News Roundup: September 1-15, 2026
The Eagle-Tribune, 9/14/26, Green groups unite behind Question 6 (pdf)
"Dozens of green groups are backing a ballot proposal that would carve out money from the state’s sales taxes on sporting goods and other outdoor equipment for open space and wildlife preservation. Question 6, which will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, calls for allocating $100 million for a “Nature for All Fund” used to conserve or restore land to protect drinking water, rivers and farms. The Yes on 6 Committee, a panel backing the effort, said the proposal is now supported by more than 100 environmental, conservation, and community organizations, including leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups, as well as dozens of local nonprofits." Read the full story here
Liz Speaks Podcast, 9/14/26, Liz Speaks with Rae Ettenger from Mass Audubon about Massachusetts Ballot Question 6
"Liz interviews Rae Ettenger, the Wyss Policy and Advocacy Fellow at Mass Audubon, who breaks down Massachusetts Ballot Question 6 - the Protect Water and Nature Initiative - which would create a new fund to protect water and nature in the state using existing sales tax revenue, and makes the case for why voters should vote yes."
Boston Globe, 9/15/26, The Scrum: Natural Fit
"The Yes on 6 campaign, which is backing the ballot question that would redirect sales tax receipts on sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses into a conservation fund, is rolling out a slate of endorsements from some national environmental leaders. On the list: former US EPA Administrator and White House national climate advisor Gina McCarthy; author and activist Bill McKibben; and former Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs Bob Durand, who served under former Republican Governor Paul Cellucci."
MASSterlist, 9/15/26, More Question 6 Support
"Former U.S. EPA Administrator and White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, author and environmentalist Bill McKibben and former Massachusetts Environmental Affairs Secretary Bob Durand are all endorsing the "YES on 6" ballot campaign, backing a question that would redirect tax revenue from sporting goods to a new conservation fund. The trio joins a coalition of supporters that includes Gov. Healey and over 100 environmental and community organizations and businesses throughout the state."
Boston Globe, 9/5/26, Campaigns behind record-tying slate of ballot questions have raised $10m this year, with more to come
“A separate conservation group-backed initiative to allocate tax revenue from sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses toward a fund to protect Massachusetts’ green spaces and water has also pulled in serious cash, with supporters raising nearly $1.3 million so far this year.
The proposal is the only ballot question that Governor Maura Healey has endorsed so far.”
Voter Guides:
Yahoo News, 9/5/26, Election 2026: Your guide to Massachusetts’ November elections
Newton Beacon, 9/7/26, Democracy, guns and marijuana: Here are the questions on your ballot this November
WCVB Ch. 5, 9/8/26, Massachusetts ballot question guide: Get to know the topics, process
State House News Service, 9/9/26, Campaign Notebook: Ballot Qs Guide
Commonwealth Beacon, 9/10/26, Deep-pocketed donors flood the ballot-question field with cash
MASSterlist, 9/14/26, Sorting through ballot-mania
WBUR, 9/14/26, Mass. voters, the state is mailing you its red book. It’s huge this year