The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • B5

TUE SDAY, UNE 8 2 0 2 1 Metro B5 a 17-month campaign with unions and progressive advo- cates on one side and business leaders on the other. Massachusetts recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, and aswe prepare for our future, we have a unique opportunity to move towards a Commonwealth that truly works for all resi- said House Speaker Ron- ald Mariano and Senate Presi- dent Karen E. Spilka in a joint statement announcing this vote. Mariano, a Quincy Democrat who has opposed themeasure in the past, and Spilka, an Ashland Democrat, have both said they support advancing the proposal, which proponents have dubbed the Fair Share Amendment. stand with the residents of Massachusetts in exploring newways to increase revenue for the state as we envision and in- vest in an equitable and hopeful future for the the Democratic leaders said.

The Legislature approved the proposal, 147 to 48, in 2019 and must advance it in consecutive legislative sessions before it can make the ballot. The measure would effectively create a 9 per- cent income tax rate on personal income above $1 million, com- pared to the flat tax of 5 percent currently imposed. It had been headed to voters in 2018 before the Supreme Ju- dicial Court rejected the ballot question as unconstitutional. But likely to avoid another similar challenge, thanks to a le- gal twist: Instead of filing it as a citizens-initiated petition, as it was three years ago, this time it began in the Legislature, easing its constitutional path. Battle lines have long been drawn around the proposal.

Democratic lawmakers, labor unions, and other advocacy groups have said that the state will need more revenue to help address inequities heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporters on Thursday quickly cheered the planned vote. A group known as the Raise Up Massachusetts coali- tion said it intends to hold a doz- en rallies in the coming weeks to launch a campaign ahead of the November 2022 vote, foreshad- owing a lengthy effort to con- vince voters. before the pandemic, Massachusetts needed new in- vestments in our transportation and public education the group said in a statement. investments are needed now more than ever to lift up our economy for Meanwhile, a contingent of business owners and others have argued that raising taxes will drive away investment and uTAX Continued from Page B1 wealth to lower-cost states.

The Pioneer Institute, a liber- tarian-leaning think tank, has repeatedly built a case against the tax proposal, releasing re- ports in recent months recount- ing the tax-related challenges for Connecticut and the migration of taxable wealth from Massa- chusetts to the income-tax-free states of New Hampshire and Florida. Chris Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High Tech- nology Council, questioned why lawmakers would pursue the tax changes when still unclear how the pandemic could re- shape economic landscape and how businesses operate. is 180 degrees dif- ferent today than it was during the he said. they take the vote on Wednes- day, no way to take this off the Anderson said he believes op- ponents are also likely to push on the bal- lot proposing tax changes that could offset the impact of the tax, should it pass. In 2018, for example, business groups pushed a measure to re- duce the sales tax to 5 percent before ultimately pulling it amid a so-called grand bargain with the Legislature.

lot of people look at this and think going to tax some fat cats sitting on a beach said Chris Geehern of Associated Industries of Mas- sachusetts, which warns the change could hurt small busi- nesses whose earnings get taxed as personal income, and thus get pushed above the $1 million threshold. taking $2 billion out of the core element of the Massachusetts vote comes at a time when Massachusetts for now appears flush with cash. State officials said Thursday that the Department of Revenue col- lected more than double the tax revenue than it had expected in May. Through 11 months of the fiscal year, the state has now pulled in $3.9 billion above pro- jections and $1.36 billion more than it expected to collect for the entire year. State lawmakers are also moving to assume control over how to spend nearly $5.3 billion in federal COVID stimulus mon- ey, a largely flexible lump of cash that can be used in the coming years.

But state Representative Jim a West Boylston Demo- crat who filed the high-earners tax amendment, said policy makers should not view the fed- eral cash as Matt Stout can be reached at matt.stout@globe.com. Tax question could go to voters in 2022 By Emma Platoff GLOBE STAFF Demanding from the corner state Representa- tive Tami Gouveia, a second- term Democrat from Acton, on Monday launched a campaign for lieutenant governor, rocket- ing herself into a still-developing field with more than a year to go before the statewide election. With a doctorate in public health, Gouveia is running on health care and advocating for a stronger social safety net, a need she sayswas highlighted, but not created, by the COVID-19 pan- demic. crises facing us require a public health she said in her announcement. our state to fully and equitably recover from the pandemic, we need statewide leadership.

We need to bring everyone Gouveia is running as a pro- gressive, showcasing her sup- port for policies like Medicare for All, universal pre-kindergar- ten, expanded public transporta- tion, and affordable housing. A Lowell native, Gouveia nodded in her announcement video to the role community and govern- ment played in boosting her family into the middle class. She founded and co-led the Massa- chusetts chapter of the March. Gouveia enters the field as a number of other Massachusetts politicians jostle for a position in next elections. While Re- publican Governor Charlie Bak- er and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito have yet to declare their plans, a number of Demo- crats are already mulling cam- paigns of their own, and more still are rumored to be in themix for the top two jobs.

Activ- ity and speculation about the 2022 races has picked up inten- sity in the last few weeks after state Auditor Suzanne Bump an- nounced she will not run again. Democrat Bret Bero, a busi- nessman and Babson College lecturer, is exploring a campaign for lieutenant governor as well, POLITICO first reported Mon- day. State Senator AdamHinds, a Pittsfield Democrat, confirmed to the Globe on Monday that he is at running for a statewide office next year and is putting a team together to help with the process. made any final de- cisions, but I am considering Lt he said. State Senator Eric Lesser, a Longmeadow Democrat who emerged as a vocal critic of Bak- er during the pandemic, has sig- naled interest in a statewide run, party insiders said.

