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< Back Survey finds solid support for ‘millionaires tax’ among would-be voters Jon Chesto Jul 27, 2022 Both sides in ballot measure are gearing up for big TV ad campaigns this fall Supporters of a proposed income tax surcharge on high earners remain well ahead of opponents in the latest Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll, but the two sides appear close enough that a massive TV ad campaign could decide the fate of this statewide ballot question in November. The poll of 569 registered voters taken last week, shows 56 percent support the surcharge, nicknamed the “millionaires tax” or simply “Question 1,” while 36 percent are opposed and another 8 percent remain undecided. The poll has a 4 percentage point margin of error. Other, earlier polls have generally shown more support — usually around 65 to 70 percent of respondents — for the surcharge, which proponents call the “Fair Share Amendment” and critics dub the “Tax Hike Amendment.” The ballot question would amend the state Constitution, imposing a new surcharge of 4 percentage points onto the state’s 5 percent income tax for all individual earnings over $1 million. Thus, someone earning $1.2 million would pay the flat 5 percent rate on the first $1 million, and 9 percent on the remaining $200,000. The measure would affect an estimated 20,000-plus taxpayers in any given year, and generate roughly $1 billion annually, with a stated purpose of going toward education and transportation. Bonnie Phair of South Yarmouth is among those who still need convincing. “I feel like it’s a good solution in principle but I think 4 percent is a little steep,” said Phair, who participated in the poll. “[The 9 percent] is getting close to a double-digit number.” Sixty-one percent of women said they back the surcharge, compared to half of men. Support is stronger in Boston and north of the city, and weaker in Southeastern Massachusetts, the Worcester area, and points west. Three-quarters of registered Democrats said they would support it, while only one-quarter of Republicans did (although only 63 Republicans in total responded). Education was another factor. David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University’s Political Research Center, said only 43 percent of the respondents who did not go to college supported the surcharge. He noted that previous polls did not include the actual ballot language, which includes a phrase saying the money’s use for transportation and schools would be “subject to appropriation” by the Legislature. Both sides of this debate have steered clear of expensive TV ads so far, instead starting out with less expensive social media and other digital ads. That’s about to change: Raise Up Massachusetts, the coalition behind the Fair Share proposal, recently purchased more than $10 million in TV ads for next month. Opponents are gearing up for their own television campaign to respond. By November, the two sides combined will, in all likelihood, have spent tens of millions of dollars. This ballot battle could end up becoming the most expensive in the state’s history, if it trumps the $52 million spent in 2020 over rights to access car telematics data. Some survey respondents, like Kelly Merchant, are ready to say yes. Merchant, a Hopedale resident who owns a cleaning business, said she has no problem with imposing an extra tax on the wealthy, particularly for schools and transportation. “If they make that much, why not tax them on it?” Merchant said. “I would be very grateful to be making that much [and] I would love to give back.” Others are dubious. Brian Marrotte, a Taunton resident who participated in the poll, said he is skeptical all the money will go to its intended uses and remains opposed on principle. “I don’t think people of different incomes should pay different tax rates,” Marrotte said. “It seems unfair. It should be the same percentage across the board.” It’s not yet clear who has been bankrolling either side this year; the first public data on ballot question spending in 2022 won’t be released until early September. The previous campaign finance report reflected receipts at the end of 2021, when the opposition’s ballot committee was just getting started, with backing from a number of business leaders. Several union organizations and a philanthropy associated with eBay founder Pierre Omidyar had chipped in for the “yes” vote. Expect the Raise Up ads to push the argument that the tax affects only the top 1 percent, or as Raise Up campaign manager Jeron Mariani puts it, “the super rich,” with ads that, among other things, imply this surcharge is a way to address the economic inequities that widened during the pandemic. A debate is emerging over whether the middle class could get ensnared. Opponents say people with relatively modest incomes could get hit if they sell a house in a hot market, or if they are small-business owners who report business income on their personal tax forms. But Mariani said he doubts many homeowners would be affected. Only a tiny percentage of all homes sold in Massachusetts result in a gain of more than $1 million for the seller, he noted. “What we’re really talking about is the mega-multimillion-dollar homes,” Mariani said. “Who owns that? The top 1 percent.” Dan Cence, a spokesman for the Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment, begs to differ, saying many small-business owners and homeowners will get charged at some point. Roughly half of the people who pay this surcharge would do so only once, he said, such as those selling a business or real estate. Plus, Cence said, there’s no pressing need, with the state enjoying a multibillion-dollar surplus and the Legislature about to pass a round of tax cuts. “It undermines economic growth,” he added. “And you can’t guarantee that there will be any increase in education or transportation [spending].” That question — will all this new money actually go to schools and transit? — has been persistently raised by critics over the years. Raise Up tried to get the proposed surcharge before voters in 2018. But that year, the Supreme Judicial Court agreed with business groups that had sued, and blocked the question by ruling it bundled technically unrelated concepts — an income tax hike and transportation and education spending. This time around, state lawmakers initiated the measure instead of citizens, to get around the relatedness question. Critics sued again, this time to try and insert language on the ballot noting there’s no guarantee of a net increase for transportation and education, because it’s subject to the Legislature’s appropriation. That effort failed. But the business-backed legal challenge could provide fodder for the “no” campaign’s upcoming marketing push. “It’s going to be, ‘You can’t trust the Legislature to make the decisions as to whether this money is going to education or transportation,’” said Joe Baerlein, a communications adviser who has worked on 10 ballot campaigns. “It was a smart thing they did, and also indicates one of their major themes of how they’re going to attack this.” Previous Next

