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Massachusetts Question 1 Campaigns Have Spent Almost $28 Million

A stack of cash.
Creative Commons / https://flic.kr/ps/23KHux

In Massachusetts, campaigns on each side of ballot Question 1, which would mandate strict nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, have spent a total of $28 million. That's several times more than the other two ballot questions combined.

Both campaigns have spent millions of dollars on TV commercials like this:

And this:

According to state campaign finance data, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, which supports Question 1, dumped more than $2 million into the campaign in the first half of October alone.

On the other side, the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, chipped in more than $5.6 million over the same period.

All told, the opposing campaign has spent about $18 million, almost $7 million more than the proponents.

There's been far less spending surrounding Question 2, which aims to reverse to the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. That measure, if it passes, would create a state commission that would look into potential limits on political spending.

The campaign supporting Question 2 has spent more than $196,000. There has been no formal money spent in opposition to the question, and the committee organized to fight it disolved earlier this month. That's according to filings with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. 

There's been a bit more spending on Question 3, which asks voters whether a Massachusetts law prohibiting discrimination in public places against transgender people should be repealed.

Supporters of keeping the protections in place have far outpaced those looking to eliminate the law: $3.1 million to more than $363,000. 

Election Day is Tuesday, November 6, but early voting in Massachusetts started this week. 

Adam joined NEPM as a freelance reporter and fill-in operations assistant during the summer of 2011. For more than 15 years, Adam has had a number stops throughout his broadcast career, including as a news reporter and anchor, sports host and play-by-play announcer as well as a producer and technician.
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