by Hewon Hwang
Vote by Mail ballots will soon be arriving and early voting is just around the corner! Please remember to turn your ballot over and vote on important ballot initiatives!
The voter’s guide you received in the mail doesn’t include Question 4, which was certified after the printing deadline. Also if you live in 14th Middlesex or 23rd Middlesex district, you will see one or two additional questions: Question 5 (for single payer healthcare) and ballot question 6 (for greater State House transparency).
Here’s the scoop on all of the questions and recommendations by the Concord Indivisible Steering Committee.
Question 1: “The Fair Share Amendment”
Recommended: Vote Yes
This initiative proposes a constitutional amendment that would enact an additional 4% tax on annual personal income that exceeds $1 million. It would raise an estimated $2 billion dollars earmarked for transportation and public education. Currently all income in Massachusetts is taxed at a flat rate of 5%. The amendment would create graduated tax brackets so that individuals with very high incomes would pay their “fair share.” Read more here.
Opponents claim that the change will hurt people who have a windfall from the sales of businesses or homes. Most homeowners do not have profits over $1,000,000, however, due to existing tax exclusions.
Question 2: Dental Insurance Reform
Recommended: Vote Yes
While the Affordable Care Act made great strides in reforming medical insurance, dental insurance remains an unregulated Wild West. This initiative would require dental insurers to spend at least 83% of their revenue for patient care. (Delta Dental, for example, only devotes 60% of its budget to actual dental care – with the rest going to administrative costs, executive compensation, and profits.) Read more here.
The opposition is planting seeds of doubt with voters rather than making principled arguments.
Question 3: Changes to Alcohol Retail Licensing Initiative (2022)
No recommendation
Commonwealth Magazine details the complexity of this issue here: Liquor License Bill has layers of Controversy.
Question 4: Eligibility for Driver’s licenses
Recommendation: Vote Yes
On June 9, 2022 more than 75% of Massachusetts State Senators and Representatives voted to override a gubernatorial veto so that all qualified state residents, regardless of immigration status, can apply for a standard Massachusetts driver’s license starting on July 1, 2023. The Commonwealth thus joined 18 other states with such laws – including New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Proponents of the new law, including law enforcement groups, say it makes the roads safer for all drivers. Licensed drivers are safer drivers. They have passed the skills test and have insurance. Opponents hope that anti-immigrant fears will drive voters to overturn the law. (Baker himself circulated disinformation about illegal voting.)
Our RMV is already skilled at determining who should have a license to drive, but not register to vote (from minors and green card holders to TPS visa holders). There are also severe penalties for illegal voting, including jail time and deportation. Other states that grant drivers’ licenses to immigrants have not had issues with illegal voting. More information and a shareable flier available here.
Question 5 (14th Middlesex & 23rd Middlesex districts): Single Payer Healthcare — non-binding
Recommendation: Vote Yes
The United States is the only country in the developed world that does not guarantee access to healthcare for its residents. Even in Massachusetts, which spends more on healthcare than nearly every state in the nation, many residents are left out. A state single-payer, Medicare for All system would replace our complex web of corporate health insurance companies with a public, universal plan. Massachusetts bills H.1267, S.766 would move money now claimed by profits, marketing and administration to actual healthcare. The bills currently have support from 40% of the state’s legislators. By voting yes, you tell your state representative to support Medicare for All legislation.
Question 6 (14th Middlesex district): State House Transparency — non-binding
Recommendation: Vote Yes
Massachusetts has one of the least transparent state houses in the country. Our representatives are accountable to us, the voters, and we should know how they vote on our behalf. Currently, our representatives’ committee votes are kept secret from the public.
A Yes vote would tell your state representative to vote in favor of making committee votes publicly available, and advise the legislature to publish committee votes on MALegislature.gov for easy public access (The Massachusetts Senate already publishes all of its committee votes online).