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Greetings!
Did you hear that Massachusetts made CNBC's Top 5 States for Business?
 Perhaps unsurprisingly, "Massachusetts makes it on the strength of its educational system" - from public schools through our array of public and private universities - and the quality of our human services.
These positive aspects prevailed, despite downsides such as high rents and our multi-billion dollar structural deficit.
So maybe it's time that we took a long, hard look at our state as a whole. What makes Massachusetts a great place for people to live and for businesses to thrive?
 Cities and towns across the state are already doing this. Just last month, Bridgewater residents voted to override their Property Tax limits in order to increase hours in its library and senior center, in part to cover recent drops in local aid coming from the state.
If highly-educated, safe, and stable communities are good for all, isn't it time we found out how to support them together - by reforming our revenue system so that it is adequate, balanced, and stable?
For more information on revenue reform and how you can get involved, contact ONE Massachusetts today!
Sincerely,
Harmony Blakeway
Director of Operations, ONE Massachusetts
harmony@realclout.org | 617-999-8469
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REVENUE
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. |
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FY 11 Budget
New Report Released on the FY 2011 Post-Veto Budget
It became apparent at the very end of the state budget process that the US Senate would likely fail to approve an expected $700 million extension in state fiscal relief that had been preliminarily approved by both the US House and Senate. As a result, the Fiscal Year 2011 post-veto budget implements significant cuts beyond those recommended earlier by the Governor, House and Senate.. [Full Report: MassBudget]
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Casinos
Patrick Says There May Be No Casino Bill
Gov. Deval Patrick said Tuesday he may not get to sign a casino bill this year because of disagreement over whether to allow slot machines at racetracks.
The governor said the differences between himself and House Speaker Robert DeLeo on slots may be too great to overcome. He said he still does not support slots at race tracks, while DeLeo has said racetrack slots are necessary to save jobs. [Full Article: WBUR.org]
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Ballot Questions
Questions gain numerical identities
Secretary of State William Galvin on Thursday announced the numbers attached to each question. The alcohol sales tax repeal question will be Question 1, the comprehensive permit law repeal is Question 2 and the initiative petition to reduce the sales tax to 3 percent will be Question 3.. [State House News Service]
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Alcohol Tax
Alcohol Tax Supporters Pledge "Aggressive Campaign"
Opponents of a ballot question repealing the state's new 6.25 percent tax on retail alcohol on Monday sales promised an "aggressive campaign," just hours after state election officials confirmed the question had cleared its last hurdle and qualified for the ballot.. Tax supporters say resulting revenues pay for services to more than 100,000 residents paid for out of a Substance Abuse Treatment Fund. [State House News Service]
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Jobs
Training needed for mid-level jobs, study says
Leading Massachusetts industries will need nearly 400,000 workers over the next six years to fill new and existing jobs for workers with mid-level skills, from technicians to licensed practical nurses to manufacturing operators, requiring the state to place greater emphasis on vocational training and education after high school, a study concludes...
The study calls on the state to guarantee Massachusetts residents access to at least two years of education and training after high school, but does not estimate the cost of such a guarantee. [Full Article: Boston Globe]
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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
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. |
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Conservation Campaign
Improve Recycling Rates in the Commonwealth.
 The Appalachian Mountain Club's Conservation Action Network is calling for community members to reach out to their legislators to build recycling efforts. "Updating the Massachusetts "bottle bill" will boost recycling, save our communities the cost associated with disposal and little clean-up, and conserve valuable resources, such as the petroleum needed to manufacture plastic bottles. Plus, it will keep the amount of bottle deposits at current rates without costing the state additional funds." [More Info]
The proposal, approved [Wednesday] by the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy... now heads to the Senate, according to committee officials. [State House News Service]
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GOVERNMENT REFORM
By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local
policy-making process will be in place. |
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Criminal Records.
Conference committee meets today - in public
A conference committee weighing proposals to overhaul laws dealing with employer and landlord access to criminal records of prospective employees, as well as a plan to offer early parole to certain nonviolent drug offenders, planned a fourth meeting today. The conference committee has voted to keep their meetings open to the public, bucking a years-long trend of private negotiations over contentious legislation. [State House News Service]
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- July 19th - 29th - Statewide: Committee Against Repeal of the Alcohol Tax Regional Campaign Field Meetings. "At November 2nd's state election, the liquor industry will ask Massachusetts voters to repeal the sales tax on alcohol. This sales tax provides dedicated funding for substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services. Passage of the question would jeopardize funding of these programs." The Committee Against Repeal of the Alcohol Tax is hosting regional campaign meetings to inform you about the campaign and what YOU can do to help defeat the repeal:
- Monday, July 19 - WORCESTER
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
AdCare Hospital, 95 Lincoln Street
- Tuesday, July 20 - WEST SPRINGFIELD
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
AdCare Hospital, 117 Park Avenue (If parking lot is full, please park at neighboring Bickford's Restaurant) - Thursday, July 22 - BROCKTON
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
High Point Treatment Center (Cafeteria), 10 Meadow Brook Road - Tuesday, July 27 - PEABODY
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
CAB Health Recovery Services, Zero Centennial Drive - Thursday, July 29 - BOSTON
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
AIDS Action, 75 Amory Street
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 Want more information on ONE Massachusetts and how you can get involved? Check out our: |
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