The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
  • Donate
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Nukes and Cukes: In Negotiating with Iran, the Patient and the Determined Always Have the Edge
  • Supreme Court Hands Trump Admin Victory On Efforts To Deport ‘Worst’ Illegal Migrants
  • Oxford Senator Rick Bennett Sheds GOP to Run for Maine Governor as an Independent
  • Three More Mills Vetoes – Tribal Eminent Domain, LGBTQIA+ Recovery Housing, Ferry Power Grab
  • China Tries Getting Rich In America’s Backyard
  • Rockland Police Search for Man in Connection to Reported Assault
  • Residential and Condo Associations in Maine Can No Longer Ban Members from Installing EV Chargers
  • Angus King Co-Sponsors Republican-Led Bill Mandating Steps to Combat Chinese Espionage
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Tuesday, June 24
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
  • Donate
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Commentary » Democrats’ Budget Is One Page of Talking Points
Commentary

Democrats’ Budget Is One Page of Talking Points

Paul LePageBy Paul LePageApril 13, 2017No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

Democrat politicians in Augusta will take every opportunity to spend more of your money, and most Mainers simply can’t afford it.

Last week, Speaker of the House Sara Gideon announced something we already knew: Democrats in Augusta are ready to raise your taxes and spend more of your money.

Democrats claim to represent the little guy, but their actions do the opposite. They increase taxes and grow big government. This doesn’t help the working people of Maine. The Maine media applauded the Democrats’ proposal as an alternative budget. But they failed to report the most important fact: it isn’t a real budget.

The Democrats submitted a single page that offers few specifics and even fewer price tags. That is a set of talking points—it’s not a budget.

My balanced budget is well over 800 pages and accounts for every single penny. Shame on the media for once again printing the Democrats’ propaganda and giving the plan absolutely no scrutiny whatsoever. It’s just more fake news.

I vetoed the last state budget, but the Legislature passed it anyway. They increased spending to $6.7 billion—that’s $300 million more over the biennium than I had submitted.

Now Democrats are on track to increase the budget over $7 billion and maybe over $8 billion.

The 128th Legislature is preparing to enact the largest government spending increase in Maine history. That is a legacy our families and businesses simply cannot afford.

As your Governor, I will do everything possible to confront the big-government, tax-and-spend Democratic mentality. I will ask Republicans in the Legislature to stand with me for fiscal responsibility and smaller government.

Speaker Gideon, Senator Jackson and their Democratic colleagues want Maine to have the highest income tax in the country. In total disregard for our economy, they are forcing working families and small businesses to finance their special-interest spending spree in Augusta.

These Democratic leaders fully support a 10.15% state income tax rate and will fight to maintain the 3% additional tax on small businesses championed by the special interests that control them.

Towns like Medway, Greenville and Cumberland soundly rejected Question 2, yet many Democrats now embrace this extreme tax hike against the wishes of the constituents who elected them.

In Freeport, Question 2 was also defeated, but their Democratic legislator is now demanding to raise their taxes. Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth voted against Question 2, but their Democratic Senator was front and center at this fake budget announcement, lobbying for Maine to have the country’s highest income tax.

Make no mistake, the Democrats’ budget favors special interests over the Maine people. If Speaker Gideon and Senator Jackson really want to do a budget that works for the Maine people, they should come meet with me.

I’ve already done the work for them. We can merge their one page into my 800-page budget. It doesn’t take much effort for them to meet with me. They just have to come down a flight of stairs to my office.

If that is too difficult for them, they can always take the elevator.

Commentary Featured
Previous ArticleBrakey Introduces Bill to Keep Unconstitutional Measures Off Maine Ballots
Next Article Legislature to Consider Removing Cap on Maine’s Charter Schools
Paul LePage

Governor Paul LePage (R) served as the 74th Governor of Maine. Prior to his time as governor, LePage served as the general manager of Marden's and as the mayor of Waterville.

Subscribe to Substack

Related Posts

Nukes and Cukes: In Negotiating with Iran, the Patient and the Determined Always Have the Edge

June 24, 2025

King 2.0 Out-Politics Pingree 2.0 on Her Home Turf at Rockland “No Kings” Rally

June 16, 2025

Maine Businesses Shouldn’t Have to Pick up the Tab for Northern Light Health’s Financial Problems

June 16, 2025

Leave A Reply

Subscribe to Substack
Recent News

Supreme Court Hands Trump Admin Victory On Efforts To Deport ‘Worst’ Illegal Migrants

June 24, 2025

Oxford Senator Rick Bennett Sheds GOP to Run for Maine Governor as an Independent

June 24, 2025

Three More Mills Vetoes – Tribal Eminent Domain, LGBTQIA+ Recovery Housing, Ferry Power Grab

June 24, 2025

China Tries Getting Rich In America’s Backyard

June 24, 2025

Rockland Police Search for Man in Connection to Reported Assault

June 24, 2025
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.