Well I see that the Democrats are at it already by spreading lies about Question 1. They claim in their ads that taxes will rise 30 percent if you vote “yes” on Question 1.

In fact, if you vote “yes” on Question 1 your income taxes will stay the same as they are now. What will happen is that 102 new sales taxes on goods and services, plus an increase in meals and lodging taxes, won’t take effect.

Why do Democrats need to increase the sales taxes so much? Why, to support all the welfare they have created these last few years.

Under the Democrats’ leadership these last 10 years, Maine has added only 56 net jobs, but added 109,000 people to the welfare rolls. You know who has to pay for all these added people collecting a welfare check from the state each week, don’t you?

Break the cycle the Democrats have created of ever-increasing welfare rolls and never-ending tax and fee increases by voting “yes” on Question 1.

Raymond T. West

Topsham

 

The latest TV ad featuring the lady with a lobster on a leash is intended to be silly, and it is certainly that. But also, it is really just another scam designed to fool Maine voters one more time.

Here is the question which will be on the ballot on June 8:

Question 1: “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?”

The wording of the ballot is deceptive, as it suggests that those of us who would reduce our heavy tax burden should vote “no.” But a “no” vote will actually increase taxes — once again!

The “new law” — LD 1495, which purports to reduce the income tax — is being challenged by a people’s veto because it does not really reduce the income tax. It reduces the income tax rate, and in doing so replaces all exemptions and deductions, including the mortgage deduction, with a “credit” that is capped.

Therefore, we will pay a lower rate on an increased taxable income. If there are any savings at all, they would be minimal, say $50 to $100, and even that is doubtful. But in the meantime, we get a new tax (5 percent) on our telephone bills, an increase in the meals and lodging tax from 7 percent to 8.5 percent, and new sales taxes (5 percent) on 102 common services, such as auto repair labor, home maintenance, dry cleaning, furniture, gun and shoe repair, all entertainment and amusement tickets, and much more — the list goes on and on.

This will require thousands of Maine businesses to charge more for their services, and then account for the new taxes and pay them to Maine Revenue Services.

This will hurt small businesses and result in more work for less pay, and it will drive some out of business. Hard-working Maine citizens get the shaft once again.

I hope all who see the “No on 1 ads” will be aware of this scam and vote “Yes on 1” come June 8. We don’t need any more taxes. What we need is a smaller, leaner and much more efficient government.

Jack Wibby

Maine Taxpayers United

Gray

 

I am appalled at the “No on 1” commercials for Question 1.

They are misleading and are not factual. LD 1495 (Question 1) is not revenue-neutral. The 102-plus tax increases will hurt middle- to low-income earners and has the potential to hurt small businesses.

On another note, I urge voters in New Gloucester to vote for Steve Libby and Pamela Slye for selectman. They are fiscally responsible and do an amazing job for the people of New Gloucester.

For governor my pick is Mayor Paul LePage on the Republican ticket, common sense all the way. In addition, he has lowered taxes for the city of Waterville since he has been mayor. He has a keen business sense and has the knowledge on how to turn Maine’s economy around to bring jobs to Maine.

Lois Snowe Mello

Poland

 

You are going to miss them when they are gone. Inland Maine-owned restaurants will be the victims of the new tax law. It will be a cultural loss for us all.

Folks are claiming that LD 1495 will raise more revenues from tourists, but they are mostly new and increased taxes on Mainers. Of more than 100 new or increased taxes, two (meals and lodging) are specifically targeted to tourists.

This misconception has a cost. Maine people eat out often and we travel and stay in Maine. Under this new tax law, the tax burden will continue to be carried by Maine citizens, even in the areas of meals and lodging.

Most locally owned year-round restaurants rely on Mainers 12 months a year, and exclusively so in nine of those months. These new taxes will affect restaurants the same way that increasing the tobacco tax has reduced smoking. We will eat out less.

Statewide, in areas that are not tourist spots, corporate chain restaurants are displacing independents because these national chains are willing to operate for little or no short-term profit.

They are just as interested in owning real estate and taking market share as they are in making profits. Independents, however, need to have profits to feed their families.

If not rejected by voters, these new taxes will be another nail in the coffin for those restaurants that are not in destination areas. The problem with our state government is not how it gets its money, it is how it spends the money. It is bad fiscal management and a grotesquely overreaching agenda that we need to reform.

This sleight of hand will preserve that weakness, while hurting our tourist industry and depriving many Mainers of our local culinary culture.

Michael C. Quigg

Owner, Beale Street BBQ

West Bath

 

I’d been puzzled that the Democrat-controlled Legislature in Augusta would pass a tax reform bill that reduced taxes for their favorite targets, the well-to-do, and expanded the list of goods and services subject to the regressive sales tax.

I finally figured it out. The folks in Augusta know full well that the profligate policies of their cohorts in Washington are going to result in increased, perhaps ruinous, inflation.

As the reform bill being voted on June 8 removes the indexing of income tax brackets for inflation and shifts more of the tax revenue stream to the sales tax, which is intrinsically linked to prices, the bill achieves the holy grail of all politicians — increasing tax revenues without having to take a pesky and unpopular vote! Priceless!

Please join me in voting “yes” on Question 1 to repeal (yup, vote “yes” to say no) to this ill-considered, so-called “reform.”

David R. Murray

Falmouth

 

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