title: 2014 Massachusetts Question 1
text: # 2014 Massachusetts Question 1
  
  Elections in Massachusetts :
  
  General
  
  1942
  
  1944
  
  1946
  
  1948
  
  1950
  
  1952
  
  1954
  
  1956
  
  1958
  
  1960
  
  1962
  
  1964
  
  1966
  
  1970
  
  1974
  
  1978
  
  1982
  
  1986
  
  1990
  
  1994
  
  1998
  
  2002
  
  2006
  
  2008
  
  2010
  
  2012
  
  2014
  
  2016
  
  2018
  
  2020
  
  2022 :
  
  Federal government
  
  U.S. President
  
  1788–89
  
  1792
  
  1796
  
  1800
  
  1804
  
  1808
  
  1812
  
  1816
  
  1820
  
  1824
  
  1828
  
  1832
  
  1836
  
  1840
  
  1844
  
  1848
  
  1852
  
  1856
  
  1860
  
  1864
  
  1868
  
  1872
  
  1876
  
  1880
  
  1884
  
  1888
  
  1892
  
  1896
  
  1900
  
  1904
  
  1908
  
  1912
  
  1916
  
  1920
  
  1924
  
  1928
  
  1932
  
  1936
  
  1940
  
  1944
  
  1948
  
  1952
  
  1956
  
  1960
  
  1964
  
  1968
  
  1972
  
  1976
  
  1980
  
  1984
  
  1988
  
  1992
  
  1996
  
  2000
  
  2004
  
  Dem
  
  2008
  
  Dem
  
  GOP
  
  2012
  
  2016
  
  Dem
  
  GOP
  
  2020
  
  Dem
  
  GOP
  
  2024
  
  Dem
  
  GOP
  
  U.S. Senate
  
  Class 1: 1788
  
  1790
  
  1796 (S)
  
  1796
  
  1798
  
  1800 (S)
  
  1803
  
  1808 (S)
  
  1810 (S)
  
  1811
  
  1813 (S)
  
  1815
  
  1815 (S)
  
  1816 (S)
  
  1818 (S)
  
  1820
  
  1820 (S)
  
  1822
  
  1826
  
  1827
  
  1829 (S)
  
  1833
  
  1839
  
  February 1841 (S)
  
  1845
  
  1851
  
  1851 (S)
  
  1857
  
  1863
  
  1869
  
  1874 (S)
  
  1875
  
  1881
  
  1887
  
  1893
  
  1899
  
  1905
  
  1911
  
  1916
  
  1922
  
  1928
  
  1934
  
  1940
  
  1946
  
  1952
  
  1958
  
  1962 (S)
  
  1964
  
  1970
  
  1976
  
  1982
  
  1988
  
  1994
  
  2000
  
  2006
  
  2010 (S)
  
  2012
  
  2018
  
  2024
  
  Class 2: 1788
  
  1793
  
  1796
  
  1800 (S)
  
  1803 (S)
  
  1805
  
  1810
  
  1811 (S)
  
  1816
  
  1822 (S)
  
  1826 (S)
  
  1828
  
  1835
  
  January 1841 (S)
  
  1841
  
  1845 (S)
  
  1847
  
  1853
  
  1855 (S)
  
  1859
  
  1865
  
  1871
  
  1873 (S)
  
  1877
  
  1883
  
  1889
  
  1895
  
  1901
  
  1905 (S)
  
  1907
  
  1913
  
  1918
  
  1924
  
  1930
  
  1936
  
  1942
  
  1944 (S)
  
  1948
  
  1954
  
  1960
  
  1966
  
  1972
  
  1978
  
  1984
  
  1990
  
  1996
  
  2002
  
  2008
  
  2013 (S)
  
