MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts Rep. Smitty Pignatelli filed an amendment to the House budget that’s stuffed with Taylor Swift references and speaks to the so-called “Taylor Swift [Economic] Effect.”
The bill, according to Pignatelli, “shall be a commission to Taylor A. Swift and competitive economic recovery plan for the commonwealth” known as the “commission on LONG LIVE Massachusetts.”
Pignatelli elaborates on the bill through nods to dozens of Swift’s most famous songs, highlighted in capital letters.
“The purpose of the commission shall be to address the TREACHEROUS economic and affordability issues that the citizens of the commonwealth know ALL TOO WELL to be DELICATE for individual and shared prosperity, assure that Massachusetts shall emerge OUT OF THE WOODS and BEGIN AGAIN and ensure that together we in the commonwealth shall see DAYLIGHT on the horizon and prevent a CRUEL SUMMER for our collective growth,” the bill, which can be read in full at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ website, begins.
In case there was any doubt that the bill was written in jest, the outline of the proposed commission members ends with a note that Olivia Benson, Meredith Grey, and Benjamin Button — Swift’s three cats — will serve as chair.
“I do this every year, for the last four or five years,” Smitty told Patch on the phone Wednesday. “I did a Ted Lasso amendment last year. During COVID, when we were all doing things remotely, I filed an amendment to require mandatory training for all legislators on how to mute their phones. It’s intended to be lighthearted and cut the stress of the budget time.”
But a real need is being addressed, even through Smitty’s tongue-in-cheek amendments.
“We experienced nine consecutive months of failing to reach our revenue projection for the state,” Smitty said. He will not be running for re-election and considers the bill his “farewell song” — but he wants to make sure the state keeps its focus on the issues he cares about.
“Youth development is something I’ve always been passionate about,” Smitty said. “But overall in Massachusetts, housing is probably our biggest issue. I don’t like the word affordable housing, but the issue of making sure residents can afford a clean, affordable place to live is serious.”
There is some good news.
“Just in the time that I was drafting this amendment, we bounced back beautifully in March,” according to Smitty. “And I’m anticipating a wonderful April as well. So I think the Taylor Swift Effect has kicked in already. Things are starting to turn around in Massachusetts.”
The Taylor Swift Economic Effect, or Swiftonomics, is the name given to the economic impact of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has been “measured in national retail sales figures, global inflation and municipal economic bumps where concerts were held,” according to CNBC.
The tour’s economic value is more than an estimated $5 billion in the United States and Canada, higher than the gross domestic product of dozens of countries, according to research by QuestionPro.
Swift’s fans are all ages and represent all demographics, but Smitty made sure to come clean about one thing.
“I’m a 64-year-old man and I’m probably not the Swiftie some people may think I am with this amendment,” he said. “I’ve had help with some great staff to make the play on words, and then we tied it all together. It’s a stressful time during the budget, but let’s keep it in perspective, and let’s go do our job.”
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