The four panelistsSen. Ken Donnelly hosted a Forum on”Why Cuts in Services Should Matter to you on May 17, 2011 at Cary Hall in Lexington. Four panelists spoke: Luc Schuster from the Mass. Budget and Policy Center, Harris Gruman, the Political
Director of SEIU Massachusetts, Dr. Thomas Garvey of Burlington Medical Associates, and Joan Butler, Executive Director of Minuteman Senior Services. Additionally, Lexington’s Representative Jay Kaufman, who is the Chair of the
House Committee on Revenue, and Representative Sean Garballey of Arlington were in attendance.
Director of SEIU Massachusetts, Dr. Thomas Garvey of Burlington Medical Associates, and Joan Butler, Executive Director of Minuteman Senior Services. Additionally, Lexington’s Representative Jay Kaufman, who is the Chair of the
House Committee on Revenue, and Representative Sean Garballey of Arlington were in attendance.
According to Luc Schuster, of the Mass. Budget and Policy Center nationally, the average percentage of per capita income that goes to taxes nationally is 10.9%; in Massachusetts that percentage is 10.3%. If the per capita percentage in Massachusetts was adjusted to the national average, that would raise 2 billion dollars. Over the last 30 years, Massachusetts cut taxes by 25%, in fact, Massachusetts cut taxes more than any other state. As a result, Massachusetts created a structural budget gap even before the severe recession that began in the fall of 2008. There has been a 47% cut in local aid since 2001; a 32% cut in public higher education since 2001, and a 20% cut in
mental health services funding since 2001. For these statistics and more, or to build your own bar graphs, use the browser at http://browser.massbudget.org
mental health services funding since 2001. For these statistics and more, or to build your own bar graphs, use the browser at http://browser.massbudget.org
Joan Butler, the Executive Director of Minuteman Senior Services began by asking those in attendance how many of them wanted to end their days in a nursing home. Not one hand was raised.
She then stated that at the beginning of this year, there were 90 seniors waiting for home based assistance. Many of them had been forced into nursing homes before services were available. These individuals could have been
maintained in their own homes, but for budget cuts. She also stated that her agency handles investigations of elder abuse, and performed 76 such investigations in Arlington and 100 in Lexington in 2010. However, the funding
for such investigations has been cut. 80% of the Budget for Minuteman Senior Services comes from the state.
maintained in their own homes, but for budget cuts. She also stated that her agency handles investigations of elder abuse, and performed 76 such investigations in Arlington and 100 in Lexington in 2010. However, the funding
for such investigations has been cut. 80% of the Budget for Minuteman Senior Services comes from the state.
Dr. Garvey spoke about the public health budget. In 2001, the budget for public health and the state lab was 17.3
million – now it has been cut to 12.2 million. This lab and department must handle over sight and prevention of food borne illness, as well as monitoring and preventing health-related terrorism threats. An example is that it was the
state lab that analyzed the “white powder” sent to Senator Scott Brown’s office and Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office last week. There is no other CDC Lab in New England.
million – now it has been cut to 12.2 million. This lab and department must handle over sight and prevention of food borne illness, as well as monitoring and preventing health-related terrorism threats. An example is that it was the
state lab that analyzed the “white powder” sent to Senator Scott Brown’s office and Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office last week. There is no other CDC Lab in New England.
Harris Gruman, who is working for the coalition seeking to support the Invest in Our Communities Act stated that the Greatest Generation invested in America, but that investment has been eroded over the last 20 years. An example he gave was the cuts to the Community Development Block Grant program. He stated, “We cannot cut our way out of this economic situation.” According to Gruman, the Invest in Our Communities Act is historic legislation
in that it raises revenue while protecting the vulnerable, for example by seeking to raise capitol gains taxes to 8.95% from 5.3% while exempting seniors with incomes of $40,000.00 or less from the proposed tax increase.
in that it raises revenue while protecting the vulnerable, for example by seeking to raise capitol gains taxes to 8.95% from 5.3% while exempting seniors with incomes of $40,000.00 or less from the proposed tax increase.
A question was asked about the Tax Expenditure Budget, which was answered by Representative Kaufman. He stated that the Tax Expenditure Budget is 66 pages in length, and leads to a loss of revenue of $20 billion dollars, but that not all of these are bad. For example, Kaufman stated that food and clothing sales are not taxed. He noted that when real estate is sold, that sale is also not taxed, but could be. Kaufman further stated that the Tax Revenue budget is not consistent, does not generally contain “sunset clauses” to phase out these giveaways, or clawbacks. Kaufman stated “As far as I am concerned, there will be no additions to the Tax Expenditure Budget until we have our house in order.”
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