  2014
  
  2020
  
  U.S. House
  
  1788/1789
  
  1790/1792
  
  1792/1793
  
  1794/1795
  
  1796/1797
  
  1798/1799
  
  1800/1801
  
  1802/1803
  
  1804
  
  1806
  
  1808
  
  1810/1811
  
  1812/1813
  
  1814/1815
  
  3rd
  
  1816/1817
  
  1818/1819
  
  1820/1821
  
  1822/1823
  
  1824/1825
  
  1826/1827
  
  1828
  
  1830/1832
  
  1833/1834
  
  1834/1835
  
  1836
  
  1838/1839
  
  1840/1841
  
  1842/1844
  
  1844/1846
  
  1846
  
  1848/1850
  
  1850/1851
  
  1852
  
  1854
  
  1856
  
  1858
  
  1860
  
  1862
  
  1864
  
  1866
  
  1868
  
  1870
  
  1872
  
  1874
  
  1876
  
  1878
  
  1880
  
  1882
  
  1884
  
  1886
  
  1888
  
  1890
  
  1892
  
  1894
  
  1896
  
  1898
  
  1900
  
  1902
  
  1904
  
  1906
  
  1908
  
  1910
  
  1912
  
  1914
  
  1916
  
  1918
  
  1920
  
  1922
  
  1924
  
  1926
  
  1928
  
  1930
  
  1932
  
  1934
  
  1936
  
  1938
  
  1940
  
  1942
  
  1944
  
  1946
  
  1948
  
  1950
  
  1952
  
  1954
  
  1956
  
  1958
  
  1960
  
  1962
  
  1964
  
  1966
  
  1968
  
  1970
  
  1972
  
  1974
  
  1976
  
  1978
  
  1980
  
  1982
  
  1984
  
  1986
  
  1988
  
  1990
  
  1991 (1st)
  
  1992
  
  1994
  
  1996
  
  1998
  
  2000
  
  2001 (9th)
  
  2002
  
  2004
  
  2006
  
  2007 (5th)
  
  2008
  
  2010
  
  2012
  
  2013 (5th)
  
  2014
  
  2016
  
  2018
  
  2020
  
  2022 :
  
