This is the fourth of my short-form newsletters on proposed tax cuts.  Earlier, I asked:
Vox Populi?  What do polls say?
Cui bono?  Who will benefit?
Caveat Emptor?  Buyer beware of the results 

Today I ask:

Quo Vadis? or the flight of the millionaires

Thanks to all who have responded about questions in the first two newsletters about tax cuts: Vox Populi and Cui Bono?.   I'll report on some of your responses, including ones about today's newsletter, soon.  This time, I suggest:

Caveat Emptor!

One of the main reasons given for cutting taxes is that we have a surplus.

See, for example, the way Priorities for Progress framed its polling question:

This is the second short newsletter in a short series about the tax cut proposals now being considered in the legislature.  The last newsletter compared polls with opposite results, asking which, if either, represented Vox Populi.  Thanks to those of you responded to the question!   I'll try to share some responses soon.  

Last year, Gov. Baker proposed tax cuts totaling $700 million. The House and Senate each proposed a tax cut package of around $500 million.  But we never reached agreement, after discovering that a 1986 law required returning $3 billion to taxpayers because of a "surplus."  (More on the surplus soon.)

This is my first shortish newsletter looking at proposed tax cuts and reforms.  It includes some questions on which I'd like your thoughts.  So RSVP!

The budget debate this year has started with the question of how much revenue will be available.  Governor Maura Healey has proposed a budget based on a number of tax cuts, reducing some budget items to allow for those cuts.  The total budget would increase slightly after adjusting for inflation, because of expected higher tax revenue.

Today is Equal Pay Day, a date that symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year.   The Wage Equity Now (WEN) coalition held a briefing about two new bills that continue to address the pay gap.  (Here are the Telegram and Gazette's and  MassLive's report on the briefing.)

Keep reading to learn about our 2016 bill, progress since then, remaining problems, the new bills announced at the briefing, other solutions, and Fred Small's 59 Cents song.

We are mourning the death and celebrating the life of an extraordinary, inspiring leader, Alice Wolf.

Long before I met Alice, I heard about her courageous, progressive leadership as a Cambridge School Committee member, city councilor and mayor.  She fought for many issues that were extremely controversial at the time - and won.

Belated wishes for a healthy and happy 2023!

We started the new year with a 13 hour session January 3, finalizing 86 bills but leaving a lot of unfinished business for this next year.

We began the new legislative session by being sworn in on January 4.  After being re-elected, Senate President Spilka spoke of hope, and urged greater support for public education, from pre-K to public colleges and universities and workforce training.

Dear Neighbors,

For many years, the work of caring for older people and young children has faced an increasing crisis as there are just not enough people willing to do the work for the low pay. The Boston Foundation's Boston Indicators and Skillworks released an extremely important report on that workforce; last week, the Caucus of Women Legislators hosted a presentation on it.

Dear Neighbors,

Usually my newsletters are just about one topic, but last week was so eventful I thought I'd share some photos and stories.

In August, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to raise the minimum score that this year’s freshman class, and classes following, will have to attain on the MCAS test in order to graduate. And against Commissioner Riley’s recommendation, they voted to increase the passing score further for classes starting in 2030. They also voted, against Commissioner Riley’s recommendation, to increase the passing score further for classes starting in 2030.