WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:06.040 It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ Conston's new radio. 2 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:09.480 All Right, moving into the nine o'clock hour here on 3 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:12.960 a Monday night. It is March tenth. Beautiful day in 4 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:16.039 New England today, certainly in my part of New England, 5 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:18.239 and I hope when you're part of New England as well, 6 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:22.800 and we are going to talk about making it a 7 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:27.440 beautiful day for the Massachusetts economy. There's a new alliance group, 8 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:33.320 a new group called the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance of involving 9 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:37.159 frankly business leaders here in Massachusetts and with us as 10 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:42.079 the president of the MOA, the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, Chris Anderson. 11 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:44.880 Chris Anderson, welcome back to night said, how are you sir? 12 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:48.679 Hey Dan, thanks so much for having me. Appreciate being 13 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:51.640 back with you, and just the correct I'm one of 14 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:55.799 the founders of mass Opportunity Alliance in my role as 15 00:00:55.880 --> 00:00:58.479 president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council. 16 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:05.239 Okay, fine, okay, that's fine. I appreciate that correction because 17 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:09.079 you don't like to be accurate and sometimes I know 18 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:13.159 has written there. So anyway, no problem. Founder, okay, one 19 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:16.040 of the founders. So tell us first of all, how 20 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:21.400 the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance came to be and also describe 21 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:24.760 to us what its goal is, what are we trying 22 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:25.280 to do here? 23 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:31.280 So Massachusetts has historically had a ton of economic and 24 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:35.719 quality of life advantages, including high media and income. We've 25 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:40.879 got great research institutions, academic institutions, and a thriving and 26 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:44.959 multi sector innovation economy, most notably in the tech and 27 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:50.359 biotech areas. And that would include also terrific investment capabilities 28 00:01:50.359 --> 00:01:54.959 here that correlates to what's become. We've all become accustomed 29 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:57.799 to a really top notch quality of life, great healthcare, 30 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:05.239 top rated edgecation system, rich cultural and other activities, including 31 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:07.719 the natural beauty of just being in New England, and 32 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:11.759 a low climb rate a crime rate. But over the 33 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:16.639 last few years, as pendulums do swing and economics and 34 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:20.240 political environments shift, we've seen that those are the very 35 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:24.639 benefits and attributes that are currently at risk as other 36 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:29.120 states are increasingly going after with great success the types 37 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:33.960 of jobs, residents, and industry that we have here in Massachusetts. 38 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:38.879 So organizations like the High Tech Council and others got 39 00:02:38.919 --> 00:02:43.400 together to create the mass Opportunity Alliance, a cross organizational 40 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:49.080 effort to address these changes, strengthen and defend the business 41 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:52.039 climate and its correlation on the quality of life here 42 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:56.240 in the state for everybody before the horses out of. 43 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:59.800 The barn, Well, I think everybody knows that we have 44 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:04.639 what's called then out migration problem in Massachusetts. That there 45 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:08.639 are more people leaving Massachusetts than staying. And the people 46 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:14.280 who are leaving are often cases either young people who 47 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:19.080 are having trouble, you know, maybe finding housing close to 48 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:23.360 where they work, or they're being wooed away by other states, 49 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:27.360 or people who have retired and say, look, I can 50 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:29.520 go to New Hampshire, I can go to Florida, I 51 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:34.400 go to Tennessee. That's all tax driven for the most part. 52 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:39.080 So how do we address that what the Mass Opportunity 53 00:03:39.080 --> 00:03:40.479 Alliance suggests can be done. 54 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:44.280 Well, we certainly know, as you've just stated and COVID 55 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:47.879 proved that the barriers to exiting high cost states like 56 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:51.879 Massachusetts that are seeing a decline in the business climate 57 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:57.800 are lower than ever. And so it is workers, working age, 58 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:02.800 people with families, in addition to high wealth retirees that 59 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:06.360 are taking advantage of the opportunity to move. And so 60 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:10.400 what happens as that trend accelerates, which it has in 61 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:14.240 the last two years, the state loses access to those 62 00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:19.120 dollars that go to other states turn into philanthropy and 63 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:22.240 tax revenue in other states. So what we're going to 64 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:28.800 focus on is engaging greater public awareness around the trends 65 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:33.319 and the consequences of those trends, and then the actions 66 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:36.160 that people who listen to your show, who live in 67 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:42.360 work in Massachusetts can become engaged in in turning this 68 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:45.600 sort of multi year trend that we're sitting around and 69 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:50.240 return to a stronger, more robust economy in the years ahead. 