< Back Fair Share Amendment Ballot Campaign Launches Second TV Ad Andrew Farnitano Sep 7, 2022 With Question 1 on the November Ballot, “The Very Rich Pay Their Fair Share, and Our Schools and Our Children See the Benefits” For Immediate Release September 7, 2022 Contact: Andrew Farnitano, 925-917-1354, andrew@crawfordstrategies.com Fair Share Amendment Ballot Campaign Launches Second TV Ad With Question 1 on the November Ballot, “The Very Rich Pay Their Fair Share, and Our Schools and Our Children See the Benefits” BOSTON – The campaign working to pass the Fair Share Amendment today announced the launch of its second television ad , part of an eight-figure TV ad campaign that will run through Election Day. The Fair Share Amendment, the proposed state tax on incomes above $1 million, would raise billions of dollars to invest in transportation and public education. It is Question 1 on the November statewide ballot. Titled ‘ Better ,’ the ad features Cynthia Roy, a public school teacher from New Bedford, talking about how Question 1 will help our public schools recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Question 1 is a chance to make things better,” she says in the ad. “It raises $2 billion a year, constitutionally dedicated to public education and transportation, so we can end the teacher shortage, hire more counselors, and provide better support for students.” Thousands of educators, workers, small business owners, parents, faith leaders, municipal officials, drivers and transit riders, and more than 300 organizations across the state are working together on the Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign to pass Question 1. After years of grassroots advocacy, the state Legislature voted in June 2021 to place the Fair Share Amendment on the November 2022 statewide ballot, where it is now set to be decided on by the voters as Question 1. Background on Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot – will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and constitutionally dedicate the funds to be spent on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Learn more and get involved at FairShareMA.com Previous Next

< Back More community groups join coalition backing millionaires tax Benjamin Kail | Boston Business Journal Jun 28, 2022 Over 60 progressive groups have now endorsed the 4% surtax on income surpassing $1 million More than 60 progressive groups have now endorsed the 4% surtax on income surpassing $1 million, a proposed constitutional amendment that supporters say will level Massachusetts’ tax burden, even as critics argue it could undercut the middle class and hurt small businesses. The Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign announced the new backing for the so-called “millionaires tax” on Monday, a day before Sen. Elizabeth Warren plans to kick off a canvassing effort on the measure in Malden and a week after Massachusetts’ high court cleared the proposal to appear as proposed on November ballots. Fair Share said the 63 regional and statewide community organizers — which included groups like the Black Economic Justice Institute, Cambridge Residents Alliance, and Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness — are focused on economic opportunity, immigrant rights and racial justice. Group leaders said the potential $1.3 billion–plus that reportedly would be generated by the surtax would lead to significant investments in education and transportation. “The Fair Share Amendment will help improve our schools, colleges, roads, bridges and transit, and only the very rich will pay more,” said Lily Huang , co-director of Mass. Jobs with Justice. “Massachusetts communities desperately need a steady investment in this vital infrastructure so that families can live and work — not just surviving day by day, but flourishing as we invest in ourselves.” Dax Crocker , a program coordinator for the Coalition for Social Justice, said the state’s economy is “working great for those at the top, but in the South Coast, working people are really struggling.” The tax, he said, should lead to “ fewer potholes on our roads, more resources for our public schools, better bus service in our communities, and lower tuitions at our public colleges.” Previous Next

