Oct 22, 2008 9:31 am US/Eastern
Should Voters Be Ignored On Question One?
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Two weeks from now, voters will have the chance to repeal the state's income tax.
But would it ever really become law?
Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve has been talking to his sources on Beacon Hill and he has been told, even if
Question 1 passes, it would probably not go into effect next year.
In a month filled with the worst economic news since the Great Depression, anyone and everyone is trying to save money. It is against this
back drop that Massachusetts voters will get the chance to save thousands of dollars by eliminating the state's income tax on Election Day.
Question 1 was placed on the November ballot by Carla Howell and her group, Committee for Small Government.
"Voters will get back an average of $3,700 dollars every year when we end the income tax," Howell said.
Now here is where it gets interesting. Sources are telling Shortsleeve that if voters elect to abolish the state income tax, lawmakers on Beacon Hill will either vote to over-ride it or they will vote to delay it.
Howell says, "Our opponents have said it is at their peril if they undermine the will of the voters, they have said it would be political suicide for them, we should believe them."
Politically powerful and connected groups are already on TV promising dire consequences if Question 1 is approved by the voters and $12 billion in tax revenue disappears.
The TV spot says "Question 1 would slash the state budget by 40 percent, forcing drastic cuts in our schools, health care, police and fire."
David Turk of the Beacon Hill Institute, a conservative think tank, says even though his group believes Massachusetts could survive without the income tax, he doesn't think we will ever actually find out.
"I don't think the legislature is going to allow Question 1 to stand…if it is passed."
Gov. Deval Patrick agrees with the TV spot. He told Shortsleeve on Monday, "I think, for those who are concerned about cuts that are already taking place, if Question 1 passes, they ain't seen nothing yet."
Even voters who support paying a state income tax don't like the suggestion that the electorate could be over ruled on this issue.
"I don't think people will be very happy with that," said one voter.
Another voter added, "I wouldn't be surprised if they ignored us."
If voters approve Question 1 and lawmakers do not act, the state's 5.3 percent income tax rate would be sliced in half in 2009 and totally eliminated in 2010.
(This is a hot topic on our
Conversation Nation blog. Take a look at some of the latest comments from readers.)
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments