Civic Engagement

There is far too much money being spent in government and we the people are not seeing enough of a return of the money we give. The roads are in disarray. The school systems are weak. It's time that the government makes do with less so it's not wasted. I know that I work very hard for the money that I earn. I expect the government to do too!

Keep the promise. Do as the citizens voted.

the increase over 5% was supposed to be temporary. Roll it back. If it needs to be higher and pass a higher rate properly - not by turning a temporary measure permanent.

Stop taxing us to the poor house.

I support this issue....SMALL GOV NO.. INCOME TAX!! Be being choked out here evey where you turn there is a tax! ENOUGH!!!

Yes people are moving out of the state of Mass due to high taxation. I am thinking of it!

Arrogant, patronizing legislators 'know better' than we do.....? Roll it back or get voted out.

If the people of this State voted to have the income tax reduced to 5%, why hasn't it been rolled back? Since when does the government have the power to over rule the population. Roll it back and find other ways to balance the budget. Put a toll on 93.

Keep the promise!!! Roll it back!

End the state imcome tax and shrink the bloat on capitol hill. We do not need this amount of government, it is out of control. This state deficit should be a warning sign to all that wish to grow government agencies and services. We need to be responsible for ourselves. it is not the job of the government to care for us.

5% or bust. Keep government small.

Hey we only voted on this, its not like we live in a democracy or anything. Maybe we can take a cue from the governor and lower our tax burden by using imaginary losses on our tax returns like the imaginary revenue in the proposed state budget!

even at 5% it is too much

I remember when the state tax was only temporary. Roll it back or get rid of it altogether.

I believe the Commonwealth should stand by what was promised in 1989 when the income tax was increased TEMPORARILY for 18 months. By no means was it presented to tax payers as a permanenet situation. There are states in this union that do not have any income tax and they manage the tax money very well. The Massachussetss governement has been stealing tax payers money for 18 plus years now and it is time for reform. The origianl plan for the increase was intended for deficit relief; and instead has turned into a windfall for the state fat cats, and a financial burden for the taxpayers who are the salt of the earth.

Instead of taxing its residents the state should focus on saving money for example merging the turnpike with mass highway (we have the highest cost per miles in the nation), not using police personal on construction projects, etc.

The state has more money than it knows what to do - ie: pork spending.

The people have spoken loud and clear. Is nobody listening?

Get smart, people. Check how your rep votes on this and act accordingly.

I favor the rollback as that is what the people wanted and voted for. Allow the people to be heard and roll this tax back.

Follow the law, set an example. If we can't trust you to enforce something WE voted for why should WE vote for YOU again? You are showing us that OUR votes don't matter to YOU!!

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This vote is for smaller government. The state legislature just doesn't get it.

In 2000, the citizens of this Commonwealth voted in favor of a ballot question which mandated rolling the income tax back to the original rate of 5%. The legislature did not allow this to occur. Whether you are for or against rolling back the income tax, what happened in 2000 sends the wrong message to the people -- that their votes do not matter. In an era of increased voter apathy and decreased voter turnout, that is certainly not the message we should be sending to our citizens.

Roll back the income tax now, do the peoples business aas the people voted. Not doing so is a breach of duty and public trust.

IF!!!!!We protect the vast majority of the Commonwealth's citizens from their own naivete by installing other deductions protecting them on a selective basis from high property taxes caused by their neighbor's McMansions, paid for largely by their savings at the majority's expense, and other mechanisms, such as significant increase in unearned income over X? amount the wealthiest gain in CD's, etc? If the COMMONWEALTH doesn't mean what it says to the voters of this state, we're already reaping the results of failure to adequately fund education, let alone the other services.

We already voted to do this. Isn't Government in place to act on behalf of the people?