Maine’s Democratic leadership slammed the brakes Thursday on a slate of Republican proposals aimed at cutting taxes, improving public safety, and expanding educational opportunity, including a high-profile push to force Maine into full conformity with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Gov. Janet Mills (D) has already refused to honor.
In a series of party-line votes, the Legislative Council rejected multiple bills sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) and Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin). Republicans called the move a clear demonstration that top Democrats will not even consider broadly popular, low-cost reforms if they originate from the minority party.
Timberlake’s proposal, the only bill offering broad-based tax relief to every Mainer sought to align state law with major federal tax cuts, including no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and a $6,000 increase in the standard deduction for seniors
These are the very same provisions Gov. Mills unilaterally refused to adopt in her October 7 directive to the State Tax Assessor, despite federal law already delivering the benefits nationwide. Mills said adopting the changes would cost the state more than $400 million and instructed officials to adopt only a small slice of the federal changes, leaving seniors, workers, and small businesses without full federal relief.
Republicans said the rejection shows where Democratic leaders’ priorities lie.
Stewart’s LR 2859 would have used excess state revenue to offset skyrocketing property taxes a growing burden forcing many Mainers, especially seniors, out of their homes. Republicans said the measure cost nothing to implement. Democrats declined to let it move forward.
Another Stewart bill would have prohibited individuals with expired tourist visas from operating motor vehicles in Maine, a response to recent fatal crashes involving drivers whose visas had lapsed. Under current law, temporary visitors may continue driving with foreign licenses even after their visa expires. Democrats rejected the bill.
Stewart also introduced a measure to establish Maine-designated Scholarship Granting Organizations, which would allow Mainers to keep federal tax-credit donations inside the state instead of sending them to out-of-state nonprofits. Democrats blocked this proposal as well, meaning Maine families can still claim the federal tax credit, but the money will now benefit students outside Maine.
“Democrat leadership has made it abundantly clear they won’t even consider the most obviously needed policy changes if they’re sponsored by Republicans,” Stewart said after the votes.
Timberlake called the refusal to even examine his tax conformity bill “an insult to Maine’s working class and seniors,” pointing to the Legislature’s previous decisions to repeal property-tax protections and raise taxes elsewhere.
He emphasized that federal tax changes took effect after the Legislature adjourned meaning lawmakers, not the governor, should decide whether Maine adopts them for the 2025 tax year. Mills’ refusal to adopt the most beneficial provisions, he said, prevents meaningful relief from reaching Mainers while living costs continue to climb.
