Public Statement: SJC Decision on Prop 80
Pioneer Institute and its public-interest law initiative, PioneerLegal, applaud the decision of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) in Christopher Anderson et al. v. Maura Healey.
The SJC upheld decades of precedent in finding that Proposition 80, a ballot initiative that would have instituted a graduated income tax in Massachusetts, violates the “relatedness” provisions of state constitution, thereby precluding voters from expressing a unified statement on public policy.
The Institute, through PioneerLegal, filed an amicus brief with the SJC in support of the plaintiffs before the Court heard oral arguments in February. The Tax Foundation also signed onto the brief.
Pioneer research looked into key legal issues and the negative economic impact that would have resulted from adoption of the ballot measure. The Institute also shared facts with community and business leaders, elected officials, the media and the general public through social and traditional media channels.
Pioneer studies demonstrated that a proposed millionaires tax in Massachusetts would:
- Accelerate the out-migration of businesses and high earners;
- Ensnare an ever-increasing share of the population over time because it includes an inadequate inflation adjustment index;
- Double the effective tax rate for high earners and exacerbate the measure’s economic damage because of the limit on deductions for state and local taxes included in the recent federal tax law;
- Generate less than the projected $1.9 billion in annual revenue and increase the Commonwealth’s top capital gains tax rate from 25th highest in the country to second;
- Leave Massachusetts with the sixth highest capital gains rate in the world; and
- Lead to a “Connecticut effect,” that is, slower growth, an employer exodus and declining tax revenue;
- Finally, the Pioneer released a report thoroughly debunking the methodology of Stanford Associate Professor of Sociology Cristobal Young, whose research served as a singular point of reference for ballot proponents and media outlets that claimed “millionaires” don’t move out of high-tax states.
Alleviating these negative impacts would have taken a minimum of three years, since the measure would have amended the state constitution rather than just change state law. Massachusetts residents, employees and businesses are all beneficiaries of the SJC’s wise decision.
Stay Connected!
Related Posts
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/sign-realitycheck.jpg
428
439
Mary Connaughton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Mary Connaughton2017-06-22 11:13:142017-06-22 12:16:09Understanding the Downgrade
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/BGCDinner.png
482
752
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-06-19 09:28:262019-08-15 12:05:56Pioneer Institute Announces Winner of 26th Annual Better Government Competition
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/TeacherReading-1.jpg
416
617
Rebekah Paxton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Rebekah Paxton2017-06-13 11:06:512017-06-13 11:06:51Spending on Students: How Does Groton Compare?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MassachusettsStateHouse-1.jpg
2592
3872
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-06-07 09:36:562017-06-07 16:55:34Q & A on the Status of Senate Amendment 1031 (the Keenan/Pacheco Amendment)
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MBTA-T-sign-e1438701323593.png
300
300
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-06-05 08:00:392019-07-10 14:50:47Report Calls on FMCB to Seek Legislative Intervention on Projected 18-Year, $1.485 Billion T Pension Shortfall
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Rubber-stamp-on-tax-form-1.jpg
1527
2290
Rebekah Paxton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Rebekah Paxton2017-05-30 12:37:372017-05-30 13:13:10Groton’s Tax Base Dilemma
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/WWI.jpg
741
960
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-04-07 16:07:032018-10-12 14:26:54Commemorating The 100th Anniversary Of U.S. Entry Into World War I
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/public-record.jpg
2008
3279
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-03-16 05:00:562021-10-29 15:27:39Pioneer Urges Gov. Baker to Take Bolder Action on Public Records Reform
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Suffolk_Downs.jpg
2365
3547
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-03-06 15:08:342017-03-06 15:09:23A Safe Bet For Massachusetts
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/health-costs.jpg
675
1200
Barbara Anthony
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Barbara Anthony2017-03-02 17:02:072017-03-03 10:20:36Governor’s Plan to Cap Healthcare Provider Prices Misses the Mark
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/mbta-map.jpg
425
635
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-02-24 14:56:252019-07-11 11:26:15Getting the T Back on Track
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
MuckRock
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
MuckRock2017-02-06 15:19:352017-02-06 15:19:35Why do Massachusetts municipalities make meeting transparency harder than it has to be?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/nest-egg.jpg
183
275
Matt Blackbourn
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Matt Blackbourn2017-02-06 11:41:312019-08-15 12:07:32Ensuring a secure financial future for older adults
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/RAO.jpg
1607
2000
Alex Carlin
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Alex Carlin2017-01-25 14:34:182017-01-25 14:38:56Auditing the New Transparency Law: Where are the Records Access Officers?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/kids-walking-school-1.jpg
395
646
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-01-18 10:37:432019-07-17 15:56:58Study: MA Charter Public Schools Have Lower Attrition Rates Than Sending School Districts
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Rushmore.jpg
3456
5184
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-01-09 17:30:072019-07-10 11:28:47Study Highlights Best Practices For Establishing and Updating K-12 History Standards
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Devos.jpg
401
534
Jim Stergios
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jim Stergios2017-01-03 16:18:212018-10-12 15:04:56Op-ed: Will DeVos avoid the Beltway education trap?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MBTARFStatementWeb.jpg
1316
1927
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2016-12-15 06:46:422019-07-10 14:50:49Study Calls For Steps Toward Terminating Troubled MBTA Retirement Fund
