Four Ideas for the 4th: Fighting for a Freer Massachusetts 

Independence Day reminds us that liberty isn’t just a relic of our revolutionary past—it’s a living principle that demands action. From tax burdens to housing costs, the Bay State’s modern challenges call for a renewed commitment to personal and economic freedom. Here are four ideas to spark a little liberty—and a lot of economic opportunity—in the Commonwealth.

1. Lower the Tax Burden

It all started with taxes. The Boston Tea Party wasn’t just a protest. It represented the then-radical belief that people should have control over their money and their government. Of course, Massachusetts taxpayers have come a long way since the revolution. But high taxation – even with representation – is still an issue in the Commonwealth. 

Fortunately, we no longer have to resort to tossing tea in Boston Harbor to make our voices heard. Many Bay Staters are simply moving out instead. 

Massachusetts now ranks among the worst states for outbound migration, with high earners and young professionals fleeing to places with lower tax burdens and better growth prospects.

One major driver? The income surtax. As our analysis of IRS data has shown, the number of federal tax returns for Massachusetts residents with an adjusted gross income of $1 million or more has sharply declined since the income surtax was enacted in 2022.

In fact, IRS data has proven that Massachusetts experienced a net outmigration of 45,177 individuals the year that the income surtax was enacted.

The tax hits don’t stop there. Small businesses soon expect to bear the burden of unemployment insurance tax hikes—on top of already high rates—as a result of  the over $2 billion the state owes the federal government in mismanaged UI funds. 

Across the board, the state’s tax-and-spend model is underdelivering and overcharging. Massachusetts ranks in the bottom 10 states for tax competitiveness, and polling shows voters don’t believe higher taxes lead to better government services.

2. Declare Independence from Runaway Spending

Massachusetts state tax revenues have grown more than 40 percent since 2021, and spending has grown nearly as fast, ballooning by over 33 percent.

The long-term trend is alarming: since 2018, the state budget has increased by 54 percent. Zoom out further and the picture gets worse: since 2000, revenue has grown by more than 150 percent and tax revenue collections have skyrocketed a shocking 386 percent since 1987. 

Meanwhile, Bay Staters’ paychecks certainly haven’t kept pace with Beacon Hill’s appetite for spending. While wages have grown 62 percent since 2010, Beacon Hill’s budget has nearly doubled—far outpacing household income and inflation.

Massachusetts funds valuable programs—our schools and hospitals rank among the nation’s finest. But runaway budget growth that ignores the cost-of-living crisis while hiking taxes defies common sense and threatens the very programs residents value most. As families and businesses flee high costs, the revenue base erodes, creating a downward spiral that could leave Massachusetts unable to support what once made it special.

3. Address the Rising Cost of Living

Massachusetts has one of highest costs of living in the country, and over two-thirds of former Massachusetts residents cited high costs as their primary reason for leaving. You can’t blame them when both cost of living and housing have earned a C+ grade from the MOA Opportunity Report Card.

MOA’s most recent survey found that 81 percent of families are scaling back summer activities. Meanwhile, energy bills are sending people into cold sweats. With natural gas prices up 93 percent and electricity costs up 65 percent, Bay Staters overwhelmingly want real energy solutions to bring prices down.

Understandably, Massachusetts voters also ranked housing costs as the biggest issue in the upcoming governor’s race. In 2024, the median home price in the Commonwealth jumped 10 percent to $610,000. Continuing to climb in cost, the median price rose to $675,000 this spring. In order to afford the “typical” home, buyers need an estimated $162,000 annual household income.

Even when renting, residents struggle to save money. Boston’s one-bedroom apartments average $2,600 per month, 67 percent above the national average. Massachusetts ranks 50th (out of 50 states plus Washington, DC) in housing affordability, making it a key factor in people’s decision to join the state’s workforce or move to a more wallet-friendly state.

4. And…Make Fireworks Legal in MA?

Ready for a truly explosive fact? Massachusetts is the only state in America where all consumer fireworks are banned. Not just the big ones—we’ve even banned sparklers.

Meanwhile, New Hampshire and Maine allow all consumer fireworks. Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut permit non-explosive and non-aerial varieties. 

While Massachusetts families drive to other states around New England, most notably New Hampshire, to purchase fireworks, we’re left watching potential tax revenue go up in smoke.

It turns out residents want to see a change, even if the idea of legalizing fireworks might not spark significant economic opportunities or revenues.

When asked if the sale of fireworks should be legal in Massachusetts, MOA polling shows that 53 percent of Massachusetts voters support the legalization of fireworks.

Conclusion

This Fourth of July, as we watch fireworks light up the night sky, let’s remember that true independence means more than just celebrating our past. It means securing our future. Let’s take a page from our own revolutionary playbook: stop the tax hikes, make the government live within its means, and let freedom ring—for workers, businesses, and future generations.