More folks are recognizing a growing support for raising revenue. This reporter interviewed Senator Chang Diaz, Harris Gruman, and our own Judy Meredith about revenue reform and the need to support our communities in ways that are stable, adequate, and balanced... "A movement of concerned groups is promoting what they consider a solution to the state's projected 1.8 billion dollar budget deficit raising taxes..."  March 31, 2011 [Full Article: WAMC]

Additional funding bill for state and local budget priorities moving through the State Legislature... "House Democrats voted through a $325 million supplemental budget bill today, but drew the line at a Republican push to increase spending by another $25 million to give cities and towns more snow removal money..." 
March 30, 2011 [Full Article: NewsTelegram.com]        
       

Hard work by community organizers urging support for investment in Duxbury resulted in three successful overrides... "Duxbury voters yesterday approved three Proposition 2 1/2 overrides to fund the construction of police and fire stations and cover initial costs for new schools."
March 27, 2011 [Full Article: Boston Globe]        
          

A look at the reality of the effect of business taxes on small businesses... "There is little conclusive data on the direct relationship between taxation and entrepreneurship, and plenty of examples where nations with high taxes have robust small businesses... Zoltan Acs of George Mason University, former chief economist for the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy... said it is possible that lower taxes might indeed be good for small business, "but the question is, what are we giving up?''
March 26, 2011 [Full Article: Boston Globe]         
         

A group fighting to change the conversation from only cuts to reforming revenue. It fits in nicely with out 2011 Revenue Reform campaign!  "The US Uncut community buzzed in anticipation of [last] Saturday's big national day of action... For Justin Wedes, a representative from the New York chapter, the overall message of the day [was] about reframing the debate about the recession. "Don't cut federal and state budgets that pay for firefighters, cops, teachers and other important services when large corporations are evading their taxes. In other words, we don't have a budget problem. We have a revenue problem."
March 25, 2011 [Full Article: The Nation]

Western Mass leaders discuss the potential impact of redistricting due to low population numbers in their region. Stay tuned for ways you can add your voice to the redistricting process... "It's ironic that we're talking about two of the most powerful guys in the Massachusetts delegation who are at risk. We can't afford to lose that clout," said former Springfield state Rep. Raymond Jordan, during the hearing at Van Sickle Middle School in Springfield."
March 29, 2011 [Full Article: ItemLive.com]    

The Western Mass delegation offers their thoughts on the Legislature's exemption to the open meeting laws that bring transparency to local government... "Should the Statehouse be allowed to hold a meeting behind closed doors? That's a question that's far from hypothetical because unlike its City Council and Select Board counterparts, the Massachusetts Legislature is exempt from the state's open meeting law. But that soon could change with Rep. Thomas Stanley, D-Waltham, having recently filed a bill to end that exemption..."
March 28, 2011 [Full Article: North Adams Transcript]    

It's time to make sure these folks can join efforts, ensuring that the new majorities have districts that help them build power in electing and influencing their members of Congress... "The Asian, Hispanic, and black population in Massachusetts increased sharply in the past decade, with the first two groups rising 46 percent, and the latter group 26 percent, according to new US Census figures released today..."
March 22, 2011 [Full Article: Boston Globe]