The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Pro-Abortion Satanist Berates Christians Protesting Outside Portland Planned Parenthood
  • Liberals Roast “Great White Mother” Mills for Opposition to Tribal Sovereignty Bill
  • Golden Backs “Lukewarm” Debt Ceiling Deal But Criticizes Cuts to IRS
  • Auburn Rep Files Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of PAC Fundraising Restrictions
  • Bangor-area Church Sues School Board for Religious Discrimination in Lease Rejection
  • Protest at Maine State House for Iraq War Veteran Killed in 2022 Memorial Day Shooting
  • Competitive Shooting Event to Raise More Than $75k for Travis Mills Foundation with USPSA Maine State Championship
  • GOP Wants Limits on “Net Energy Billing” to Rein in Electricity Rates
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Friday, June 2
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Secretary of State Dunlap finalizes ballot language for Universal Home Care initiative
News

Secretary of State Dunlap finalizes ballot language for Universal Home Care initiative

Jacob PosikBy Jacob PosikJune 26, 2018No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

After accepting public comment for 30 days on the wording of the upcoming Universal Home Care ballot initiative, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap on Monday, June 25 released the final language that will appear before Maine voters on Nov. 6.

Secretary Dunlap made significant changes to the ballot language, adding new information and reorganizing portions of the question to give voters better clarity of what the measure entails. Dunlap added the terms “home-based assistance” and “regardless of income,” recognized the wage threshold subject to Social Security employment tax is not a static figure and spelled out what exactly what income will be taxed under the proposal.

When Secretary Dunlap began accepting public comment on May 16 the question read:

Do you want to create the Universal Home Care Program, which will provide services to people with disabilities and senior citizens who need daily assistance in their homes, funded by a new tax of 3.8% on individual income over $128,400?”

The final language that Maine voters will see on the ballot reads:

“Do you want to create the Universal Home Care Program to provide home-based assistance to people with disabilities and senior citizens, regardless of income, funded by a new 3.8% tax on individuals and families with Maine wage and adjusted gross income above the amount subject to Social Security taxes, which is $128,400 in 2018?”

On June 6, The Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) chief executive officer Matthew Gagnon sent a letter to Secretary Dunlap urging him to modify the language in order to give Maine voters a more accurate understanding of the ballot question. MHPC’s suggested language read:

“Do you want to establish three new taxes on income earned over the threshold subject to social security employment tax ($128,400 in 2018); two taxes totaling 3.8 percent on employers and employees for wages earned and paid out over the threshold, and an additional 3.8 percent tax on all other forms of income earned over the threshold, for the purpose of funding the Universal Home Care program, which will provide services to people with disabilities and senior citizens who need assistance in their homes regardless of income?”

Secretary Dunlap’s decision on the final wording is fair and will significantly improve voters’ ability to understand the question. It is imperative that Maine voters know there is no means testing to qualify for the services under the Universal Home Care program, as services will be provided regardless of income. They must also know that the wage threshold for Social Security employment tax is not static and that family earnings will be subject to a portion of the tax collected under this initiative.

While there is still time to educate Maine people on the harmful impacts of this initiative, Secretary Dunlap’s new ballot language brings transparency to a convoluted proposal and will equip Maine voters with the information they need to make an educated decision on election day.

Commentary Featured Maine People's Alliance Matthew Dunlap Secretary of State universal home care
Previous ArticleMedicaid expansion activists will hurt people who need help just to prove a point
Next Article The earned income tax credit is Maine’s best anti-poverty program; let’s expand it
Jacob Posik

Jacob Posik, of Turner, is the director of communications at Maine Policy Institute. He formerly served as a policy analyst at Maine Policy and editor of The Maine Wire. Posik can be reached at jposik@mainepolicy.org.

Related Posts

Pro-Abortion Satanist Berates Christians Protesting Outside Portland Planned Parenthood

June 1, 2023

Liberals Roast “Great White Mother” Mills for Opposition to Tribal Sovereignty Bill

June 1, 2023

Golden Backs “Lukewarm” Debt Ceiling Deal But Criticizes Cuts to IRS

June 1, 2023

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Pro-Abortion Satanist Berates Christians Protesting Outside Portland Planned Parenthood

June 1, 2023

Liberals Roast “Great White Mother” Mills for Opposition to Tribal Sovereignty Bill

June 1, 2023

Golden Backs “Lukewarm” Debt Ceiling Deal But Criticizes Cuts to IRS

June 1, 2023

Auburn Rep Files Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of PAC Fundraising Restrictions

June 1, 2023

Bangor-area Church Sues School Board for Religious Discrimination in Lease Rejection

May 31, 2023
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.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.