On November 8, 2022, Massachusetts voters passed Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment. We chose a fairer tax system, guaranteeing that the richest one percent will pay more to fund our public schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and public transit. Now, Fair Share is at work, funding $1 billion of transportation and public education investments in the current state budget—with more to come. Here's how the first $1 billion of Fair Share funding is being spent: Public Schools $150 million for construction projects and green infrastructure in public schools, from kindergarten through 12th grade $69 million to give every child free school meals, saving families hundreds of dollars a year for MBTA infrastructure, including repairs, maintenance, and improvements $205.8 million Public Transportation for regional transit authorities, including expanded service hours, route expansions, and making fares free $90 million Public Colleges and Universities $109 million for financial aid to students at public colleges $50 million for tuition-free community college Roads and Bridges $150 million for the construction and repair of roads and bridges across the state Early Education and Care $70.5 million to expand access to high-quality childcare and pre-K to more children and families Want to get involved? Help us spread the word that the Fair Share Amendment is already funding the schools, roads, and transit we all rely on.

November 9, 2022: Question 1 passes. The Fair Share Amendment is in the Massachusetts constitution. Question 1, the Fair Share Amendment, PASSED on the statewide ballot November 8th, 2022. This ballot question is our chance to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share in taxes. This is how we build an economy that works for everyone. Question 1 is a win-win for Massachusetts. And it passed. Why the Fair Share Amendment About Question 1 Question 1, the Fair Share Amendment, would create a 4% tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and require – in the state constitution – that the funds be spent only on transportation and public education. With Question 1, the top 1% of Massachusetts residents — those making over $1 million a year — would pay their fair share in taxes. 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And because Question 1 will be written directly into the state constitution, the money would be constitutionally required to go only to transportation and public education. That means $2 billion a year, every year, for better roads, safer bridges, reliable public transportation, and public schools from pre-K through college. On November 8, vote YES on 1. LEARN MORE READ THE AMENDMENT November 9, 2022: Question 1 passes. The Fair Share Amendment is in the Massachusetts constitution. Get everything you need to know about exactly how to vote Yes on 1. HOW TO VOTE YES ON 1 Election Day is November 8, 2022. To vote Yes on 1, you have to be registered to vote by October 29. CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION HOW TO VOTE YES ON 1 Meet Question 1 supporters: Local Businesses Communities People SHARE YOURS Our stories are the most powerful tool we have to win the Fair Share Amendment. We're sharing our stories for a fair Massachusetts. Find out why others are all in for the Fair Share Amendment and share your own. Take action for a fairer Massachusetts JOIN US RECENT CANVASSES The Fair Share Campaign has already reached over a million voters across Massachusetts! Every week we talk to voters in cities and towns statewide: . SOMERVILLE NEW BEDFORD SPRINGFIELD BOSTON VOLUNTEER WITH US Follow the movement: Paid for Fair Share Massachusetts. Top donors include Massachusetts Teachers Association, National Education Association, Sixteen Thirty Fund, 1199 SEIU, and American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts AFL-CIO. For more information visit mass.gov/ocpf.

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Your Stories Question 1 is about a fair Massachusetts for everyone. Your stories are the reason we're here. Rachel, Cambridge "I want to be able to count on the quality of every single public school in the state. The Fair Share Amendment will help us get there. " Your Stories Your story — why the Fair Share Amendment matters to you, your family, and your community — is the most powerful tool we have to pass Question 1 and build the Massachusetts we deserve. SHARE YOURS Mark, Lynn "We can make sure that all our public schools can give every student the high-quality education they deserve." "The top person in the 1%, who makes millions of dollars, has increased their wealth in the past two years by trillions." Jonathan, Boston Tracey, Somerville "I come from a family of educators, and what I'm hoping for is that we can have more funding for schools, public infrastructure, and the things that we need." Kalli, Dorchester Get everything you need to know about exactly how to vote Yes on 1. HOW TO VOTE YES ON 1 Liz, Quincy Cynthia Karsten, Somerville Jared Anna, Quincy Angel, Brockton Natalia, Chelsea Your stories will help us pass the Fair Share Amendment this year. SHARE YOURS

