Jo has lived and worked in western Massachusetts since the late 1990s, arriving fresh out of New York City’s Hunter College School of Social Work where she focused on homelessness policy, prison reform, and earned an MSW.
Progressive Revenue Growth
H.2851, An Act to strengthen the foundation of the Commonwealth
The upside-down Massachusetts tax system takes a higher proportion of the income earned by poorer residents than it does from the top 1%. Before 1998, the Commonwealth taxed wage income at 5.95 percent compared to 12 percent for unearned income (interest and capital gains). But now, our flat tax system treats all income the same, a change which benefits the wealthiest and results in a regressive tax system. I joined with Representative Mike Connolly on legislation (H.2851, An Act to strengthen the foundation of the Commonwealth) to increase the tax rate on capital gains, dividends and interest, and to allow personal exemptions for all taxpayers. The bill was introduced in the House because of constitutional requirements for tax legislation to start there.