Facts. Lies. Misinformation. This. That. Who cares! The only issue that should be discussed is why our state government continues to find things to tax and tax and tax. We should be finding ways to reduce taxes not taxing more! There will be a day when there won't be anything left to tax. WTF people! We need to cut programs, eliminate programs, eliminate redundancy, eliminate agencies, ect.... Quit taking my friggin money out of my pocket!
City
Tax myths run wild
Aug 26, 2009 3:10 am
LEWISTON — Former state Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello of Poland, a Republican, recently circulated an e-mail containing false information about the state's new tax law.
The law lowers the state income tax from 8.5 percent to 6.5 percent for most Mainers. The reduction is paid for by increasing the meals and lodging tax from 7 percent to 8.5 percent and by expanding the 5 percent state sales tax to items, such as miniature golf, movies and the labor on auto repair, that were previously untaxed.
But the e-mail from Snowe-Mello, dated Aug. 17, states the law will remove the Homestead property tax exemption, increase the candy tax to "be the most unfair and highest candy tax in the U.S." and extend the sales tax to haircuts. All three charges are incorrect, according to both supporters and detractors of the law.
Sen. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, who is leading the effort to gather signatures to allow for a repeal question, House Majority Leader John Piotti, D-Unity, who led the effort to pass the law and Mike Allen, the director of economic research at Maine Revenue Services, all refuted Snowe-Mello's claims.
"I don't want to mislead people at all," said Snowe-Mello, who is collecting signatures as part of the repeal effort. "If I had misinformation, I'd be happy to correct it."
Charlie Webster of Farmington, chairman of the Maine Republican Party, said Snowe-Mello probably got some of the incorrect information from his office.
"At the beginning, we passed out information that was wrong; initially, we thought hairdressers were taxed," he said. The tax reform proposal that failed two years ago contained a provision to tax hairdressers, but that was never part of the package considered by the Legislature this year.
"Somebody, somewhere analyzed it wrong, probably a staffer," Webster said. "It was hard to know early what this bill did."
Snowe-Mello said she received a letter from a candy manufacturer that said Maine's candy tax would be tops in the nation.
"It's one thing if they're debating whether or not it's a good policy based on what it does, but this is really a misinformation campaign," said Piotti, who was forwarded a copy of Snowe-Mello's e-mail and passed it to the Sun Journal.
According to Maine Revenue Services, a source both Trahan and Piotti say is accurate, about 87 percent of Mainers will pay less in state taxes under than new rules than the old ones. The new tax structure is revenue neutral, which means the state will still collect the same overall amount of taxes as before. But an estimated $55 million of the burden is expected to be paid by tourists and when the economy rebounds, that amount is expected to grow.
Piotti also said the tax reform package would result in new jobs in Maine, according to a report from the State Planning Office.
Michael LeVert, the state economist with SPO, confirmed that a preliminary analysis due to be published in about a week, indicates about 750 new jobs will be created from the $55 million expected to return to Mainers as a result of the new law.
Conservatives aren't the only critics of the new law — the Maine Green Independent Party has also joined the signature gathering effort, saying it hurts Maine's poor.
Roger Beeley, an independent insurance agent from Scarborough who has been part of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years, supports the new law. He said he was upset last Saturday when he heard a signature gatherer tell people at the Portland farmer's market that the new law would increase some people's taxes from 2 percent to a flat-tax of 6.5 percent.
"That is so misleading and so disingenuous, it's incredible; and of course, the woman signed it," he said.
Kit St. John, executive director of the progressive group Maine Center for Economic Policy, praised the law and denied that it would harm low-income Mainers.
While the new law does replace the state's old tax brackets with a 6.5 percent rate for most filers, it provides household credits to low- and middle-income earners that result in lower overall taxes, said Allen of Maine Revenue Services. He encouraged those curious to see what their taxes would be under the new law to use the tax calculator located on the Maine Revenue Services Web site.
Petition gatherers have until Sept. 11 to turn in the 55,087 certified signatures of Maine voters to place a repeal question on the June ballot.
rmetzler@sunjournal.com
Comments
You can't trust politicians.
Submitted by senior on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 14:54.
You can't trust politicians. Local, County, State, Federal. They all have their own agendas.
Tron, Don't you think maybe,
Submitted by Senator on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 13:28.
