The budget proposed for the coming year by the House Ways and Means Committee makes $2 Billion of cuts from the already severely reduced current budget.  The result will devastate vital programs across state and local government.  To get some details on the impacts, go to the Mass Budget & Policy Center's Budget Monitor.

When the House debates the budget, beginning on Monday, April 27, there are likely to be several proposals for substantial new revenues which would allow restoration of the most severe of these cuts.  Probably the lead proposal will focus on raising the sales tax to 6% and broadening its coverage.  Hopefully the package will also include offsetting measures to reduce the impact on low-income households.  Increasing the sales tax isn't the most desirable way to raise additional revenues, but it's the only serious option on the table at present, and it can raise substantial revenues (about $750 Million, without taking account of any base broadening). 

It is urgent that you contact your State Representative and tell him or her that you support new revenues and in particular will support an increase in the sales tax to avoid the drastic cuts in the Ways and Means budget.  

In addition, urge your Representative to make use of a portion of the remaining money in the state's Rainy Day Fund (which contains roughly $1 Billion beyond what's needed to get through the current year) to further mitigate some of the cuts.  The Governor proposed use of nearly $500 million of these funds; the Ways and Means budget uses none.  We can't afford to leave these funds for the future when the fiscal crisis is here now.

Finally, if you are available, please attend a Stop the Cuts rally in Room 437 at the State House at noon on Monday, April 27 to help kick off the effort to fix the House Ways and Means budget.  For more information, see the flyer.