70 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:53.319 So there'll be a direct role for people if they 71 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:56.120 are better armed with information. And that's what the Mass 72 00:04:56.160 --> 00:05:02.639 Opportunity Alliance is delivering, a narrative communications apparatus that helps 73 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:07.040 raise awareness among people that they might not think about 74 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:10.759 issues in ways that affect them. We think they will 75 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:13.720 when they look at the information on our website and 76 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:19.000 listen to the data that we're putting out in ways 77 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:20.279 that they will relate to. 78 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:24.959 Well. For example, you've done some polling. Now again I'm 79 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:28.160 assuming you're going out and you're getting accurate information with 80 00:05:28.279 --> 00:05:31.040 your polling companies or else. The information isn't worth much 81 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:34.920 you find your polling suggest that eighty two percent of 82 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:40.000 residents believe their taxes are too high. There's a lot 83 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:43.120 of people at massages who don't pay any taxes, and 84 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:44.519 I would suspect. 85 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:47.639 But the ones that do, the ones that do, dan 86 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:49.519 believe that they're paying way too much. 87 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:53.639 Okay, okay, And seventy one percent say the state income 88 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:56.959 taxes their main concern. There's nothing that we can do 89 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:03.920 about the federal income tax, because whether you live in Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Missouri, 90 00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:06.040 or whatever, any of the state that doesn't give the 91 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:10.160 letter m you're paying the same federal income tax. And uh, 92 00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:13.959 but state state taxes in Massachusetts, as I say to 93 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:18.959 my friends, Massachusetts tax is the only thing the government taxes. 94 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.680 Here are two things. Everything that moves, anything that doesn't move. 95 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:28.240 It just seems that we've got candy tax. We got 96 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:32.639 more taxes coming at us. We've had the millionaires tax 97 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:36.399 for those who are lucky to be millionaires, which by 98 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:40.839 the way, includes a lot of professional athletes, and that 99 00:06:40.839 --> 00:06:44.920 that might make our sports teams a little less competitive, 100 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.879 but we we'll see it will save that. What else 101 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:51.800 are your surveys showing and when you get eighty two 102 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:58.000 percent of people thinking that taxes, that's that's pretty big number. 103 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:01.160 What else do you know one of them? Yeah. One 104 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:03.560 of the values of this effort is that we do 105 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:07.560 get to do polling and focus group testing on a 106 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:10.279 regular basis to find out what the pulse of the 107 00:07:10.279 --> 00:07:13.120 people really are on the issues and how that pulse 108 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:16.920 changes when they become more aware about what states like 109 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:21.560 Florida and New Hampshire are doing and benefiting from what's 110 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:25.079 going on here. The tax pole, Yeah, seventy one percent 111 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:28.639 believe that their income taxes are too high, the local 112 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:32.480 property tax fifty five percent, and then sales tax things 113 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:35.079 start dropping off. But you know, we did another poll 114 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:42.079 about why what's pushing people to leave Massachusetts to here 115 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:48.120 out migration question, and the housing costs are up there 116 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:52.000 at nearly eighty percent. General costs of living concerns which 117 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:55.279 would include energy which we've just been hearing about seventy 118 00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:58.639 six percent, and high taxes then come in as part 119 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:00.879 of that mix at sixty five five percent. Those are 120 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:05.040 the top three drivers about migration, and those are the 121 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:08.639 things that Massachusetts can do something about and should be 122 00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:13.120 doing something about as opposed to proposing a whole slate 123 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:15.920 of new taxes in the current year budget. You mentioned 124 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:19.360 a few of them, but there are others. So we 125 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:24.720 think people are going to be responding to air their views, 126 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:28.279 and hopefully the folks in the legislature, and there are 127 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:31.079 some in the legislature that are sensitive to these issues, 128 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:36.639 will be able to benefit from a crescendo of their 129 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:41.240 constituents and a majority of other voters who are expressing 130 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:43.360 their views on these things before they take action. 