2010 Massachusetts Question 1

Referendum repealing a sales tax on alcohol Question 1 No Sales Tax for Alcohol 1147374 1061406 2208780 300px County results 300px Municipality results 300px Precinct results 1 Yes #2B2457 90–100% 1px #AAAAAA solid #47729E 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #7D9CBB 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #B6C8D9 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid No #32320C 90–100% 1px #AAAAAA solid #5D5D2D 80–90% 1px #AAAAAA solid #8B8B54 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #BCBC83 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #DEDEBD 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid Other #EBEEED Tie 1px #AAAAAA solid #808080 No votes 1px #AAAAAA solid The No Sales Tax for Alcohol Question, also known as Question 1, was on the November 2, 2010 ballot in Massachusetts. The measure asked voters whether to repeal a sales tax on alcohol sales. The ballot measure for the 2010 ballot was added after the Massachusetts State Legislature increased the sales tax in the state from 5% to 6.25% and eliminated an exemption for alcohol sold in liquor stores.http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/20/senate_approves_sales_tax_hike/?page=1 https://web.archive.org/web/20121102090610/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/20/senate_approves_sales_tax_hike/?page=1 dead November 2, 2012 The Boston Globe Senate approves sales tax hike May 20, 2009http://blog.sabrix.com/blog/sales-and-use-tax-news/0/0/sales-tax-increase-passes-house-in-massachusetts-governor-promises-veto- Sabrix Sales Tax Increase Passes House in Massachusetts - Governor Promises Veto April 29, 2009http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/news/x1445279723/Massachusetts-ballot-questions-announced-by-secretary-of-state Wicked Local Massachusetts ballot questions announced by secretary of state July 15, 2010 The Measure passed with 52% of the vote thereby eliminating the sales tax on alcohol beginning January 1, 2011.http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/massachusetts Massachusetts election results 2010 New York Timeshttp://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/alcohol_tax_cut_seen_as_rebuke.html Massachusetts alcohol sales tax cut seen as rebuke masslive.com November 2010 Text of measure Summary The summary of the measure reads:http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/x666132227/Election-overview-Whats-on-the-ballot-statewide The Salem News Election overview: What's on the ballot statewide August 17, 2010 This proposed law would remove the Massachusetts sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol, where the sale of such beverages and alcohol or their importation into the state is already subject to a separate excise tax under state law. The proposed law would take effect on January 1, 2011. A YES VOTE would remove the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol where their sale or importation into the state is subject to an excise tax under state law. A NO VOTE would make no change in the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol. Support Arguments Liquor retailers in the state had argued that the 6.25 percent sales tax on alcohol is making sales decline, that more people are heading to New Hampshire to buy their alcohol, since that state is tax-free. According to retailers, liquor sales in Massachusetts have declined from 10 to 40 percent in the past year.http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x208444042/Tax-holiday-not-enough-say-some-liquor-stores Daily News Tax holiday not enough, say some liquor stores August 12, 2010 Opposition Opponents Senator Steven Tolmanhttp://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/9/21/tax-liquor-state-alcohol/ The Harvard Crimson Mass. Senate To Vote to Repeal Alcohol Tax September 21, 2010 The Committee Against the Repeal of the Alcohol Tax http://www.NoOn1MA.com no on MA one no on MA one Massachusetts Hospital Associationhttp://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9ILMSO80.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20121025120035/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9ILMSO80.htm dead October 25, 2012 Business Week Hospitals, insurers: Keep Mass. alcohol sales tax October 5, 2010 Arguments Alcohol is not a necessity and does not deserve a special tax exemption. The only goods in Massachusetts exempt from the sales tax are necessities like food, clothing, and prescriptions. If anything should be taxed, products like cigarettes and alcohol should be. The tax has brought in $93 million in the current fiscal year that has helped fund the operations of recovery high schools http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/06/12/a_toast_to_the_tax_on_alcohol/ Boston Globe A toast to the tax on alcohol June 12, 2010 Financing The following are major contributors in opposition to the measure:https://web.archive.org/web/20110719202146/http://www.efs.cpf.state.ma.us/SearchReportResults.aspx?cpfId=95363 /http://www.efs.cpf.state.ma.us/SearchReportResults.aspx?cpfId=95363 July 19, 2011 View Report Results efs.cpf.state.ma.us unfit Contributor Amount Association For Behavioral Healthcare Inc $30,000 The Health Foundation of Central MA $10,000 Recovery Homes Collaborative, Inc $9,000 Spectrum Health Systems, Inc $6,000 Advocates, Inc. $5,000 Bay Cove Human Services $5,000 Behavioral Health Network $5,000 CAB Health & Recovery Services, Inc $5,000 Children's Hospital $5,000 Community Healthlink $5,000 High Point Treatment Center $5,000 Northeast Hospitals $5,000 North Suffolk Mental Health Assn. $2,700 Path to the ballot The initiative's supporters believed their efforts cleared the signature gathering hurdle on November 18, 2009, gathering and submitting approximately 115,000 voter signatures Signatures were submitted to all local city and town clerks in the state. The initiative was reviewed by the Massachusetts Legislature. Since the Massachusetts Legislature did not approve of the initiative by the May 4, 2010 deadline, petition organizers had to obtain signatures from about 1/2 of 1% of voters who voted in the last governor election and submit them before or on July 7, 2010. According to the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office, that number amounted to 11,099 signatures. Sponsors turned in enough signatures for the ballot, therefore allowing voters to decide on the measure.http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ELE/eleguide/guidelaw.htm Massachusetts Secretary of State Elections: Initiative Petition for Lawhttp://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/11/19/toll_ending_question_fails_to_make_mass_ballot/ Boston Globe Toll ending question fails to make Mass. ballot November 19, 2009May 2026 medicmedic References Category:2010 Massachusetts ballot measures Category:Massachusetts statutes Category:Taxation in Massachusetts Category:Alcohol in Massachusetts Category:Initiatives in the United States