Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (16)
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (16)
Similar to #FaithAndBallot: the Massachusetts 2014 Ballot Questions
Similar to #FaithAndBallot: the Massachusetts 2014 Ballot Questions (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
#FaithAndBallot: the Massachusetts 2014 Ballot Questions
- 1. #FaithAndBallot { Thinking Theologically about the 4 Ballot Questions
- 2. City Mission Society Episcopal City Mission Massachusetts Council of Churches Massachusetts Interfaith Worker Justice Unitarian Universalist Massachusetts Action Network Ecumenical Advocacy Coalition #FaithAndBallot
- 3. Then Jesus said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" #FaithAndBallot
- 5. If passed, who might benefit from this law? If passed, who might be left vulnerable by this law? { #FaithAndBallot “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
- 6. 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
- 7. 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
- 8. 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. #FaithAndBallot
- 9. Question 1: Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing Who might be left vulnerable by YES vote? Citizens and visitors who travel on Massachusetts roads and bridges Massachusett's 5,136 Bridges 47 53 Safe Structurally Deficient or Functionally #FaithAndBallot Obsolete Gas Tax: 1991: $0.21 2013: $0.24 Consumer Price Index 1991: $1.36 2013: $2.33
- 10. 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 #FaithAndBallot
- 11. Question 2: Expanding the Bottle Bill a NO vote would: NO CHANGE to law as is (just beer & soda with nickel deposit) #FaithAndBallot
- 12. 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 redemption #FaithAndBallot 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 % Recycled 80 23 % Recycled
- 13. 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 #FaithAndBallot
- 14. 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
- 15. 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
- 16. 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 #FaithAndBallot 5.5 7.9 6.6 6.7 7.7 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Unemployment Rate Unemployment Rate
- 17. 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 #FaithAndBallot
- 18. 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
- 19. Question 4: Paid Sick Leave a NO vote would: NO CHANGE to law as is ( NO guaranteed paid or unpaid sick leave) #FaithAndBallot
- 20. 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 employees #FaithAndBallot 1 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.
- 21. Question 4: Paid Sick Leave Who might be left vulnerable by a YES vote? Business owners forced to comply with new regulations #FaithAndBallot 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.
- 22. Questions? #FaithAndBallot { Thinking Theologically about the 4 Ballot Questions
- 23. 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?
- 24. Discussion Round 2 Are the people on the different sides of this debate equally vulnerable?
- 25. 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?
- 26. Get out to VOTE on November 4th! #FaithandBallot
Editor's Notes
- Rev. Laura, MCC intro We believe that to be faithful voters, we first need to be well-informed voters. Our goal for this evening is not to change your mind on a position, but to help you craft a well-informed, faithful position. Write down your questions. No experts, wisdom in the room. First, a few disclaimers: The Ecumenical Advocacy Coalition is theologically diverse. I honor the traditions present in this room and your multiple ways of thinking theologically about these ballot questions. I will try to be attentive to these multiple perspectives, but I as a United Church of Christ pastor, I am located in a particular stream of Christian thought. I will do my best to be attentive to other ways of thinking about these issues, but I would not want to take on a voice that is not authentically mine. Christianity is as varied and diverse as any other religion. So there is no singular “Christian” ethical way of thinking about these questions. What are the questions we should ask as people of faith to aid our thinking about good public policy? I also suspect that my summation of the ethical issues in each question will satisfy neither proponents nor opponents. I ask your forgiveness where I fall short, and ask you extend to me a generosity of spirit. We are aiming towards what we aim towards in our interreligious dialogue: presenting the other in the best possible light and not comparing your best to their worst. A second disclaimer: We are invested in outcomes. Most of our organizations and many individuals have worked hard in support or against some of the questions on the ballot November 4. Many of us have collected signatures to get these questions on the ballot. We are happy to tell you why, but for now, we want to educate one another and model a different way of being in relationship.
- For those of our churches that follow the Revised Common Lectionary, this week’s gospel text from Matthew 22:15-22, has the Pharisees confronting Jesus to entrap him, and ask about payment of an unjust tax. The Pharisees send the Herodians to question Jesus and say “"Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" Jesus asks for a coin- said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” ASK: And what do they say? (Render unto Caesar what is Caeser and render unto God what is God’s). ASK: So what is God’s?
- If Caesar’s image is imprinted on money, but God’s image is imprinted on the whole world, including you, then all of creation Is God’s. This passage of scripture is often pulled out when talking about faith and tax policy (and for you who are preaching this weekend, a great chance to talk about these ballot questions in your sermon!). But if we believe that all of Creation is imprinted with the image of God, then how we vote on ever issue matters.
- There are many possible frames we could use for thinking theologically about the four ballot questions. We don’t have time tonight for this frame, but it’s also worth asking who is funding each campaign? A few individuals or corporations are bankrolling some campaigns while others are at a serious cash disadvantage and more dependent on small, individual contributions. There is great wisdom already in this room, so ask one another questions. Drawing on Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 25 about care for “the least of these” we ask about those who benefit and those left vulnerable. As a starting point, with all 4 Ballot Questions, we invite you to ask yourself: If passed, who might benefit from this law? If passed, who might be left vulnerable by this law? So, let’s dig in. Four binding questions on the ballot in all 351 cities and towns across Massachusetts. A simple majority is needed to enact the question.
