In The News: Taxes

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation did important legwork on this measure, pointing out to voters that eliminating the income tax would primarily benefit the wealthy and save the average taxpayer around $800 to $900.

According to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, personal income tax accounts for 60 percent of total state tax revenues and 40 percent of total state spending.

Michael Widmer, executive director of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, put state leaders on notice. "If there's one thing I heard ... it was the enormous frustration that voters have with government," he said. "I certainly hope that leaders heard that message too. It's absolutely critical for the governor and Legislature to take the lead in reforming government. Otherwise, citizens will push back again."

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-backed, nonprofit research group, concluded Question 1 would require a 71 percent budget cut in almost all state programs. That excludes legally required state spending in such areas as debt service and minimum school funding.

As the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation pointed out, about $13 billion of the state budget is not discretionary but required by federal law, the constitution, or court order. Finding $12 billion to cut in the rest of the budget would have had a devastating impact on human services, higher education, and the aid the state provides to towns and cities.

Michael Widmer, of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, saw the measure as "fool's gold" and called it "a battle between emotion on the one hand and reason and facts on the other."

Michael Widmer of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, which also fought the question, called the decisive vote against the measure a "terrific result." "There was enough public education so voters could resist the superficial lure of a tax cut and realize in the end it would result in dramatic cuts across state government but especially in aid to cities and towns," he said.

Issue: Question 1, which would eliminate the state income tax. Analysis: Income taxes account for 40 percent of Massachusetts' budget, so, if this measure passes, it will have a massive impact on government in the state. A former libertarian candidate for governor is teaming up with other anti-tax activists to push the measure, which is opposed by most of the state's leading elected officials, unions and even the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

"Here we are in a fiscal crisis, and we're going to remove $12.5 billion from the state budget," said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, in a video statement on the Boston Globe's Web site. The Massachusetts measure would repeal the income tax, which accounts for 40% of the state's revenues, starting in 2010.

There are also three statewide ballot questions, the most controversial of which would eliminate the state income tax, which provides 40 percent of the state budget. The proposal is being opposed by the Franklin County Selectman's Association, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments as well as a host of nonpartisan statewide organizations including the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation