note: not all candidates were asked the same questions

"Revenue and Taxation" viewing options:

• All-in-one playlist (24 minutes)

• Steve Grossman,
  (1) first segment, (2) second segment

• Juliette Kayyem

• Martha Coakley,
  (1) first segment, (2) second segment, (3) automatic tax decrease triggers

• Don Berwick

Other videos and resources

• View by topic
  
• View by candidate
• Read our Endorsement Questionnaire responses, by topic

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Appearing in the order in which the candidates spoke while at our forum

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ALL CANDIDATES playlist (24 minutes)

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STEVE GROSSMAN, on revenue and taxation, 1

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STEVE GROSSMAN, on revenue and taxation, 2

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JULIETTE KAYYEM, on revenue and taxation

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MARTHA COAKLEY,  on revenue and taxation

 MARTHA COAKLEY, on budgets and inefficiencies

MARTHA COAKLEY, on automatic tax decrease triggers

http://youtu.be/v3XHvaHI0LA

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DON BERWICK, on revenue and taxation

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VIDEOS ON OTHER TOPICS:

• Introductions (14 minutes)

• Revenue, Taxation (24 minutes)

• Jobs, The Economy, Inequality (18 minutes)

• Education (16 minutes)

• Leadership, Movement Building (6 minutes)

• Path to Victory, Viability (6 minutes)

• Health Care, Communities of Color (8 minutes)

• Final Comments (10 minutes)

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VIDEOS, ORGANIZED BY CANDIDATE

• Grossman
• Kayyem
• Coakley
• Berwick
• All Candidates in one playlist (in order they appear)

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Endorsement Questionnaire Responses (by topic)

• Part A: Jobs and the Economy
• Part B: Education and Workforce Development
• Part C: Healthcare
• Part D: Housing
• Part E: Revenue and Taxation
• Section I/IV: "About the Candidates" / final comments

Related: Our Shared Prosperity agenda

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Share, with attribution, and amplify progressives' voices, questions and priorities during the 2014 campaigns. 
SOURCE CITE: progressivemass.com/2014statewide, Feb. 2014. 

[from Section E of our questionnaire] Because of income tax cuts and the effects of the recession, Massachusetts has lost nearly $3 billion in revenue over the last 12 years. We now collect less revenue than 21 other states, and our tax revenue is below the national average. Since 1982, local aid has dropped 58%. Cuts to the moderately progressive state income tax have meant increasing reliance on fees, sales, gas and property taxes, exacerbating the overall regressiveness of our revenue. Regressive taxation strains low- and middle-income families, and reduced revenue collection curtails our ability to invest in vital infrastructure. 

* STATEMENT OF VALUES AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

• DON BERWICK / experience
• MARTHA COAKLEY / experience
• STEVE GROSSMAN
• JULIETTE KAYYEM

* POLICIES AND PROPOSALS

• Tax Rates for Upper Incomes
• Automatic Tax Decrease Triggers
• Capital Gains
• Progressive Taxation
• Corporate Tax Breaks
• Clawbacks and Transparency in Corporate Tax Breaks
• Graduated Income Tax

* PDF VERSION: REVENUE AND TAXES EXCERPT

* VIDEO: CANDIDATES FORUM, REVENUE AND TAXES EXCERPT

Candidates' original responses: progressivemass.com/2014govmain

BROWSE MORE OF THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES' QUESTIONNAIRE: 

• Part A: Jobs and the Economy
• Part B: Education and Workforce Development
• Part C: Healthcare
• Part D: Housing
• Part E: Revenue and Taxation
• Section I/IV: "About the Candidates" / final comments

Statement/Experience

[Question E1/E2]What principles do you bring to considerations of state revenue and tax reform (individual and corporate)? SUGGESTED TOPIC: How should we raise more revenue to adequately fund our communities for the future?

DON BERWICK

What principles do you bring to considerations of state revenue and tax reform (individual and corporate)?

