Carla Howell, the leader of the organization supporting Question 1, blasted the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation on Monday for its report that criticized the effects it predicted Question 1 would have on Massachusetts if passed.

Howell is the chairwoman of the Committee for Small Government, the organization behind the ballot measure that would repeal the state income tax. Asked to respond to the report, Howell immediately tried to discredit the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

"First of all, the so-called Taxpayers Foundation is an unregistered lobby group that represents large financial corporations and other businesses that profit from high government spending," Howell told PolitickerMA.com. "Normal and small businesses that don't benefit from high government spending are in favor of Question 1."

The report states that state agencies would have over 70 percent of their budget cut if Question 1 passes. Howell, however, said the report "makes every excuse they possibly could to keep the income tax, to keep government spending high and to protect the interest of those who fund this organization."

"Not one word of the report is dedicated to the taxpayers," she added. "[The foundation] has been against broad based taxed cuts as long as they have been in business. They have a political agenda and that is to protect their constituents who profit from high government spending."

Howell also disputed several findings in the report. First, the report said that Howell organization's estimate that the state's budget is $47 billion is erroneous, saying it is closer to $31.8 million.

Howell disagreed. Her committee, Howell said, has a reporter from comptrollers and has consulted with several government agencies. The most recent report on the state budget, which was published in 2007, "shows $45 billion and a growth rate of $1.3 billion every year," she said.

Consequently, $47 billion is a "conservatives projection," Howell said.

The report also said that repealing the state income tax would benefit upper-income families more than lower-income families. Howell disputed that claim as well, though she supported her claim with anecdotal evidence from her committees work collecting signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

"What we've consistently found," she said, "is that the people who are most interested in ending the income tax were in the low-income class neighborhoods. In the wealthiest neighborhood, we get the coolest reception."

Ultimately, Howell said at issue is who gets to keep the approximate $12.5 billion that taxpayers would not have to pay.

"They will be required to cut $12.5 billion in government spending out of $47.3 billion and return that money to the taxpayers," Howell said. "It will stay in Massachusetts. It's a matter if it will stay in the hand of those on Beacon Hill or if it will go back to the men and women across the state that earned that money."