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Patrick’s Good Move

January 22, 2013 By Avi Green

The future of Massachusetts depends on the decisions we make today. From the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, Massachusetts cut taxes dramatically, leading to devastating cuts in transportation, human services, local aid for cities and towns, and more.

Too much bone has been cut from essential investments.  It’s time to invest in our systems for education, human services and transportation to ensure our state can compete effectively in the global economy.  Without an educated workforce and the ability to get people from middle class communities to thriving work places, Massachusetts can forget about long-term economic growth.

Recognizing these realities, Gov. Deval Patrick has put forward a bold plan to increase state revenues by almost $2 billion per year. Thanks to the progressive structure of his plan, low-income families will see a modest tax cut.  The biggest contribution will come from the wealthiest among us, although middle-class families will have to chip in as well.  This could be his finest hour.

If this plan is enacted, we will all reap the benefits. The Green Line expansion across Somerville will reduce traffic on Cambridge Street and Beacon Street and add value to East Cambridge, Wellington-Harrington and Inman Square. Commuter service to Fall River and New Bedford and expanded rail service statewide will unlock less expensive housing for people who work in Boston while reducing highway congestion.  Dozens of other smaller long overdue transportation maintenance and improvement projects will finally go forward.  Expanded investments in extended day programs for middle school students and early learning in the critical 0-5 age range targeted at the cities with the least resources will result in a better-trained workforce and a more vibrant economy.

A good society costs money. I am willing to pay my share to invest in maintaining and improving all the things I love about Massachusetts, especially when I know those who have the most will be asked to make the biggest contribution. Kudos to the governor for having the courage to stand up for what’s right, and to Progressive Mass, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Community Labor United and other citizens’ groups out there fighting to get this done. I know our Democratic state legislators will be on the right side in this critical battle, right?

A version of this post ran locally on Cambridge Day.

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@bluemassgroup on Twitter

#mapoli

massfiscal Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance @massfiscal ·
1h

As David Ismay famously said, the goal is to “break their will” and “turn the screws on” ordinary people. The ordinary people as the “person across the street” and the “senior on fixed income.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/21/science/following-dismal-global-climate-report-could-massachusetts-push-up-its-net-zero-goal/ #mapoli

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massclimate Massachusetts Climate Action Network @massclimate ·
1h

The #HousingCrisis & the #ClimateCrisis must be addressed together. We can no longer let our communities, particularly black & brown communities, be displaced by speculative investors buying up properties & jacking up rent.
@CityLife_Clvu #mapoli
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2023/03/21/evictions-in-boston-spike-over-last-year

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lisakashinsky Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky ·
2h

Morning, Mass. ☀️ Engagement is down across the #mapoli & #bospoli hashtags, new @LegislataApp data show. Is Twitter still useful for pols/activists? We asked @JonathanCohn & Boston Mayor @wutrain. Plus:
— Boston evictions spike
— Grappling w/climate goals https://politi.co/3yXRgkN

Reply on Twitter 1638499382571024386 Retweet on Twitter 1638499382571024386 6 Like on Twitter 1638499382571024386 6 Twitter 1638499382571024386
mapolinet mapoli.net @mapolinet ·
2h

Keller @ Large: Criminal charges could help Trump's presidential campaign, not hurt it #mapoli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewIAjIE8ouk

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lbsieger Lucy Bullock-Sieger 🇺🇸 @lbsieger ·
2h

We could improve our solar + farming (agrivoltaics) program and IX situation :) so we can actually get MWs in the ground while keeping farmers farming for another generation. #mapoli 1000MW+ of solar in the SMART program stalled in MA.

The Boston Globe @BostonGlobe

An alarming new report on climate change raises a difficult question for Massachusetts, already ahead of most states on climate policy. Is it even possible to move faster? https://trib.al/qHy7zwc

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mysteriousrook Ed Lyons @mysteriousrook ·
2h

[Morpheus voice]
“What if I told you… this wasn’t a question of how liberal we are? 🙄 Or that what happens to literally five one-hundred-thousandths of a percent of the Earth’s surface area…. won’t matter for the planet’s mean surface temperature at all? #mapoli

Sabrina Shankman @shankman

On Monday, UN Sec-Gen. @antonioguterres said that in response to the dire IPCC report, developed nations should aim for net-zero by 2040. That's 10 years before MA's goal, so we asked the question: In liberal MA, is it even possible to move faster?
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/21/science/following-dismal-global-climate-report-could-massachusetts-push-up-its-net-zero-goal/?event=event25

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