The economy may push MA question #1 over the top

From today's Boston Globe: "Shaky economy may weigh heavily in income tax vote." That would be the state referendum to abolish the state income tax in Massachusetts:

The last time the income tax question was on the ballot, in 2002, it received little attention but stunned political observers by collecting 45 percent of the vote. At the time, a gallon of gas cost less than $1.50, home prices were soaring, and the economy, if imperfect, was not the dominant issue.

That's a far cry from 2008. Voters for months have endured unemployment increases, flat or decreasing wages and home values, a rising cost of living, and, for the last two weeks, have watched with unease and even panic as stock prices plunged and the credit crisis spread around the world.

As I've noted, Beacon Hill should stop trying to demonize those who want to constrain the state government and make a good-faith effort to bring the tax rate back to the promised rollback rate of 5%. This "reckless" referendum is less about taxes than a frustrated citizenry forcing government officials to live up to their promises.