Massachusetts voters have approved the millionaires’ tax and kept a law in place that allows immigrants without status to get driver’s licenses.
A day after Tuesday’s election, the Associated Press called the race for the Question 1 millionaires’ tax — creating a 4% tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million. The Yes side was leading 51.9% to 48.1% when the AP called the race at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday with 95% of the vote in.
Revenues from this tax will be used for public education, public colleges and universities; and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation — subject to appropriation by the state Legislature. This change may increase annual state revenues by $1.2 billion in the near term.
“On Tuesday, Massachusetts voters seized a once-in-a-generation opportunity that was years in the making,” Fair Share for Massachusetts Campaign Manager Jeron Mariani said in a statement. “We’ve done what some thought was impossible: passed the Fair Share Amendment to create a permanently fairer tax system and deliver billions of dollars in new revenue for our public schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and transit systems.”
But millionaires’ tax opponents have argued that the law will spark wealthy taxpayers to move or businesses to relocate to another state. Detractors have also said there’s no guarantee that revenue from the tax would actually increase spending on education and transportation.
The Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment called the passage of Question 1 “a setback for the Massachusetts economy, a setback for small business owners, a setback for retirees, and a setback for homeowners who will be captured by this amendment.”
“There is no guarantee that this ill-conceived amendment will increase spending for either education nor transportation,” Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment spokesperson Dan Cence said in a statement. “It will, however, severely impact retirees, homeowners, and hardworking residents across the state. This amendment will hurt small businesses as they struggle with inflation, supply chain issues, and work to rebuild from the negative impacts of the pandemic.”
The Associated Press also called the race for Question 4 about driver’s licenses for immigrants. The Yes side was leading 53.6% to 46.4% when the AP called the race at around 12 p.m. Wednesday with more than 90% of the vote in.
A Yes vote approves the Work and Family Mobility Act. This law allows Massachusetts residents who cannot provide proof of lawful presence to obtain a standard driver’s license if they meet all the other qualifications for a standard license, including a road test and insurance, and provide proof of their identity, date of birth and residency.
“The passage of this law made history, and voters in Massachusetts have just made it again,” 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President Roxana Rivera and Brazilian Worker Center Executive Director Lenita Reason, co-chairs of the Yes On 4 for Safer Roads campaign, said in a statement. “Our Commonwealth will now have safer roads, and our immigrant families will safely be able to drive to work, drop their kids off at school, and go to medical appointments.”
Question 4 was triggered by a referendum petition for a ballot question, as opponents of the law tried to repeal the Work and Family Mobility Act.
Supporters of the law have argued that it will lead to safer roads and better tools for law enforcement to do their jobs. In 17 states with similar laws, passage led to declines in uninsured drivers and hit-and-run crashes.
“We are incredibly glad to see that the policy we have long supported — which will ensure that all drivers, regardless of immigration status, take the same road test, meet the same identification requirements, and follow the same rules of the road — will remain law,” Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said in a statement.
Gov. Charlie Baker had vetoed the law, saying the Registry of Motor Vehicles does not have the capability or expertise necessary to verify documents from other countries. He also noted that Massachusetts drivers’ licenses will no longer confirm that a person is who they say they are.
Opponents have also argued that the law would significantly diminish the public safety of all residents in the state.
Voters passed Question 2, as the AP called the race Tuesday night with the Yes side holding an overwhelming lead. The ballot question approval regulates dental insurance rates, including by requiring companies to spend at least 83% of premiums on member dental expenses and quality improvements instead of administrative expenses.
“This is a landmark victory for Massachusetts dental patients, who will get more value from what they are already paying for dental care and be protected from large increases in premiums thanks to the passage of Question 2,” said Andrew Tonelli, committee spokesperson and co-chair of the Massachusetts Dental Society’s Government Affairs Committee.
Question 3 was rejected by voters, as the No side had 55% of the vote. If approved, the ballot question would have increased the number of licenses a retailer can have for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be consumed off premises, limited the number of “all-alcoholic beverages” licenses that a retailer can acquire, restricted use of self-checkout, and required retailers to accept customers’ out-of-state identification.
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