Christy on the Issues Proposition One Will dedicate 40% of annual state tax revenues for local aid. That is an additional $1.7 Billion in FY 2007, for a total of $6.3 billion from state tax revenues.Currently only 28% of these revenues are given back to our communities for schools, public safety, and other local services. Click here to see how much more money your community will receive. Will cap property values from the time of purchase until the property is sold, thus providing more certainty to homeowners, who will not experience unpredictable increases in property taxes due to reassessment. Will remove all sport and activity fees from public schools. School busing must be provided free to all public school students grades 1 through 12. Taxes While Christy favors a rollback of the state income tax from 5.3% to 5%, his top priority is returning local aid to cities and towns under Proposition One to fund their education, public safety and public works needs. Cities and towns would receive $1.7 billion if Proposition One were enacted in FY 2007. Under Proposition One, property owners will not be penalized for staying in Massachusetts by tax increases due to reassessment. Proposition One will cap assessments on properties until the time when they are sold. Christy will index all deductions on the Massachusetts state tax form in order to ensure that Massachusetts taxpayers are not penalized by its failure to account for inflation. Education Proposition One would provide an additional $1.7 billion dollars of local aid in FY 2007. Click here to see how much more money your community will receive. Also under Proposition One, sport and activity fees in Massachusetts’ public schools will be prohibited. Fees for school bussing will be eliminated. By using state tax dollars to support our cities and towns, Christy will take the financial burden off of families with children who wish to be active in their school communities. When Christy is elected governor, he will instruct his Commissioner of the Department of Education to revise current regulations to eliminate the MCAS as a graduation requirement. Christy recognizes that these tests assist the state in complying with the federal "No Child Left Behind" law and the objectives of the Massachusetts Education Reform Law passed in 1993. Christy will work with the Legislature to introduce changes regarding our educational system’s graduation requirements. Christy also intends to lobby the National Governors’ Association, and with the help of various teachers unions, seek to change the NCLB law. Christy favors charter schools, but he would not raise the cap that limits the number of them.  Health Care This past year, Massachusetts enacted Health Care for All legislation, an innovative, first-of-a-kind law requiring all Massachusetts residents to have health insurance. The next Governor will be responsible to make sure that this law provides affordable coverage for uninsured residents, while avoiding a potentially huge revenue shortfall. Leadership can be defined as the courage to identify a problem and to offer a solution. Two problems face the next Governor, each of which will threaten our efforts to provide affordable health care for all: If the costs of health care in Massachusetts continue to escalate at over 10% per year, the low cost insurance will not be affordable for very long, and the insurance will become a staggering cost to the State budget.  Simultaneously, the funded reimbursements by the federal government for the Medicare and Medicaid programs are expected to be reduced. This will significantly increase non reimbursed costs of the program and directly impact the cost of health care insurance and the State budget in Massachusetts. The next Governor has two choices. Wait until the two events occur and the system becomes a major financial burden… or take action now to reduce the costs of health care in Massachusetts. Click here to read Christy's full Health Care Plan. Transportation/Tolls Christy supports eliminating Massachusetts Turnpike tolls from Weston to the New York border by selling the eleven service plazas west of Route 128. Christy opposes MBTA fare increases. Christy is in favor of extending the Attleboro commuter rail line to Fall River and New Bedford. Christy is in favor of extending the Blue Line to Lynn and replacement of Silver Line buses with dedicated light rail service. Christy supports giving all Turnpike drivers FREE Fast Lane Transponders to increase efficiency, cut costs at the MTA, and to provide Turnpike motorists with a safer and more convenient commute. Campaign Finance Reform Christy has pledged not to take money from lobbyists, state contractors or employees, and other special interests. Christy supports the public financing of elections. Economic Development Under Proposition One, $1.7 billion in additional state tax revenues will be returned to Massachusetts' cities and towns, which can be used to initiate economic development strategies. Click here to see how much more money your community will receive. Christy supports an initiative to bring a $300 million bond package to Springfield for the creation of a new biotechnology, nanotechnology, high-technology and agricultural research and development center. Women's Rights Christy supports a woman's right to choose. Christy also believes in the rights of parents to be notified in cases when their children under the age of 18 seek abortion. Illegal Immigration Christy supports penalties for businesses that hire illegal immigrants. Christy does not support taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants. Christy does not support the issuance of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Capital Punishment Christy favors the death penalty in Massachusetts. Workforce and Labor Christy supports state minimum wage indexed for inflation. Christy supports the prevailing wage. Christy supports the Pacheco Law, which prevents public agencies from utilizing private contracts unless they can demonstrate cost savings. Gambling Christy supports slot machines at Massachusetts' racetracks. Christy does not support casinos in Massachusetts. Housing Christy proposes to double state spending on the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Trust fund, increasing it from $20 million to $40 million annually. Christy supports fully funding Soft Second loans, which are given through a state program to assist first-time homebuyers. Environment Christy favors renewable energy research and implementation. Christy is not in favor of the current proposals to build wind farms in Nantucket Sound and Buzzards Bay. Christy supports additional investment in mass transit systems. Family Equality Christy supports equity in family courts for both parents. Christy supports marriage for same-sex couples, but believes that the issue should appear on the ballot. Christy supports adoption rights for same-sex couples. Second Amendment Rights Christy supports clarifying the state's existing gun control laws and is a firm believer in Second Amendment rights. Christy supports the Castle Doctrine, which designates one's home as a place where he or she enjoys certain protections. If one is attacked in his or her own home, he or she may stand ground against an assailant without fear of reprisal. Public Health Christy supports legislation permitting the over-the-counter sale of needles to curb the spread of disease. Motorist Rights Christy is not in favor of the "primary offense" seat belt law, which empowers law enforcement officials to stop motorists for no reason other than failure to comply with seat belt laws. Christy opposes laws that mandate helmet use by motorcyclists.