Carla Howell
Encyclopedia
Carla A. Howell is an American
political activist and small government advocate. She is President of the Center For Small Government. She is most known for organizing tax cut initiative petitions, called ballot measures in other states. She spearheaded an initiative to repeal the Massachusetts state personal income tax in 2002 and again in 2008 and one to cut the state sales tax in 2010. She ran office in Massachusetts for U.S. Senate (2000), Governor (2002), and State Auditor (1998) on the Libertarian Party
ticket.
She currently heads the Alliance to Roll Back Taxes, backing a ballot initiative to cut the Massachusetts sales tax from 6.25% to 3.0% which was on the November 2, 2010 ballot as Question 3. Her group collected and submitted 74,131 approved voter signatures in the fall of 2009, and another 14,023 signatures in the spring-summer of 2010 to qualify the measure.
Carla Howell released her spoof song How Could I Live Without Filing Taxes in 2001 which she wrote and performed.
She earned her MBA from Babson College
in Wellesley, Massachusetts
(1986) and holds a Bachelor of Science
degree from Bethany College in Mathematics
/Computer Science
(1976). She worked at Datamedic, Clinical Information Advantages, Inc.,
Westinghouse Electric, Computervision Corporation
, and Analog Devices
, and consulted for numerous small and medium-sized businesses in Massachusetts.
Carla Howell is a great-granddaughter of the Honorable William Eustis Russell, a former Governor of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts
and a granddaughter of 1950s Boston socialite
Margaret Russell Howell.
2002 Statewide Ballot Question 1 : In 2002, she sponsored an initiative petition to end the income tax
in Massachusetts. This measure failed with 45% of the vote.
2008 Statewide Ballot Question 1 : In 2007, she, along with fellow co-chair Michael Cloud, re-formed the Committee For Small Government (the group behind the 2002 effort to end the income tax). The Committee obtained enough petition signatures to put the issue on the ballot. The 2008 initiative differed from the 2002 initiative in that it provided a one year transition period with a tax rate of 2.65% before the tax rate would drop to zero. This measure failed with only 30% of the vote.
from 6.25% to 3%.
candidate in the race for U.S. Senate
in 2000, which was won by Democrat
Ted Kennedy
. Howell received 11.9% of the vote (a total of 308,860 votes). Howell had raised $859,311
She ran for State Auditor
in 1998 and was endorsed by the Boston Herald
. Howell lost finishing with 102,198 votes for 5.71% of the total vote. Howell also was a candidate in the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
. She finished fourth amongst the six candidates on the ballot with 23,044 votes for 1.05% of the total vote.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political activist and small government advocate. She is President of the Center For Small Government. She is most known for organizing tax cut initiative petitions, called ballot measures in other states. She spearheaded an initiative to repeal the Massachusetts state personal income tax in 2002 and again in 2008 and one to cut the state sales tax in 2010. She ran office in Massachusetts for U.S. Senate (2000), Governor (2002), and State Auditor (1998) on the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party of Massachusetts
The Libertarian Party of Massachusetts is the Massachusetts affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The party has done well in several federal elections compared to other third parties and Libertarian state affiliates. In 2000 Carla Howell received 308,860 votes for 11.9% of the total vote . In 2002...
ticket.
She currently heads the Alliance to Roll Back Taxes, backing a ballot initiative to cut the Massachusetts sales tax from 6.25% to 3.0% which was on the November 2, 2010 ballot as Question 3. Her group collected and submitted 74,131 approved voter signatures in the fall of 2009, and another 14,023 signatures in the spring-summer of 2010 to qualify the measure.
Carla Howell released her spoof song How Could I Live Without Filing Taxes in 2001 which she wrote and performed.
She earned her MBA from Babson College
Babson College
Babson College is a private business school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts near Boston.- History :Babson College was founded by Roger Babson on September 3, 1919, as the Babson Institute. It was renamed "Babson College" in 1969...
in Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
(1986) and holds a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from Bethany College in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
/Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
(1976). She worked at Datamedic, Clinical Information Advantages, Inc.,
Westinghouse Electric, Computervision Corporation
Computervision
Computervision, Inc. was an early pioneer in turnkey Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing . Computervision was founded in 1969 by Marty Allen and Philippe Villers, and headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts, USA. Its early products were built on a Data General Nova platform...