131 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:47.600 My guest is Christopher Anderson, Chris Anderson. He's a founder 132 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:51.120 of a newly organized group. It's only been around since, 133 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:57.240 I guess last September. The Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance is a 134 00:08:57.279 --> 00:09:02.759 coalition of several business leaders and we're going to open 135 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:05.639 up phone lines. If you'd like to ask Chris a 136 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:09.759 question or challenge him, we can have a polite conversation 137 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:11.600 here at nightside. We do that every night of the 138 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:14.480 week six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six 139 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:17.720 one seven, nine, three, one ten thirty. We'll get you 140 00:09:17.799 --> 00:09:19.759 in queue and get some phone calls and get some 141 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:24.159 conversation going. If you think that taxes are just perfect 142 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:28.080 in Massachusetts and you want to try to persuade Chris 143 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:30.480 to your point of view, You're more than welcome on 144 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.559 to do that as well. Uh, there's some other issues 145 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:35.519 we want to talk about, one of which is I 146 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:39.720 was surprised today Chris mentioned to me that sixty four 147 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:46.320 percent of the voters in Massachusetts are now neither neither 148 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:49.960 Republican nor Democrat. They make up the largest group of 149 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:54.360 voters in Massachusetts. Technically they're called unenrolled. I guess you 150 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:57.200 could call them independent as well. We'll get to some 151 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:59.360 of those questions in your phone call six one seven 152 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:03.080 tw ten thirty six point seven nine three one ten thirty. 153 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:06.399 Coming back on Nightside with Chris Anderson of the Massachusetts 154 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:09.879 Opportunity Alliance right after this quick commercial break. 155 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:13.799 Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World 156 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:18.440 Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio with me. 157 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:20.360 It's Chris Anderson. He's one of the founders of the 158 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:26.919 Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance. Sixty four percent of Massachusetts registered voters 159 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:29.480 choose neither to have a D or an R after 160 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:32.120 their name. They preferred to be unenrolled or what used 161 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:37.159 to be called independent. What what does that number? That's 162 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:40.360 a number that that's not a poll number, that's that's 163 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:43.480 a number that you present to me as a fact number. 164 00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:47.960 What does that say about the voters in Massachusetts. 165 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:53.200 Well, it underscores the independent decision making that voters have 166 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:58.399 in Massachusetts, and given their given an opportunity, it's our 167 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:04.519 best chance at addressing some of the issues that we 168 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:07.759 see as challenging to our quality life and our economy. 169 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:13.600 If a voter realizes that housing costs are high or 170 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:17.600 that they can't downsize because the cost of downsize is 171 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:23.639 basically a lateral we'll probably get their attention. And with 172 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.039 greater awareness and armed with information and the proliferation of 173 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:30.720 balot questions that seem to be coming down the pike 174 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:36.480 every two years for voter approval via direct democracy, we 175 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:40.559 can begin getting their engagement in turning things around here. 176 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.200 So if they think taxes are too high, or the 177 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:47.080 cost of business is too high, or that the outmigration 178 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:51.159 is causing more pressure to tax them, we may be 179 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:54.759 able to frame some of these issues a little differently 180 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:57.480 and get some better outcomes. So sixty four percent of 181 00:11:57.559 --> 00:12:01.240 registered voters here are really a great target for us. 182 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:06.440 Yeah, that's two thirds, So I'm assuming your focus of 183 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:10.799 this group, Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance is focused on the economy. 184 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:15.399 The social issues are not issues that you folks are 185 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:18.559 going to deal with, whether it be whether we should 186 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:21.919 bring that capital punishment or what's the deal on abortion 187 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:26.200 or whatever, or crime and punishment, all of those issues 188 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:28.799 which might contribute to the quality of life, particularly crime 189 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:31.879 and punishment and things like that. You're not going to 190 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:34.480 even go there. You want to deal with the cold 191 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:40.159 hard numbers of why people are leaving and what should 192 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:45.279 our tax structure be that makes this the opportunities in 193 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:49.320 Massachusetts more readily available to everyone across the board. 194 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:53.039 Yeah, at the end of the day, regardless of what 195 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:55.799 you think a quality of life priority is for you, 196 00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:00.799 and it may be social, if we're not generating state 197 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:03.879 tax revenue in Massachusetts to fund government the way we 198 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:07.240 are to do and to invest in things that people have 199 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:10.360 shared priorities around, then those other things really don't matter. 