Bill Providing Tax Relief for Groundfishing Gets Initial Senate OK
May 24, 2005
AUGUSTA—A bill that would provide a tax rebate for groundfishing advanced further today in the Maine Senate following its second procedural vote. The legislation, proposed by Senators Ethan Strimling, D-Cumberland County and Dennis Damon, D-Hancock County, would make any person who pays for fuel used in commercial groundfishing eligible for a refund on a portion of the state taxes that were paid for those fuel costs.
“It is about time that Maine join all the other New England States and exempt fuel from state taxes for ground fisherman. Our working waterfront has some of the hardest working fisherman in the country and this extra burden has hurt their competitive advantage,” said Senator Damon, who is also the Chair of the Transportation committee.
“With the overall cost of fuel rising, this bill can help provide some additional support to Maine’s groundfishing industry. By providing a small refund on every dollar of fuel, we are supporting this vital Maine industry,” said Senator Strimling.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for additional votes before it is scheduled to return back to the Senate.
The full text of the bill, LD 650, An Act To Protect Maine’s Groundfishing Industry, is available online at:
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280015368
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