Tron,
Don't you think maybe, Democrats should have asked the question before they passed the bill at record speed? Right now I am busy getting signatures. After the repeal effort is complete and during the debate on this bill I will put forward a plan. As far as fixing this plan, it is like trying to reengineer the Titannic after it is built.
Senator, don't be dismayed
Submitted by Robert61 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 13:59.
Senator, don't be dismayed like poeple such as Tron, they lack in common sense and think someone else should pay taxes so they don't have to.
First, I never attack YOU,
Submitted by tron on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 14:37.
First, I never attack YOU, bob, you lay off! All I've done was asked a legitamite question to an elected official, AND I've done it without shouting at the top of my lungs.
Never? Strong language for a
Submitted by Robert61 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 14:43.
Never? Strong language for a weak little man. clearly I've ruffled your feathers - and who knew plucked chickens still had feathers...
Charlie Webster, the head of
Submitted by tron on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 13:34.
Charlie Webster, the head of YOUR party said in the article"..The tax reform proposal that failed two years ago contained a provision to tax hairdressers, but that was never part of the package considered by the Legislature this year..." So you have had TWO years to come up with an alternative to this proposal, so I'm asking you for the details. Or did you think your work was done defeating the Democratic plan?
I wrote a column in Sundays
Submitted by Senator on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 12:31.
I wrote a column in Sundays LSJ. It contains details outling Still Fed up with Taxes concerns. None of the very disturbing points in this column have been disputed by Piotti or anyone else. I wrote another column in the KJ, again none of the points have been disputed, justy claims of misinformation. Which points do any of you dispute? Be specific, just cause Piotti makes the claim, doesn't mean it is so. A good solution for this claim by Piotti would be for Mayor Jenking to moderate a debate with me, Al Dimillo, Piotti and Sen. Craven. I will invite the press and public across the state to come. I'm not afraid to go nose to nose on the merits of this bill. I will seek such a debate as soon as possible and then we will see whose facts are accurate.
I asked you Sunday, I've
Submitted by tron on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 12:40.
I asked you Sunday, I've asked earlier today, and I'll ask again now. What do YOU propose that is better than this bill? Be specific and if you espouse tax cuts tell us exactly what you'll cut funding for and whom will be denied services because of your cuts. I await your list.
Nice to see that Charlie
Submitted by jalbrecht1 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 11:01.
Nice to see that Charlie Webster admits that Snowe-Mello got her false information from the Maine Republican Party. Disappointing to read that he tries to shift the blame to the famous "staffer". Charlie that staffer was directed by someone in the Maine Republican Office probably you to prepare that misinformation. Aren't you as head of the party responsibile for everything the party office does?
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
Kudos to the Ric Tyler on
Submitted by twitch on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 10:53.
Kudos to the Ric Tyler on FM101.3 in the mornings who pushed and pushed to get that tax calculator out to the public!!!!! use it BEFORE you make you decision on the bill. then you can say you made your choice based on what is best for you and your family and not based on political rhetoric. I don't agree with taxing services that everyone needs like auto repair but see nothing wrong with taxing "luxuries" and "amusements" such as miniature golf or lodging or ATV's or boats or movies or anything that is not necessary for the basic needs and comforts of daily life. tax soda, beer, candy and chips to hell and back...just let me get my car fixed without that added worry!!!!!
If the MRS is right, Fed up
Submitted by jalbrecht1 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 10:36.
If the MRS is right, Fed up with Taxes is wrong. The repeal effort is a purely partisan misinformation campaign. MRS has the facts. Fed up with Taxes is a Republican front. Quess who's wrong.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
The Senator says this isn't
Submitted by jalbrecht1 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 10:34.
The Senator says this isn't an organized campaign to mislead the people of maine. He says Fed up with Taxes has issued columns and press releases disputing what their supporters are saying. Well Senator where are these press releases. Where are the front page stories telling your supporters to stop lying. Not on their web site. All their web site says is that the majority Democrats are wrong on all the positive goals achieved by LD1495. But those are the conclusions after detailed and exhausting analysis by the MRS not the democrats. So their web site is lying too and its charges are false just like Snowe-Mello's are. I call that an organized campaign of misinformation.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
Lil, as usual the
Submitted by jalbrecht1 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 10:21.
Lil, as usual the conservatives offer no evidence they just make groundless and false assumptions or like Snowe-Mello try to shift the blame when they are caught lying.