Any candidate who says that the state does not need new revenue simply isn’t telling the truth. Massachusetts cannot afford not to invest in the essential services that support the middle class and strengthen the social safety net. We must make a choice;  – it’s “spend now or spend (more) later.”

I believe this badly needed revenue should come from three main areas:

• Massachusetts needs to move towards a fair tax system that asks people with lower incomes to pay less, and people with higher incomes to pay more. I would both explore a constitutional amendment to our income tax system and work within existing law to further this goal.
• We also need to hit the reset button on loopholes and exemptions. I will order a comprehensive and transparent review of all tax breaks. If an exemption helps to create jobs or strengthen the safety net, I will support it; if not, I will work to end it. There is no place for tax breaks that benefit only the wealthy and well connected.  
• Finally, we must control health care costs. The burden of high-cost care takes money away from workers, businesses, and state and local governments. I have unique experience working to achieve better care at lower costs. Here’s how:  we need to move away from a “fee-for-service” system that pays doctors and hospitals for what they do rather than the results they achieve for patients, and towards a simpler system that focuses on keeping communities healthy. Chapter 224 was a step in the right direction, but we need to move even faster. That’s why I’m the only candidate that has put single payer on the table.

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Berwick/Related Experience/Record

As CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, I spent 19 years leading successful efforts across the nation and globe to deliver better health at lower costs. And I have seen firsthand how lowering costs frees up much needed resources for governments to invest in critical social programs.

As Medicare and Medicaid Administrator, I fought the political wisdom that says not to talk about poverty because it doesn’t poll well. I worked every day to keep helping the most vulnerable among us at the core of our mission. And I used the tools of improvement that I have learned and taught for 30 years to make sure every nickel of tax payer dollars went towards its intended purposes – supporting the workforce to provide the highest quality health and health care for 100 million Americans.

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MARTHA COAKLEY

What principles do you bring to considerations of state revenue and tax reform (individual and corporate)?

Our first priority for growing state revenue should be growing our state economy, which will increase the amount of money reinvested in local businesses and increase state and local tax revenues.

We also need to examine how our state currently allocates its resources and determine if we are addressing our priorities as cost-effectively as possible and, along with that, identify areas where significant cost savings can be achieve. For example, controlling healthcare spending by 1% would save the Commonwealth nearly $140 million dollars, money that could be used to fund critical programs in other areas.

If we determine that it is necessary to raise new revenues in order to accomplish our goals, we need to be sure that we are not increasing the burden on those who can least afford it, especially as our economy is only now beginning to recover and so many in Massachusetts are still struggling to make ends meet.

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Coakley/Related Experience/Record

Our office works closely with the Department of Revenue to ensure that the tax laws are uniformly enforced for both businesses and individuals, and to identify and prosecute instances of tax evasion and other violations.

The Attorney General’s Office is also unique in that it is a revenue generator for the Commonwealth and its citizens. Through our aggressive enforcement actions combating fraud and abuse, our office has recovered literally hundreds of millions of dollars back for taxpayers and the Commonwealth’s general fund. During the last fiscal year alone, our office recovered nearly $10 for every $1 in our budget.

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STEVE GROSSMAN

What principles do you bring to considerations of state revenue and tax reform (individual and corporate)?

I would never rule out seeking additional revenue, as long as it’s coupled with meaningful tax reform that hold harmless low and middle-income families through the uses of expanded exemptions. But first, I would seek to grow the economy by creating jobs and broadening our tax base. Second, I would look to save money just as I have done at Treasury by putting nearly every contract we oversee out to bid and saving the taxpayers more than $20 million. Third, I would ask the business community to participate in public-private partnerships because it’s in their long-term interest to do so.

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JULIETTE KAYYEM

What principles do you bring to considerations of state revenue and tax reform (individual and corporate)?

Our budget is a reflection of our morals. It is where we invest in people through investing in education, workforce training, veterans services and more. That is how I think about revenue and tax reform. We must have a system that pays for the services that our society requires.

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Policies and Proposals

Tax Rates for Upper Incomes

[Question E3] Do you support increasing income taxes on the wealthiest residents of Massachusetts?

