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June 17, 2009

Maine GOP to begin people's veto process

By The Mainebiz News Staff

Charlie Webster, chairman of the Maine Republican Party, said yesterday that he will file paperwork to pave the way for a people's veto of the tax reform bill Gov. John Baldacci signed into law last week, according to the Kennebec Journal.

Webster said funding for the campaign would have to come from the business community, but that party volunteers want to help gather signatures, the paper reported. Leaders from several of Maine's business associations met this morning to discuss the legislative session and the potential people's veto campaign, Curtis Picard, executive director of the Maine Merchants Association, told Mainebiz. He said he couldn't commit his organization to the potential campaign until he meets with his board. "I've definitely heard from a lot of members during this process," he said. "They're still pretty upset, upset because they feel they were not listened to throughout the whole process."

Picard said eight to 10 people were at the meeting, but that there was no clear consensus on the potential campaign. "Ultimately, it falls on somebody's shoulders. Who that is going to be is speculation at this point."

Picard told Mainebiz the major hurdles to a people's veto are cost and time. Because the legislative session ended later this year, the window of opportunity for a successful campaign to get the question on the November ballot is much smaller, he said. If a coalition forms to pursue a people's veto, the group would need to deliver 55,087 signatures to the state by sometime in August. "That's a tall order," Picard said.

Baldacci signed LD 1495 into law last Friday. The law decreases Maine's income tax rate from 8.5% to 6.5% for those making under $250,000, increases the meals and lodging tax from 7% to 8.5% and expands Maine's 5% sales tax to more goods and services. 

 

Reader comments

From Catharine Hartnett (Wed 6/17/2009 5:20 PM)

Why bother electing a legislature if, upon every piece of meaningful - tough legislation - we raise the People's Veto possibility? Tax reform is hard - some win a little and some lose a little - it's the way it goes. I applaud the legislature for making hard decisions that will in large part impact tourists. Businesses don't pay more, they pass the costs along to customers. We've been begging for reform, threatening dire propositions for several years- now we get rerform and want a do-over? !  

From Mike Mahoney (Wed 6/17/2009 6:42 PM)

I agree with Catharine on one thing. Why did we bother electing THIS legislature who refuse to listen to us? Tell Charlie Webster to count me in!  

From eric mcvay (Wed 6/17/2009 9:39 PM)

hi my name is eric from hampden I just wanted to let you know that I would urge people not to sign a peoles veto pitition on LD 1495 right now in these tough enocomic times the state is in badly need of revnue LD 1495 will provide the revnue that the state needs and also LD 1495 will provide income tax relife and Iwould urge people to support LD 1495  

From James Robichaud (Wed 7/8/2009 8:54 PM)

The people of Maine already pay far too much in taxes. The people of Maine will be the ones bearing the burden of this new legislation, NOT just the tourists.
For God's sake, cut spending, lower our taxes, and make the state an attractive place, financially, to live, do business, and vacation!
 

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