- Proponents of the repeal say tax increases should not be automatic; they should require a vote of the Legislature. They also say the gas tax is already high and that the state has raised other taxes and fees recently. According to the Committee to Tank Automatic Gas Tax Hikes, “The state has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.” http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- Opponents of the repeal say the state’s roads and bridges are in poor shape after decades of neglect. They say the government needs the revenue created by the gas tax indexing to help fix them. According to the Committee for Safer Roads and Bridges, “Question 1 threatens the safety of you and your family when traveling on Massachusetts’s roads and bridges.” http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- Proponents also make the argument that citizens benefit from making legislators vote on tax increases rather than have the gas increase tied to inflation, thus avoiding a regular vote to raise revenue.
- 5,136 BRIDGES IN MASSACHUSETTS 487 ARE CONSIDERED STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT 2,207 ARE CONSIDERED FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE Potholes and bad roads cost Massachusetts residents $2.3 billion a year in car repairs.” In addition to progressive revenue groups and transportation safety groups, some environmental groups support this question that ties our road repair revenue stream to our gasoline purchasing. Gas tax has not kept pace with inflation, so driving on 1991 roads. 21 years since last tax increase. What cost 1.36 in 1991 would cost 2.33 in 2013, so we’ve lost purchasing power by not increasing the gas tax over the past 21 years.
- Proponents argue that the existing Bottle Bill works well — for those bottles it covers. Consumers put down a refundable nickel deposit on beer or soda; they get their money back when they return the container. They point to statistics that show that 80 percent of beer and soda containers get recycled, but only 23 percent of nondeposit containers do. “A YES vote equals more recycling, less trash and litter, and big savings for towns’ waste management costs,” according to the Coalition for an Updated Bottle Bill. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- Opponents say bottle returns are an inefficient, old-fashioned idea when many households now have access to curbside and community recycling programs. They also object to the prospect of raising the deposit fee automatically. According to the Comprehensive Recycling Works campaign, “Today more than $30 million of your unclaimed nickels go into the state’s general fund and into the hands of politicians — not to environmental programs.” http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- Proponents show that the bottle bill passed 30 years ago works as an incentive to increase recycling rates. 80% of bottles included get recycled where only 23% of those that aren’t included get recycled.
- Opponents say that over the past 30 years, 90% of MA residents have access to curbside recycling at home (though not always in public places), so this program is unnecessary.
- The third question would repeal the state’s casino gambling law. It would prohibit the state gaming commission from issuing casino licenses and void any licenses already issued. It would also ban betting on the simulcasting of live greyhound races. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- Proponents say the casino market is reaching a saturation point. They say casinos bring crime and that the promised economic benefits will not materialize. They argue that casino gambling amounts to a tax on the poor. According to the Repeal the Casino Deal Committee, “Casinos will hurt local restaurants, hotels, and entertainment businesses. Money that would otherwise be spent at locally owned small businesses will instead fall into predatory slot machines owned by out-of-state corporations.” Casinos tend to create new gambling addicts within 50 miles of a new casino, so those who could become addicted benefit if this law passes. Proponents say the jobs argument is a myth. MA, without casinos had much fewer unemployed people than RI with casinos. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- Opponents of the repeal say casinos will generate thousands of construction and permanent jobs and create significant state revenue. They argue that state residents already spend close to $900 million at casinos in surrounding states. “The law already has provided voters in several communities, including Springfield and Plainville, an opportunity to bring much-needed jobs and economic activity to their communities through first-class development projects,” according to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, a casino supporter. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- The fourth question would entitle Massachusetts workers to earn and use sick time, with certain caveats. Employees who work for businesses with 11 or more employees could earn and use up to 40 hours of paid sick time per year; workers at smaller companies could earn and use up to 40 hours of unpaid sick time per year. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- Proponents say thousands of Massachusetts workers are forced to choose between going to work sick or losing a day’s pay. They say allowing workers to earn sick time will reduce turnover, increase productivity, and help businesses’ bottom line. “A YES vote on Question 4 will save jobs and income, allowing workers to spend more in the local economy, benefiting us all,” according to Raise Up Massachusetts, which supports the measure. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- Opponents say the proposal would create red tape and increase costs to employers. They say small businesses depend on flexibility, and they resist the state mandate. In some customer-service-focused businesses, “employers would be required to pay twice, once to the employee on leave and a second time to the employee working the shift. It would essentially double their payroll,” according to the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/02/answers-ballot-questions/XAakJAdUQhuXxte348MZ2H/story.html
- Rev. Laura, MCC intro We believe that to be faithful voters, we first need to be well-informed voters. Our goal for this evening is not to change your mind on a position, but to help you craft a well-informed, faithful position.