• SUPPORT: Berwick
• COAKLEY: As our economic recovery continues, part of building an economy that works for everyone is analyzing the fairness of our tax code. It is unfair if those at the top are paying a lower effective tax rate than many of those at the bottom of the income ladder. I am committed to examining our tax system and exploring all the options we have at our disposal to make it more progressive for everyone. What we cannot be doing is asking those at the bottom, who can least afford it, to be contributing more in taxes.   
• GROSSMAN: I would not rule out seeking additional revenues but I would also insist that any such revenue legislation be coupled with meaningful tax reform that holds harmless low and middle-income families through the use of expanded exemptions.
• KAYYEM: I support having a progressive tax system where everyone pays their fair share.

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Automatic Tax Decrease Triggers

[Question E4] Do you support halting the automatic decrease in state tax when Massachusetts state revenues grow four quarters in a row?

• SUPPORT: Berwick
• OPPOSE: Coakley
• GROSSMAN: I am deeply concerned that we have too many unfunded priorities and continuing to take hundreds of millions of dollars out of our revenue stream will undermine our ability to deal effectively with our critical priorities, however as governor, I would be required to implement the current law.
• No response: Kayyem

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Capital Gains

[Question E5] Do you support increasing the capital gains tax (with safeguards to protect seniors)?

• SUPPORT: Berwick, Kayyem
• OPPOSE: Grossman*
• COAKLEY: I am committed to examining our tax system and exploring all the options we have at our disposal to make it more progressive for everyone.
• *GROSSMAN: I strongly opposed the plan to take away protections from seniors in the FY 2014 budget. I strongly believe that short-term capital gains should be taxed at a higher rate than long-term gains, which are a form of economic stability.

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Progressive Taxation

[Question E6]“An Act to Invest in Our Communities” was designed to raise significant revenue while making our tax code more progressive, but it has not passed the legislature. Would you support a renewed effort to pass this or similar legislation?

• SUPPORT: Berwick
• COAKLEY: Again, I believe we need to explore every proposal that would make our tax system more progressive, and fairer, for everyone in the Commonwealth.
• GROSSMAN: I would not rule it out but I would also insist that any such revenue legislation be coupled with meaningful tax reform that holds harmless low and middle-income families through the use of expanded exemptions.
• KAYYEM: As I have said publicly, I supported Governor Patrick’s legislative push and will continue to push similar initiatives. This act was not solely about increased revenue, but a call to invest in transportation, education, and other much needed services. I commit to fighting for these increases, whether through reformed tax code, public-private partnerships, or regional cooperation.

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Corporate Tax Breaks

[Question E7] Do you support eliminating or substantially reducing corporate tax breaks?        

• SUPPORT: Berwick, Grossman, Kayyem
• COAKLEY: Corporations should not be making massive profits while workers still struggle. We need to explore strategies that ensure that everyone pays their fair share in taxes.  
• GROSSMAN: I support reducing unjustified corporate tax breaks, and I strongly believe that any tax break must require a clawback provision along with thorough economic analysis. We also need to grow the economy, and where tax concessions can create jobs we must consider using them.

Do you support repealing or significantly reducing the Film Production Tax Credit?

• SUPPORT: Berwick, Kayyem
• OPPOSE: Grossman
• COAKLEY: Again, we need to do a comprehensive review of our tax system to ensure that those at the top do not have unfair advantages, and that the burden is not increased on those in the middle, and at the bottom.

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Clawbacks and Transparency in Corporate Tax Breaks

[Question E8] Do you support increasing corporate tax break transparency and clawback provisions?

• SUPPORT: Berwick, Coakley, Grossman, Kayyem
• GROSSMAN: I have repeatedly called for strengthening them, and I believe that any tax break should have a clawback provision with no exceptions.

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Graduated Income Tax

[Question E9] Would you support a state constitutional amendment creating a Massachusetts progressive income tax?

