Poll Says Most Massachusetts Residents Support 1986 Tax Rebate Law

Massachusetts Democrats and Republicans don't agree about a whole lot, especially in these very partisan times we live in, but one thing they do see eye to eye on is a desire to share in the state's good financial times.

In other words, they want a cut of the record surplus.

According to the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, "Republican and Democrat primary voters are united in supporting the 1986 voter-approved tax law set to rebate $3 billion back to the taxpayers."

An Alliance survey shows 63 percent of Republicans polled want the law to be honored while 65 percent of Democrats feel the same way.

Before Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker invoked the long-forgotten Chapter 62F (the tax rebate law), lawmakers were considering a one-time rebate check of $250 for middle-income earners costing $500 million. That idea is less popular with voters.

The Fiscal Alliance Foundation poll found only 42 percent support from Republicans for the rebate check, while 53 percent of Democrats viewed the plan favorably. Chapter 62F changed everything and united the two parties to support the much larger payout.

The Alliance says, "Primary voters seem to show more support in their voter-approved law that benefits all of the state's taxpayers, rather than the legislature's more modest, targeted approach for certain earners."

Get our free mobile app

It has yet to be determined whether the legislative leadership will attempt to scuttle the 1986 law or if it will be honored. How the roughly $3 billion would be distributed to taxpayers should the law be honored remains a mystery as well.

The poll sampled voter opinions on a host of other issues. The results can be viewed here.