ONE Massachusetts Weekly Newsletter

Weekly Roundup

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

In This Issue

- Payments in Lieu of Taxes

- Economic Development

Quick Links

Greetings!

Sometimes conversations about what is valuable in our communities, and how our communities should best be supported, can feel like a finger-pointing match. But while political and economic differences are a reality, they don't always shape discussions in ways we might expect.

Take this recent quote from Abigail Disney, heiress to her grandfather Roy Disney's fortune:

"My grandfather [Roy Disney] would be the first person to tell you that he'd managed to amass his fortune not in spite of, but because of, the American system,'' she said. "After all, without reliable and safe roads there would be no such thing as Disneyland; without high-functioning legal systems and a well-regulated business environment there would have been no copyright protection for Mickey Mouse.'' [Full Editorial: Boston Globe]

And Abigail Disney isn't alone. You may have seen any number of videos like the one here, in which Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world, argues that he pays too little in taxes.

Buffett argues that the reason he falls into a lower tax rate than his own employees is that those employees don't have an organized constituency like that of high end investors.

That is exactly why the ONE Massachusetts network is working to build the capacity of all of our communities, so that we can all work together to build a more stable, balanced, and adequate revenue package.

The results of a recent study from the Center for American Progress [PDF] may make this feel a little less daunting. The Democratic Strategist has released a new 100-page report, "Better, Not Smaller," the key lesson embedded in these seemingly paradoxical results: Americans want a federal government that is better, not smaller. CAP's new research shows people would rather improve government performance than reduce its size.

For more information on revenue reform and how you can help our state's government help us build better communities, please contact ONE Massachusetts today!

Sincerely,

Harmony Blakeway
Director of Operations, ONE Massachusetts
harmony@realclout.org | 617-999-8469

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.

Funding Cuts

The Great Recession, Policy Choices...

Communities and families across the Commonwealth have been feeling the effects of deep cuts in government funding for education, health care, public safety, safety net programs, and other services that people count on. A new MassBudget series of fact sheets examines those cuts, identifying where the cuts have been and what some of the programs are that have seen the most significant cuts. [Full Report: MassBudget]

Sales Tax

Holiday Back, For Better or Worse...

State legislators voted last week to reimplement a sales tax holiday for the weekend of Aug. 14 and 15, after skipping the holiday last year during the state's tight budget crunch...

The decision to implement the holiday came around the same time a Washington think tank released a study that said sales-tax holidays are ineffective and distract policymakers and taxpayers from genuine, permanent tax relief... The study, written by Joseph Henchman, Micah Cohen and Mark Robyn, also found that sales-tax holidays do not significantly increase consumer purchases, they merely shift the timing of the purchases... [Full Report: Sentinal and Enterprise]

Federal Funding

Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act passed and signed

The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act (H.R. 1586)... provides more than $204 million to Massachusetts. Passage is expected to save an estimated 2,900 jobs for teachers and other education professionals throughout the state prior to the beginning of the upcoming school year and will ensure our children's education remains sound and our communities stay safe. The alternative of huge class sizes or reduced school hours, closed fire stations or decreased crime control was unacceptable... [Full Article: Swampscott Reporter]

Payments In Lieu of Taxes

Boston University, Brookline ink PILOT deal

Boston University will pay the town an estimated $380,000 during fiscal 2011 as part of a new five-year deal for Brookline to collect part of the taxable value of the university's property here.... [Full Article: Brookline Tab]

Economic Development

Business Incentives in Gateway Cities

Old manufacturing cities like New Bedford and Fall River could have an easier time luring businesses and developers thanks to a newly enacted package of tax credits and grants.

Gov. Deval Patrick on Thursday signed into law an economic development bill that includes some of the provisions sought by the Gateway Cities Coalition, a group of 11 cities. Coalition members lobbied Beacon Hill for tax credits to promote market-rate housing, job creation and historic rehabilitation in their cities. [Full Article: SouthCoast Today]

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.

Civic Engagement RFP

Participatory Action Research Initiative for Women of Color Leaders
In August 2010, applications will be accepted for a maximum of ten grants of up to $10,000 each to work as part of a collaborative to finalize the development of a eleven months-long Participatory Action Research Initiative for Women of Color Leaders. [More Information - PDF]

GOVERNMENT REFORM

By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local policy-making process will be in place.

CORI Reform

Proposed Changes Become the Law

Governor Deval Patrick signed into law yesterday a long-sought overhaul of the state's criminal records system that proponents say makes Massachusetts the first state to ban most employers from inquiring about applicants' criminal history on job applications. Instead, the state will create a database that will make criminal records available to many more employers, but will also hide certain convictions after five or 10 years.

At a boisterous rally inside a steamy, jam-packed Freedom House in Grove Hall, politicians, police, business leaders, and former convicts alike hailed the new law as a key step to reducing recidivism. [Full Article: Boston Globe]

UPCOMING EVENTS

Aug 12th, 2-3pm - Webinar: Voter Participation Basics for Nonprofits. This webinar will focus on principles and ideas for doing voter registration, voter education, engaging the candidates and getting out the vote - in the course of activities you already do - with additional information about where to go for voter participation materials and resources. [Registration & More Info]
Sept 17th - The Gastón Institute's 2010 Statewide Latino Public Policy Conference, Securing the Dream: Power, Progress, Prosperity. The conference will address public policies and organizational practices affecting Latinos in their local communities in the key policies areas, and will take place at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, MA. Primary conference objectives are:

To increase understanding of current issues that impact Latinos in Massachusetts,
To provide new data reports on immigration, education, health, economic development as well as updated demographic reports,
To create a dialogue between policy makers and Latinos on the impact of public policies and organizational practices,
To serve as a network connector for participants interested in the advancement of Latinos.

For a detailed program agenda or to register on line, please visit the conference website or call 617-287-5789 or email Gaston2010@umb.edu for additional information.

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