Kurt Smart of the Massachusetts Funds and Coverage Middle has famous that the Honest Share Modification would advance racial justice for the reason that prime 1% of households are disproportionately white—86% in contrast with 73% of the state’s households total. Whereas the brand new tax would have an effect on 0.8% of white households, it could have an effect on solely 0.4% of Black households and 0.2% of Latino households. However the income collected would go to training for all youngsters, and roads and bridges and public transit utilized by anybody touring by the state.
As Massachusetts has spent much less per scholar on public greater training, tuition has risen and the burden of paying for faculty has shifted to particular person college students and their households, typically within the type of scholar loans—which, as we all know, are disproportionately held by Black debtors. The Honest Share Modification’s funding in greater training might assist the subsequent technology of scholars keep away from a few of these loans.
There are greater than 600 structurally poor bridges in Massachusetts. The cash from the Honest Share Modification might go to them, in addition to to the state’s struggling public transportation techniques, together with the commuter rail that makes it potential—however not at all times simple—for many individuals to journey between jobs within the high-cost-of-living Boston space and extra inexpensive locations to dwell. That commuter rail system can be presently diesel, and needs to be electrified.
Massachusetts needs to be doing higher. That is the prospect. Begin speaking to your family and friends who can vote in Massachusetts proper now. An additional 4% on earnings over $1 million a yr, affecting lower than 1% of taxpayers, might change the state.
Right here’s an endorsement from Sen. Ed Markey.
