Radio Address: Now is the Time for Real Tax Reform

May 27, 2015

(MP3 Audio)

Now is the time for real tax reform Reports that tax reform is dead have been greatly exaggerated. Republicans and I are determined that we will cut the income tax this year.

Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage.

When it comes to the budget, career politicians in Augusta have one objective. They just want to create a budget that 186 legislators can agree on ? whether it?s a good budget or not. Then they want to go home for the summer, giving you the impression they worked hard for the Maine people. Now that the clock is ticking toward their vacation time, Democrats suddenly want to take tax reform off the table. They just want to submit a budget that maintains the status quo.

Democrats pretended to be interested in cutting the income tax, but they would actually raise taxes by $120 million. It was a poor deal for Mainers. These politicians really don?t want to reduce the high tax burden on hard-working Mainers. They prefer business as usual.

That?s not how I operate. I didn?t take this job to be a rubber stamp for bad policy coming out of the legislature. I became Governor because we need to bring real reform to state government, and we need to create prosperity for the Maine people.

Every day, Mainers tell me taxes are too high. They want to keep more of their hard-earned money. The Maine people don?t trust liberal politicians to spend their money responsibly. Neither do I. That?s why we are determined to reduce the income tax in this budget.

Democrats are trying to kick the can down the road again, but we won?t let them.

Republicans are united in our mission to eliminate the income tax. Over the past few months, we have considered different approaches about how to accomplish it. But we all agree on one thing. This budget must take a major step toward eliminating the income tax once and for all.

The time for reform is now.

The media keeps asking me if I am willing to compromise on the budget. My answer is still the same: I am always willing to compromise on good public policy that truly benefits the people of Maine. However, I am not interested in any compromise on bad public policy that does not move our state forward or create prosperity for Mainers.

Democrats are working on a budget for 186 legislators in Augusta to approve. They are making deals and working behind closed doors, just so they can vote on something and go home.

I am working on a budget to benefit 1.3 million Mainers. But I need your help. You must hold your legislators accountable.

Lobbyists and lawyers for special interests are talking to legislators every day in the halls of the State House. The taxpayers? interests are not being represented.

If you want to eliminate the income tax, you must get engaged. Find out who your local legislators are. Call or email them and let them know how you feel.

Together, we can move our state forward and bring prosperity to all Mainers.

Thank you for listening.