200 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:13.679 People are going to be heading out the doors faster 201 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:16.440 than they are today. We believe we have a terrific 202 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:22.679 asset mix to regenerate a robust economy that for the 203 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:26.919 last ten years was generating billion dollar state budget surpluses 204 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:31.320 in Massachusetts. Without raising taxes, and then what happened in 205 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:35.440 twenty twenty two, a series of tax proposals, the big 206 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:37.480 one on the ballot that put a tax in the 207 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:41.320 state constitution like no other state has began to tip 208 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:44.519 that scale in the opposite direction. And mass Opportunity is 209 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:48.440 in part a response to what should be a more 210 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:54.480 coordinated and unified effort among business leaders and residents who 211 00:13:54.600 --> 00:14:00.480 still want to call Massachusetts to work collaboratively to make 212 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:03.600 sure that we don't see Massachusetts go the way of 213 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:06.399 Connecticut ten or fifteen years ago, or the way of 214 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:10.759 Illinois California where New York are going today. We're we're 215 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:13.120 on the tip of that road, but we believe we 216 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:17.559 have an opportunity with the resource mix we have in 217 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:22.519 terms of economic research and highly skilled workers and an 218 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:27.440 independent stay resident mix that will be actively helpful in 219 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:28.000 this effort. 220 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:32.519 All right, let's I don't want to short change any 221 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:37.279 of the callers at this point. We have several calls waiting, 222 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:40.200 so I'm going to ask Steve, Jack and John to 223 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:43.200 hold on through the newscast at the bottom of the hour, 224 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:45.639 so I don't short change any of you. We got 225 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:48.000 one line open at six one seven, two, five, four, 226 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:50.919 ten thirty and one line at six one, seven, nine, 227 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:54.200 three ten thirty. Let me just ask you, Chris, a 228 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:57.039 final question for me, and hopefully the rest of the 229 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:02.039 questions will come from the callers. U. Is there a 230 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:08.080 specific task that you believe is first and foremost to 231 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:10.440 be done here to sort of lay the foundation or 232 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:13.799 do you feel the foundation for your work is already 233 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:19.320 laid by just creating this organization the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance. 234 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:23.200 Well, creating mass Opportunity Alliance is at first and the 235 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:27.200 commonwealth success story, and we've seen terrific impact already with 236 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:33.240 our ability to respond quickly with fact checking when misleading 237 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:37.200 information is provided by advocates that we don't believe are 238 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:41.159 helping the state business climate. We also are growing the 239 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:44.720 ability to reach people through those who sign up at 240 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:48.879 our website Massopportunity dot org, where they can find all 241 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:53.960 kinds of data and communications videos on what's going on 242 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:56.480 in the state and why they should be engaged. And 243 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:59.159 then the process of really looks down the road over 244 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:03.639 the next two to say how can MA drive proactive 245 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:06.600 policy changes rather than playing defense, which a lot of 246 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:09.039 business groups have done in the last few years. But 247 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:14.399 let's be proactive in advancing programs and policies that we 248 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:17.159 hope the legislature and the governor will be supportive of. 249 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.759 But if they're not, we know we would expect that 250 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:23.679 a majority of voters may be down the road at 251 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:26.240 some point. And so that's really the phase that we're 252 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:31.200 in is continuing to build our communications infrastructure, raise awareness 253 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:35.960 among people that care about their state and their job 254 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:40.000 and their families and quality life, and will present a 255 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:42.080 proactive agenda for them to get engaged in. 256 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.440 Okay, I assume as a dad or you're a five 257 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:47.519 oh one C three, which means you're not going to 258 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:50.399 be in the business of endorsing candidates. You're going to 259 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:54.080 deal with issues as opposed to candidates. 260 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:57.720 Yeah, we're a five oh one C six, which is close, 261 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:01.039 but still we're not going to be where so we 262 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:05.000 can lobby, we can, but we we will not be 263 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:11.519 supporting endorsing candidates, either by endorsement or financially. So this 264 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:14.920 is really all about a core mission focused on business climate. 