$9 Million Spent On Ballot 2010 Questions
BOSTON (AP) - Unions, industry-backed organizations and other advocacy groups spent more than $9 million trying to sway voters on the state's three ballot questions last year.
The total falls short of the record $16.1 million set in 1992 when four questions were decided.
The Office of Campaign and Political Finance said more the half of the money was spent on Question 1, which would have cut the state sales tax to 3 percent.
The teacher union backed Massachusetts Coalition for our Communities spent $4.4 million to defeat the measure. Supporters spent $251,844. The question was defeated.
A question to repeal the alcohol sales tax placed second with $3.1 million spent. The Vote Yes on One Committee, supported by package store owners, spent $2.9 million to support the question. Opponents spent $196,973. The question passed.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