Just listen to robert61: "If anyone thinks the democratic majority in Augusta would ever truly lower your taxes, then you need to have your head examined." Clearly a case of unfounded bias. Because they did and even some of the Republicans have to admit that the MRS figures are correct. Or horsefeathers: "With all the lies, mis- information and corruption generated out of Augusta and Washington DC grabbing this for front page news is ludicrous". They offer nothing but their personal bile. No one can use what they write to make any kind of a decision.
What this article exposes is that an organized mis-information campaign lead by the Republicans is lying to the people of Maine. Lying, Republicans isn't that redundant. Same thing they are doing in Washington on Health Care Reform.
By the way another lie being spread this time in a letter to the editor of Twin City.com is that even though the tax rate is lower you will pay more taxes because deductions are abolished thus raising your taxable income. The lies they just keep on coming.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
"According to Maine Revenue
Submitted by Lil on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 09:13.
"According to Maine Revenue Services, a source both Trahan and Piotti say is accurate, about 87 percent of Mainers will pay less in state taxes under than new rules than the old ones. The new tax structure is revenue neutral, which means the state will still collect the same overall amount of taxes as before. But an estimated $55 million of the burden is expected to be paid by tourists and when the economy rebounds, that amount is expected to grow." If 87% of Mainers will pay less in state taxes, isn't that a tax cut? Why do republicans want to raise taxes for 87% of Mainers?
______________________
Winston Churchill
If anyone thinks the
Submitted by Robert61 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 08:54.
If anyone thinks the democratic majority in Augusta would ever truly lower your taxes, then you need to have your head examined. Far greater than any myth Ms. Snowe may have continued is the myth that democrats in Augusta understand how to save money and make cuts to programs. We are a small rural state with below average wages - what makes people think we can be all things to all people? Until you start sending people whjo know how to trim a budget and reduce overhead we will remain on the same downward track we've been on for over 30 years.
Alert!! Alert!!! Another
Submitted by tron on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 09:26.
Alert!! Alert!!! Another Republican lie!! No where is it stated that this was a reduction in taxes, but merely a shift of tax burden. I know accuracy isn't your forte, bob, but please do not emulate snowe-mello. BTY, exactly how much have you trimmed Lewiston's budget in the last two years? How much less are taxpayers spending under your guidance? I await your answer.
ttle Danny, geta grip, I
Submitted by Robert61 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 13:56.
ttle Danny, geta grip, I never said this was a reduction, I only expounded on the fact that dems could NEVER enact a tax CUT.
You also never answered the
Submitted by tron on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 14:35.
You also never answered the question, how much less are the taxpayers of Lewiston paying to run the city of Lewiston? How much have YOU republicans cut in the last two years?
We worked hard to keep the
Submitted by Robert61 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 14:46.
We worked hard to keep the taxes to zero increase the second year, the first year was a small decrease. Given the fact that your pals in Augusta seem to push more mandates on the cities and are funding less of what they were funded I think many would consider us heroes for what we accomplished - not many towns could do as well. But then again if you paid property taxes you would already know that.
When you consider the
Submitted by tron on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 15:04.
When you consider the "small" decrease was a result of significant increase in state funding, especially in education, and in the second year MILLIONS of dollars from the Federal government went into city coffers, it seems like huge tax DECREASES were called for in both years. You claim Democrats cannot cut taxes, but it seems when you guys get into power, you do ever worse. The city spends more money, but taxes are the same. THAT is a tax increase, bob!
Excuse me but exactly what
Submitted by Robert61 on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 16:45.
Excuse me but exactly what fed money went into our coffers - none! We have gotten nothing from the stimulus to date. But why let facts get in your way, right?
Most of the folks who
Submitted by horsefeathers on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 08:44.
Most of the folks who complain about repeal of the extensive tax rape job and misinformation, conveniently fail to mention that before signing the bill, Baldacci eliminated taxes on ski tickets, golfing and lawyers! Previously taxes were eliminated on bolling alleys, swimming pools, skating rinks, gymnasiums, tennis courts, racketball courts, arcades, health and fitness centers plus lessons or training in dance, music theatre, arts and gymnastics and martial arts. Who can honestly say that tourists play a major roll in paying most of the increase on food and lodging taxes? Being close to the top nationwide on state taxes the proposal, to save face, was to lower the state income tax 2%. While I agree that lowering the state income tax should be done, was it neccessary or even fair to eliminate deductions on the state income taxes of mortgage interest, property taxes, health care costs and some contributions? The fact of the matter is that adminstration costs via our growing government will easily consume these proposed taxes in a short period of time and a blanket increase of the sales tax will be proposed, perhaps by years end. Misinformation is not a good thing but not telling the whole story or lying is just as bad if not worse. Do we need to requisition hearing aides for the legislators? NO MORE TAX INCREASES......
jdwake "Republican ploy to
Submitted by mainescotty on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 07:35.
jdwake "Republican ploy to raise taxes?" Get with it buddy. Look at the taxes in our grand State of Maine and relaize the Dems have been in control for 30 years!! We keep voting them in so we get what we deserve. What a joke
Let's remember that
Submitted by tron on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 07:32.
