Op-Ed for the Daily: Vote No on Question 1

This is an op-ed i just wrote for the Tufts Daily.  It will probably run on wednesday or thursday.  Let me know what you think. It's about a boring subject (income tax) but it is a really important issue here in MA.

Vote No on Question 1

 The income tax has been a staple of American life since the beginning of the 20^th century.  While no one really enjoys paying taxes, most tend to think of it as a civic duty.  However, here in Massachusetts, an initiative is on the ballot, called Question 1, that, if passed on November 4^th, would eliminate the Massachusetts state income tax, which at the present, is a flat 5.3 percent.

Some of you out there probably think this sounds like a good idea.  That’s how a lot of people felt back in 2002, when a similar proposal garnered 45% of the vote.   However, this proposal is in fact, an extreme measure that if passed, would hurt the Commonwealth for years to come.

While the group behind this proposal, the Committee for Small Government, claims this effort will “force the State Legislature to streamline ”, in reality, this policy will do anything but that.  It is an honorable goal to try to attempt to slim the budget, especially considering the fact that Massachusetts is short 1.4 billion dollars this year, however, eliminating the income tax is not the way to do it.  If this policy were put into place, the state would lose tons of revenue, approximately 12.5 billion dollars, all of which the State needs right now.  Two courses of action would be available to the State if this proposal were to pass: cut spending on programs, or raise taxes in some other area.  Both could be done simultaneously to make up for the enormous amount of money the state would be down. 

Though the goal of this libertarian group’s proposal is clearly to eliminate taxes, the proposal does not restrict increasing other taxes.  If other forms of taxes are increased to make up for lost revenue, it could potentially be in the area of sales tax, hurting every Bay Stater whenever they go out to buy for their family.  Right now purchases of food, prescription drugs, gas, oil and electricity are exempt from the sales tax, up to $175.  This restriction on taxing small sales protects the lower class and middle class from taxes on essentials that families need to get by.  If we were to lose the 12 billion in state revenue from the income tax, this exemption of necessary goods from taxation will have to go for the state to remain financially afloat.  This increase and abolishment of exemptions on the sales tax is regressive in fact really hurts the middle and lower class most.  Everyone needs to pay money for essentials, and if the state were to increase the sales tax substantially, it would make it even more difficult for the poorest in our state to pay for necessities. 

If this initiative becomes law, the State will be forced to make cuts in programs that are for the good of everyone in society.  Police and firefighting budgets may even have to be slashed to reduce the budget deficit if this is passed.  These are essential to everyone’s well being here in Massachusetts.  Safety should not be put at risk just to make a statement about “government waste”.

Another service that is in jeopardy because of this proposal is education.  Massachusetts is up there with the best in terms of public education.  Our schools are strong; yet, this proposal will threaten the very well being of the system that everyone in the state is proud of.  Our education represents the future of our state, considering that we are a center for high-tech jobs and technological research.  If funding for education is cut, we will be sure to see many teachers leave the state.  Teachers already are not paid enough at it is.  If there is any further decrease in pay for teachers, we will lose all the good ones.  If we gamble with education, the children of Massachusetts will be the ones who will face the consequences.  If our educational program declines, we hurt our children and the future of our state.

Cuts in educational funding would not only hamper basic education programs, it will also take funding from our higher education system.  This would be really detrimental to the UMass system, and it would even hurt Tufts.  Tufts receives millions of dollars in state money that help with various aspects of the school.  If question 1 passes, expect to see the university less able to handle various financial issues, which would be particularly dangerous to certain programs, given the current economic turmoil.

For many out-of-staters, this does not seem like it would affect you that much, however this is really not the case.  Considering the financial hole this would put the state in, expect sales taxes to be increased, while essential services will  need to be slashed.  All Tufts students would feel the pain as a result of this, and considering that a plurality of Tufts Students are from Massachusetts, those Jumbos would be affected even more.

If you are a native of Massachusetts, make sure you vote against Question 1.  What you would gain in an income tax cut would be replaced by losses in public services, education, and increased taxes on other things.  The whole state, including everyone on the Hill, would be negatively affected by the passage of this proposal.