AUGUSTA – The Maine Republican Party today is exposing a financial connection between the House Chair of the Maine Legislature’s Taxation Committee, and the group that funded the 3% income tax hike in the November election.
“We are bringing this information into the public eye because the people deserve to know,” said Maine GOP Chairman Demi Kouzounas. “We request swift action from House Democrats to remedy this situation, and restore confidence in the Taxation Committee as they undertake work that will impact every person in the state of Maine.”
At issue are campaign finance documents revealing Rep. Ryan Tipping, D-Orono (formerly known as Tipping-Spitz), was paid $9,000 by Citizens Who Support Maine’s Public Schools, the official Political Action Committee for Yes on Question 2.
“Rep. Tipping should not be Chair of a committee of jurisdiction whose singular most important issue this legislative session is one he has already been paid to support,” said Dr. Kouzounas.
“I would also like to highlight that Rep. Tipping was a Clean Elections candidate while he was receiving these payments.”
In 2016 Rep. Tipping’s legislative salary was $9,982, by taking payments from this teacher’s union funded PAC he nearly doubled his salary. The sum of $9,000 is 24 times the limit on a contribution to a general election candidate.
“If this slipped unknown under the radar, it is an unfortunate mistake – but if it was known before Rep. Tipping was assigned his committee, I harbor grave concerns about the judgement of Democratic Leadership,” said Dr. Kouzounas.
“The Maine GOP is calling on House Democrats to reassign Rep. Tipping to a new committee immediately,” insisted Dr. Kouzounas.
“If House Democrats refuse to do so, we call on Rep. Tipping to recuse himself from all votes, hearings and work sessions on this issue, due to his financial ties to the Yes on 2 campaign.”
At the bottom of this email is a screen capture showing the payments made to Rep. Tipping by a Yes on 2 Campaign PAC.
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