• SUPPORT: Berwick
• COAKLEY: I am committed to examining our tax system and exploring all the options we have at our disposal to make it more progressive for everyone. What we cannot be doing is asking those at the bottom, who can least afford it, to be contributing more in taxes.   
• GROSSMAN: I would not rule raising revenues but I would also insist that any such revenue legislation be coupled with meaningful tax reform that holds harmless low and middle-income families through the use of expanded exemptions.
• KAYYEM: As I have said publicly, I supported Governor Patrick’s legislative push and will continue to push similar initiatives. This act was not solely about increased revenue, but a call to invest in transportation, education, and other much needed services. I commit to fighting for these increases, whether through reformed tax code, public-private partnerships, or regional cooperation.

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* PDF VERSION: REVENUE AND TAXES EXCERPT

Candidates' original responses are here: progressivemass.com/2014govmain

BROWSE MORE OF THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES' QUESTIONNAIRE: 

• Part A: Jobs and the Economy
• Part B: Education and Workforce Development
• Part C: Healthcare
• Part D: Housing
• Part E: Revenue and Taxation
• Section I/IV: "About the Candidates" / final comments

Browse other questionnaires from other statewide races: progressivemass.com/2014statewide

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The troubles with the “tech tax” have been highlighted by many inside and outside the business community, and it looks to us like the right call to repeal and replace it.

But now that we’re talking taxes again... let’s remember that the only reason the Legislature has had to try to scrape together new revenue from niche sources (like the tech industry) in the first place is because they have consistently refused to address the obvious problems --address our real revenue needs AND our regressive tax structure -- or consider the viable progressive solutions. The silver lining of the tech tax debate is that the Legislature now has the opportunity to take action and do it right this time.

Innovation Requires Investment

Massachusetts cannot be an innovation and jobs leader if we continue to undermine our education and infrastructure through neglect and ever more drastic cuts. And we cannot continue to rely only on increases in those taxes that disproportionately burden those who can least afford it (as with the gas tax and sales tax).

We advocate reversing this damaging austerity trend, and a renewing investment in Massachusetts’s economic future.

We advocate an increased income tax, structured in such a way to protect middle-class and lower income families and seniors from burdensome increases, such as in "An Act to Invest in Our Communities."

Unlike the tech tax, which targeted one sector of the economy in a complicated and unfair fashion, an income tax/personal exemption increase would be:

1. Fair -- People making less pay less; when you do better, you pay a little more, which reduces the overall regressivity of our Massachusetts tax system (the poor pay disproportionately MORE of their income than the wealthy, who pay the LEAST]).
2. Simple -- it applies to everybody.
3. Predictable -- Businesses need to be able to rely on a stable, predictable tax structure to know how plan ahead to grow their business and create jobs.

Now that the topic of funding our Commonwealth is on the table again, Legislators should be reminded that there are good alternatives, such as “An Act to Invest in Our Community", already on the table (and which could have helped avoid the whole tech tax mess in the first place).

We have four questions for our Legislators:

1. Now that the Tech Tax is about to be repealed, what are you doing to make sure we adequately and responsibly invest in our Massachusetts communities and future economic strength?
2. It was unfair to target the tech industry; it’s also unfair that the poor pay more than the rich in MA! What are you doing to change our regressive taxes?
3. Will you support a modestly increased Income Tax, designed to protect the poor, middle-class and vulnerable (as in “An Act to Invest in Our Communities”)?
4. The legislature rejected the Governor’s proposal in the spring, with many legislators complaining of its complexity. “An Act to Invest in Our Communities” is much simpler. Will you push to bring it to a vote?

After the disappointing votes on this in the spring, we have no illusions that this legislature is going to increase the income tax, even if what’s right is also smart and fair. But they ought to be reminded of the road they’re not taking.

For your convenience, here’s a list of Legislators’ contact info, including a growing list of Legislators' twitter and facebook accounts: progma.us/MAlegislators

We gathered at Needham’s Bagel’s Best.  Veterans of many past political campaigns–Obama ‘08, Obama ‘12, D’Alessandro ‘10, Warren ’12. We have lots of ideas and energy to take what we did during electoral campaigns and apply these tactics to issues.  We can elect great candidates — but we know policy is where the rubber hits the road!

