#FaithAndBallot: the Massachusetts 2014 Ballot Questions

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Thinking Theologically about the 4 Ballot Questions

#FaithAndBallot

Ecumenical Advocacy Coalition

City Mission Society

Episcopal City Mission

Massachusetts Council of Churches

Massachusetts Interfaith Worker Justice

Unitarian Universalist Massachusetts Action Network

#FaithAndBallot

Then Jesus said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?"

#FaithAndBallot

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#FaithAndBallot

If passed, who might benefit from this law?

If passed, who might be left vulnerable by this law?

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40

#FaithAndBallot

Question 1: Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing

a YES vote would:

REPEAL the 2013 law that increased the tax

of MA gas by $0.03

REPEAL the 2013 law that indexed future gas

taxes to the rise and fall of the Consumer

Price Index

#FaithAndBallot

Question 1: Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing

a NO vote would:

KEEP the 2013 law that increased the tax of

MA gas by $0.03

KEEP the 2013 law that indexed future gas

taxes to the rise and fall of the Consumer

Price Index

#FaithAndBallot

Question 1: Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing

Who might benefit from a YES vote?

People and corporations

that purchase gas would

pay less at the pump.

Question 1: Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing

Who might be left vulnerable by YES vote?

Citizens and visitors who travel on

Massachusetts roads and bridges

47

53

Massachusett's 5,136 Bridges

Safe

Structurally

Deficient or

Functionally

Obsolete#FaithAndBallot

Gas Tax:1991: $0.212013: $0.24

Consumer Price Index1991: $1.362013: $2.33

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Question 2: Expanding the Bottle Bill

a YES vote would:

ADD all non-alcoholic, non-carbonated bottles

to $0.05 deposit (except milk& formula)

INDEX future deposit to Consumer Price Index

CREATE Clean Environment Fund

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Question 2: Expanding the Bottle Bill

a NO vote would:

NO CHANGE to law as is (just beer & soda

with nickel deposit)

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Question 2: Expanding the Bottle Bill

Who might benefit from a YES vote ? Environment People concerned by litter City gov’s who pay to clean

up litter People who collect bottles for

redemption0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

8080

23

% Recycled

%

Recycled

#FaithAndBallot

Question 2: Expanding the Bottle Bill

Who might be left vulnerable by a YES vote ? People who purchase bottled water, juice,

sports drinks Beverage corporations & potentially employees

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Question 3: Repeal the Casino Deal

a YES vote would:

REPEAL the 2013 law legalizing casinos

PROHIBIT state from issuing casino licenses

BAN betting on simulcast greyhound racing

#FaithAndBallot

Question 3: Repeal the Casino Deal

a NO vote would:

NO CHANGE to law as is ( 2013 law made

slot machines legal & up to 3 casinos + slot

parlor).

#FaithAndBallot

Question 3: Repeal the Casino Deal

Who would benefit from a YES vote?

Small business owners

Towns adjacent to casinos

Homeowners

Gambling addicts & people

who might become addicted

5.5

7.9

6.6 6.7

7.7

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Unemployment Rate

Unemployment

Rate

#FaithAndBallot

Question 3: Repeal the Casino Deal

Who might be left vulnerable by a YES vote?

Casino companies

Construction workers for temp jobs

Potential casino employees

Springfield, Plainville, Everett town budgets

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Question 4: Paid Sick Leave

a YES vote would:

ALLOW employees at businesses with LESS than 11

employees to earn up to 40 hrs unpaid sick time per

calendar year

ALLOW employees at businesses with MORE than 11

employees to earn up to 40 hrs paid sick time per

calendar year

#FaithAndBallot

Question 4: Paid Sick Leave

a NO vote would:

NO CHANGE to law as is ( NO guaranteed

paid or unpaid sick leave)

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Question 4: Paid Sick Leave

Who might benefit from a YES vote ?

Employees

Sick children or family members of employees

Co-workers of sick employees

Customers of sick employees1 in 3 workers in Massachusetts do not have access to earned paid sick time.

More than 50% of low wage workers and service industry workers do not have access to a single earned paid sick day.

#FaithAndBallot

Question 4: Paid Sick Leave

Who might be left vulnerable by a YES vote?

Business owners forced to comply with new

regulations

All employers are not the same, and one size does not fit all.

Small businesses here already struggle to pay for high health insurance premiums, AND an increased minimum wage.

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Questions?

#FaithAndBallotThinking Theologically about the 4 Ballot Questions

Discussion Round 1

Think of an example from your faith tradition or from personal experience that would influence your vote on any of these questions?

Discussion Round 2

Are the people on the different sides of this

debate equally vulnerable?

Discussion Round 3

Think about a question you have already made up your

mind about.

What kind of information would make you change

your vote?

Get out to VOTE

on November 4th!

#FaithandBallot