Voters on Tuesday rejected several measures that would have imposed additional taxes on residents and businesses.
Massachusetts voters approved Question 1, which repeals the gas tax indexing to inflation. Fifty-three percent voted in favor of eliminating that indexing.
Nevada voters rejected a two percent margin tax on businesses that, if passed, would be used for public schools. Eighty percent voted no on the new tax.
The Nevada State Education Association supported Question 3. On Election Day the NSEA tweeted out, "Yes on Question 3, if not now, when?" They linked to a cartoon on their Facebook page that said, "No matter how you slice it, we need more pie."
Nevada voters rejected their need for "more pie," as did the Nevada AFL-CIO, which opposed the new tax.
Will Upton, state affairs manager for Americans for Tax Reform, said Question 3 went "down in flames in Nevada." Upton said the AFL-CIO fought alongside Republicans to defeat the measure because its members realized the tax would drive "businesses out of the state" and cause layoffs for those businesses that stayed.
A majority of voters in Wisconsin also sent a strong message to legislators to stop raiding the state’s transportation fund. Question 1 passed by an 80 percent vote yesterday. It will now "ensure the gas tax is dedicated to the transportation fund," said Upton. "Voters said it is common sense."
The Wisconsin transportation fund has been raided by the state legislature to the tune of $1.4 billion over the past decade, according to Upton.
Georgia voters also rejected any additional taxes. Seventy-four percent of voters approved Amendment A that caps the state income tax.
A pro-tax initiative in Tennessee also passed with an overwhelming majority of the vote. Amendment 3 prohibits state and local income taxes in the state. Sixty-six percent of voters approved the amendment.
"Across the board, it was a very good night for taxpayers," Upton said, adding that the results showed taxpayers are "still in the driver’s seat."
Voters also rejected gubernatorial candidates who favored higher taxes, voting for Republicans in deep blue states such as Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maryland.
Upton said these losses, along with Governor Sam Brownback’s win in Kansas, shows voters rejecting higher taxes. Brownback has been the champion of deep tax cuts in the state.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s loss was also viewed as a rejection of his tax policies.
"Illinoisans have answered loud and clear: They are done with Governor Pat Quinn’s tax and spend agenda," said David From, Illinois State Director of Americans for Prosperity. "Our team of 14 did a great job this season, knocking on over 50,000 doors and urging thousands of Illinoisans to oppose the higher taxes advocated by Quinn, while mobilizing for fiscal responsibility to turn this state around."
From said Quinn’s policies have forced many to leave the state.
"Quinn doubled down on higher taxes pushing a millionaire’s tax, a progressive income tax, and to make the temporary tax hike permanent, even as Illinoisans are fleeing the state in droves and the economy languishes," From said. "Voters today rejected these destructive policies in favor of economic freedom and smaller government."