June 29, 2020
Dear Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and Members of the Massachusetts Senate:
As members of the House Progressive Caucus, we write with both respect and with grave concern that the Massachusetts Senate has not yet taken up the progressive transportation revenue bill which the House passed in early March. The Legislature has an urgent responsibility to raise revenue for desperately needed investments in the Commonwealth’s crumbling transportation infrastructure. A strong investment in our transportation and infrastructure is vital to workers, our climate, and our economic recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic rightfully took transportation out of the spotlight it was in, back when the Greater Boston region was declared the most congested in the country, and a MassDOT study confirmed it as reaching a “tipping point.” However, despite the pandemic, our transportation and infrastructure challenges still remain and will not be solved without substantial investment.
The House passed a carefully balanced revenue package that includes raising corporate taxes and increased fees on ride-hailing services, coupled with a modest increase in the gas tax. Given the fact that gas prices fell an average of 65 cents a gallon between January and May, a 5 cent increase in the gas tax leaves the state’s gas prices well below where they stood when the House first voted.
The Commonwealth is now facing a staggering $6-7 billion revenue loss and the prospect of laying off thousands of teachers, social workers and human service workers if we cannot find a way to address this fiscal crisis. We must instead explore a menu of options including tapping the Rainy Day Fund, maximizing federal aid, raising targeted progressive revenue, and possibly even borrowing. Our argument to raise further progressive revenue is weakened because a previous tax vote that the House took to generate $600 million did not move forward in the Senate. The Commonwealth’s borrowing constraints and interest rate also stands to be negatively impacted without this $600 million in revenue.
As policymakers, it is on us to find creative answers to difficult questions. There is never a perfect time to pass a tax increase, but as elected officials, it is our duty to act boldly and in the best interest of our constituents. We respectfully urge the Senate to take the opportunity presented by the House and act on raising revenue needed to fund both our transportation needs, the investments we promised in education and the many needs that the Commonwealth faces as
we work our way out of this public health and economic crisis. We welcome the opportunity to work together on this issue that is vital to all of our communities.
Respectfully
Tricia Farley-Bouvier
3rd Berkshire
Christine Barber
34th Middlesex
Michelle Ciccolo
15th Middlesex
Marjorie Decker
25th Middlesex
Nika Elugardo
15th Suffolk
Tami Gouveia
14th Middlesex
Kate Hogan
3rd Middlesex
Jay Livingstone
8th Suffolk
Jack Patrick Lewis
7th Middlesex
Natalie Blais
1st Franklin
Mike Connolly
26th Middlesex
Mindy Domb
3rd Hampshire
Denise Garlick
13th Norfolk
James Hawkins
2nd Bristol
Mary Keefe
15th Worcester
Adrian Madaro
1st Suffolk
Andy X. Vargas
3rd Essex
Peter Capano
11th Essex
Mike Day
31st Middlesex
Bill Driscoll Jr.
7th Norfolk
Carmine Gentile
13th Middlesex
Natalie Higgins
4th Worcester
David LeBoeuf
17th Worcester
Liz Malia
11th Suffolk
Joan Meschino
3rd Plymouth
Sarah Peake
4th Barnstable
Dave Rogers
24th Middlesex
Chynah Tyler
7th Suffolk
Tommy Vitolo
15th Norfolk
