Massachusetts voters are being requested to determine on 4 poll questions this November protecting points starting from taxes to dental insurance coverage, and the Globe is monitoring who’s funding the campaigns.
In Massachusetts, people can contribute limitless quantities of cash to committees working poll query campaigns. The Globe has compiled information from the Massachusetts Workplace of Marketing campaign and Political Finance exhibiting who has contributed sums over $1,000, together with donations of products and companies, to every poll query — each for and towards. The info shall be up to date recurrently between now and Election Day on Nov. 8.
Query 1, the so-called “millionaires tax” query, would levy an extra tax on earnings above $1 million. Particularly, the query asks voters whether or not they approve an extra 4 p.c tax on annual taxable earnings in extra of $1 million, for use for public schooling and transportation.
Opposition to this measure has attracted funding from a number of outstanding names in Massachusetts enterprise circles, together with Robert Kraft’s Rand-Whitney Containerboard, Suffolk Development, and New Stability chairman Jim Davis. Among the many proponents of a sure vote are lecturers’ unions and different labor teams.
Query 1 has generated probably the most money among the many 4 poll questions by far: Greater than $30 million has been raised within the race as of Oct. 5.
Query 2 would enact a brand new regulation on dental insurance coverage carriers, requiring them to make sure a selected ratio of buyer premiums is spent on dental take care of members and high quality enhancements, versus the provider’s administrative bills. The query has pitted insurance coverage corporations towards dentists, a conflict that’s mirrored within the funding sources on both sides.
A poll query initiated by a company of Massachusetts package deal shops would step by step enhance the variety of areas the place a retailer can promote beer and wine, in addition to make modifications to legal guidelines governing alcohol gross sales within the state. Customers wouldn’t be allowed to buy alcohol in self-checkout traces at shops, however would be capable to use out-of-state driver’s licenses to purchase booze. Moreover, modifications could be made to the method used to find out fines for retailers who run afoul of state legislation.
As is obvious within the fund-raising totals beneath, the poll query has drawn little organized opposition. Meals Shops for Client Selection, the committee opposing the measure, has not reported any substantial donations.
Query 4 asks voters to weigh in on a legislation just lately handed by the Massachusetts Legislature that permits undocumented residents of to acquire state driver’s licenses. A “sure” vote would maintain the legislation in place, whereas a “no” vote would repeal it. The marketing campaign to maintain the legislation in place has out-raised the opposition by greater than nine-fold.
Vince may be reached at vince.dixon@globe.com. Observe him on Twitter @vince_dixon_. Christina Prignano may be reached at christina.prignano@globe.com. Observe her on Twitter @cprignano.