Governor Patrick Pledges to Support People’s Choice to Roll Back Sales Tax to 3%
Perhaps Gov. Patrick’s campaign advisors have told him he better tell voters that, even if he doesn’t want to cut taxes, he won’t stand in their way. He just announced that he will uphold the will of the people if we vote YES on Question 3 to Roll Back the Sales Tax passes this November.
Gee, thanks, Gov. But let’s set the record straight. Question 3 is NOT an “advisory referendum” – it’s a binding law. If a simple majority of voters say YES this November 2nd, it automatically becomes law. The sales tax drops to 3% on January 1st.
Governor Patrick, we are cutting your allowance (or that of whoever is Governor this January 1st). And the legislature’s allowance (or that of whichever candidates hold a seat after this November election). Consider it our thanks for you raising the sales tax, raising other taxes, and adding thousands to the state government’s ranks – while tens of thousands of private sector workers lost their jobs, took pay cuts, or remain at risk of losing their jobs.
Can the legislature and governor raise the tax after we make it the law? History suggests they wouldn’t dare. The vast majority of ballot initiatives that have passed in Massachusetts stand as law today – including the income tax reduction of 2000.
In fact, the ONLY broad-based tax cuts to become law in Massachusetts in the last 30 years happened by ballot initiative. Until the 2000 election, we were paying 5.95% income tax. As a result of its passage, we now pay 5.3%.
$7 billion. That’s how much the successful YES vote to cut taxes by ballot initiative in 2000 has saved Massachusetts taxpayers. $7 billion less in government coffers. $7 billion more in the pockets of the taxpayers who earned it.
But there was one more. The tax on interest and dividends was 12% – until voters knocked it down to 5.3%. Another $5.7 billion saved over the last ten years – because of the ballot initiative.
That’s a total of $12.7 billion taxpayer dollars saved by tax cut ballot initiatives in Massachusetts over the last ten years.
Ballot initiatives work — IF you and your friends vote for them!
Voters now have the opportunity to give back $2.4 billion to taxpayers – every year – by voting YES on 3 to Roll Back the Sales Tax to 3%.
Best of all, YES on 3 will directly and immediately stimulate the economy – and create over 27,000 new, productive, private-sector JOBS.
Please join our campaign today – and tell everyone you know who wants less government, lower taxes, and more jobs to vote YES on 3 this November!
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3 Responses to “Governor Patrick Pledges to Support People’s Choice to Roll Back Sales Tax to 3%”
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We left Massachusetts back in 2007 and relocated our business to New Hampshire due to the rising taxes. Now we sell our software products worldwide with no sales tax. This would go a long way to keep shoppers in Massachusetts and certainly will stimulate the economy.
“Can the legislature and governor raise the tax after we make it the law? History suggests they wouldn’t dare. ”
Have you forgotten that the ballot initiative was to cut the income tax to 5.00%, not 5.30% – and that the legislature did indeed ignore the vote of the people.
How can we forget? Radio talk hosts yammer away at this relatively small setback relentlessly – while completely ignoring the 2/3rds of that same ballot initiative which STANDS as law today. While ignoring another major tax cut ballot initiative – 100% of which STANDS as law today (reduction of income tax on interest and dividends from 12% to 5.3%). While ignoring the fact that the vast majority of ballot initiatives – contrary to popular misconception – STAND as law today. Get the facts. See the FAQs section of this web site for more detail.
Then ask yourself: Why would people who say they want tax cuts and who say they want conservative candidates to win relentlessly whine about the rare setbacks – and never tell you about, much less celebrate – the more common victories? Why would they preach the gospel of hopelessness – rather than beat the drums of victory?
Are they shills for the Teachers Unions? Do they want to these voters to stay home on Election Day?