[Platform] request for endorsement

Fri Apr 18 11:23:25 EDT 2008

Income tax is the most progressive short of a tax on assets excluding primary 
residences - see reports on this on Mass Budget & Policy's website - MUCH 
better than sales and property taxes.   And only I and Patrick took a stand on 
this issue - everyone else spoke for rolling them back to benefit their rich and 
corporate friends-

Grace
In a message dated 4/18/08 10:08:02 AM, john.walsh at umassmed.edu writes:

> I have some reservations about spending time on this.
> I have not studied the tax issue - and I am not sure that the state
> income tax is the most equitable way to finance things. And if it is
> not, is this group willing to think of some better ways to do
> things? It seems that almost the only thing that Dems and
> Republicans disagree on is the income tax. Do we want to take sides
> on the ONLY issue dividing them? Do we want to emerge as a "me too"
> to the Dems? Especially when there are other things like single-
> payer which clearly distinguish us from both of them. Politics is
> all about drawing sharp and clear distinctions.
> 
> And I am not sure where all these groups stand on third parties - it
> seems clear that their leadership is intimately tied into the Dem Party.
> Again will we be achieving something more than saying "me too" to the
> Dems? I encourage us to think about this A LOT before we jump in.
> And I think we at least need a discussion and vote of State Com on this.
> jw
> 
> 
> On Apr 18, 2008, at 9:54 AM, Nat Fortune wrote:
> 
> > Dear platform committee ---- I am forwarding this request for
> > endorsement. Responsibilities of endorsers are listed below. Please
> > note deadlines, advise appropriate level of endorsement and report
> > back to ad-com with your recommendation. Thank you!
> >
> > Nat Fortune
> >
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > From: Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
> > Date: April 17, 2008 9:24:12 PM EDT
> > To: adcom at green-rainbow.org
> > Subject: [adcom] Fwd: [statecom-discuss] The Committee for Our
> > Communities
> > Reply-To: "Green-Rainbow Party \(GRP\) Administrative Committee"
> > <adcom at green-rainbow.org>
> >
> > I am going to go if I possibly can - we endorse this campaign? 
> > Thanks,
> > grace
> > In a message dated 4/17/08 9:12:57 PM, mikeheichman at verizon.net
> > writes:
> >
> >
> >> Hi State Comm and Platform Comm:
> >>
> >> FYI
> >>
> >> I will be away on family business and will be unable to attend.
> >>
> >> Can somebody attend this meeting?
> >>
> >> Mike Heichman
> >>
> >> --------------------------
> >>
> >> The Committee for Our Communities
> >> A campaign to defeat the ballot initiative to eliminate the state
> >> income
> >> tax in Massachusetts
> >>
> >> April 7, 2008
> >>
> >> Dear Colleague:
> >>
> >> We would like to invite you to the first meeting of The Committee for
> >> Our Communities, the coalition to defeat a ballot initiative to
> >> eliminate our state income tax. Please join us on Thursday, April
> >> 24th,
> >> from 1:00 to 2:30, at the office park of Bayside Expo Center near
> >> UMass
> >> Boston (directions on reverse). Please come to hear Tom Kiley present
> >> his findings on what it will take to defeat this measure, discuss
> >> overall strategy and timetable for the campaign, and tell us how you
> >> want to contribute to this broad coalition effort to protect our
> >> state’s
> >> economy and families.
> >>
> >> We believe this ballot proposal to eliminate the income tax would
> >> severely damage the Commonwealth’s economy and jeopardize the vital
> >> local services our families need. Reducing the state budget by 40
> >> percent would make it impossible for the state to make essential
> >> investments in public schools and colleges, health care, roads and
> >> bridges all the things that are necessary to attract new business to
> >> the state. And it would decimate local aid to cities and towns,
> >> forcing
> >> communities to raise property taxes to provide needed services
> >> such as
> >> schools, fire and police protection, and emergency medical services.
> >>
> >> Our goal is to build a broad coalition of communities,
> >> businesspeople,
> >> and labor organizations to carry this message to the voters of
> >> Massachusetts and defeat this measure by a significant enough
> >> margin to
> >> protect our local services and state programs for years to come.
> >>
> >> Join our coalition kick-off on April 24th. Please RSVP or direct
> >> questions to Harris Gruman at 617-316-0443, or
> >> harris.gruman at seiu.org.
> >>
> >> We look forward to seeing you there!
> >>
> >> 1199 SEIU
> >> AFSCME Council 93
> >> American Federation of Teachers MA
> >> Massachusetts Building Trades Council
> >> Massachusetts AFL-CIO
> >> Massachusetts Municipal Association
> >> Massachusetts Nurses Association
> >> Massachusetts Teachers Association
> >> M.O.S.E.S.
> >> SEIU Local 509
> >> -----------------------------------------
> >> COALITION PURPOSE:
> >>
> >> The Committee for Our communities is a coalition formed with the sole
> >> purpose of defeating the 2008 ballot initiative to eliminate our
> >> state
> >> income tax. We believe this ballot proposal would severely damage the
> >> Commonwealth’s economy and jeopardize the vital local services our
> >> families need. Our goal is to continue to build a broad coalition of
> >> communities, businesspeople, and labor to carry our message to the
> >> voters of Massachusetts and defeat this measure by a significant
> >> enough
> >> margin to protect our local services and state programs for years to
