October 28, 2008

In Box - We Need Your Vote

This is from Dan Hunter and Hathalee Higgs at Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH):

MAASH Town Meeting Today

Mass. College of Art

621 Huntington Avenue

Boston, MA

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Refreshments

Question 1 Will Eliminate All State Cultural Funding

Learn About Question 1—the ballot referendum to cut state spending

by $12.7 Billion

Learn what the Cultural Community Must Do to Block Question 1

Dear Friends,

Will Question 1—the proposal to cut state spending by 40%—be defeated? The latest polls look good. But, defeating Question 1 isn’t enough. Six years ago, 45% of the electorate voted to end the income tax to send a message that state investment in our communities is wrong. We need to defeat Question 1 overwhelmingly to keep the state investing in our communities and in arts and culture.

MAASH invites all members of the cultural community to attend a cultural town meeting at the Mass. College of Art today from 5:30 to 6:30 pm:

MAASH Town Meeting:
Tuesday, October 28:
Mass. College of Art
621 Huntington Avenue
Boston, 5:30 pm—6:30 pm

We will discuss Question 1, the state budget cuts and the current political climate for arts and culture. We will provide you with talking points, bumper stickers, and yard signs so you can help with the Vote No on 1 campaign. We will also provide refreshments.

You will also be able to give voice to your concerns and questions about the coming budget year, the elections and the future of arts and culture in Massachusetts. More information on Question 1 and the locations of upcoming town meetings follow.

We look forward to seeing you today.

Thank you for your support.
Dan Hunter
Executive Director
Hathalee Higgs

Development Director
Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences & Humanities (MAASH)


Other town meetings:


Tuesday, October 28: Mass. College of Art, Boston, 5:30 pm—6:30 pm Wednesday, October 29: Amherst Cinema, Amherst, 12 noon--1 pm
Wednesday, October 29: The Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, 5:30—6:30 pm
Thurs. October 30: Framingham Civic League, Framingham,
8:30 am--9:30 am
Thurs. October 30: Blackburn Performing Arts, Gloucester, 5:30—6:30 pm


Question 1


Question 1 on the state ballot in November is a binding referendum to eliminate the state income tax effective January 1, 2009. This is a proposal with immediate consequences for all of us.

Overnight, the state would lose $12.7 billion in revenue—40% of the state budget. This could eliminate all cultural funding, drive up local property taxes, and lead to drastic cuts to fundamental state services in education, health care, and public safety.

In 2002, a ballot referendum to eliminate the income tax nearly passed, winning 45% approval. Though that referendum failed, the high percentage of support helped to convince legislators that it was politically impossible to increase revenue to meet the needs of our communities.

It is vital that the cultural community support state investment in our communities and strongly oppose Question 1. Click here to register your opposition:

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/ma/issues/alert/?alertid=11799636&type=CU&show_alert=1

We need to mobilize to defeat Question 1. Register your opposition by sending an e-mail today.

When you register through MAASH, you become part of the key voting bloc being organized by the Coalition for Our Communities, a growing coalition of civic, human services, environmental, labor, faith and business organizations that oppose the ballot question to eliminate the income tax.

After you register, you will receive an e-mail reminder to “Vote No on Question 1” shortly before the election on November 4th.

By registering now, you help the campaign know its strength in the coming campaign to defeat Question 1.

Non-profit, 501 (c ) 3 organizations are legally allowed to take a public position on ballot referendums. A ballot referendum is considered legislation (as opposed to a partisan election) and voters are considered legislators. Therefore, cultural organizations, leaders, and supporters can actively work against Question 1, as long as they don’t devote more than a substantial portion of their resources or devote more than 20% of their annual budget.

Register as an opponent of Question 1 on the MAASH web site or by sending an e-mail with name and address to me at dhunter@maash.org.

We need to defeat Question 1 by a large margin so that the state can continue its investment in our communities.

No comments: