NEWS RELEASE
September 28, 2000
Contact: Bobby Matthews - (617) 338-2174
Tax Rollback Committee
rebuts coalition's scare tactics
The Tax Rollback Committee today dismissed the Coalition for
Quality Health Care's assertion that the tax rollback would affect health care services in Massachusetts.
"Despite Senator Birmingham's reluctance, we've been able to
cut almost $3 billion in taxes over the last ten years. As a result, revenues are up over sixty percent and we're making
great strides in access to quality health care" noted Paul Melkonian, Chairman of the Tax Rollback
Committee. "Our uninsured rates are under six percent -- two and a half times
below the national standard. We're the federal model for insuring children - with an uninsured rate below
three percent. Our prescription drug plan is among the most comprehensive and
innovative in the nation and we were the first in the country to extend Medicaid coverage to people
diagnosed with HIV and not full blown AIDS."
The Tax Rollback Committee and A Promise to Keep 5% are the
official ballot committees for supporters of Question 4 in November. A 'yes' vote on Question 4 will roll the state income
tax back to five percent -- providing the average working family almost $500 in additional annual
income. It will also force accountability on the Legislature after they
'temporarily' increased the rate from five percent in 1989.
"Yesterday Birmingham favored an alternative tax cut, today
he claims we can't afford a tax cut, and tomorrow he'll claim the tax hike wasn't 'temporary'," Melkonian said. "Taxpayers
aren't buying it. They're getting tired of special interests warning that the sky is falling. Beacon
Hill is rolling in surpluses and it's time to rollback the 'temporary' tax."
Recent polls show that over seventy percent of voters favor
rolling the income tax back to five percent.