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How to Vote YES on 1 Election Day is November 8. You can vote by mail, vote early, or vote on Election Day: Tuesday, November 8. Here's everything you need to vote Yes on Question 1 on or before November 8. I'm going to.... VOTE BY MAIL VOTE EARLY VOTE ON NOV 8 Make sure you're registered to vote in Massachusetts. CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION VOTING BY MAIL FOR QUESTION 1 Voting by Mail Make sure you're registered to vote in Massachusetts. CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION Put your mail-in ballot in the mail ASAP. It has to be postmarked by November 8 to count. Your ballot has to be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Elections Division by 5pm 3 days after Election Day to count. You can mail your ballot back using the envelope provided, deliver your ballot in person to your local election office, drop your ballot off at an early voting location during early voting hours, or drop your ballot into a drop box in your city or town. You can drop off your ballot at a dropbox—it has to be received by your local elections office by the time the polls close on November 8. FIND A BALLOT DROPBOX After you mail or drop off your ballot, you can track its progress and make sure it arrives. TRACK YOUR BALLOT VOTING EARLY IN PERSON FOR QUESTION 1 Voting Early Early voting runs from October 22 to November 4. Make sure you're registered to vote in Massachusetts. CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION You can go to your local early polling place in person to vote YES. FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE VOTING ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 8, FOR QUESTION 1 Voting on Election Day Polls are open 7am to 8pm on November 8. Make sure you're registered to vote in Massachusetts. CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION Find your polling place and vote YES by 8pm on November 8. FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE Vote Yes on 1 for a fairer Massachusetts.

Why Fair Share The case for the Fair Share Amendment The Breakdown The Fair Share Amendment is Question 1 on the November ballot. It will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4% tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and require – in the state constitution – that the funds be spent only on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will pay more; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and public transportation. That's why so many people across Massachusetts are coming together to vote YES on 1: because with Question 1, we all win. As we recover from COVID, we need to make sure our public schools have everything they need for students to thrive. We need to end the educator and counselor shortages so that every student has the support they need. We need to help students get back on track from COVID disruptions and ensure that all students have access to a complete, well-rounded education. We need to repair our state’s backlog of hundreds of neglected and structurally dangerous bridges, roads, and trains. We need to make our public colleges affordable again so students can graduate without taking on enormous debt. And we need to increase access to vocational education as we rebuild our economy for working families. If we don’t address these problems now, they’ll only hold back our economy and hurt working families. It’s time for the very rich to pay their fair share so we can recover from the pandemic and rebuild a Massachusetts economy that’s stronger than ever. The bottom line: the Fair Share Amendment would only raise taxes on the top 1% of Massachusetts residents—those who earn more than a million dollars in a single year. It will make our tax system fairer while generating $2 billion a year, every year, that is constitutionally dedicated to transportation and public education. That’s why the Fair Share Amendment is crucial to our economy and our recovery from COVID-19: because it’s a win-win for all of us. ​Vote YES on 1 for a fair Massachusetts. Help us make that Massachusetts a reality. JOIN US The Breakdown The Amendment says... Article 44 of the Massachusetts Constitution is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph at the end thereof: ​ To provide the resources for quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation, all revenues received in accordance with this paragraph shall be expended, subject to appropriation, only for these purposes. ​ In addition to the taxes on income otherwise authorized under this Article, there shall be an additional tax of 4 percent on that portion of annual taxable income in excess of $1,000,000 (one million dollars) reported on any return related to those taxes. ​ To ensure that this additional tax continues to apply only to the commonwealth’s highest income taxpayers, this $1,000,000 (one million dollars) income level shall be adjusted annually to reflect any increases in the cost of living by the same method used for federal income tax brackets. This paragraph shall apply to all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023. Read the Amendment Have questions about Question 1? Read the FAQ. FAQs Get everything you need to know about exactly how to vote Yes on 1. HOW TO VOTE YES ON 1 What this means... The Fair Share Amendment is a call for the richest Massachusetts residents to step up and pay their fair share in taxes. ​ Our Commonwealth's economy is working great for those at the very top—now it's time for it to work for everyone. The Fair Share Amendment will require those making more than $1 million in a single year to pay their fair share in taxes—just 4¢ more on each dollar after their first million dollars a year. No one who makes under $1 million a year will pay a cent more. ​ When millionaires and billionaires pay just 4¢ more on each dollar after $1 million, Massachusetts will raise $2 billion a year, every year, to invest in education and transportation. That $2 billion is constitutionally required to go only to education and transportation: our public schools from pre-K to college, roads, bridges, trains, and buses around the Commonwealth. With $2 billion a year, we can End the educator and counselor shortages in our schools Ensure all educators are paid the livable wages they deserve Give students, educators, and schools the resources they need Fix our crumbling bridges and pothole-filled roads Provide safe, reliable, and affordable public trains and buses statewide Ensure no one has to take on debt to get a college or vocational education. ​ Vote YES on 1 to make that a reality. How will this impact Massachusetts? Will Fair Share improve education & transportation? I want to get involved! How can I help? READ THE BREAKDOWN READ THE FAQ JOIN US This November 8, we're coming together to vote YES on 1 and make the Massachusetts tax system fair. MORE STORIES JOIN US Join the movement for the Fair Share Amendment. JOIN US