Get Your Vote On! 2014 Election Recap
Get Your Vote On! 2014 Election Recap
Hopefully you took the time to vote in these important races and ballot questions. A big thank you to everyone who helped Get Out The Vote (GOTV) and shared MALC’s Get Your Vote On! Blogs via email, blogs, Facebook posts, newsletters, websites, and tweets. Special thanks goes to the following for their help in highlighting the series: The Future Boston Alliance, the South Asian Arts Council, MassMouth, the Photographic Resource Center, Artmorpheus, the Boston Musicians’ Association, the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s ArtSake Blog, the Mass Production Coalition, and many more individuals and organizations.
MALC does not endorse candidates for office, but seeks to provide needed and timely information about candidates’ platforms and policies that impact artists of all disciplines, the arts, and cultural and creative economies.
Here are the key results:
Governor & Lt. Governor’s Race winner:
Charlie Baker/Karyn Polito (R): http://wp.me/p2W9Iu-12X
Attorney General race winner:
Maura Healey (D)
Link to answered MALC questionnaire: (PDF)- http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/Healey.pdf
Link to campaign website: http://www.maurahealey.com/
Treasurer Race winner:
Deb Goldberg (D)
Link to answered MALC questionnaire (PDF): http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/Goldberg.pdf
Link to campaign website: http://www.debgoldberg.com/
Four Ballot Questions Results
Question #1: Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing Was Passed (The YESes won)
The current requirement that the state’s gasoline tax be 1) adjusted every year by the percentage change in the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the preceding year but 2) never adjusted below 21.5 cents per gallon has been eliminated. The current state gas tax is 24 cents per gallon.If elected official want to raise the gas tax they will have pass legislation to raise it (ie pass the House, Senate etc).
Question #2: Expanding the Beverage Container Deposit Law Was Defeated (The NO’s won)
It proposed both expanding and modifying the state’s so called “Bottle Bill,” which would have placed a redeemable five cent deposit on the purchase of bottles and cans of beer and soda. It would have:
• Would have expanded the Bottle Bill by applying the five cent deposit to most other beverage containers, including bottled water, juices, and sports drinks.
• Would have adjusted the container deposit amount every five years based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with the stipulation that it never be set below the current five cents.
• Would have placed all “unclaimed deposits” in a special “Clean Environment Fund,” as opposed to the current practice of placing them in the state’s general fund.
Question #3: Expanding Prohibitions on Gaming Was Defeated (The NOs won)
It proposed shutting down the state’s gambling industry before it can open its first casino. Casinos were approved by the state in 2011. Developers have gained approval for resort casinos in Everett and Springfield, construction has begun on a Plainville slots parlor, and officials are knocking around an idea for a casino in the South Coast. Yes on 3 means no to casinos.
Question #4: Earned Sick Time for Employees Was Passed (The YESes won)
It entitles all employees in Massachusetts to earn and use sick time. All employees working for employers with more than 11 employees would be able to earn and use up to 40 hours of paid sick time per calendar year. All employees of smaller employers will be able to earn and use up to 40 hours of unpaid sick time per calendar year. The sick time could be used when one is sick, to care for a sick family member, and also to deal with the effects of domestic violence. Employers who retaliate against their employees for utilizing their earned sick time will be dealt with by the Attorney General’s office.
MALC does not endorse candidates for office or take positions on the statewide ballot questions. For MALC’s full summaries on each question, click on the following links:
Question #1: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-statewide-ballot-question-1/
Question #2: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-statewide-ballot-question-2/
Question #3: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-statewide-ballot-question-3/
Question #4: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-statewide-ballot-question-4/
For more info on the ballot questions:
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elebalquestinfo.htm
Federal races for our State
For the U.S. Senate seat:
Ed Markey (D) is the incumbent and beat his republican opponent. http://www.edmarkey.com/
The Congressional Seats:
District One
Richard Neal (D) is the incumbent and was the only candidate running for the seat. http://www.nealforcongress.com/
District Two
Jim McGovern (D) is the incumbent and was the only candidate running for the seat. http://jimmcgovern.com/
District Three
Niki Tsongas (D) is the incumbent and beat her republican opponent. http://nikitsongas.com/
District Four
Joe Kennedy III (D) is the incumbent and was the only candidate running for the seat. http://www.joekennedyforcongress.com/
District Five
Katherine Clark (D) was the only candidate running for the seat. http://katherineclark.org/
District Six:
Seth Moulton (D) http://www.sethmoulton.com/ beat Richard Tisei (R) http://tiseiforcongress.com/
District Seven:
Mike Capuano (D) is the incumbent and was the only candidate running for the seat. http://www.mikecapuano.com/
District Eight:
Stephen Lynch (D) is the incumbent and was the only candidate running for the seat. http://www.stephenflynch.com/
District Nine:
Bill Keating (D) is the incumbent and beat his republican opponent. http://www.keatingforcongress.com/