2008 Massachusetts Ballot Initiative ("Question 1") to End the Income Tax

Current campaigns and projects

Ballot Question 1 Results By the Numbers

$7,000,000 in Union dues and Union in-kind contributions swelled our opponents' War Chest and overwhelmed our private fundraising efforts.

Teachers Unions pumped in $5,687,565 – 86% of all “NO on Question 1” money. 93% of the cost of all “NO on 1” advertising.

With the Committee For Small Government as YES on Ballot Question 1, and the Teachers Unions and their Allies as NO on 1, here’s Question 1 by-the-numbers:

2008 Votes on Ballot Question 1

YES: 901,802 (30%)

NO: 2,063,891 (70%) – 1,162,089 more votes than us.

2008 Cash and In-Kind Donations Ballot Question 1 (through 11-1-08)

YES: $487,491

NO: $7,268,816 -- $6,781,325 more than us.

2008 Petitioning Expenses on Ballot Question 1

YES: $304,000

NO:  Zero cost -- $304,000 LESS cost than us.

2008 Advertising Spending on Ballot Question 1

YES: $81,000

NO: $6,120,000 – $6,039,000 MORE money for advertising than us.  76 times our ad spending (as of the 11/5/08 campaign finance report).

 

2002 Ballot Question 1 Vs. 2008 Ballot Question 1

2002 Votes on Ballot Question 1

YES: 885,683 (45%)

NO: 1,070,668 (55%) – 184,985 MORE votes than us.

2008 Votes on Ballot Question 1

YES: 901,802 (30%)

NO: 2,063,891 (70%) – 1,162,089 MORE votes than us.


Why did we get roughly the same number of votes as we got in 2002?

Because we spent roughly the same amount of money on advertising both years. $89,000 in 2002 and $81,000 in 2008.

We spent every available dollar on advertising both times.

Why did the Teachers Unions increase their NO vote total by 1,000,000 votes?

Because they brought in and spent $6,120,000 MORE in advertising than last time. $6,039,000 MORE advertising money than us.  76 times our ad spending.

Negative advertising works. Attack ads work. Fear-mongering ads work. Especially when Teachers Unions spend $6,120,000.
 

Itemized Teachers Union Donations Against Ballot Question 1

$5,687,565 funding from Teachers Unions to defeat Question 1 - so far.

86% of funding against ENDing the state income tax came from Teachers Unions.

10-30-08 American Federation of Teachers  $50,000

10-24-08 Massachusetts Teachers Association $75,000

10-23-08 American Federation of Teachers    $100,000

10-16-08 Massachusetts Teachers Association $1,500,000

10-15-08 American Federation of Teachers $70,000

10-10-08 Massachusetts Teachers Association $1,500,000

10/9/08 National Education Association $750,000

8/7/08 American Federation of Teachers $250,000

7/29/08 National Education Association $750,000

6/5/08 Boston Teachers Union $150,000

6/3/2008 Massachusetts Teachers Association $15,000

5/5/2008 Massachusetts Teachers Association $50,000

4/25/2008 American Federation of Teachers $30,000

http://www.efs.cpf.state.ma.us/SearchReportResults.aspx?cpfId=95339