Please, get it right. The Maine Trust for Local News (MTLN) seem not to like Republicans, or at least those of us who push back on false narratives and go toe-to-toe on facts. To quote my old boss, President Reagan: “Facts are stubborn things.” So, here we go.
Fact One: On September 1, ironically Labor Day, Maine Trust writer Steve Collins again took an ill-advised shot at Maine’s leading GOP candidate for governor, up double digits (internal polling), and likeliest to take out Democrat candidates Pingree, Bellows or Jackson – me.
Fact Two: The legacy media, apparently smarting from backfired attempts to paint me racist, which I plainly am not, took another shot. This time, they attacked my economic analysis. So, let’s have at it.
Having travelled this state for two years, having grown up in rural Maine – which most of the legacy media leaders did not, I think Mainers are not doing well, that they are universally overtaxed, and unable to afford basic necessities as a result of Augusta’s overspending.
The Maine Trust newspapers – perhaps hoping to derail me – ran a blistering column saying the exact reverse: “Happy Reality is that Maine’s Finances are in Good Shape.”
Their column began: “Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bobby Charles recently blasted Gov. Janet Mills for ‘reckless spending and higher taxes’ that he falsely claimed have created a $450 million deficit.” Interesting.
They lathered their criticism on: “The state actually ended its fiscal year with a surplus of $152 million. The story of the state’s budgetary success is easily lost as lies are tossed around on the campaign trail. But it shouldn’t be. Fitch ratings … this month upgraded the state’s bond rating …” Yes, and?
Fact Three: Let’s unpack some of this. Earlier this year – yes, based on “reckless spending and higher taxes” for illegal aliens and solar subsidies – The MTLN papers themselves reported: “Maine is facing a projected $450 million deficit over the next two years …and short-term funding gap of $118 million.”
Fact Four: This “reckless” deficit was balanced only because Maine’s Constitution required it. It was balanced on the backs of poor Mainers and small business. It got balanced in Democrat’s unconstitutional “extraordinary” session (nothing “extraordinary” to it – except that $450 million deficit).
Fact Five: The non-extraordinary “extraordinary” session did this by hiking both income and sales taxes on Mainers to pay for the “short-term funding gap of $118 million,” tied to Democrat MaineCare for illegal aliens which Feds refuse to pay.
Fact Six: Confusion is often used by Democrat leaders in Maine – and some defenders – to lull taxpayers. What in God’s name does “Fitch” – an FTC-regulated credit agency – have to do with how Mainers are feeling? Almost nothing.
Fact Seven: “Fitch” measures Maine’s likelihood to pay state bills, how much the Government can squeeze taxpayers. In effect, credit agencies only want to know one thing: Can Maine’s Democrats snag the money? If so, solid state rating.
Fact Eight: A solid state rating does not pay taxpayers’ bills. What matters to Mainers is NOT that rating, but what is not in that rating: Infrastructure, energy costs, property and income taxes, income, education outcomes, demographics.
So how do Democrats do on that stuff? Rotten. No “Happy Reality.” Maine’s infrastructure is actually “dead last,” worst in the nation, from energy to roads.
Maine’s energy costs? Jumped more than any state, 36 percent. NH’s rose only four percent. Democrats’ energy deregulation policies are a trainwreck.
Property taxes? Another disaster, highest in the nation. Hundreds of Democrat mandates on towns, counties, schools, “death by a thousand cuts.” Income taxes? Personal and corporate just BOTH got raised again, there’s no excuse for it.
Average income? Per capita is $42,000. In 2025, Maine now has “the fourth highest tax burden in the country.” Education? More disaster, 50th of 50, 75 percent of our 4th graders not reading, 74 percent of our 8th graders are not able to do math.
Demographics? Do not even ask. Oldest population, soaring health care costs, falling access, practitioners fleeing the state, hospitals closing, and costs up.
Fact Nine: I wanted clarity. I called “Fitch” headquarters, talked with multiple analysts, tried to grasp what they saw positive beyond an ability to keep taxing Mainers, what they call government “stewardship.” Truth is, when it comes to these issues – affecting day-to-day Mainers’ lives – not much.
Fact Ten: The MTLN papers again completely missed the boat, preoccupied by tearing down a fiscal conservative and the leading GOP candidate for Governor – who will, once elected, “right” the boat. My friends at the big papers, no, we are not in a “happy reality” – we are in a daily struggle to make ends meet. Please, get it right.
