Two interesting ballot measures this race in Massachusetts, and results are in:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/...
"Massachusetts votes against a plan to abolish the state income tax and for the decriminalization of marijuana. Massachusetts becomes the thirteenth state to decriminalize marijuana. The plan means that people over 18 caught with under an ounce of marijuana will receive only civil penalties: a $100 fine and no processing in the criminal system. The income tax plan is particularly extreme--state income tax will be phased down to 2.8% next year and completely done away with thereafter. Jump below the fold for complete language of each measure...
Question 1: This proposed law would eliminate the state personal income tax for all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2009. The personal income tax applies to income received or gain realized by individuals and married couples, by estates of deceased persons, by certain trustees and other fiduciaries, by persons who are partners in and receive income from partnerships, by corporate trusts, and by persons who receive income as shareholders of "S corporations" as defined under federal tax law. The proposed law would not affect the tax due on income or gain realized in a tax year beginning before January 1, 2009. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the other parts would stay in effect.
Question 2: "This proposed law would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties, to be enforced by issuing citations, and would exclude information regarding this civil offense from the state's criminal record information system. Offenders age 18 or older would be subject to forfeiture of the marijuana plus a civil penalty of $100. Offenders under the age of 18 would be subject to the same forfeiture and, if they complete a drug awareness program within one year of the offense, the same $100 penalty."