Why do common sense, broadly popular policies generally fail to pass through the State House?
Common-sense, broadly popular policies generally fail to pass through the State House because legislators use their secret votes to block policies that are supported by an overwhelming majority of Massachusetts voters. For example:
Many people are shocked to learn that MA has a special tax break for the purchase of a private jet. When they last debated this, publicly many state reps correctly stated that it is unjust to use public dollars to give more money to wealthy individuals who can buy a private jet, and that this is terrible for climate and the environment. However, when they took their vote in secret, the tax break for their wealthy donors remained.
Rep Decker does not co-sponsor legislation to repeal this tax break for the purchase of a private jet. Perhaps it is related to the fact that she has taken maximum campaign contributions from billionaires on the Hanscom “frequent flier” list.