Amanda Linehan
Communications Manager, MAPC
617-933-0705
[email protected]
For immediate release: Monday, June 18, 2018
MAPC Issues Statement on Demise of Fair Share Initiative
BOSTON — The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) today issued a statement in reaction to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision that the so-called Fair Share Amendment should not be placed on the ballot this fall.
The measure, which would have imposed a higher income tax on personal earnings over $1 million, was estimated to have the potential of generating between $1.6 and 2.2 billion annually. If successful, that revenue was slated to fund education and transportation needs in Massachusetts.
Marc D. Draisen, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in Boston, released the following statement about the ruling, announced Monday morning, June 18:
“Of course, we cannot argue with the Court’s legal reasoning, but the loss of this opportunity to generate important new revenues for transportation and education is a tragedy for the Commonwealth. Our children, especially in poorer school districts, need better education today, and commuters need relief from congested roads and rails today – and suddenly a major initiative to address both of those needs is gone.
The responsibility now falls to the Legislature and Governor Baker to find ways to raise the revenue needed for these, and other, important causes. Massachusetts deserves both a transportation system and an education system that meet the needs of the 21st century, and we can’t get either with chronic underfunding.”