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Weekly Roundup
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May 4th, 2009
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Greetings!
First off, a sincere thank you to everyone who participated in our Virtual Rally over the past couple of weeks. We've spoken to many legislators who were asked by their constituents to support an "adequate, balanced tax package."
We've also gotten requests from many of our members for a more detailed example of an adequate and balanced tax package.
Last month ONE Massachusetts released a video - Progressive versus Regressive Taxes - that gives a good explanation of the different categories of taxes that are now on the table. In reality, it is possible to combine several taxes into one revenue bill that balances their merits - for example, the relative stability of the sales tax with the progressive structure of the income and capital gains taxes.
The ONE Massachusetts Leadership Team has not endorsed a specific tax package, but believes that in order to maintain - and repair - the system of public structures that keeps our Commonwealth safe and vibrant, we must support them with adequate revenues.
 By participating in our Virtual Rally, our friends and neighbors are giving their representatives the political support they need to make these difficult decisions. And those legislators truly want to hear from their constituents!
The Senate is now preparing to take its own look at our state budget - it's time to make some more calls! Call your Senator today and tell him or her that you know that you understand that we must support our communities with an adequate, stable tax package!
Find out who your Senator is here: http://www.wheredoivotema.com
Once you've called your Senator (or in preparation), check out Friday's Boston Globe Op-Ed - The Blessings of a Divided Government - in which Edward Glaeser opines that "No one, in government or the private sector, functions at peak levels without being challenged."
Here is a look at what else has been going on across Massachusetts: |
Goal: By 2013, the voice and input of the state's multi-racial, multi-ethnic communities will create a counterweight to the currently dominant voice and will be tangibly reflected in the public decision making process.
Updates:
 Democracy Day a Success! Nearly 200 Election Day Registration Coalition members and MassVOTE volunteers lobbied their representatives in, as Rep. Fox says, "The Peoples' House".
For more information on Election Day Registration, and how you can get involved, see Community News.
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Goal: By 2013, a fair, adequate, and stable tax system will be implemented. It will raise sufficient revenue so that state and local governments can fund the array of services needed.
Updates:
- State Revenue Projection: The state's plunging tax collections were discussed during a private caucus [Thursday, April 30th] in Senate President Therese Murray's office. As the House debates a $27.4 billion fiscal 2010 budget, which is being enlarged based on a sales tax hike approved Monday, the Senate next month is expected to release its version of the fiscal 2010 budget, a bill that could be based on a lower revenue estimate than the one agreed to earlier this year by House and Senate leaders and the Patrick administration. [State House News Service]
- Heath and Human Services Spending. The House early Thursday afternoon approved a budget amendment dealing with health and human services, an area of state spending that comprises nearly half of the state budget... "Today we see the importance of that slight increase in the sales tax," said Rep. Robert Spellane (D-Worcester), who singled out the 108 House members who took the "courageous vote" Monday to raise taxes. [State House News Service]
 House Budget Passed. After adding about $600 million to its bottom line over five days, the House voted 137-19 Friday night to approve a $28 billion budget for fiscal 2010. Ways and Means Chairman Charley Murphy acknowledged that dismal economic projections will likely derail the House budget but said it reflected priorities that he would fight for in an eventual conference committee. Speaker Robert DeLeo said the budget reflected both compassion and fiscal restraint. [State House News Service]
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Goal: By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local policy-making process will be in place.
Upcoming:Current Developments:- Ethics Bill. Secretary of State William Galvin said he expects the Senate will take up ethics reform legislation, which Gov. Deval Patrick has chided the Senate for not passing, within the next two weeks. Galvin said he hopes the Senate opts for reforms similar to those passed by the House, which are similar to those Patrick proposed late last year. "I'm told there'll be legislative action on that within the next two weeks," Galvin told the News Service. [State House News Service]
 New Lobby Tracking Website. Sec. of State Galvin's office on Friday rolled out a new website for tracking lobbyist activity, with improved search tools to examine the $80 million industry. "It was always a burr in my side because it didn't make much sense unless you were truly an insider and knew everybody's first name," Galvin said. [State House News Service]
Galvin
says the new site... is simpler to navigate
and data is easier to access. Galvin says that with $80 million paid to
lobbyists to influence legislation in Massachusetts last year, it is
important to get the information to the public. Users can search the
site by lobbyist, entity, or client, type of industry, campaign
contribution, and activity or bill number. (AP)
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 Thank you to all of you who came out to Democracy Day at the Massachusetts State House!  Democracy Day numbers from MassVote:
- Just under 200 people attended Democracy Day, more than ever before.
- Participants met with over 50 legislators about Election Day Registration.
- Over 50 participants lobbied for the first time.
- Twenty-one organizations participated.
Election Day Registration Facts:
- In 2008, over 10,000 Massachusetts citizens showed up at their polling place to vote, only to discover they were not registered. They registered that day, but could not vote.
- Each year, some 450,000 Massachusetts registered voters move and need to re-register again. We need to find a way to easily and automatically move their registration to their new address.
- Each year, about 100,000 youth turn 18 and become eligible to vote. We need to ensure that they register easily and automatically, instead of in a rush right before Presidential Elections.
- Each year, some 25,000 immigrants earn their citizenship. They should register easily and automatically.
To Participate in Voter Registration Reform:
For more photos from last week's event, please visit MassVote's Facebook page!
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