Tax cuts are popular ballot theme

Four states set to vote on income, sales levies

By Steve LeBlanc ASSOCIATED PRESS | Wednesday, October 8, 2008

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BOSTON | For years, Massachusetts was known derisively as "Taxachusetts." But voters could help shed that label in November by completely eliminating the state's income tax in a single stroke.

If approved, the ballot initiative would wipe out 40 percent of state revenues and give back to each taxpayer an average of $3,600.

The Massachusetts proposal is the most notable of several tax-cutting questions that will appear next month on ballots around the nation.

Others include a North Dakota initiative to cut individual income-tax rates in half and trim corporate rates by 15 percent; an Arizona measure to mandate that any initiatives requiring spending or tax increases be approved by a majority of all registered voters, not just those casting ballots; and a Maine plan to repeal new taxes on beer, wine and soda.

In Massachusetts, critics say there's no way to chop $11 billion out of a $28 billion budget without slashing services, which could include closing schools and fire stations. Aid to cities and towns would also decline, placing enormous pressure on property taxes.

Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, has called the proposal "just a dumb idea" that would set the state on a road to fiscal ruin. He's the highest-profile member of a chorus of public officials, including the House speaker and Senate president, both Democrats, who have blasted the proposal.

Supporters of the idea say Massachusetts doesn't have to look far to see that a state can operate quite nicely without an income tax.

New Hampshire, Massachusetts' neighbor to the north, is one of nine states with no income tax.

"We're looking at New Hampshire and asking ourselves why not?" said anti-tax activist Barbara Anderson. "They have winters too. They have roads. They have schools."

Other states without a state income tax are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

The Massachusetts initiative is being pushed by the Committee for Small Government led by Carla Howell, a Libertarian candidate for governor in 2002 who received just 1 percent of the vote.

Miss Howell's had greater success with the tax initiative.

In 2002, she led the first effort to put the question on the ballot. At the time, lawmakers paid little attention to it and were shocked when the measure won the backing of almost 45 percent of voters, despite the virtual lack of a public campaign to support it.

Opponents say they are not taking any chances this time. They have organized a campaign committee - the Coalition for Our Communities - to persuade voters to kill the initiative again.

"Sure times are tough, but Question One would undoubtedly make it worse," said Steve Crawford, a spokesman for the group who also works as a spokesman for Mr. Patrick's campaign office. "We're trying to get the message out and build support for a campaign to fight this reckless proposal."

The group is planning to launch a series of television ads before the election, relying heavily on labor union money to pay for the campaign.

As of Sept. 22, the group had more than $1.2 million in its campaign account, including $1 million from national teachers unions.

Miss Howell's Committee for Small Government had just $8,000 left in the bank, but Miss Howell said the group will mount a barnstorming campaign across the state.

"It is David versus Goliath. The good news is that we have the winning message," said Miss Howell, who has been criticized for accepting tens of thousands of dollars in consulting fees from the committee.

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