Ballot-focused Breakfast Forum educates voters

Date: October 2, 2024

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BEVERLY — The Chamber presented voices from both sides of the ballot questions on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Misselwood Events during its monthly Breakfast Insight Forum.

Attendees gained deeper understanding on the finer points of Question 1, 2, and 5 being posed to Massachusetts voters on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.

QUESTION 1 asks voters to authorize the state auditor to audit the Legislature.

The Chamber welcomed State Auditor Diana DiZoglio who spoke in favor of voting ‘yes.’ DiZoglio, a Democrat, has cast her effort to audit the Legislature as one of fundamental accountability for state government. She notes that Massachusetts is frequently ranked as one of the least transparent state legislatures in the nation — not subject to public records laws or open meeting laws. She says taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent on Beacon Hill.

Some legislators argue that an audit of the chambers is both unconstitutional and, as House Speaker Ron Mariano said, “wholly unnecessary.” Senate President Karen Spilka argued that “as the separation of powers clause dictates,” her chamber is empowered to manage its own business and set its own rules.

QUESTION 2 asks voters to eliminate the MCAS test as a requirement for high school graduation, instead giving individual districts the right to determine student competency.

Deb McCarthy, Vice President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, spoke in favor of eliminating the test as a requirement. Proponents say that MCAS isn’t the best way to measure competency and that people with disabilities and ESL are unfairly impacted. Instead of standardized testing, they argue, students should demonstrate they have mastered the state’s education standards through their schoolwork and teacher evaluations.

Ed Lambert, Executive Director of the Mass Business Alliance for Education, spoke in favor of voting ‘no’ on Question 2. Opponents of this ballot question argue that MCAS standardizes education, graduation, and competency requirements for every school, and best prepares the state’s future workforce. As a national leader in K-12 education, they argue, Massachusetts must maintain high education standards so that graduates are ready for college and career.

QUESTION 5 would gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers from $6.75 to $15, allow servers to pool tips with non-tipped workers, and continue to permit tipping in addition to the minimum wage.

Mitch Gaynor of Mass. One Fair Wage spoke in favor of gradually raising minimum wage for tipped workers. Proponents of this ballot question say service workers are struggling to survive with their current pay, which they say often doesn’t add up to minimum wage, even when including tips.

Chris Keohan, a partner at Shawmut Strategies Group, spoke in favor of voting ‘no’ on Question 5. Opponents say increasing the minimum wage would be detrimental to the restaurant industry, force companies out of business, and increase pass-along costs for consumers.

 

Thank you to the speakers, attendees, and the Presenting Sponsors – Eastern Bank and Institution for Savings.

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