"No new taxes, say Maine candidates; Five seeking governor’s seat" by Glenn Adams, Associated Press | September 13, 2010
AUGUSTA, Maine — All five candidates for governor vow to steer away from new taxes to balance a state budget that faces a shortfall in the $1 billion range. They also agree that now is not the time to raise the state’s 29.5-cent-per-gallon gas tax to address funding needs for highways.
The question of whether to raise taxes elicited agreement among the candidates: a Republican, a Democrat, and three independents.
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And your choices on the tax issue?
“As governor, I will not balance the budget next year on the backs of Maine taxpayers with increased taxes and fees,’’ Republican Paul LePage wrote.
“I have no plans to raise taxes,’’ said his Democratic rival, Libby Mitchell....
Not the same as saying she would not.
“Emphatically, NO’’ was independent Kevin Scott’s response to whether he’d call for new or higher taxes. Independent Eliot Cutler said he would not consider higher broad-based taxes without comprehensive tax reform. Independent Shawn Moody said he “will not be looking to raise taxes, certainly not until I feel we have completed a top-to-bottom review of state government programs and spending.’’
I'd be wary of Cutler. He's the last one you want to vote for.
Cutler said he would reduce the number of contracted human service providers, trim MaineCare benefits, merge the state university and community college systems, and eliminate the Board of Environmental Protection.
I'm so sick of seeing the American people take it in the chops so tax loot can go to pilfering politicians and their politically-connected friends.
LePage, Waterville’s mayor, promised “an independent, top-down review of state government to identify waste, fraud and abuse of our tax dollars.’’ Scott said he would order an audit of all state agencies....
Mitchell called for “robust’’ capital expenditures through bonding.
Yeah, put the taxpayers deeper into debt with interest-bearing bonds for investors.
LePage said a “bloated transportation bureaucracy has consumed too much of Maine’s highway budget.’’
That sure sounds familiar, 'eh, Massachusetts?
Cutler said highways and bridges have been neglected for too long and public safety is at stake. Scott promised to examine priorities and “establish realistic expectations’’ for highways and infrastructure. Moody said the state needs more creative solutions that do not simply rely on gas taxes.
Yours crumbling like ours, Maine?
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