ballot questions
Flo's boss backs medical-marijuana effort in Massachusetts
By adamg - 2/8/12 - 8:00 amThe Patriot Ledger reports the chairman of Progressive Insurance has contributed $525,000 to a group pushing a ballot question to legalize the medical use of marijuana here. The group has raised $1,167 from other sources.
Attorney General rejects bid to require government ID for voting in Massachusetts
By adamg - 9/7/11 - 2:18 pmNOTE: This is a corrected version of this post.
The state Attorney General's office said today a proposed referendum on requiring government-issued IDs to vote in Massachusetts is unconstitutional because it "infringes on freedom of elections."
Currently, Massachusetts voters facing a residency challenge can present a current utility bill or paycheck stub. The proposal by Mansfield Selectman Olivier Kozlowski would have required people showing up to vote to show a driver's license, passport or government-issued ID card.
Last month, the Attleboro Sun-Chronicle talked to Kozlowski:
Kozlowski said he was not aware of any specific voter fraud problems in Massachusetts, but worries that the system now is vulnerable.
"Every election you hear stories," said Kozlowski, a Republican.
The AG's office said other proposed measures - which will require backers to collect at least 69,000 signatures by December would be constitutional, including measures to require charitable organizations to comply with certain do-not-call restrictions, let supermarkets sell wine, allow the "humanitarian" use of marijuana and repeal the current requirement that Massachusetts resident buy health insurance.
See exactly who and what is on your ballot
By adamg - 11/2/10 - 4:28 amWhereDoIVote will not only tell you where you vote but will show you all the candidates and referendum questions on your specific ballot (some districts have some non-binding questions in addition to the three statewide questions).
Don't forget to turn over your ballot! In many places, it's a two-pager this time.
Via Steve Garfield.
Cutting the state sales tax could force MBTA fare increases, service cuts, T advisory board says
By adamg - 10/26/10 - 3:15 pmThe MBTA Advisory Board analyzes the potential impact of Question 3, which would cut the state sales tax from 6.25% to 3%, concludes passage and actual enactment would mean a big hit on the T, which now gets 57% of its revenue from state sales-tax revenue.
A portion of the sales tax is dedicated to the T; the board notes the T last year forestalled fare increases in part through additional revenue from the increase in the sales tax from 5% to 6.25%.
In addition to requiring fare increases and service cuts, the board writes passage could affect the covenants on bonds the state issued for capital projects that were based on the assumption they'd be repaid in large part through sales-tax revenue:
Any attempt to disrupt this framework could place the MBTA and Commonwealth in violation of its bond covenants, potentially triggering major and expensive legal action that could result in the seizure of assets.
Campaign roundup: Charlie Baker's smoking memo?
By adamg - 10/25/10 - 6:12 amAssociated Press uncovers a memo from Baker to then boss Paul Celllucci, urging him to sit on news of escalating Big Dig costs until after Cellucci beat Scott Harshbarger back in the day. Tony ponders:
Baker advocated that the financial mess the Big Dig was causing for the state be hidden from the public until after the election in November 1998. Yes, Charlie Baker advised Governor Paul Cellucci to hide important information from the public, the taxpayers, the citizens, the voters of Massachusetts to assure the the reelection of his boss. This is a condescending, insulting attitude and a perfect example of the politics of lies.
The Herald reports the two major candidates for governor are dogged by questions in the final week of the campaign: Baker by Jeff Perry, Patrick by job losses.
Campaign roundup: Cutting the sales tax
By adamg - 10/20/10 - 7:31 amWBUR takes a look at both sides of Question 3, which would cut the state sales tax from 6.25 to 3%.
Campaign roundup: Wine writer faced tough decision on liquor sales tax; Patrick tries to run as outsider
By adamg - 10/13/10 - 7:47 amRobert Dwyer, who writes about wine, will be voting yes on Question 1, which would repeal the sale tax on wine. Dwyer explains why that was no easy decision, especially after he learned that even with the tax, Massachusetts still ranks in the bottom ten states for tax levels on booze.
Kitty Dukakis takes on beer distributors
By adamg - 9/28/10 - 11:05 am
Kitty Dukakis, who has had a well publicized battle with addiction, spoke this morning at a Government Center rally calling for a "no" vote on Question 1, which would repeal the sales tax on liquor enacted by the legislature last year. Money from the tax helps pay for addiction recovery services. The repeal effort is heavily funded by beer distributors and package-store owners.
When no means yes
By adamg - 9/19/10 - 10:17 amOne Massachusetts is a group seeking a "No" vote on all three of this year's ballot questions, which would cut the sales tax in general, repeal the sales tax on booze in particular and eliminate a state requirement that communities ensure a certain percentage of their homes are "affordable." The group's Harmony Blakeway makes the case that "No" votes would actually be saying:
YES for our communities. YES, we want stable, healthy communities with opportunities for recovery. YES, we believe that all of our friends and neighbors deserve safe homes and neighborhoods. YES, we understand that our shared investment is essential to expanding economic opportunity and prosperity in Massachusetts.
Meanwhile, Dan Kennedy explains why he's inclined to vote "Yes" to repeal the affordable-housing provision, also known as Chapter 40B, because it can encourage overdevelopment, but also makes a request to the state's media:
Over the next few weeks, as we move closer to Election Day, I hope news organizations will take a good, hard look at Chapter 40B and whether it really deserves to be retained. What are the success stories? What are the failures? How could it be improved?
I would just as soon not vote against affordable housing, but right now I don’t see any reason to keep this law on the books.
Would you vote to cut the sales tax to 3%?
By adamg - 6/24/10 - 7:05 amLooks like you'll get the chance to do so this November. The Outraged Liberal argues why you shouldn't.