, and Analog Devices
Analog Devices
Analog Devices, Inc. , known as ADI, is an American multinational semiconductor company specializing in data conversion and signal conditioning technology, headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts...
, and consulted for numerous small and medium-sized businesses in Massachusetts.
Carla Howell is a great-granddaughter of the Honorable William Eustis Russell, a former Governor of the Commonwealth
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and a granddaughter of 1950s Boston socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
Margaret Russell Howell.
Initiative Petitions to Repeal the Massachusetts State Personal Income Tax
At the time of the 2002 and 2008 initiatives Massachusetts had an income tax rate of 5.3% on most sources of income.2002 Statewide Ballot Question 1 : In 2002, she sponsored an initiative petition to end the income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
in Massachusetts. This measure failed with 45% of the vote.
2008 Statewide Ballot Question 1 : In 2007, she, along with fellow co-chair Michael Cloud, re-formed the Committee For Small Government (the group behind the 2002 effort to end the income tax). The Committee obtained enough petition signatures to put the issue on the ballot. The 2008 initiative differed from the 2002 initiative in that it provided a one year transition period with a tax rate of 2.65% before the tax rate would drop to zero. This measure failed with only 30% of the vote.
Ballot Initiative Filed to Roll Back the Sales Tax
In September 2009 Ms Howell (and Michael Cloud) proposed a ballot initiative to roll back the Massachusetts sales taxSales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
from 6.25% to 3%.
Election Campaigns
She was the Libertarian Party of MassachusettsLibertarian Party of Massachusetts
The Libertarian Party of Massachusetts is the Massachusetts affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The party has done well in several federal elections compared to other third parties and Libertarian state affiliates. In 2000 Carla Howell received 308,860 votes for 11.9% of the total vote . In 2002...
candidate in the race for U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 2000, which was won by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
. Howell received 11.9% of the vote (a total of 308,860 votes). Howell had raised $859,311
She ran for State Auditor
State auditor
State auditors are executive officers of U.S. states who serve as auditors and comptrollers for state funds....
in 1998 and was endorsed by the Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
. Howell lost finishing with 102,198 votes for 5.71% of the total vote. Howell also was a candidate in the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002
The Massachusetts gubernatorial election of 2002 was held on November 5, 2002. Businessman Mitt Romney was elected to a four-year term, to be served from January 2, 2003 until January 4, 2007. Every four years, Massachusetts holds state-wide elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney...
. She finished fourth amongst the six candidates on the ballot with 23,044 votes for 1.05% of the total vote.
See also
- Massachusetts State Income Tax Repeal InitiativeMassachusetts State Income Tax Repeal InitiativeThe State Income Tax Repeal, also known as Massachusetts Question 1, was one of the 2008 ballot measures that appeared on the November 4, 2008 ballot in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Voters were asked whether or not they approved of the proposed measure which, if it had passed, would have ended...
, 2008 Ballot Question 1 - Tax revoltTax revoltA tax revolt is a political struggle to repeal, limit, or roll back a tax.-1930s, The Great Depression:In the United States, the term "tax revolt" is sometimes used to refer to a series of anti-tax state initiative campaigns. The first significant wave of these campaigns was during the 1930s. The...
, political struggle to repeal, limit, or roll back a government-imposed tax. - Tax resistanceTax resistanceTax resistance is the refusal to pay tax because of opposition to the government that is imposing the tax or to government policy.Tax resistance is a form of civil disobedience and direct action...
External links
- Carla Howell official web site
- Affiliations:
- Interviews:
- Downloadable audio interview with Free Talk LiveFree Talk LiveFree Talk Live is an American call-in radio talk show heard seven nights a week. The program is hosted by Ian Freeman and Mark Edge on Tuesday through Saturday, Mark Edge and Stephanie Murphy on Sunday, and Ian Freeman and Dale Everett on Monday. It is a chiefly libertarian political talk show and...
- Downloadable audio interview with Free Talk Live
- Opposition: