Yawu Miller, “The question needs an answer, and straightaway: What should state do with US tax code changes?,” Dorchester Reporter, February 20, 2026.
Progressive Massachusetts Policy Director Jonathan Cohn argued that Massachusetts should follow their lead.
“When we fight to do big things in the Commonwealth, we so often hear that we don’t have the money,” he said. “That same line is rarely invoked when it comes to corporate handouts. But let me be clear: We don’t have the money to do this right now, given looming federal cuts. Other states across the country have already taken action. Let’s not wait too long to join them.”
Gorzkowicz said the phased-in approach, as an expansion of Pass-through Entity excise taxes expected to generate $100 million, will mean the commonwealth won’t see a net reduction in revenue over the next two years.
“We wanted to make sure that we preserve our competitive advantage, support those industries that are important to our economy, while also insulating and preserving programs and services that might otherwise be impacted from the implementation of these,” he said.
While Gorzkowicz cited tax breaks as a means of keeping Massachusetts competitive, Cohn pushed back on that notion.
“Our competitiveness is always based on our investments in education and transportation and healthcare and housing,” he said. “We don’t bribe the rich to stay here. They come and stay here because they want to live here and send their kids to school here because we invest in education and housing, because we make our health care system affordable and accessible. All of this requires investment You can’t burn it up in the trash can of tax cuts for big corporations.”
