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Grover Norquist’s national anti-tax group criticized Maine U.S. Senate candidate Rick Bennett today for not taking its pledge to oppose any tax increases.

Bennett, meanwhile, said Norquist had “willfully distorted” Bennett's views and record to protect his own influence in Washington.

American for Tax Reform, a group founded by the conservative activist and lobbyist, issued a news release saying “Bennett has left the door open for tax hikes on Maine taxpayers and small businesses.”

The group didn't  immediately say why it singled out Bennett, one of three Republican candidates in the race who have not sgned the pledge.  The others are Maine Sen. Debra Plowman and Attorney General Bill Schneider, according to the group's website.

Americans for Tax reform cited a statement on Bennett’s campaign website saying “everything should be on the table” in order to balance the budget and cut the national debt.

“By refusing to sign the pledge and leaving tax hikes on the table, Rick Bennett joins the ranks of Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and President Obama,” Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, said in the group’s news release. “Given the importance of small businesses to Maine’s economy, Rick Bennett’s openness to higher taxes should cause voters who support Bennett to reconsider.”

Bennett said he was the target of the news release because he is one of the three front-runners in the race. The other two – state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin and Secretary of State Charlie Summers – have signed the group’s tax pledge. The sixth Republican candidate, Scott D’Amboise, also has signed, according to the group’s website.

“This is a willfull and intentional distortion designed to preserve (Norquist's)  power rather than fix the problems of the country,” Bennett said. “I’ve said that all spending needs to be on the table.... When asked a question I’ve said I am not going to vote for tax increases. Public statements are not enough for Grover Norquist, he needs you to sign a piece of paper.”

Bennett also said he has a clear anti-tax record in the Maine House and Senate. “Comparing me to Nancy Pelosi ... is really absurd on its face. I served 12 years in the Maine Legislature and never voted for a tax increase. Actions speak louder than words.”

Bennett pointed out that he voted against a $300 million increase in a variety of state taxes in 1991, while Summers voted for it. The budget bill included a new snack tax and an increase in the gasoline tax and was part of  a deal to overhaul Maine's workers' compensation system.

Summers said the taxes were temporary and part of a package that, on balance, lowered costs for businesses. "That was in the context of a state shutdown over workers' compensation," he said.

It is a very different economic situation 20 years later, Smmers said, and he signed the pledge because it's clear that the federal government is overspending. "What we have to do is address spending issues. I'm not willing to entertain tax increases."

Bennett maintained he is committed to cutting spending and not raising taxes, too. But he also said he won't be pressured into signing a pledge.

“I believe there are abuses in our tax code that are used to fund corporate welfare,” such as subsidies for wind farms and ethanol producers, he said. “I don’t want to be held hostage to Grover Norquist for voting to clean up these petty outrages in our tax code.”

 

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Open Season targets all of Maine's political wildlife, from Portland city government to the donkeys, elephants and independents stalking the Statehouse and U.S. Capitol.

John Richardson joined the Press Herald in 1990 after working as a reporter in New Jersey. He has covered a variety of beats, including marine issues, the environment and health care. He is now covering politics and focusing on Maine's U.S. Senate race.
John can be reached at 791-6324 or jrichardson@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @jrichmaine

Colin Woodard has covered politics and elections for more than two decades, from Bosnia and Bucharest to Washington, D.C., Augusta, and Portland City Hall. He has written for a wide range of national and international publications and is the author of four books, including "American Nations," a history of North America's regional cultures. He joined the Portland Press Herald at the end of April and covers political finance and lobbying, among other things.
Colin can be reached at 791-6317 or cwoodard@pressherald.com

Susan Cover has covered Maine politics for 10 years and worked in Kansas, Ohio and Rhode Island as a reporter. This year, she is focusing on covering the same-sex marriage debate for MaineToday Media.
Susan can be reached at 621-5643 or scover@mainetoday.com

Michael Shepherd joined MaineToday Media in May 2012 after graduating from the University of Maine in Orono, where he edited The Maine Campus, the student newspaper there. Until November he'll be writing the Truth Test, a recurring feature analyzing political statements and advertising.
Michael can be reached at 621-5632 or mshepherd@mainetoday.com

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