This article provides insight into some of the most pressing
issues facing Massachusetts policymakers as the 2013–2014
legislative session approaches.
With the November 2012 election behind us and the New Year upon
us, it is time to focus on what lies ahead as far as policy
discussions on Beacon Hill are concerned. The financial
health of the Commonwealth will dominate the direction of many
initiatives, but there are other less flashy, more onerous, issues
on the horizon. It will be crucial to focus on the
development of these issues and the timing of their
formulation. Below is a list of 10 issues likely to be
considered by Massachusetts policymakers in 2013.
Income Tax
With the recent unwelcome news that declining revenue receipts
will prohibit an automatic decrease in the state income tax rate,
it is now clear that legislators and administration officials will
look to the income tax as a way to increase the state
coffers. More important, the pending
