Raise Revenue, Invest in Our Communities, Our Futures

[UPDATE:  for latest scoop on this bill, see the Progressive Massachusetts legislation guide, (to go directly to the Act to Invest page, click here)]


An Act to Invest in Our Communities (House Docket 2553 02261 & Senate Docket 01416 1012: click links on bill #s to see the Bill's progress thru the legislative process.
UPDATE: GENERAL HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 5/5/2011--please contact your legislator ASAP)

For lots of great information on this, go to One Massachusetts's materials on revenue reform.

Nice overview of what's true/false about taxes in Massachusetts and why we are where we are today.

We need lots of grassroots pressure on the legislature to pass this. Please contact your representatives and urge their support--and ADVOCACY!--of "An Act to Invest in Our Communities".

from CBPP.org

Needham residents, contact:
State Senator Richard Ross: 617-722-1555, richard.ross@masenate.gov
State Representative Denise Garlick: 617-722-2430, denise.garlick@mahouse.gov
--NOT IN NEEDHAM? FIND your State Legislators here


AFTER YOU'VE MADE YOUR CALL/EMAIL--CHECK IN BELOW, so we can begin to measure our grassroots impact/efforts!:



MORE INFO

• Post Blue Mass. Group:: Please, Raise my taxes (3/2011)
• Sen. Jamie Eldridge on Budget Priorities (3/2011)
  • The fact is, our communities can’t afford more cuts, especially not two billion dollars. This is the time to invest in our communities, to keep the quality schools and services that make our state a good place to live and do business.// Everyone has programs and services they want the government to spend money on, but very few want to talk about how those services are paid for – with tax dollars. We all need to do a better job of being honest about the reality of our budget, and what we do and do not value as a Commonwealth.

Response from State Sen. Ross, 4/13/2011

Thank you for contacting my office about the “Act to Invest in our Communities “ bill. In this difficult economic times it is crucial to continue to invest in our public infrastructure to continue to provide for the high quality services the people of the Commonwealth have come to expect from their government institutions. That being said we must also find a way to encourage business growth and reduce the unacceptably high unemployment rate. While these problems seem disconnected, they both impact the already strained budget that the legislature is beginning to tackle in the coming weeks and months.

That is why I will be interested in the information and financial analysis that will come to light after the public hearing of An Act to Invest in Our Communities. While I appreciate the creative approach to raising revenues, we need to know more about the broad impact of this legislation on the Commonwealth and on the services, such as education, that you mentioned.

Thank you for contacting me and if you have any future questions or concerns please contact my office.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Ross

State Senator

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