Senator Frederick E. Berry (D-Peabody) has announced today his support for the “Vote No on 4 and 6” campaign and his endorsement of the Campaign for Massachusetts’ Future, a broad coalition of community organizations, local officials, business leaders, labor unions, legislators, religious organizations and individuals that have come together to defeat these two tax cuts.
Senator Berry feels that the surplus should be used to begin to pay down Massachusetts’ debt, as well as be used for important state programs including public education and the repair of local roads. The state’s debt is the third highest per person in the country. It has increased 87% from $6.6 billion to $12.4 billion over the last ten years.
I believe that we should use the surplus in this state sensibly and responsibly to pay off our debt,” said Senator Berry. “People aren’t aware of the hidden taxes that we pay ever year on this debt and the related interest costs. This year alone, the legislature appropriated $1.3 billion dollars to debt service.”
Question 4 would drop the income tax rate from 5.85% to 5%, which is projected to cost the Commonwealth $1.2 billion dollars a year. Question 6, which would provide tax credits on money spent on tolls and motor vehicle excise taxes, is expected to cost $650 million a year. If passed, the two tax cuts combined would cost Massachusetts nearly $2 billion.
"The governor is being disingenuous and playing the worst kind of politics. He is trying to cast the opponents of this tax cut as ‘tax and spend liberals’ and that is simply not true,” said Senator Berry. “I am not against tax cuts when they are responsible and reasonable. I have supported 39 of the 40 tax cuts passed in Massachusetts over the past ten years. The one that did not receive my support was the tax cut for Raytheon, which, like these tax cuts, was shortsighted and irresponsible. The Raytheon tax cut ended up being devastating for many citizens of the Commonwealth. I am afraid that if these tax cuts were passed it would also have a disastrous effect on the economy in Massachusetts.”
Senator Berry urges the citizens of the Commonwealth to act in a fiscally responsible manner and vote no on questions 4 and 6. Even during times of prosperity, we must continue to focus on the long-term economic future of the state of Massachusetts.