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Massachusetts Question 8, Gas Tax Revenue to Highways Fund and Transportation Plan Initiative (1994)
| Massachusetts Question 8 | |
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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 Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 8 was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Massachusetts on November 8, 1994. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported redirecting more gasoline tax revenue into the state Highway Fund, requiring the state to create a comprehensive seven-year transportation plan, and capping the use of gasoline tax revenue for mass transit at 15%. |
A “no” vote opposed redirecting more gasoline tax revenue into the state Highway Fund, requiring the state to create a comprehensive seven-year transportation plan, and capping the use of gasoline tax revenue for mass transit at 15%. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 8 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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1,500,238 | 74.01% | ||
| No | 526,809 | 25.99% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 8 was as follows:
| “ | Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 4, 1994? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ |
This proposed law would increase the portion of gasoline tax revenue that would be credited to the state Highway Fund; prohibit the transfer of money from the Highway Fund to other state funds for other purposes; declare that citizens have a right to a safe and efficient public highway, road and bridge system and require the state to develop a comprehensive seven-year state transportation plan; and make certain other changes in state finance laws relating to the Highway Fund. The proposed law would require that the small portion of state gasoline tax revenues that is deposited in funds relating to the use of watercraft be deposited instead in the Highway Fund. No revenue deposited in the Highway Fund could be transferred to any other state fund for any purpose other than one for which the Highway Fund may be used. The proposed law would declare that the citizens of Massachusetts have a right to a safe and efficient public highway, road and bridge system, constructed and maintained by the state and its counties, cities and towns. The state Secretary of Transportation and Construction would be required to prepare a comprehensive state transportation plan for the period July 1,1995 through June 30,2002, to be updated every three years. The plan would provide for the repair or reconstruction of at least five percent of public highways and bridges every year, and it would establish priorities for highway, road and bridge projects based on condition and safety factors. The plan would be designed to promote economic development and employment by meeting the various transportation needs of residents throughout the state. The plan would be prepared after a public hearing and after consultation with the state Secretaries of Environmental Affairs and Economic Affairs. Under the proposed law, money in the Highway Fund would no longer be considered in determining whether the state government has sufficient money on hand to set some aside for use in fiscal years or to deposit some in the state tax reduction fund. The proposed law would declare that no more than 15% of gasoline tax revenues could be used for mass transportation purposes, but it would not prevent the state Legislature from appropriating additional gasoline tax revenues for such purposes. The proposed law states that if any of its provisions were declared invalid, the other provisions would remain in effect. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.
While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
In Massachusetts, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute is equal to 3% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Massachusetts also has a distribution requirement that requires no more than 25% of the certified signatures on any petition can come from a single county.
The state Legislature has until the first Wednesday of May in the election year to pass the statute. If the legislature does not pass the proposed statute, proponents must collect a second round of signatures equal to 0.5% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. The Legislature also has the power to place an alternative measure alongside the proposed statute via a simple majority vote of the state legislature.
A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. However, the number of affirmative votes cast for the measure must be greater than 30% of the votes cast in the election.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
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