Previous Page | Print this Document

October 22, 2008...In a recent release from The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget), the organization teamed up with Boston.com and The Boston Globe to create an educational game that allows users to "play" with Massachusetts's budget to see how deeply or minimally certain cuts would affect other programs and entities of the Commonwealth. A similar game, which was spearheaded by Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute students in 2003, allowed users to experiment similarly with the budget, in providing scenarios that might occur with each individual budget cut.

"It's great to see MassBudget creating another game in which residents of Massachusetts can observe how serious budget-cutting can be in tough economic times, especially if the state Income Tax were to be repealed," said Sen. Moore. "This game is extremely similar to the one that I helped create with WPI students during the recession of 2003," Moore remarked. "This is definitely a great tool for anyone to have in seeing how dramatic everything can be affected during budget crunches. In a way though, it is disheartening to see us reviving such a device again, as no one wants to bear the burdens that arise with a bad economy, and a possible passage of 'Question 1'."

Ma$$Balance, which was the game created by Sen. Moore and the WPI students, received high accolades from residents who yearned to understand the intricacies of state budgeting; the website received over one million "hits" in its first month of creation. In contrast to MassBudget's game, Ma$$Balance would provide various scenarios that would cite specific occurrences that might occur with cuts. For instance, if public safety funding was cut, it would provide a scenario that said "The Red Sox win the World Series, but not enough police officers are on hand to contain the crowds". Moore remarked at the time that the game gave the average citizen the perfect opportunity to see how important number crunching could be, as each decision had a consequence.

With MassBudget's game, users are allowed to make cuts and adjustments in a budget that has been adversely affected by a repeal of the state's Income Tax, which would reduce the entire state's budget by $12.6 billion. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues, that affect low- and moderate-income people in Massachusetts.

If you are interested in accessing and playing the game, visit www.boston.com and find it under the "Campaign '08" heading.

For more information on Sen. Moore's work in the Legislature, please visit www.senatormoore.com.

Previous Page | Print this Document