Five times before, voters had rejected ballot measures to change the state’s flat tax rate. They were part of a broad coalition of community and faith-based organizations that had previously pushed paid family leave and a minimum wage increase into law.įor supporters, it was a do-or-die moment to pass a tax on the wealthy that would generate anywhere from $1.2 billion to $2 billion a year, with proceeds flowing to education and transportation.
The unions mobilized thousands of people to canvass for the Question 1 cause, which had been in the works for eight years. “The social pressures far outweighed the ability to support this ballot on a ‘No’ basis,” he added.īut the opposition’s problems went beyond money. Suffolk construction CEO John Fish spoke at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. This despite concerns that the tax increase could hurt the state’s economic competitiveness. “There just wasn’t a strong enough rallying cry to raise those types of resources,” he said, noting that only about 1 in 5 of his pitches yielded a contribution.įish found that business leaders, especially those running public companies, didn’t want to be associated with the fight against the millionaires tax. “We needed to raise about $20 to $25 million,” said John Fish, the Suffolk construction CEO who kicked in $1 million to the “No” side and personally made 30 phone calls over the past six months to get others to donate as well.
#Shirley scott on a clear day tv
Opponents only began airing their first TV ad in September, a month after proponents, and they canvassed just 144,000 homes. The bounty financed a sophisticated grass-roots campaign that allowed Question 1 supporters to flood TV and social media with advertising, and knock on the doors of more than 1 million voters. Unions - notably the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the National Education Association - bankrolled much of the “Yes” side, raising about $28 million, twice the $14 million their rivals brought in, according to state political campaign filings.
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