For Immediate Release
Date: 07/15/09
Cite biased drafting as attempt to sway voters against repeal measure
AUGUSTA - Maine Senate Republican leaders are criticizing the wording of the ballot question drafted by Democratic Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap for the People's Veto of LD 1495 "An Act to Implement Tax Relief and Tax Reform."
The question drafted by Dunlap reads: "Do you want to reject the new law that lowers Maine's income tax and replaces that revenue by making changes to the sales tax?"
"Words matter, and it is unfortunate that the wording of the ballot question has been manipulated in this way," said Senate GOP Leader Kevin Raye, of Perry. "The people of Maine deserve a straightforward and neutral ballot question that provides clarity. The question should either have made clear that the bill both lowers income taxes and broadens and increases other taxes, or merely refer to changes in both the income tax and sales tax. But juxtaposing lower income taxes with changes in the sales tax reflects an obvious bias that does a disservice to the voters and feeds public cynicism."
Assistant Senate Republican Leader Jon Courtney, of Sanford, said, "This is an obvious attempt by the Secretary of State to sway votes against the People's Veto and to uphold the recently-enacted tax shift. It will impose a greater burden on those who plan to circulate petitions to explain to voters what this law actually does. It also highlights one of the problems with one-party control of state government. The Democrats pushed the legislation through, and now the Democratic Secretary of State is ensuring that the ballot question is biased to present their law in the most favorable light."
Sixty-nine of the 70 Republicans in the Legislature voted against the tax shift, as did the Legislature's lone independent and 7 Democrats. But 104 Democratic legislators pushed through the new law that significantly broadens the reach of the sales tax, extending it to essential services like car repairs, and also increases the meals and lodging tax.
The law's income tax reductions are clouded by the repeal of itemized deductions for real estate taxes and mortgage interest in favor of a "household credit." Under this new system, Maine Revenue Service projects that 86,000 taxpayers will actually see an increase in the amount they owe. Meanwhile small businesses across Maine, already reeling from an historic economic downturn, are bracing for the impact as customers face a confusing array of new taxes on everything from car repairs to certain candies, and higher taxes on eating out.
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Contact:
Bonnie Gould
Maine Senate Republicans
Tel: (207) 287-1505
Fax: (207) 287-1527