03/03/2023
Raise Up Massachusetts statement on Governor Healey’s proposed budget:
"Governor Healey deserves credit for ensuring that Fair Share revenue is not diverted to tax giveaways or reserves, so that it is available for spending on transportation and public education as voters intended. As legislators consider the Governor’s budget proposal, we hope they will join her in adopting clear accounting mechanisms that deliver dedicated new investments to our state’s transportation and public education systems.
"However, the Governor’s accompanying proposal to cut state taxes by a billion dollars each year, including nearly $400 million in tax cuts targeted at the ultra-rich, would ultimately undermine the Fair Share Amendment’s goals of a fairer tax system and greater investment in critical public goods. Tackling the real challenges to the Commonwealth’s economic competitiveness – from working families’ struggles to afford housing and child care, to our economy’s need for an educated workforce and safe and reliable transportation infrastructure – will require making significant investments over the coming years, not giving enormous tax breaks for wealthy stock traders and multi-million-dollar estates.
"While the Governor’s budget proposes several meaningful new initiatives, it doesn’t come close to making the investments necessary to address our workforce challenges, tackle our broken childcare system, end the housing affordability crisis, or fix the MBTA and build a 21st century statewide transportation system. Instead, a massive permanent tax cut for the wealthy would most likely lead to catastrophic budget cuts the next time we hit a recession.
"Voters had their say in November, and voted for the ultra-rich to pay more so that Massachusetts could make new investments to tackle our state’s challenges. As legislators craft the budget, we urge them to respect the will of the voters and focus on crafting a fiscally sustainable budget that invests in the solutions Massachusetts needs."Ra
Gov. Maura Healey unveiled a $55.5 billion budget proposal Wednesday, representing a 4.1% increase in spending over fiscal 2023.
