Question 1 gas tax indexing
Summary: In 2013 a law was passed which raised the gas tax from 21 cents to 24 cents and tied the tax to the inflation rate.This law meant that the tax could increase every year without the state legislature having to vote. The vote on question one is to either repeal or keep this law.
Yes Vote: Will repeal the law and make a vote necessary to change the gas tax
No Vote: Will not make any changes to the current law
Why would you vote yes? Many people are against the automatic increase, claiming that it is “taxation without representation”. A yes vote will not diminish the tax in any way, so there will still be funds for infrastructure repairs. Many fear that if the gas tax is tied to inflation it will dramatically increase.
Why would you vote no? Before 2013 the gas tax had not changed for 21 years, a testament to the nature of the legislature and the difficulty of passing a tax increase. Proponents of the 2013 bill claim that the rate of inflation in the state rendered the tax during this term insufficient. Sufficient revenues from this tax are necessary for projects such as rebuilding roads, which is a matter of public safety.
Yes Vote: Will repeal the law and make a vote necessary to change the gas tax
No Vote: Will not make any changes to the current law
Why would you vote yes? Many people are against the automatic increase, claiming that it is “taxation without representation”. A yes vote will not diminish the tax in any way, so there will still be funds for infrastructure repairs. Many fear that if the gas tax is tied to inflation it will dramatically increase.
Why would you vote no? Before 2013 the gas tax had not changed for 21 years, a testament to the nature of the legislature and the difficulty of passing a tax increase. Proponents of the 2013 bill claim that the rate of inflation in the state rendered the tax during this term insufficient. Sufficient revenues from this tax are necessary for projects such as rebuilding roads, which is a matter of public safety.
Question 2 the bottle bill
Summary:
Enactment of this bill would let consumers return non alcoholic and non carbonated beverages with some exceptions and be compensated a set amount that will fluctuate every year according to inflation, but would not drop below five cents for each bottle. Other changes will be made to the law concerning the payments made between bottle dealers and bottle distributors.
Yes Vote: Would expand the reach of the Bottle Bill to include compensation for consumers for non alcoholic and non carbonated beverages
No Vote: Would not make any change to the current law
Why would you vote yes? The theory is that if consumers were to be offered immediate compensation for returning used bottles to stores and other sources of these products that more people will be encouraged to recycle, which would benefit the environment and cut down on waste.
Why would you vote no? Critics point out that this system has been put in place before and was found to be virtually useless and costly. They saw a mere 1% increase in overall recycling after much money had been spent. They argue that even if bottle depositories were needed when they were first introduced, most Massachusetts citizens have a curbside service that will pick up recycling, so this costly program will become obsolete.
Enactment of this bill would let consumers return non alcoholic and non carbonated beverages with some exceptions and be compensated a set amount that will fluctuate every year according to inflation, but would not drop below five cents for each bottle. Other changes will be made to the law concerning the payments made between bottle dealers and bottle distributors.
Yes Vote: Would expand the reach of the Bottle Bill to include compensation for consumers for non alcoholic and non carbonated beverages
No Vote: Would not make any change to the current law
Why would you vote yes? The theory is that if consumers were to be offered immediate compensation for returning used bottles to stores and other sources of these products that more people will be encouraged to recycle, which would benefit the environment and cut down on waste.
Why would you vote no? Critics point out that this system has been put in place before and was found to be virtually useless and costly. They saw a mere 1% increase in overall recycling after much money had been spent. They argue that even if bottle depositories were needed when they were first introduced, most Massachusetts citizens have a curbside service that will pick up recycling, so this costly program will become obsolete.