PioneerOpportunity

BOSTON – On the heels of last week’s unprecedented state Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) decision removing a widely supported income-tax reduction measure from the November ballot, a new Pioneer Institute study finds that Massachusetts taxes a far larger share of lower- and middle-income households’ earnings compared to red and blue competitor states. The Commonwealth’s personal exemption remains at just $4,400 for single filers and $8,800 for married couples filing jointly—levels that have not changed since 2008 and have declined in inflation-adjusted value by 55 percent. If rates had been adjusted for inflation, they would have saved tax filers an additional $861 million in 2025. Current rates shield far less income from Massachusetts taxpayers than many competing and neighboring states.

Today’s ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is a serious disappointment for Commonwealth families struggling under one of the highest tax and cost burdens in the nation. The Court’s decision rests on a drafting error in the Attorney General’s summary of…

Boston – A new Pioneer Institute report finds that a mismatch between who lives in Massachusetts and the housing being built is squeezing two generations at once: young families who cannot get into a house, and seniors who cannot downsize. Local land use rules often make it difficult to build small, reasonably priced, and low-maintenance homes, despite a growing need for them as the population ages and average household sizes continue to shrink.

As Massachusetts lawmakers consider proposals that would make it more difficult for citizens to place questions before voters, Pioneer Institute is urging caution. Pioneer Institute believes that policy change should occur primarily through the legislative process. However, the initiative petition process remains an important safety valve when citizens believe elected officials are not addressing their concerns.