> >> come.
> >> _____________________________________________________________________
> >> _
> >> ______
> >> YES, COUNT ME/US IN! I am/we are committed to the purpose of the
> >> Committee for Our Communities and want to join the coalition as
> >> (check
> >> all that apply):
> >> 〓 A financial contributor to the campaign committee
> >>
> >> 〓 An Endorsing Organization or Individual we will:
> >> Support defeat of the ballot measure to eliminate the income tax
> >> Allow the coalition to list my/our organization’s name as
> >> opposing the
> >> ballot question
> >> Educate people to oppose the ballot measure
> >> Participate in coalition events
> >>
> >> 〓 Member of the Core Group of the Committee (Pending Approval by
> >> the
> >> Committee)
> >> I/we commit significant monetary and/or in-kind resources (e.g.,
> >> activating your members and volunteers, lending staff expertise to
> >> the
> >> coalition, donating in-house vendor services such as phone banks and
> >> printing, etc.)
> >> I/we will participate in monthly Committee meetings
> >> I/we will participate in at least one Committee Working Group (e.g.
> >> Fundraising, Field, Earned Media)
> >> Core Group Members make all long-term strategy decisions (consensus
> >> preferred, 2/3’s vote of members present [phone and email votes
> >> accepted] with majority quorum)
> >> Our commitment will include: _______¬¬¬¬¬¬
> >> ________________________________¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
> >>
> >> 〓 Member of the Managing Committee (Pending Approval by the
> >> Managing
> >> Committee)
> >> I/we commit major financial support to the campaign ($250,000 or
> >> more)
> >> I/we have been invited to be a Member by the Managing Committee
> >> I/we will participate in weekly Managing Committee meetings
> >> Managing Committee members make all time-sensitive decisions and
> >> approve
> >> all actions involving expenditure of significant funds (consensus
> >> preferred, or majority vote of all members)
> >>
> >> Lead Contact Name:
> >>
> >> Organization:
> >>
> >> Address:
> >>
> >> City: State: Zip:
> >>
> >> Phone: Email:
> >>
> >> PLEASE RETURN TO:
> >> The Committee for Our Communities, harris.gruman at seiu.org; fax:
> >> 617-482-6521
> >>
> >> -----------------------
> >>
> >> Directions to Bayside Expo Center and 1199 SEIU Office:
> >> From the South
> >> Use Exit 14 from I-93, the Southeast Expressway. Stay in the right
> >> hand lane and follow Morrissey Boulevard. At your 3rd set of lights
> >> take
> >> a right onto Mount Vernon Street. Follow the signs and take your 1st
> >> left into the Bayside Expo Main Entrance. Turn left into the
> >> parking lot
> >> of the Corcoran-Jennison Building for 1199 SEIU (3rd Floor).
> >> From the North and the West
> >> From points North and/or West take the Massachusetts Turnpike,
> >> Interstate-90 east to Interstate 93 South. Take Exit 15 (Columbia
> >> Road)
> >> off of Interstate 93. Stay in the left-hand lane and take a left
> >> off of
> >> the ramp. Go 〓 of the way around the Rotary and bear right onto Day
> >> Blvd. Proceed past the Mass State Police Barracks and take your first
> >> right into the Bayside Expo North Entrance. Pass the booth and turn
> >> right into the parking lot of the Corcoran-Jennison Building for 1199
> >> SEIU (3rd Floor).
> >> Transit
> >> As a convenient alternative, take the T or Commuter Rail. The MBTA
> >> Red
> >> Line and Old Colony (Plymouth/Kingston and Middleboro/Lakeville)
> >> Branch
> >> of the commuter rail system both stop at the UMass/JFK station
> >> directly
> >> across the street from us. Walk under the overpass, pass the big
> >> intersection and turn in to the left at the tall Bayside Expo Sign.
> >> Turn
> >> left into the gate of the Corcoran-Jennison Building for 1199 SEIU
> >> (3rd
> >> Floor).
> >>
> >> Handicapped Parking Available in the Parking Lot of the
> >> Corcoran-Jennison Building.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> statecom-discuss mailing list
> >> statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> >> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > **************
> > Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car
> > listings at AOL Autos.
> >
> > (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
> > _______________________________________________
> > AdCom mailing list
> > AdCom at green-rainbow.org
> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/adcom
> > To email Administration Committee members: adcom.members AT green-
> > rainbow DOT org
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Platform mailing list
> > Platform at green-rainbow.org
> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/platform
> 
> John V. Walsh, MD
> Professor of Physiology
> University of Massachusetts Medical School
> 55 Lake Avenue, N.
> Worcester, MA, 01655-0127
> Phone (work): 508-856-3360
> Phone (cell): 508-868-1653
> email: john.walsh at umassmed.edu
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> Platform at green-rainbow.org
> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/platform
> 
> 

- Grace C Ross
2006 Gubernatorial Candidate, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

"Privilege corrupts; Absolute privilege corrupts absolutely. Because we 
recognize the power of love, the power of faith, the power of our connection to 
each other, it became important to specify that it is positions of power combined 
with a sense of differentiated entitlement that is really dangerous."

**************
Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car 
listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)