265 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:19.759 We're politically agnostic. We will work with any and all 266 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:24.039 partners who want to strength in Massachusetts and provide the 267 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:28.200 best future possible for people that live in work in Massachusetts, 268 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:32.720 and especially those that we're creating economic and social mobility 269 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:36.119 options for. If we have a strong economy people in 270 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:40.039 the inner cities through a strength and education pipeline that's 271 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:44.359 better aligned toward our skill requirements in this economy, we'll 272 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:50.240 have a path meaningful long term employment. And I think that's, 273 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:53.359 you know, one of the one of the core benefits 274 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:55.200 of this collaborated effort. 275 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:58.119 I know the difference between the five and one C 276 00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.759 three and is five O one C four? 277 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.440 What is? 278 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:04.359 What? What makes five or one C six? AM unfamiliar 279 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:07.960 with exactly what how that is? It's three or four? 280 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:13.680 UH. Three is a charitable organization and is limited in 281 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:15.680 what it can raise and spend money for. A C 282 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:20.000 six is a business organization, just like many chambers of 283 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:23.240 commerce or business groups like the mass Site Tech Council. 284 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:28.839 Okay, uh, And and a four does give some flexibility 285 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:32.039 for for groups to form. 286 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:35.240 Political Yeah, it's it's similar to a C six. 287 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:39.319 Okay, we'll take a quick break. My guest is Chris Anderson, 288 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:44.079 founder of the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance. UH. Their website is 289 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:48.200 mass Opportunity dot org. We'll get to as many callers 290 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:51.160 as we can. First up, we got we got Steven Cambridge, 291 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:54.880 Jack and Winter John uh Is on the line as well, 292 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:58.200 and then we'll we'll take some more callers. The only 293 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:01.200 line that's open right now is six one, seven, nine thirty. 294 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.519 Back on Night Side right after. 295 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:08.599 This, It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio. 296 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:13.519 We're talking with Chris Anderson, a founder of the Massachusetts 297 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:18.200 Opportunity Alliance, an organization that has only been around for 298 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:22.640 a few months. Basically, they are concerned about improving the 299 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:26.920 business climate here in Massachusetts because, from their point of view, 300 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:30.960 an improved business climate, a more friendly business climate, we'll 301 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:35.440 keep people in Massachusetts, particularly businesses in Massachusetts, and lead 302 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:39.720 to a better quality of life for everyone residing in 303 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.759 the Bay State. Let's go to the call is going 304 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:45.880 to go first to Steve and Cambridge. Steve, I'll warn you, Chris, 305 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.880 one of my best callers, Steven Cambridge, never do. 306 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:52.160 Good evening, Chris, good evening. 307 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:52.440 Dan. 308 00:19:54.519 --> 00:20:00.000 I don't mean to be too political, but do you 309 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:06.960 you see reducing the state bureaucracy, reducing or making the 310 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:11.160 regulatory climate a little bit more friendly for business? And 311 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:16.920 when I say the state bureaucracy, particularly in the mass 312 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:26.319 University of Massachusetts, the number of administrators, et cetera. So 313 00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:28.640 are these areas you're going to go after. 314 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:35.160 Well. State administration and state costs in general are certainly 315 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:39.039 a big topic generally and in a number of states 316 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:43.279 these days, and I think most voters would agree that 317 00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:47.799 there is. It's worth taking a look at how Massachusetts 318 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:50.799 spends its money in a more transparent way and how 319 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:53.480 it sets its budget and why. For example, we have 320 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:56.799 nearly fifty percent of the state budget or forty to 321 00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:00.720 forty five percent of the state budget dedicated to mandatory 322 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:05.279 spending in three areas unfunded pension liability, debt service, and 323 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:09.519 state healthcare costs. The University of Massachusetts system has some 324 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:14.480 terrific contributions that it makes directly to our economy, but 325 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:17.720 I'm not going to pretend that it, like any other 326 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:22.079 part of state government, doesn't have areas where that could 327 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:26.480 be run more efficiently. So you know, what we're planning 328 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:30.839 on doing at the Mass Opportunity Alliance, Steve is assess 329 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:36.720 where we can help move a majority of the voters 330 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:40.240 who are interested in different policy topics that will help 331 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:44.119 reduce the pressure to tax them, and in the current budget. 332 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:47.160 There was a budget that's been proposed today this week 333 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:52.519 last week, the state proposing spending another seven percent more 334 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:55.960 than last year on a revenue growth rate of four percent. 