponsored
by Governor Cellucci) and
• the "Free the Turnpike" elimination of tolls.
Massachusetts citizens may view these proposals favorably unless
they are educated early regarding the actual impact this would have
on jobs and infrastructure. If successful, the financial impact
of these ballot questions is estimated to double the negative consequences
resulting from Proposition 2 ½.
The coalition reports that Governor Cellucci has already raised
$200,000 to pass these ballot initiatives. Television advertising
is expected to be used to endorse this campaign. The general public
may be easily persuaded to vote in favor of these tax cuts without
thinking through the real impact. The Coalition needs everyone to
pull together to educate their members and the general public about
the impact of such cuts, "they go too far".
The campaign is working to defeat both questions at the election
polls this November. Vote NO on these two ballot questions.
Impact and Implications
- They go too far! Combined with tax cuts already enacted but
not yet phased in, the tax cuts that will be on the ballot in
November 2000 amount to $2.6 billion dollars!
- Tax revenue won't grow fast enough to pay for these tax cuts.
Last year the state tax revenue grew by just $266 million, a small
fraction of the tax cuts that the state would have to cope with
if these initiatives were to pass. Further, health care advocates
are fearful that the newly received tobacco tax money would be
raided to pay for state coffers.
- Local services will be cut affecting municipal health
services, like public health.
- Education spending is on the line – especially with cuts of
this magnitude. This will have a direct impact on school nursing.
- Property taxes will have to rise. These large state tax cuts
will predictably increase property taxes and the need for Prop
2 1/2 overrides. It is estimated that the average property tax
will leap 12 percent in the following two years.
The MNA urges members to get involved in the Campaign to Defeat the
Tax Roll Back Ballot Questions.
For more information check out the Coalition's website at www.massteam.org
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