As our nation faces a government shutdown, our local leaders are building our own budget and talking to community advocates and experts about possible reforms to our own state's policies and practices.
While the shuttering of federal government offices would impact our lives in some
very real ways - from service delays to breaks in the tracking of communicable diseases - the situation is fostering some interesting conversations on the value that the public sector adds to our lives on a daily basis. Add to that questions of
what "essential services" look like in today's digital age, compared to the landscape in 1995, and there is enough fascinating material to keep news services and the blogosphere going, even if government websites are not.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts leaders are embarking on our state budget building process, listening to constituents and community advocates as they gather support for their budget priorities - the smart ones acknowledging that finding adequate funding for ANY priorities will involve a closer look at our state's revenue situation, and promising to support their elected representative seeking that revenue reform.
[Interested in learning more about this process? Join us on April 20th for an Insider Budget Briefing - Breaking Down the House Ways and Means Budget]ONE Massachusetts staff and network members have been busy raising their voices in support of two vehicles for revenue reform:
ECONOMIC TRANSPARENCY & CLAWBACKS.
Sondra Peskoe, ONE Massachusetts network and guest faculty member, testified at a revenue hearing today on An Act to Promote Efficiency and Transparency in Economic Development, sponsored by Senator Jamie Eldridge [
Senate 00153] and Representative Carl Sciortino [
House 02565] because
"we believe that by having a transparent and inclusive government we increase the confidence of the people in our communities to work together with it and achieve results that otherwise we can't achieve as individuals... While overall we support our state's decisions when drafting economic plans to boost job creation programs and provide stability to our communities, we also urge the Legislature to provide clarity on how these economic decisions are made and how the state invests our funds for maximized returns."
AN ACT TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
Both staff and statewide network leaders have been holding community meetings on the "Act to Invest in Our Communities" sponsored by Rep. James O'Day [
House 02553] and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz [
Senate 01416] because we believe this bill is a step forward in creating a more equitable tax system for all and in addressing our current revenue shortfall.
The act proposes an increase in the income tax rate from 5.3% to 5.95%, including an increase in personal exemptions from $4,400 (single) / $8,800 (married) to $7,900 (single) / $15,800 (married). It also proposes an increase of the dividends and interests rate from 5.3% to 8.95%, with an exemption for low and middle income seniors and disabled persons. For more info, check out write-ups on recent successful events in
Boston and
Worcester, or download an Info Sheet [
PDF].
GET INVOLVED!We are constantly updating our
Events Calendar with public community meetings and trainings taking place across the state. Don't see one in your region? Drop a note, and we'll organize one together!
For more information on all of the ways you can get involved in ONE Massachusetts priorities - from transparency to civic engagement to revenue reform, please contact me today!
Sincerely,
Harmony Blakeway
Director of Operations, ONE Massachusettsharmony@realclout.org 
Community Investment
Reforming OUR Government
Free Training to Organizations Statewide