Carla Howell Wants to Address Joint Session of Legislature

Would Ask for End of Income Tax Before May 1

February 2002

Carla Howell is seeking to address a joint session of the state legislature about ending the income tax in Massachusetts.

Having just finished a successful signature drive to place such a proposal on the ballot this November, she has asked Senate President Thomas Birmingham and House Speaker Thomas Finneran to invite her to address the joint chambers.

The state legislature can vote on the ballot initiative itself up until May 1 and make the November vote unnecessary, she pointed out.

If the income tax is eliminated, 3 million workers in the state would get $3,000 each, she claims. She says that 400,000 new jobs would be created.

“Massachusetts State Government spending has more than doubled in the last 10 years,” she wrote.

“I will need only 18 minutes to show how and why we can cut our bloated Massachusetts State Budget of $23 Billion down to $14 Billion by Ending the $9 Billion a year State Income Tax.

“Only 18 minutes to document and demonstrate the 9 Common Sense Reasons to End the Income Tax in Massachusetts.”

She says that the last budget by Michael Dukakis in 1991 was $10 billion. We will have more than that remaining if we eliminate the income tax now, she points out.

The budget now is $23 billion and the income tax revenues are $9 billion. Therefore, if we eliminate that tax, we would have $14 billion remaining in revenue every year, which is more than Dukakis spent.

Why Would They Listen?

Howell asked why the lawmakers would allow an “un-elected, private citizen” to address them.

“I represent the 75,629 voters who signed our Ballot Initiative,” she wrote.

“State Senator Thomas Birmingham: you represent the 38,645 voters who cast their ballot for you in the last election. 75,629 votes vs. 38,645 votes.

“State Representative Thomas Finneran: you represent the 8,172 voters who cast their ballot for you in the last election. 75,629 votes vs. 8,172 votes.

“Gentlemen, I represent 75,629 forgotten Taxpayers. I represent 75,629 forgotten Voters.

“Gentlemen, I was elected by a constituency of 75,629 committed voters.

“These 75,629 Voters have asked me to speak for them.

“Will you respect these 75,629 Voters? Will you listen to the Representative of 75,629 Voters?

“Will you arrange for their Representative – Carla Howell – to address a Joint Session of the Massachusetts Legislature – before you vote on our Ballot Initiative to End the Income Tax?””