|
|
|
|
|
|
Weekly Roundup
|
August 4th, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
 For centuries, our state and local governments have been responsible to our communities for the creation and upkeep of our public structures. This has made us a competitive state, across our region and our nation.
Now, the combined effects of an era of tax cuts in Massachusetts and a suffering federal fiscal climate are limiting our ability to fulfill those responsibilities, and to ensure a healthy, vibrant state to all who live here.
This challenging time calls for wise and thoughtful measures. Our Governor, Legislature, and local governments have a difficult set of decisions to make in order to support our public structures. Just this weekend, a state sales tax increase went into effect, and a new set of revenue reforms - both increases and cuts - are already being discussed for the fall.
It is time that we, as a community, have some serious conversations about we value in our communities and
how we should pay for it as ONE Massachusetts. If you have ideas about
our best options as a state, and are interested in having a statewide
discussion, please contact ONE Massachusetts today!
Here is a look at what has been going on across Massachusetts: [Skip Ahead: Civic Engagement | Revenue | Government Reform]
|
 Civic Engagement
|
Goal:
By 2013, the voice and input of the state's multi-racial, multi-ethnic
communities will create a counterweight to the currently dominant voice
and will be tangibly reflected in the public decision making process.
Ongoing:
Are
you interested in attending a program that enhances your understanding
on how the state and local government works? Would you like to obtain
tools to promote more civic engagement in your community? Are you
considering running for public office? Learn about the following
programs that can help you achieve your goals:
- The Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership (IDCL):
Intensive 16-week training program to develop the next generation of
leaders of color committed to public service to ensure a more
representative democracy and a diverse civic community in Greater
Boston. [http://initiativefordiversity.net]
- ˇDespierta!
(Wake Up!): 10-week leadership development and civic education program
for Latino adults focusing on civic and voter education, government,
leadership development and community organizing. [http://www.oiste.net]
- Commonwealth Legislative Seminar:
Intensive 6-week training program at the State House that invites
community leaders from communities of color and immigrant groups to
learn to navigate the legislative and state budget process. [http://www.masscs.org]
- Emerge Massachusetts:
7-month political leadership training program to identify, educate and
inspire Democratic women who want to pursue elective office at the
local and state level in Massachusetts. [http://www.emergema.com]
|
| Revenue |
Goal: By
2013, a fair, adequate, and stable tax system will be implemented. It
will raise sufficient revenue so that state and local governments can
fund the array of services needed.
Upcoming:
- Revenue Reform. Would
you like an opportunity to weigh in on how we should support our state
and local communities? There are many ways to fund our public
structures, including cuts and additional revenue. Though the legislature has made increases to some revenues, including the sales tax, these were not enough to close our structural gap.
Options for the fall session, being discussed by Legislative
Leadership, include slots and destination casinos. Representative Jay
Kaufman and Senator Ben Downing, Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Revenue want to hear how you would do it!
 Join
them at a series of events across Massachusetts, to be launched in
Pittsfield early this October, to discuss the current state fiscal
crisis and the fiscal options moving forward. Locations and dates to be determined... stay tuned!
In
order to encourage more lively and informed discussions, ONE
Massachusetts will be hosting training events in each of the listening
tour communities to educate members of the community about our
different progressive revenue options. Stay tuned for more information
about these trainings.
- Casinos. Attorney
General Martha Coakley unveiled legislation Monday designed to help
police and investigators crack down on crimes associated with casino
gambling - from money laundering to loan sharking. The bill is intended
to establish some of the legal groundwork needed as lawmakers weigh
whether to expand gaming in Massachusetts, either in the form of slot
machines or casinos, to boost needed revenues. [WBUR]
- Sales Tax.
A proposal that passed unanimously at a recent Green-Rainbow Party
(GRP) State Committee meeting noted that when all taxes and fees are
considered, lower income residents of Massachusetts already pay at a
rate almost twice as high as the highest income brackets. The proposal
suggested that rather than enacting tax measures [like sales tax] to
make the system even more unfair, the Legislature should "adequately
fund important state services by instituting revenue-enhancing tax
measures that increase the fairness of our tax system." [Arlington Advocate]
- Liquor Tax. As
package stores mount a ballot push to repeal a sales tax on alcohol set
to take effect Saturday, advocates for people with addiction to drugs
or alcohol say such a move would only exacerbate substance abuse issues
in Massachusetts. Package store owners are launching a ballot campaign
to repeal the new 6.25 percent sales tax on alcohol, which is set to
begin Saturday. [Boston Herald]
 Stimulus Effects. From schools to roads to arts, federal funds are coming to communities north of Boston. Massachusetts
is due to receive $8.7 billion in federal stimulus money over the next
two years. Some money already has been used to help communities
maintain critical funding, such as for public education. Other money
will be used to help jump-start the economy by relaxing restrictions on
small business loans. Funds also are available to support renewal
energy, helping sustain the economy long-term. [Boston Globe]
|
Government Reform
|
Goal: By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local policy-making process will be in place.
Update:- Transparency. All
Massachusetts state, county and local government agencies that have
been allocated federal Stimulus funds are now required to post all
contract and procurement grant records with Comm-PASS,
the state's free, publicly, accessible, internet-based procurement
system. Non-profit entities are also required to post their information
to the site. Government watchdog groups Common Cause and MASSPIRG
praised the new requirement... as an example of how government agencies
can make public funding more transparent.
| |
|
|
|
 Want More Information on ONE Massachusetts?
|
|
|