  State government
  
  Governor
  
  1800
  
  1801
  
  1802
  
  1803
  
  1804
  
  1805
  
  1806
  
  1807
  
  1808
  
  1809
  
  1810
  
  1811
  
  1812
  
  1813
  
  1814
  
  1815
  
  1816
  
  1817
  
  1818
  
  1819
  
  1820
  
  1821
  
  1822
  
  1823
  
  1824
  
  1825
  
  1826
  
  1827
  
  1828
  
  1829
  
  1830
  
  Apr. 1831
  
  Nov. 1831
  
  1832
  
  1833
  
  1834
  
  1835
  
  1836
  
  1837
  
  1838
  
  1839
  
  1840
  
  1841
  
  1842
  
  1843
  
  1844
  
  1845
  
  1846
  
  1847
  
  1848
  
  1849
  
  1850
  
  1851
  
  1852
  
  1853
  
  1854
  
  1855
  
  1856
  
  1857
  
  1858
  
  1859
  
  1860
  
  1861
  
  1862
  
  1863
  
  1864
  
  1865
  
  1866
  
  1867
  
  1868
  
  1869
  
  1870
  
  1871
  
  1872
  
  1873
  
  1874
  
  1875
  
  1876
  
  1877
  
  1878
  
  1879
  
  1880
  
  1881
  
  1882
  
  1883
  
  1884
  
  1885
  
  1886
  
  1887
  
  1888
  
  1889
  
  1890
  
  1891
  
  1892
  
  1893
  
  1894
  
  1895
  
  1896
  
  1897
  
  1898
  
  1899
  
  1900
  
  1901
  
  1902
  
  1903
  
  1904
  
  1905
  
  1906
  
  1907
  
  1908
  
  1909
  
  1910
  
  1911
  
  1912
  
  1913
  
  1914
  
  1915
  
  1916
  
  1917
  
  1918
  
  1919
  
  1920
  
  1922
  
  1924
  
  1926
  
  1928
  
  1930
  
  1932
  
  1934
  
  1936
  
  1938
  
  1940
  
  1942
  
  1944
  
  1946
  
  1948
  
  1950
  
  1952
  
  1954
  
  1956
  
  1958
  
  1960
  
  1962
  
  1964
  
  1966
  
  1970
  
  1974
  
  1978
  
  1982
  
  1986
  
  1990
  
  1994
  
  1998
  
  2002
  
  2006
  
  2010
  
  2014
  
  2018
  
  2022
  
  State Senate
  
  1787
  
  1824
  
  2004
  
  2006
  
  2008
  
  2010
  
  2012
  
  2014
  
  2016
  
  2018
  
  2020
  
  2022
  
  State House
  
  2006
  
  2008
  
  2010
  
  2012
  
  2014
  
  2016
  
  2020
  
  2022
  
  Governor's Council
  
  2006
  
  2010
  
  2014
  
  2018
  
  2022
  
  Ballot measures
  
  1980: Proposition 2½
  
  2002: English Language Education in Public Schools
  
  2006: 2008
  
  Greyhound Protection
  
  Sensible Marijuana Policy
  
  State Income Tax Repeal
  
  2010: No Sales Tax for Alcohol
  
  Sales Tax Relief
  
  Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning
  
  2012: Right to Repair
  
  Death with Dignity
  
  Medical Marijuana
  
  2014: Automatic Gas Tax Increase Repeal
  
  Expansion of Bottle Deposits
  
  Casino Repeal
  
  Paid Sick Days
  
  2016: Expand Slot Machine Gaming
  
  Charter School Expansion
  
  Farm Animal Confinement
  
  Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana
  
  2018: Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination
  
  2020: pending :
  
  Boston
  
  Mayor
  
  1822
  
  1823
  
  1824
  
  Apr 1825
  
  Dec 1825
  
  1826
  
  1827
  
  1828
  
  1829
  
  1830
  
  1831
  
  1832
  
  1833
  
  1834
  
  1835
  
  1836
  
  1837
  
  1838
  
  1839
  
  1840
  
  1841
  
  1842
  
  1843
  
  1844–45
  
  Dec 1845
  
  1846
  
  1847
  
  1848
  
  1849
  
  1850
  
  1851
  
  1852
  
  1853–54
  
  Dec 1854
  
  1855
  
  1856
  
  1857
  
  1858
  
  1859
  
  1860
  
  1861
  
  1862
  
  1863
  
  1864
  
  1865
  
  1866
  
  1867
  
  1868
  
  1869
  
  1871
  
  1872
  
  1873
  
  1874
  
  1875
  
  1876
  
  1877
  
  1878
  
  1879
  
  1880
  
  1881
  
  1882
  
  1883
  
  1884
  
  1885
  
  1886
  
  1887
  
  1888
  
  1889
  
  1890
  
  1891
  
  1892
  
  1893
  
  1894
  
  1895
  
  1897
  
  1899
  
  1901
  
  1903
  
  1905
  
  1907
  
  1910
  
  1914
  
  1917
  
  1921
  
  1925
  
  1929
  
  1933
  
  1937
  
  1941
  
  1945
  
  1949
  
  1951
  
  1955
  
  1959
  
  1963
  
  1967
  
  1971
  
  1975
  
  1979
  
  1983
  
  1987
  
  1991
  
  1993
  
  1997
  
  2001
  
  2005
  
  2009
  
  2013
  
  2017
  
  2021
  
  City council
  
  1977
  
  1979
  
  1981
  
  1983
  
  1985
  
  1987
  
  1989
  
  1991
  
  1993
  
  1995
  
  1997
  
  1999
  
  2001
  
  2003
  
  2005
  
  2007
  
  2009
  
  2011
  
  2013
  
  2015
  
  2017
  
  2019
  
  2021 :
  
  Springfield
  
  Mayor
  
  1953
  
  1955
  
  1957
  
  1959
  
  1961
  
  1963
  
  1965
  
  1967
  
  1969
  
  1971
  
  1973 (S)
  
  1973
  
  1975
  
  1977
  
  1979
  
  1983
  
  1981
  
  1985
  
  1987
  
  1989 (S)
  
  1989
  
  1991
  
  1993
  
  1995
  
  1997
  
  1999
  
  2001
  
  2003
  
  2005
  
  2007
  
  2009
  
  2011
  
  2015
  
  2019 :
  
  Worcester
  
  Mayor
  
  1987
  
  1989
  
  1991
  
  1993
  
  1995
  
  1997
  
  1999
  
  2001
  
  2003
  
  2005
  
  2007
  
  2009
  
  2011
  
  2013
  
  2015
  
  2017
  
  2019
  
  2021
  
  2023 :
  
  vte :
  
  The Massachusetts Automatic Gas Tax Increase Repeal Initiative, Question 1 was on the November 4, 2014 statewide ballot. Approved by voters, the measure repeals a 2013 law that would automatically adjust gas taxes according to inflation, allowing for automatic annual increases in the state's gas tax.
  
