The Massachusetts Automatic Gas Tax Increase Repeal Initiative, Question 1 was on the
November 4, 2014 statewide ballot. Approved by voters, the measure repeals a 2013 law that would automatically adjust gas taxes according to inflation, allowing for automatic annual increases in the state's gas tax.
[''News Telegram'', "Referendums could deep-six casinos, gas tax," November 29, 2013]
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The law that this initiative repeals would also have put a minimum cap on gas taxes to prevent gas tax decreases in the case of deflation. The tax increase was part of a transportation funding package that was vetoed by Governor Deval Patrick (D) because he wanted an even greater tax increase. Patrick's veto was overruled by a House vote of 123 to 33 and a Senate vote of 35 to 5.
''Tank the Gas Tax'', an organization supporting the initiative, stated that they collected at least 18,500 signatures by June 9, 2014. They turned in the signatures on June 18, 2014 in an attempt to qualify the initiative for the ballot. The measure was certified for the 2014 ballot on July 2, 2014.[''New England Public Radio'', "4 Ballot Questions Before Mass. Voters," July 3, 2014]
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The question passed with 53% of voters in favor.["Election Results – Nov. 4, 2014"]
WBZ. November 6, 2014
Text of measure
Ballot summary
[''Massachusetts Secretary of State'', "Question 1: Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing," accessed September 17, 2014]
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Full text
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Background
State gas tax
In 2013, the Democrat-controlled state legislature
A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system.
Two federations literally use the term "state legislature":
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passed House Bill 3847, which raised the state's gas tax from 21 to 24 cents per gallon and automatically tied the tax rate to inflation for future years, meaning it would increase by the same annual percentage as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This marked the first increase in the tax since 1991. Given that the CPI has averaged approximately one or two percent during the past several years, the tax would likely increase by half a penny or less per year.[''Tax Foundation'', "Massachusetts Ballot Referendum Challenges Gas Tax Indexing," July 22, 2014]
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Voter guide summary
Support
The measure is sponsored by the group ''Tank the Gas Tax''.[''Tank the Gas Tax'' website, accessed March 14, 2014]
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Supporters
Officials
* State Rep. Geoff Diehl (R-7)
* State Rep. Kevin Kuros (R-8)
* State Rep. Ryan Fattman (R-18)
* State Rep. Shaunna O'Connell (R-3)
* State Rep. Jim Lyons (R-18)
Individuals
*Jeffrey T. Kuhner, President of the Edmund Burke Institute for American Renewal[''Washington Post'', "Boston’s second Tea Party," December 5, 2013]
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*Bill Vernon, Director and National Federation of Independent Business Massachusetts[
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Arguments
*''Tank the Gas Tax'' deemed the tax a slippery slope.[
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Campaign contributions
As of October 30, 2014, one campaign organization had received an aggregate total of $94,318 in contributions.[''OCPF'', "Question 1: Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing," accessed October 30, 2014]
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PAC info:
Top contributors:
Opposition
The official opposition campaign is called ''Vote No on Question One'', in conjunction with the Committee for Safer Roads and Bridges.[''Vote No on Question One'', "FAQs," accessed September 30, 2014]
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Opponents
* Governor Deval Patrick (D)[''Boston Herald'', "Gov. Patrick lashes out at push to repeal gas tax law," December 2, 2013]
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* Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn
* Committee for Safer Roads and Bridges[''Massachusetts Secretary of State'', "Massachusetts Information for Voters: 2014 Ballot Questions," accessed September 30, 2014]
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* Kristina Egan, Director of Transportation for Massachusetts[''The Daily Free Press'', "Massachusetts advocacy networks weigh in on four upcoming ballot questions," October 30, 2014]
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Arguments
Campaign contributions
As of October 30, 2014, one campaign organization had received an aggregate total of $1,884,722 in contributions.
Media editorial positions
Support
* The Worcester ''Telegram & Gazette
The ''Telegram & Gazette'' (and ''Sunday Telegram'') is the only daily newspaper of Worcester, Massachusetts. The paper, headquartered at 100 Front Street and known locally as ''the Telegram'' or the ''T & G'', offers coverage of all of Worceste ...
'' recommended a "yes" vote.
Opposition
* ''The Boston Globe
''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...
'' advocated a "no" vote.
Polls
External links
Basic information
Text of the Automatic Gas Tax Increase Repeal Initiative
Online poll: Do you think the gas tax should be repealed
Secretary of State guide to state ballot measures
Massachusetts 2014 Voter Guide
Support
''Tank the Gas Tax'' website
''Tank the Automatic Gas Tax'' Facebook page
Conservative Focus website
Opposition
No on Question One''
''Boston Herald'', "Gov. Patrick lashes out at push to repeal gas tax law," December 2, 2013
''PatriotLedger.com'', "Patrick: Don’t repeal automatic gas tax hikes," December 2, 2013
Further reading
References
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2014 Massachusetts ballot measures
Transportation ballot measures in the United States