The uncertain 2022 election cycle couldmake history, with as many as five seats potentially open among the top offic- es. The top officials, in- cluding Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, and Secretary of State William F. Galvin, have yet to announce their plans, while announcement has al- ready set the stage for a competi- tive Democratic primary. The in- decisions could either solidify their longevity in calci- fied Massachusetts politics or open up a suite of opportunities for up-and-coming candidates. In the gubernatorial race, a number of Democrats, including Healey, could become contend- ers.

Former state lawmaker Ben Downing has already declared his candidacy, while Harvard professor Danielle Allen and state Senator Sonia of Jamaica Plain are exploring runs. At least six sitting Democrat- ic state senators have privately expressed interest in running for a statewide seat. Emma Platoff can be reached at emma.platoff@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter Acton lawmaker running for lieutenant governor TAMI GOUVEIA With a doctorate in public health, Gouveia is running on health care and advocating for a stronger social safety net. By Emma Platoff GLOBE STAFF The state GOP plan to oust Governor Charlie Baker from the political operation is all but dead, accord- ing to several members of the Republican State Committee.

Chairman Jim Lyons, a for- mer Baker ally who heads a more socially conservative fac- tion of the party, had been lobby- ing to minimize the influence of Baker and other elected officials. Themove could have cleared the way for the party to endorse and challenger to Baker should he face one in next gubernatorial race. But Lyons could not secure enough votes for a party bylaws change to strip voting power fromBaker and the other elected officials who serve on the executive committee, according to multiple Republicans whom he told directly. Instead, Lyons will pursue a watered down ver- sion, the Republicans said. not giving up be- cause suddenly seen the light that a bad idea to ostra- cize the Republican governor of the Commonwealth.

They changed their minds because they GOP Vice Chairman Tom Mountain said. Mountain, who called the origi- nal idea said Lyons has not returned his calls but he knows that most of the commit- tee opposes the proposal. The loss comes at a particu- larly vulnerable time for Lyons, whose party split is between those who share his ideological bent and more moderate estab- lishment Republicans. He was reelected to his position in Janu- ary by a narrow, three-vote mar- gin. And he faces fresh criticism this month for staying silent for days about a fellow anti-gay comments.

Lyons, who has feuded with Baker since he became party chairman in 2019, claimed the change was simply a structural one. Proponents argued that the party should be independent from elected leaders since offi- cials in liberal Massachusetts are forced to compromise, while party leaders should not have to do so. But critics said it was counterproductive to exclude the most popular elected officials from its political arm. The measure would have re- voked the voting power of Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Poli- to, and Republican legislative leaders. Asked about the proposal, Baker said on Friday us off make any In May, the state by- laws committee had voted in fa- vor of pitch, setting it up for a vote of the full body on June 9.

Lyons, who attended the meeting to agitate for that out- come, told the dozen Republi- cans on the Zoom call that his proposal was negative about Charlie, nothing negative about But he also said Baker and Polito had done to help the in recent years, ac- cording to several people on the call. Lyons did not return requests for comment. Baker has not said whether he plans to run again in 2022. Several members of the Re- publican State Committee said the measure could still come up at the next meeting on Wednesday evening, but predict- ed that if it does, it will fail. SomeRepublicans have been cir- culating a watered down version of the proposal, which would al- low the full state committee, rather than the smaller execu- tive committee, to endorse can- didates before the primary has taken place, sending them cru- cial party resources.

Lyons told POLITICO he would support that narrower measure. listened to some of the concerns of our members and a couple of members have come forward with an amend- ment, and I totally support Lyons told the outlet. The expected failure of original pitch comes at a low moment for the chairman, who has faced criticism from Baker, along with nearly every Republi- can member of the Massachu- setts House, for his handling of a growing scandal within the par- ty. Lyons stayed silent for days about revelations that Deborah Martell, a fellow Republican, told a gay GOP congressional candidate she was that he and his husband had ad- opted children together. The House Republicans told Lyons in a letter on Friday that he must comments or resign.

But Lyons was defiant, con- ceding that her remarks were but insisting the par- ty must be to stand up against censorship and Meanwhile, top Republicans including Baker and Mountain have called on Martell to resign. Her ongoing role in the party is set to come up at the Republican State Committee meeting this week, when a resolution by state Representative Shawn Dooley condemning bigotry will be dis- cussed. Emma Platoff can be reached at emma.platoff@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter GOP chair lacks votes to change bylaws Move targeted powers UNDER FIRE Jim Lyons is facing fresh criticism this month for staying silent for days about a fellow anti- gay comments. Celebrating and upporting Boston great bars and restaurants Pisco Cocktails with Ashley Sullivan With the ongoing health crisis forcing many bars and restaurants to close, inviting you to join us for Boston.com’s Cocktail live virtual cocktail class series helping to provide an economic lifeline to COVID-impacted restaurants through Off Their Plate.

Join host Jackson Cannon (The Hawthorne and Eastern Standard) and guest bartender Ashley Sullivan as they mix cocktails with Pisco, including the classic Pisco Sour and a sultry take on the Manhattan Cocktail known as El Thursday, June 10 7 p.m. RSVP: Globe.com/Events Jackson Cannon Ashley Sullivan with.