  The law that this initiative repeals would also have put a minimum cap on gas taxes to prevent gas tax decreases in the case of deflation. The tax increase was part of a transportation funding package that was vetoed by Governor Deval Patrick (D) because he wanted an even greater tax increase. Patrick's veto was overruled by a House vote of 123 to 33 and a Senate vote of 35 to 5.
  
  Tank the Gas Tax, an organization supporting the initiative, stated that they collected at least 18,500 signatures by June 9, 2014. They turned in the signatures on June 18, 2014 in an attempt to qualify the initiative for the ballot. The measure was certified for the 2014 ballot on July 2, 2014.
  
  The question passed with 53% of voters in favor.
  
  ## Background
  
  ### State gas tax
  
  In 2013, the Democrat-controlled state legislature passed House Bill 3847, which raised the state's gas tax from 21 to 24 cents per gallon and automatically tied the tax rate to inflation for future years, meaning it would increase by the same annual percentage as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This marked the first increase in the tax since 1991. Given that the CPI has averaged approximately one or two percent during the past several years, the tax would likely increase by half a penny or less per year.
  
  ## Support
  
  The measure is sponsored by the group Tank the Gas Tax.
  
  ### Supporters
  
  **Officials**
  
  * State Rep. Geoff Diehl (R-7)
  * State Rep. Kevin Kuros (R-8)
  * State Rep. Ryan Fattman (R-18)
  * State Rep. Shaunna O'Connell (R-3)
  * State Rep. Jim Lyons (R-18)
  
  **Individuals**
  
  * Jeffrey T. Kuhner, President of the Edmund Burke Institute for American Renewal
  * Bill Vernon, Director and National Federation of Independent Business Massachusetts
  
  ### Arguments
  
  * Tank the Gas Tax deemed the tax a slippery slope.
  
  ### Campaign contributions
  
  As of October 30, 2014, one campaign organization had received an aggregate total of $94,318 in contributions.
  
  PAC info:
  
  | PAC/Ballot measure group | Amount raised | Amount spent |
  | - | - | - |
  | Committee to Tank the Automatic Gas Tax Hikes | $94,318 | $75,173 |
  | Total | $94,318 | $75,173 |
  
  Top contributors:
  
  | A1 Auto | $10,000 |
  | - | - |
  | Liberty Initiative Fund | $5,000 |
  | Strong Economy for Growth | $5,000 |
  | Strong Economy Massachusetts Independent Expenditures PAC | $5,000 |
  | Massachusetts Ambulance Association | $2,500 |
  
  ## Opposition
  
  The official opposition campaign is called Vote No on Question One, in conjunction with the Committee for Safer Roads and Bridges.
  
  ### Opponents
  
  * Governor Deval Patrick (D)
  * Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn
  * Committee for Safer Roads and Bridges
  * Kristina Egan, Director of Transportation for Massachusetts
  
  ### Campaign contributions
  
  As of October 30, 2014, one campaign organization had received an aggregate total of $1,884,722 in contributions.
  
  PAC info:
  
  | PAC/Ballot measure group | Amount raised | Amount spent |
  | - | - | - |
  | NO on One Committee | $1,884,722 | $438,200 |
  | Total | $1,884,722 | $438,200 |
  
  Top contributors:
  
  | CIM Advancement Fund | $200,000 |
  | - | - |
  | American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts | $145,000 |
  | Mass Aggregate & Asphalt Pavement Association | $100,000 |
  | Suffolk Construction Company, Inc. | $100,000 |
  | Utility Contractors Association of New England Inc. | $100,000 |
  | Flagship Associates LLC | $90,000 |
  
  ## Media editorial positions
  
  ### Support
  
  * The Worcester Telegram & Gazette recommended a "yes" vote.
  
  ### Opposition
  
  * The Boston Globe advocated a "no" vote.
  