335 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:02.640 You can't do that in a sustain way so indefinitely, 336 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:05.720 because you'll run out of you'll run into additional gaps 337 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:08.160 and have to raise raise taxes somewhere. So I think 338 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:12.839 there's an efficiency taxpayer bill of rights, uh, you know, 339 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:16.680 limit on state government spending that if it were done properly, 340 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:21.440 would require a re evaluation of how many agencies are 341 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:24.359 spending funds and where the efficiencies could be had. I 342 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:29.200 wouldn't single out the UMass system over or above any 343 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.599 other part of state government. 344 00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:34.200 And this is in a state where we're obligated. We 345 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:37.400 cannot run a debt, we cannot run a definite. We're 346 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:44.039 obligated to balance the pushet. With that obligation, the spending continues. 347 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.440 But this is. 348 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:51.559 A lot of attention is in terms of housing. Uh, 349 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:54.519 there's been a lot of talk about how regulation has 350 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:59.519 over regulation, let's say, has added to the cost of housing. 351 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:03.400 Is that something that you will look at. 352 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:06.960 Yeah, So reducing the cost of housing has two sides. 353 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:10.880 You can either increase supply, which would reduce the cost. 354 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:13.359 We have demand for it. I don't think we're going 355 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:16.680 to reduce demand unless we out migrate a ton of people. 356 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:20.640 So there are two ways to approach that topic. One 357 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:25.680 is you mandate that cities and towns in certain MBTA districts, 358 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:29.319 let's say, make them required change as well. You know, 359 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:32.039 we have home rule and not everybody wants to be 360 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:34.839 told what to do in Massachusetts by the state. The 361 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:38.160 other thing you could do, Steve, is you could incentivize 362 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:42.240 homeowners and reward them exempt them from capital gain on 363 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:44.480 the sale of their home if they own the home 364 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:46.599 for more than ten years. You could do the same 365 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:49.519 thing with the essay tax. So there are ways to 366 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:52.680 reduce the cost of housing. Maybe not to get in, 367 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:58.279 but certainly overall it would minimize the squeeze on homeowners 368 00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:01.400 that we seem to be seeing on a regular basis 369 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:05.279 here and Paul as the top reason why people would 370 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.440 think about leaving the state. 371 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:11.160 Thank you very much gentlemen this organization. 372 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:14.880 Thanks date, appreciate your call. Tochi's a good call. Let 373 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:17.039 me go next to Jack and Winthrop. Jackie're next on 374 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:20.480 nice with Chris Anderson founded the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance. 375 00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:24.599 Go ahead, Jack, Hey, thanks Dan, and hey Chris, just 376 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:28.480 a few quick questions too, kind of twofold. You mentioned 377 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:34.480 states like Connecticut, New York, Illinois. I'm curious what Massachusetts 378 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:37.920 can learn from other states that have successfully retained businesses 379 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:42.680 and workers despite high costs. And then I have a quote, 380 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:45.440 but sure, sure, thanks Jack. 381 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:49.319 The Actually, Florida and New Hampshire are the two states 382 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:51.960 that are the recipients of most of the people that 383 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:56.680 are leaving Massachusetts, taking their jobs or their retirement income 384 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:01.880 and leaving the Bay State behind. Those states have no 385 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:06.519 personal income tax, no short term capital gains tax, and 386 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:10.799 no estate tax. Those are three key areas that align 387 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:15.240 with the tax challenge that we have here in Massachusetts. 388 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:22.160 And they also have from a business climate perspective, their 389 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:27.359 state government is a partner with helping businesses set up, expand, 390 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:33.640 and rapidly be prepared to accommodate employee growth in their state. 391 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:36.359 As you might have heard me just say a minute ago, 392 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:39.720 Massachusetts has home rules, so three hundred and fifty one 393 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:42.640 cities and towns get to set their own regulatory zoning 394 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:47.279 and other requirements, which makes it a challenge for companies 395 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:51.799 to expand or grow or do something a little different 396 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:56.960 with their operation than some of these other states. In fact, 397 00:25:57.000 --> 00:26:03.240 New Hampshire during the last Scubernator election, Kelly Ayott was 398 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:08.359 seizing on the Massachusetts environment, basically saying, come on up here, 399 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:11.440 we'll take care of you. But in the election, don't 400 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:14.880 mass up New Hampshire. So you know, we ought to 401 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:18.319