"Almost all state programs would face a 71 percent budget cut if a ballot question to abolish the income tax passes on Nov. 4, according to a report released yesterday.."

"A group calling itself the No on Question 1 Coalition has kicked off its campaign to educate voters on what it says are the perils of repealing the state income tax."

"Opponents call it fiscal insanity. Both sides say the weak economy boosts its chances of passing. WBUR's Curt Nickisch reports."

"The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation is warning that voter passage of Question # 1, the ballot question to repeal the state income tax, would mean drastic cuts to state services and would actually lead to a higher tax burden on low- and middle-income Massachusetts residents. "

"Amid protests from local cops, the state highway department is rolling out its flagmen program this morning in Woburn, where civilians are directing traffic at a work site where in the past paid police details would have been stationed."

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"What I saw were police officers staging a legal and protected informational picket to protest both a violation of their collective bargaining agreement..."

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"If voters abolish the state income tax next month, the state would be forced to slash most agency budgets by more than 70 percent..."

"If Question 1, the controversial ballot measure that would abolish the state income tax, were to succeed in November, state agencies could face budget cuts of more than 70 percent according to a report to be released Monday, the Boston Globe reports."

"Opponents, including a lot of legislators and local government officials, are predicting dangerous consequences for all sorts of public services, including police, fire and schools, if Question 1 passes."

"Labor unions are pouring millions of dollars into an effort to defeat Question 1. The state's business community is saying it would be a disaster. Statehouse leaders are warning of severe budget cuts if it passes."