Massachusetts Question 2, Vehicle and Fuel Tax Revenue to Highway Funding Amendment (1948)
| Massachusetts Question 2 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Fuel taxes and Highways and bridges |
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| Status |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 2 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Massachusetts on November 2, 1948. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported requiring that revenue from motor vehicle- and fuel-related taxes and fees, excluding excise taxes in lieu of local property taxes, be used exclusively for highway purposes. |
A “no” vote opposed requiring that revenue from motor vehicle- and fuel-related taxes and fees, excluding excise taxes in lieu of local property taxes, be used exclusively for highway purposes. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 2 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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1,329,232 | 82.89% | ||
| No | 274,351 | 17.11% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 2 was as follows:
| “ | Do you approve of the adoption of an amendment to the constitution summarized below which was approved by the General Court in a joint session of the two branches held June 6, 1948, received 220 votes in the affirmative and 28 in the negative, and in a joint session of the two branches held June 9, 1947, received 228 votes in the affirmative and 5 in the negative? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ | This proposed amendment to the Constitution provides that the use of revenue from fees, duties, excises or license taxes relating to the registration, operation or use of vehicles on public highways or to fuels used for propelling such vehicles, except revenue from any excise tax imposed for the privilege of registering such vehicles in lieu of local property taxes, shall be for highway purposes only. | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Massachusetts Constitution
A simple majority vote is required during two successive joint legislative sessions for the Massachusetts State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 101 votes in the joint session of the state legislature, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
See also
External links
- William Francis Galvin Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Statewide Ballot Measures: 1919-Present"
- Athol Daily News, "LEGAL NOTICE," October 25, 1948
Footnotes
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