Let's remember that Snowe-Mello was the legislator that claims welfare recipients earns over $50,000 a year, the state animal welfare agents were "Nazi Stormtroopers" and who sue the state for undeserved money so she could buy herself a new car. Hyperbole, lies, general misstatements and deceit are Snowe-Mello's trademarks. Betcha she writes a letter to the local right wing tabloid saying how she's misunderstood and being picked on.
Snowe-Mello has nothing else
Submitted by Jay Bee on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 07:26.
Snowe-Mello has nothing else to do but distribute lies. She did it when she was in office - she once came to my house, and told me all sorts of nonsense. And she wonders why she lost the last election... It's probably time to get her to a home before she gets too confused to be outside alone.
With all the lies, mis-
Submitted by horsefeathers on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 07:03.
With all the lies, mis- information and corruption generated out of Augusta and Washington DC grabbing this for front page news is ludicrous.
If Snowe Mello is clueless
Submitted by horsefeathers on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 06:54.
If Snowe Mello is clueless what could possibly be coined about the Bobbsy twins Rotundo and Craven.
Another Republican ploy to
Submitted by jdwake on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 06:53.
Another Republican ploy to raise our taxes. She is just training to enter the health care reform debate where she can really distort the facts!
We all know that Sen Trahan
Submitted by tron on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 06:52.
We all know that Sen Trahan and his gang deliberately fed this information to Snowe-Mello so when she distributed these lies they would have deniability. The only objection to this bill is it was promoted and passed by Democrats. I have repeatedly asked Sen Trahan in this blog what he would propose instead of this law, and his silence has been deafening. Well, not really, his response has always been evading, accusing but never productive or informative.
One person making a mistake
Submitted by Senator on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 06:22.
One person making a mistake or someone overheard at a farmers market is not a conspiracy. The Still Fed Up with Taxes campaign has released several columns and press releases disputing much of what supporters have been saying about the bill, instead of disputing these points, Piotti approaches this paper to do a story on someone overheard and attacking Snowe-Mello. Lois is collecting, but has nothing to do with the campaign leadership. Exaggerations coming from supporters are many and public, shouldn't those exaggerations be mentioned in the story. Seems to be a biased story to me.
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Albert A. DiMillo, Jr. "The
Albert A. DiMillo, Jr.
"The law lowers the state income tax from 8.5 percent to 6.5 percent for most Mainers." This is a lie. Actually this statement is true for less than 5% of Mainers. More than 63% of Mainers have a top tax rate from 2% to 7%. For those that do reach the 8.5% rate under old law they are in a 8% top rate under the new law. For some taxpayers over age 65 their top rate is 10% under the new law.
The Maine Revenue Services (MRS) prepared a report on the impact of the new law on Maine taxpayers. The report illustrated that a group of 4,456 taxpayers in the top 1% of Mainers earning over $333,388 will get $27.8 million of the total $53.9 million net tax cut. Accordingly, these 4,456 taxpayers will receive about 52% of the reported tax savings in 2010. In addition, because LD 1495 does not have inflation adjustments until 2014 that were in the old Maine law, the tax savings in 2010 for 99.3% of Mainers will become a tax increase in 2013, assuming a conservative inflation rate of 2.5% per year in 2011-2013. In 2013, this group of 4,456 taxpayers will have a tax decrease in total of $27 million, while the other 99.3% of Maine taxpayers will see a tax increase of more than $24 million.
I welcome an honest debate based on the facts, but based on the past actions of the proponents of LD 1495, that is unlikely to happen. Instead proponents like Rep. Piotti want to suppress the facts and asks voters to not sign a petition that will give them the time to educate themselves on this poorly designed tax law. Why are they so afraid of the truth? Start educating yourself by going to www.mainedemocratstaxreform.org.