We know Needham needs more revenue – to keep our schools, infrastructure and innovation strong.  But we also know it’s not easy to ask people to pay more – no one likes taxes.

That’s why we’re organizing.  Reaching out to our friends and neighbors.  Sharing our thinking.  Encouraging them to support ACT TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES.  Talking to our legislators... many of us haven’t done that before.  But we’re fired up and looking forward to reaching out to more people from our Needham-area grassroots campaign team.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  #PMTeamNeedham

Oh, and, the bagels were great, too!

The Campaign for Our Communities was formed to improve the quality of life for Massachusetts families and the strength of our economy; we need to make smart investments in our people and communities.   To fund those investments we support tax reforms that will raise substantial new revenue while holding down increases for low and middle income families.

Our Principles:

• Our families and our communities need investments in the services, schools, and infrastructure that make Massachusetts a great place to live and work.
• In order to make the necessary investments, we will need to raise significant new revenue.
• That revenue should come primarily from the highest income earners.

Our model legislation, An Act to Invest in Our Communities, would raise $1.37 billion dollars by restoring the income tax rate to 5.95% while increasing the personal exemption to hold down increases for low and middle income families, and raising the tax rate on investment income to 8.95%, with an exemption for low and middle income seniors.

Our plan is to pass major revenue reform in the Commonwealth in 2013. In order to do that, we are engaged in an 18-month campaign to make the demand for investment in our communities clear by:

• Mobilizing activists to call for adequate revenues to invest in our communities through local grassroots organizing and social media outreach.
• Demonstrating local support through municipal resolutions, forums, and press coverage.
• Building a broad coalition of allies from business, healthcare, transportation, and higher education.
• Educating the public on the need for revenue and community investment.
• Lobbying the Legislature

RESOURCES:

• Visit the Campaign for Our Communities website
• Draft Letter/Email to Legislators
• Draft Letter to the Editor
• Learn More about An Act to Invest
• Learn more about how local aid works
• Watch the MassBudget presentation on Taxes and Our Communities (YouTube)

Elaine Almquist of Medford has.  Check out her letter to Representative Donato.  Write Your Own Letter Now.

Dear Representative Donato,

As a person who has attended public schools and public colleges, and a person who takes public transportation to go to my great private-sector job, I would like to ask you to support Governor Patrick’s recommendations to invest in education and transportation in the Commonwealth. Tax increases are never very popular. But a well-educated public, who can get to and from work is essential to the success of our Commonwealth. I plan to spend my life here in Massachusetts, and I look forward to investing part of my earnings on ensuring we have citizens capable of participating in a complicated, competitive, and innovative economy; and a secure and working infrastructure. Without these long-term investments, we are surely instead investing in today’s successes instead of continued success tomorrow. 

As we make these investments, I ask you to think about supporting a progressive taxation plan that will ask for a larger investment from those that have benefited the most from our previous investments, while preventing low-income people from being overly burdened. I urge you to support An Act to Invest in Our Communities.

Yours sincerely,
Elaine Almquist

Find out more and start organizing in your town in support of Our Communities!

Last night Governor Patrick called for new revenue.  The day before, Representative Jim O’Day and Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz re-filed An Act to Invest in Our Communities.

Write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper.

As the Governor said:

The future belongs to those who prepare for it.

That is why we invest in education, in innovation and in infrastructure.

We invest in education because well-prepared young minds and mid-career talent is our global calling card and our economic edge.

We invest in innovation because, with a workforce like ours, enabling and encouraging new ideas is the best way to take advantage of the knowledge explosion happening in the world economy today.

We invest in infrastructure because rebuilding our roads, rails, bridges, expanding broadband to every community, building new classrooms and labs and more affordable housing gives private initiative and personal ambition the platform for growth.

Education, innovation, infrastructure. It’s a strategy proven through history. And it’s working for us today.