Basis for CLT Legislative Ratings — 2015-2016 Session
Citizens for Limited Taxation rates state representatives and
state senators on direct and indirect taxpayer issues for which
there are roll call votes.
During the 2015 session the Senate voted to freeze the income
tax rate, and chose not to abolish the death tax. The following
year the Senate voted for a paint tax, and against a two-thirds vote
needed to release money from the stabilization fund.
Both the House and Senate collectively took three votes in
Constitutional Convention on May 18, 2016. The first vote was to
cut the income tax rate to 5% by Jan, 1, 2019, the second to tax
individuals making under $1 million at a 5% tax rate, and third
was to move forward the *Graduated
Income Tax. Only this last vote, a potential tax increase, was
passed.
The House attempted to “reform” the Legislature with votes on
more House transparency, an online audit of the Legislature, a
two-thirds vote requirement for a tax hike, and an 8-year term
limit for legislators — all were defeated. Unlike the Senate,
the House was recorded on votes addressing public housing
eligibility, reducing the sales tax to 5%, and the tax on
“Ride-for-Hire.”
Both branches voted on establishing an Independent Redistricting
Commission, but as in previous sessions, it too was defeated. A
pro-business vote to study the costs of the onerous inventory
tax failed in the House, but identifying obstacles to business
passed in the Senate. Attempts to reform the anti-business
“treble damages” which overly punishes employers on the issue of
employee compensation were decisively defeated in the House and
Senate. Votes to delay the start of the earned sick time law to
allow employers time to adjust to this new law were voted down
in both branches. Conforming to the Federal Real ID law was
thwarted in the Senate with a further amendment, but a
tightening of the ID law, with the Governor’s amendment, was
later accepted in the House.
* The Graduated Income Tax
amendment, to eventually advance it to the ballot, needed a
minimum 25% vote of both branches meeting in a Constitutional
Convention. It passed with a 135 to 57 vote. The next step is
another vote in a Constitutional Convention during the 2017-2018
legislative session, with the same 25% vote requirement.
Assuming it receives the 25%, the graduated income tax will be
on the 2018 state wide ballot.
|
|
2015-2016 Key House
Roll Calls |
| |
|
Roll Call |
Date |
CLT Favored |
Description |
|
1 |
1/29/2015 |
Y |
Expand House Transparency |
|
4 |
1/29/2015 |
Y |
Online Audit of Legislature |
|
5 |
1/29/2015 |
Y |
Two-thirds Vote for Tax Increase |
|
12 |
1/29/2016 |
Y |
Eight-Year Term Limit for MA Legislators |
|
38 |
4/28/2015 |
Y |
Treble Damages - Decided by Judge |
|
43 |
4/28/2015 |
N |
Further Amendment on Public Housing Eligibility |
|
48 |
4/29/2015 |
Y |
90-Days to Implement Earned Sick Time |
|
197 |
2/3/2016 |
Y |
Independent Redistricting Commission |
|
222 |
4/25/2016 |
N |
Further Amendment on Sales Tax Reduction to 5% |
|
249 |
5/18/2016 |
Y |
Income Tax Rate to 5% |
|
250 |
5/18/2016 |
Y |
Under $1M Income Rate 5% |
|
253 |
5/18/2016 |
N |
Graduated Income Tax Amendment |
|
279 |
6/15/2016 |
Y |
Study Cost/Benefits of Inventory Tax |
|
304 |
7/14/2016 |
Y |
Tighten Real ID Law |
|
556 |
7/31/2016 |
N |
Tax on Ride-for-Hire |
| |
|
2015-2016 Key Senate
Roll Calls |
| |
|
Roll Call |
Date |
CLT Favored |
Description |
|
21 |
5/19/2015 |
N |
Freeze Income Tax Rate |
|
23 |
5/19/2015 |
Y |
Delay Start of Earned Sick Time Law |
|
24 |
5/19/2015 |
Y |
Abolishes Death Tax |
|
215 |
1/21/2016 |
N |
Paint Tax Engrossment |
|
235 |
2/3/2016 |
Y |
Two-thirds vote for Stabilization fund Expenditure |
|
236 |
2/3/2016 |
Y |
Independent Redistricting Commission |
|
266 |
3/31/2016 |
Y |
Study Obstacles to Business |
|
299 |
5/18/2016 |
Y |
5% Income Tax Rate by Jan. 1, 2019 |
|
300 |
5/18/2016 |
Y |
5% Income Tax Rate Under $1M Income |
|
303 |
5/18/2016 |
N |
Graduated Income Tax Amendment |
|
306 |
5/24/2016 |
Y |
Reverse Law Mandating Treble Damages |
|
334 |
5/26/2016 |
N |
Further Amendment on Real ID |
| |
|
