Letter to Patch: In Support of Question 5 in Somerville

This announcement, which we're publishing as a letter to the editor, concerns Question 5 on Somerville's ballot. Question 5 is a non-binding resolution that supports certain budget priorities, such as maintaining social safety-net programs, ending wars in the Middle East and raising revenues.

According to budget4allmass.org, a website organized by supporters of the question, the referendum will read as follows:

Shall the state Representative (or Senator) from this district be instructed to vote in favor of a resolution calling upon the Congress and the President to:

1. Prevent cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans benefits, or to housing, food and unemployment assistance;

2. Create and protect jobs by investing in manufacturing, schools, housing, renewable energy, transportation and other public services;

3. Provide new revenues for these purposes and to reduce the long-term federal deficit by closing corporate tax loopholes, ending offshore tax havens, and raising taxes on incomes over $250,000; and

4. Redirect military spending to these domestic needs by reducing the military budget, ending the war in Afghanistan and bringing U.S. troops home safely now.

Here's the announcement, sent by Somerville supports of the question:

Massachusetts Congressmen Barney Frank,  Jim McGovern, Ed Markey and Mike Capuano top the list of 25 elected officials who support the Budget for All Referendum on November 6.

October 12 - Twenty-one elected officials in the Massachusetts legislature have joined four U.S. congressmen in giving their support for a non-binding referendum that will appear on the ballot in 24 state representative districts and 8 state senate districts. These districts encompass 91 cities and towns across the state.

This “Budget for All” Referendum challenges the program cuts and austerity budgets now being discussed in Washington and the mainstream media. It is based on the view that the huge federal deficits were caused by a combination of unconscionable tax breaks for large corporations and extremely high incomes, a Pentagon budget out of all proportion to what the country can afford, the financial crisis caused by Wall Street and the spiraling cost of health care,  Instead of supporting cuts to programs that did not cause the deficit, the “Budget For All” ballot question seeks to send a different message to Washington: No cuts to Social Security, Medicare and other vital programs; Invest in useful jobs; End offshore tax havens and tax cuts on the highest incomes; Reduce the military budget and bring all troops home safely from Afghanistan NOW.

In his letter of support for the referendum, Congressman Frank wrote, “I am pleased to give my support to the proposal to put a question on the state legislative district ballots this November urging a correction of the deeply-flawed spending priorities of the federal government. I have been working as hard as I can in Congress to achieve the goals that this proposal embodies…… Reducing military spending and raising taxes on the wealthiest in this country to a level that will have no negative impact either on them or the economy are essential if we are to be able to reduce our deficit in a socially responsible way.”

Congressmen Frank, Capuano, Markey and McGovern are joined in their support by 8 state senators including Sal DeDomenico of Everett and Thomas McGee of Lynn and 13 state representatives. The full list of Massachusetts elected officials who support the Budget for All ballot question is provided below.

“We are hoping Senators Brown and Kerry will sign on as supporters and will lead the charge in Washington this December and January for a federal budget that supports the well-being of all our families -- and which is not based on military solutions to every foreign policy crisis” adds Rachel Tedesco, who spearheaded the effort to get the referendum on the ballot in Bridgewater and Raynham.  Rev. Tedesco is a minister in Bridgewater and was a planner at SRPEDD, the regional planning agency based in Taunton.  

The following elected officials have expressed support for the Budget for All Referendum. We thank them for their support!

Members of Congress

Michael Capuano

Barney Frank

Ed Markey

Jim McGovern

State Senators

Will Brownsberger, Belmont

Sonia Chang-Diaz, Boston

Sal DiDomenico, Everett

Ken Donnelly, Arlington

Pat Jehlen, Somerville

Thomas McGee, Lynn

Stan Rosenberg, Amherst

Dan Wolf, Harwich

State Representatives

Cory Atkins, Concord

Linda Dorcena Forry, Dorchester

Sean Garballey, Arlington

Lou Kafka, Stoughton

Jay Kaufman, Lexington

Jason Lewis, Winchester

David Linsky, Natick

Denise Provost, Somerville

Frank Smizik, Brookline

Ellen Story, Amherst

Timothy Toomey, Cambridge

Martha Walz, Back Bay

Alice Wolf, Cambridge