Capuano, Sánchez respond to ballot questions

U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano (7th District) told the Gazette he supports the non-binding ballot question on the Nov. 6 ballot that called for cuts in military spending to sustain social programs.

Meanwhile, the non-binding question that called for overturning the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizen United ruling seems to be irrelevant, as the state legislature approved such a resolution in August.

Capuano said he “wholeheartedly supports” the non-binding question that urged the U.S. Congress to tax the rich, prevent budget cuts, end the Afghanistan war and invest in job. Mission Hill residents were in favor of the measure.

“I have been fighting to protect Social Security, Medicare, nutrition programs, veterans’ services and many other valuable programs that have already endured substantial cuts,” Capuano said through a spokesperson. “I am committed to a balanced approach to reducing our federal deficit and the only way to responsibly do this is by making sure revenue is part of the equation.”

Capuano, who attended a rally for the question in October, commended everyone who worked hard to get question on the ballot.

Although there was a non-binding question that ordered the state representative from the district to vote in favor of a resolution that calls for Congress to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, the state House of Representatives did just that in August. Mission Hill residents voted in favor of the ballot question.

Local state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez said the vote was unanimous in favor of the resolution. When asked why the question was on Nov. 6 ballot, he said it was probably similar to the auto repair ballot question where the legislature acted after the question was already placed on the ballot.

The Citizens United ruling was a landmark 2010 decision in which the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent political donations by corporations and unions.

 

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