MA Doesn’t Need New Tax Giveaways for the Rich

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Chair Moran, Chair Cusack, and Members of the Joint Committee on Revenue:

My name is Jonathan Cohn, and I’m the policy director of Progressive Massachusetts, a statewide, member-based grassroots advocacy organization fighting for a more equitable, just, sustainable, and democratic Commonwealth.

We urge you to give a favorable report to H.2964/S.1801: An Act to reform the charitable deduction, filed by Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven and Sen. Jamie Eldridge.

Legislative leaders have been talking about the importance of “progressive” tax reform. If we want to build on steps toward a more progressive tax code, such as last year’s passage of the Fair Share Amendment, one place worth attention is the charitable deduction, which recently took effect.

The charitable deduction will reduce state revenue by approximately $300 million annually, with disproportionate benefits to the richest residents of the Commonwealth. According to a 2020 analysis from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, tax filers with more than $1 million in income would receive a benefit of almost $10,000 on average (amounting to more than half of the total benefits from the deduction). Those with income under $50,000 would receive just $7 on average (amounting to just 4% of the total benefits from the deduction).

This bill would address such disparities by limiting the charitable deduction to individuals who don’t also get such a deduction on their federal taxes: in other words, it would limit the deduction to low- and middle-income residents.

Voters were clear last year that they want to see a more progressive tax code and greater investments in our Commonwealth. Especially with the possibility of a recession in the near term, as well as a federal retrenchment from key social programs, now is not the time to be protecting tax cuts to the richest residents of the Commonwealth and eliminate a new “double dip” deduction.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Cohn

Policy Director

Progressive Massachusetts

Ensuring Birthing Justice in the Commonwealth

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Chair Cyr, Chair Decker, and members of the Joint Committee on Public Health:

My name is Jonathan Cohn, and I’m the policy director of Progressive Massachusetts, a statewide, member-based grassroots advocacy organization fighting for a more equitable, just, sustainable, and democratic Commonwealth. 

We urge you to give a favorable report to S.1415, An Act relative to birthing justice in the Commonwealth, and H.2209/S.1457, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options.

Since the Dobbs decision last year, nearly 20 states have moved to ban or severely restrict access to abortion, with wide-reaching negative impacts on access to reproductive health care, especially for marginalized communities. Although Massachusetts has taken important strides in recent years to strengthen access to reproductive health care, which we greatly appreciate, our Commonwealth still sees severe inequalities in access to care. Indeed, Black women are twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. We have more work to do to break down barriers to the full spectrum of reproductive health care that still exist for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.

An Act relative to birthing justice in the Commonwealth introduces a critical framework to improve maternal health outcomes and ensure people have the support, education, and access to resources to be empowered throughout their pregnancies. An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, standalone legislation which is also a core provision of the birthing justice bill, creates a pathway to licensure for Certified Professional Midwives, the key midwifery workforce trained in out-of-hospital births.

These bills advance key recommendations from the Special Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health. When the Legislature creates commissions to investigate policy areas, it is incumbent upon the Legislature to listen to the recommendations. Commissions take time and work from countless legislators, administrators, staff, and outside experts, and the recommendations are the result of such underappreciated work.

By embracing those recommendations, Massachusetts can ensure all pregnant people—regardless of race—have the autonomy, support, and adequate birth options to feel empowered throughout their pregnancies.

Sincerely, 

Jonathan Cohn

Policy Director

Progressive Massachusetts