Left In Lowell

Progressive Declaration

by Lynne at 8:50 am.

This op-ed by Sonia Chang-Diaz and Jamie Eldridge says it all: we are completely avoiding the real discussion about taxes in this state.

“Taxes” is often thought of as the dirtiest word in politics. Yet taxes are the way that we, as a society, pay for the things we value: education, police and firefighters, and public transportation. Each day we rely upon government services, public infrastructure, and state regulation, paid for by our taxes, in order to allow us to work and raise a family. What’s so dirty about that - and why are we so afraid to talk about it?

A fair tax system asks residents to contribute to the cost of government services based on their ability to pay - and few people would consider a tax system to be fair if the poorer you are, the greater proportion of your income you pay in taxes. But that’s exactly what more regressive taxes - such as a sales or cigarette tax - do. They ask those who can least afford it to pay more.

The crux of the matter:

There are also ways we could modify the income tax to make it even more progressive. Over the long haul, an amendment to the Constitution would allow the Commonwealth to join 34 states and the federal government in establishing a tiered, progressive tax rate system. But even this year, we could raise the personal exemption, increase the state Earned Income Tax Credit, or expand the Property Tax Circuitbreaker, so that more of the revenue we raise is coming from taxpayers with higher incomes, while lowering taxes for those near the bottom.

Even as someone in a not-so-low tax bracket these days, I heartily endorse an income tax increase, with a progressive regime to ensure those least able to pay are paying less, proportionately, of their income. And I endorse a constitutional amendment to allow true progressive taxation. The article is correct in that we are in the bottom half of states in regards to taxes paid as a percentage of personal income. We’ve gotten into that bottom half by the aggressive and short-sighted policies last few administrations and legislatures. But we got to be a strong Commonwealth, a wealthy Commonwealth, because of our prior history of investing in our citizens through education, entrepreneurship, and services to help those who need it help raise themselves up. That investment is waning, and so is our state. We’re losing population, our educational prowess is declining, and our universities becoming unaffordable and unattainable.

It takes investment in ourselves to make us strong. The loss of that is making us weaker. We need a fair and honest tax system NOW.

[Filed under MA politics, Budget, Taxes] [link]

6 Responses to “Progressive Declaration”

Brian Flaherty Says:
May 17th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Will never happen until the state makes real reforms. Scott Lehigh, a care carrying liberal, wrote a column last week saying the state could save billions if it made some reforms:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/05/15/reforms_that_lead_to_big_savings/
sd Says:
May 17th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
a combination of reform (fair pension system, ending of the stupid policies that cost us too much money, and end to the ‘prevailing wage’ system), and a real progressive income tax would be the real soultion to many of the state’s problems.
Lowell Resident Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I’m questioning Brian Flaherty’s math because Lehigh’s proposals don’t come near $1 billion in savings never mind “billionS.” The Republican estimates for the Pacheco law savings are quite exaggerated. And if people honestly think this budget can be reformed single handedly at the expense of state employees, they have no idea.

What is the problem with the budget? We’ve been under taxed for too long. Thats the bottom line. Everything has been bonded out and pushed to the future and now revenues aren’t there when the bills come due.

The state is cutting billions in aid. It won’t be enough.

Allowing communities to force unions into GIC is anti-labor and really shouldn’t even be legal. Let it be collectively bargained. If it can save money then good. Let them bargain for it. (Same thing with the Quinn Bill by the way, it should be collectively bargained at the local level and not guaranteed by state mandate)
Jackie Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Why aren’t our legislators and governor seriously looking at the income tax as a fairer way to raise desperately needed revenue? Especially given the current economic crisis, it seems a much better way to go than any of the other proposed taxes.
Ryan Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Scott Lehigh is not a card-carrying liberal. He’s a moderate. An annoying one at that.
sd Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
most municipal leaders in our communities are outmatched by the union negotiators, politically forced by the union members, or just too dumb to care about the long term impacts of their right-now decisions. the state cannot let communities bankrupt themselves and take the state with them, just to keep things going with the unions. there are answers. deval’s plan for a statewide teacher contract is a good start. we should also have a statewide public works contract, police contract, fire contract, etc. this would level the playing field, let the negotiations happen at a higher point in the administration, and let local government concentrate on what it needs to do without the distraction of the union negotations. then they could all do GIC.

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May 17, 2009

Progressive Declaration

6 Responses to “Progressive Declaration”

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