Massachusetts House Democrats back across-the-board tax breaks

Under the House plan, the tax on investment earnings would drop from 12% to 5%.

• Estates would need to be worth $2 million, not $1 million, before the estate tax kicks in. Healey had pitched a $3 million threshold.

What they're saying: "We want to attract investment. We want to attract folks that want to be here and are comfortable with the way we tax," Mariano told reporters after rolling out the plan.

• "This whole competitiveness issue is real, as we face challenges from states like North Carolina" and Ohio, Mariano added.

The intrigue: Mariano's House plan would change the voter-approved 1986 law that requires rebates for taxpayers when the state's revenue coffers overflow, like they did last year.

• Instead of rebates relative to the total amount paid in taxes, Mariano would give back equal rebates to all taxpayers, meaning millionaires and low-wage workers would receive the same amount.

Flashback: The automatic rebate law caught Democrats off guard last year and torpedoed a previous plan to offer specific tax relief in Massachusetts.

Between the lines: With its veto-proof Democratic majorities, the Legislature can essentially treat Healey's proposal as a starting point and dictate tax policy to the governor.

• If the House settles on a final bill with the Senate, that's what will become reality — not Healey's plan.