Stand Up for Our Communities …

  Stand Up for Our Communities
                                               The $2 billion in threatened
                                               program cuts are:
                                                                    because they hurt our economy
                                              UNWISE                and our communities
          TS T
        CU GE




                              SC                                    because they fall heavily on
                                              UNFAIR
            D




                                HO
         BU




                                  OL                                people who can least afford them
                                    S
                                 HE
                                   AL
                                      TH
                                              UNNECESSARY
                                                                    because we can raise the revenues
                       ENVIRONMENT                                  needed to avoid the cuts



             A better solution: Tax Fairness
  Because of loopholes and special                        12%
                                                                    Effective Mass. Tax Rates
  deductions, the wealthiest                                                   The bottom 40%
                                                          10%                      pay this.
  taxpayers now pay at about half
  the rate that other people pay in                        8%                           The top
                                                                        9.2%           1% pay this.
  state and local taxes.
                                                           6%
  If everyone contributed their fair share:
                                                           4%
  · The $2 billion budget shortfall would
                                                                                     4.6%
     be eliminated.                                        2%
  · Most people would receive tax relief.                  0%




      · Please call your legislator now. Ask them to stop the
        program cuts by supporting tax fairness.
          (For telephone numbers and talking points go to www.masschc.org)
      · Sign the Fair Taxes for Healthy Communities petition.
      · Join us in speaking out for our communities.

         Cut loopholes, NOT vital services!
To find out more, contact Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy
Communities, Tel. 781-674-2422, www.masschc.org, info@masschc.org

       Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities
              How To Stop the Cuts With Fair Tax Solutions
Major budget cuts are devastating essential services.
· Cuts in local aid are forcing layoffs of teachers and school closings.
· Support has been cut back or eliminated for critical health programs - hospitals, teen
  pregnancy prevention, drug abuse treatment, smoking cessation, prescription drugs for
  seniors, and home care for frail elders.
· Fees for public higher education will increase by hundreds of dollars per student.
· Cutbacks in environmental programs will slow the clean up of hazardous waste sites and
  threaten the protection of water and air quality.
· Support for affordable housing programs and rental assistance has been cut.
· And much more!
Did you know?
· Over $3.7 billion was given away in tax breaks largely for the wealthy over the past
  decade. Ending these tax give-aways would close the budget gap.
· The richest 1% of taxpayers are paying only half as much of their income in state and
  local taxes as the lower 40% of taxpayers are paying.
· If the richest 20% were paying at the same rate as lower income taxpayers, there would
  be more than enough money to cover essential services.
Some Fair Tax Solutions that could solve the budget crisis:
· Close corporate loopholes.
· Increase the income tax rate, but raise the personal exemption & rental deduction.
· End the sales tax exemption for selected services (lobbyists, financial services, lawyers, etc.)
· Tax intangible property (stocks and bonds), exempting the first $30,000.
· End the sales tax exemption for high end real estate sales.
· Tax harmful pollution. This will create incentives for healthier production and
  compensate the public for health damages and clean-up costs.
Call your State Representative now!
· Thank those who voted "YES"- to raise revenue fairly and save vital programs.
· Tell those who voted "NO"- to change their position if they want our votes next
  election.
· To find out how your rep voted, and how to contact your rep, see
  www.masschc.org, or call 781-674-2422.