The AP on Gov. Patrick and Question 1.
Midway through a press conference outlining his response to a $1.4 billion hole in the state budget, Gov. Deval Patrick paused, lowered his voice and spoke directly to the television cameras."I know you are anxious. There is real cause for concern, but not for panic," Patrick said Wednesday. "I intend to stick with you and I ask you to stick with each other."
The appeal for calm was meant to highlight the seriousness of the swiftly escalating fiscal crunch. For supporters and foes of Question One, the ballot measure that would eliminate Massachusetts' income tax, Patrick's announcement could also turn out to be a fiscal "October surprise" -- a last-minute game-changing event just weeks before voters take to the polls.
What isn't clear is whether Patrick's plan to cut more than a billion from the budget, institute spending controls and eliminate 1,000 state jobs will spook voters into killing the question -- or persuade them that even more cuts are needed.
"Most of us aren't panicking or if we are, we've already gotten it out of our system and we don't have anywhere else to go," said Barbara Anderson of the anti-tax group Citizens for Limited Taxation and a supporter of Question One. "People may be in the mood to throw up their hands and say the government is the problem and I'm holding onto my money."
Question One, the most closely watched of three ballot initiatives to be decided by Massachusetts voters on Nov. 4, would eliminate the 5.3 percent state income tax over two years.
Supporters say it will force lawmakers to shrink a bloated bureaucracy while putting an average $3,600 back in the pockets of taxpayers.
UPDATE: More from the Herald and National Review.
