“Uncle claims that if he files his income tax wrong he’ll go to jail, and if he files it right he’ll to the poor house.” -Nonnee Coan
Lane/Tommy: Our next few columns will be about the issues and candidates for the election on Nov. 7. Perhaps the hottest issue this year is Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights. We are proud to say that the Lakes Region Tea Party held on Oct. 14 was well attended and a huge success. The crowd was large with many new faces including younger folks that were amazed at the wonderful speeches and events. This year the demand for tax reform is loud and clear. It is obvious that citizens are sick and tired of broken promises and bald-faced lies that our present government in the state of Maine have made as far as tax reform and relief go.
Tommy: After the Tea Party last Saturday a bunch of us had lunch at a local restaurant on Route 302. This was a working lunch so that we could plan for future events. When we were leaving a gentleman from Massachusetts noticed our TABOR shirts and stickers we were wearing. He also noticed my truck decorated with TABOR signs. To my astonishment he stated that he hoped we would have a success in the passage of the TABOR referendum this November. During our conversation he stated that he has been coming to Maine for 35 years and had hoped to retire here. He noted that Massachusetts had once been known as Taxachusetts for many years. He lived in California when Proposition 13 passed and remarked that California is still there. He lived in Massachusetts when Proposition 2 1/2 was passed. The police and fire departments did not disappear, schools didn’t fall apart and other forecasts of financial doom did not occur. After giving a sizeable donation to our political action committee, he stated his dream to retire in Maine was rapidly vanishing.
Lane: I think that support for Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights is strong and growing stronger. Several towns like Gray, Litchfield, Scarborough and others have endorsed TABOR because of a strong need for spending reform. More and more businesses and groups are coming forth. The most important and surprising endorsement is from the Maine Sunday Telegram in which last Sunday’s paper stated the time for TABOR has come because the status quo is no longer sustainable. The Lincoln County News has come out in support, too. This support shows that TABOR is a viable solution that is needed in Maine. It is evident to me that hollow promises and veiled threats show Mainers that those who suck up our tax dollars don’t want the public trough reduced in size.
Lane/Tommy: We feel that it is important for citizens to be informed on where the money is coming from to defeat TABOR. The TABOR PAC is receiving most of its financial support from within Maine. The opponents, on the other hand, are receiving their funds from out-of-state organizations.
Lane: So why are organization like the National Teachers Association, Maine Municipal Association, Maine Teachers Association and the AARP fighting a peoples’ initiative that helps control the increase in spending to a reasonable rate? The obvious reason if that they do not want you, the taxpayer, to have control over the amount of taxes that can be collected from your wallet. We all know that government spending in Maine is out of control. I feel that we have too many officials with too little to do thus giving them plenty of time to justify their gross overspending. Maine has too many school districts and too many school administrators who are willing to keep their jobs while sacrificing the jobs of teachers. We hear it every year at budget time.
Tommy: Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights is a solid foundation to begin the process of spending and tax reform in this great state of ours. Mary Adams appropriately states that TABOR is the first child of tax reform in Maine. Who do you want to take care of this child? Do you vote for someone who will throw out the baby with the wash or someone who will nurture the child into adulthood? Please vote for candidates who support TABOR.
Lane/Tommy: We urge all Mainers to vote YES on Question 1 of the state ballot. It reads: “Do you want to limit increases in state and local government spending to the rate of inflation plus population growth and to require voter approval for all tax and fee increases?” The alternative is to allow Hurricane Augusta to continue growing its power and destroy Maine worst than what hit New Orleans.
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