Maine: Baldacci to put own plan on list of tax overhaul proposals ~ Look Out!

boston.com ^ | 4-29-05 | Francis X. Quinn

[SheLion]

Rep. Sean Faircloth, D-Bangor, suggests hiking taxes on beer, wine, bar drinks and cigarettes, boosting the meals and lodging tax during the months of May through October, establishing a soft drinks tax and raising the income level at which the highest marginal rate would apply.

[SheLion]

Stick it to our tourist again!  Can't smoke in Maine plus their vacations in this state will cost even more with taxes.

May through October is STICK IT TO THE TOURIST AGAIN season!

Thank you Rep. Sean Faircloth, D-Bangor!  You are such a RAT!

[SheLion]

Maine Ping!

Guv Baldacci

[mainepatsfan]

Sigh.....

[SheLion]

Sigh.....

We can't win in this state.  The lawmakers sit behind closed doors and figure out how to keep their own positions secure while sticking it to the rest of us.

[goldstategop]

Let's see: a tax on Wal-mart, a tax on drinkers, a tax on smokers, a tax on.... there's never a mention of cutting spending. You get the idea.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[SheLion]

Let's see: a tax on Wal-mart, a tax on drinkers, a tax on smokers, a tax on.... there's never a mention of cutting spending. You get the idea.

When they are too gutless to cut spending, stick it to the voters and tell them it's for their own good!

[Brilliant]

Mainers (or is it Downeasters) are gluttons for punishment.

[Madame Dufarge]

In a saner time, the Maine Legislature would have been chained in the attic, never to be spoken of.

[metesky]

Not one of these economic geniuses calls for a cut in state spending.

Welcome to Utopia.

[SheLion]

Mainers (or is it Downeasters) are gluttons for punishment.

I sure don't know what it is that possesses this state..........well, actually I do.  I keep saying it must be something in the water, but those of us up north have wells.

[Brilliant]

I love visiting Maine, and once thought about moving their for retirement. Given what's happened to its politics in the last 20 years, though, I think I'll stay here in Fla.

[SheLion]

In a saner time, the Maine Legislature would have been chained in the attic, never to be spoken of.

I don't like this business of them going behind closed doors.  I thought the people ran the state?  These lawmakers secure their own cushy jobs while sticking it to the rest of us.

And no cuts?  I know a bunch of pet programs that can be cut.  How hard is it?  Are they afraid of losing a vote or two???

[theDentist]

Next year he will suggest another set of tax hikes on beer, wine, bar drinks and cigarettes, meal and lodging taxes during the months of November through April.

[SheLion]

I love visiting Maine, and once thought about moving their for retirement. Given what's happened to its politics in the last 20 years, though, I think I'll stay here in Fla.

Florida isn't too bad.  At least you can have a voice in most issues.

And if Maine throws a tax on everything between May and October, you know who they are targeting, right?  The Tourist.

[SheLion]

Next year he will suggest another set of tax hikes on beer, wine, bar drinks and cigarettes, meal and lodging taxes during the months of November through April.

Yes! To keep their grimy hands in the pockets of the rest of us.

[UlmoLordOfWaters]

Interesting.

My in-laws have a house in Maine (near MDI) that they live in June-September. I have never seen a more beautiful place--I love it.

What is it with the politics there?

[SheLion]

My in-laws have a house in Maine (near MDI) that they live in June-September. I have never seen a more beautiful place--I love it.

What is it with the politics there?

The Politics?  The Politics SUCK in Maine.  A Blue State.  The rest of us are trying to figure out how to grab hold again.

Maine can't keep a decent business.  Maine is the highest taxed state in the Union plus it's the second in the Union for poverty.  The lawmakers are gluttons.  All for them and nothing for us. 

[UlmoLordOfWaters]

I'm sorry to hear that. My husband is worried about the Bath Iron Works not staying open. He went to the University of Maine for his undergrad and absolutely loves the state (after going there, I can understand why).

I've read that Mainers have the highest tax burden per capita. We've looked at houses there online and get sticker shock at the property tax in some areas (of course, we're looking near the ocean). Jobs are a whole other story, tho.

Isn't it interesting how lawmakers often look at things ass-backwards? Taxing the people while driving business out. Our idiots in California are the same way. It's so maddening.

[SheLion]

I've read that Mainers have the highest tax burden per capita. We've looked at houses there online and get sticker shock at the property tax in some areas (of course, we're looking near the ocean). Jobs are a whole other story, tho.

Isn't it interesting how lawmakers often look at things ass-backwards? Taxing the people while driving business out. Our idiots in California are the same way. It's so maddening.

Well, California is the cousin of Maine. hehe!

But it's maddening here.  And when we read how our lawmakers go behind closed doors, it just gets worse.

One night, all the DemocRATS went behind closed doors to decide on something, and never let the Republicans know about it. 

How can two parties run a state like this?  The losers are us.

[UlmoLordOfWaters]

Well, California is the cousin of Maine.

That is unfortunate!

One night, all the DemocRATS went behind closed doors to decide on something, and never let the Republicans know about it. 

That doesn't sound like it should be possible (well, procedurally or legally). What are the elected republicans like in Maine? Are they conservative or RINOs?