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Tuesday, December 13 - Election Day
Revenue and Revenue Reform
The Commonwealth regularly faces a budget deficit and has taken numerous steps to reduce waste and reform government. It is now clear, however, that we cannot cut our way out of this economic crisis and we cannot continue to ask working people and the most vulnerable to bear the burden alone. Tim believes that we must invest in people and infrastructure, and to do so we must make sure that large corporations and the very wealthy pay their fair share.
As State Senator, Tim would:
- Support raising the income tax while increasing personal exemptions for low and middle income workers, which would shift more of the tax burden to those who can afford it while protecting those who cannot.
- Support an amendment to allow for a progressive, graduated income tax to be sure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes.
- Close corporate loopholes and eliminate or reform corporate tax credits.
- Support "claw-back" provisions to recover tax credits and other incentives from corporations that fail to live up to their promises.
Job Creation and Economic Development
We must get our people back to work. While Massachusetts has done better than many states, we are still facing an employment crisis. As a successful small business owner, Tim Schofield understands that small business is a vital engine of economic growth and state government must help small businesses to succeed.
Tim also understands that we must invest in our infrastructure if we are to compete in the national and global economies. Tim will fight for increased funding for schools, public transportation, and green technology to create jobs now and in the future.
Large corporations benefit from tax breaks even as they shed jobs or move them overseas. On the other hand, small businesses struggle to pay for health care and to secure credit for expansion.
As State Senator, Tim would:
- Support increased funding for schools and infrastructure including public transportation and green technologies which will create jobs now and in the future.
- Support efforts to pressure banks to provide loans and credit to small businesses (many banks are sitting on billions of taxpayer dollars from the bailout).
- Support increased funding for job training and adult education.
Public Education and Workforce Development
Tim is a product public schools and understands their importance to our families and our future. Much of the income gap in our society results from a difference in the quality and quantity of education. In order to be prepared for the jobs of the future, we must provide a quality education to all children, regardless of where they reside.
In addition, there has been a significant transformation of work in this country over the last 50 years. Many people have seen their opportunities erode and their risk of long-term unemployment grow because the skills necessary to succeed in our world economy have changed.
As State Senator, Tim would:
- Support increased funding for early childhood education, including mandatory pre-K and full-day kindergarten because early education is vital to success in school and in life.
- Fight for increased Chapter 70 funds for our communities so they can maintain small class sizes and outstanding teachers in every classroom.
- Provide funding for continuing education, including vocational training, at our community colleges so that our community can continue to learn and update their skills.
Civil Rights and Liberties
Tim believes strongly in individual freedom and equal rights for all people regardless of race, age, sex, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Tim knows we must treat all people with respect and dignity and never legislate to limit their rights.
As an openly gay man, Tim is a long-time supporter of equal marriage rights and supports the current transgender equality bill which bans discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression.
Tim strongly supports a woman's right to choose and strongly opposes any efforts to chip away at women's fundamental rights by imposing restrictions like parental consent. Tim believes that our goal should be to ensure that women have access to a full range of reproductive health services, and that this access be coupled with preventive family planning offerings and comprehensive, evidence-based, sex education.
Tim opposes the death penalty and any effort to bring capital punishment back to Massachusetts.