Politics

Debating the tax cut

by Seth Gitell

The big event this week is the debate. No, not that one. We're talking about the New England Cable News-sponsored showdown between Governor Paul Cellucci and former Democratic National Committee chairman Steve Grossman over the tax-rollback ballot question.

Cellucci is investing his political capital in the passage of Question Four, which calls for the rollback of the state income tax from 5.85 percent to five percent. Last August, he challenged Democrats who were likely to run for governor in 2002 to debate the issue. Grossman, a gubernatorial hopeful who heads MassEnvelopePlus, will be the first Democratic rival to accept the challenge. And Senate president Tom Birmingham will debate Cellucci October 30 on WCVB-TV.

For Grossman, the debate presents an opportunity to increase his visibility as the 2002 election approaches. "I'm trying to do my part to defeat a dangerous tax-cut proposal in November that shortchanges our ability to invest in an improved quality of life for the working people of the state," he says. "The governor is trying to resurrect himself politically with a radical tax-cut proposal -- regardless of its impact on the health of the Commonwealth."

Warren Tolman, a former state senator who chaired the taxation committee and the only other Democratic challenger who has announced his candidacy, said Tuesday that Cellucci had not responded to his request for a debate on the rollback question.