This November, the taxpayers of Maine will have the opportunity to slow down out-of-control government spending by voting "yes" on Question 4.
Contrary to the TV ads opponents of TABOR have run, Question 4 does not cut any programs, it simply puts limits on the amount government spending can increase. Nevertheless, opponents use scare tactics to try to convince voters of dire consequences if TABOR passes. The truth is that those proponents of big government that benefit financially from it are petrified at the prospect of not having unlimited access to the pockets of taxpayers.
If people are happy with the amount of taxes they pay and want to pay more, they should vote "no." If people feel the politicians and government bureaucrats spend their tax money wisely, efficiently and without waste, then they should vote against TABOR.
If, however, people have taken the time to consider just some of the taxes that Maine residents pay — electricity tax, phone tax, cable tax, soda and beer tax, snack tax, cigarette tax, gas tax, excise tax, sales tax, income tax and property tax, and feel that enough is enough, I would hope they would vote for TABOR and send that message loud and clear to Augusta.
Rick Whitney, Bethel
Tabor allows for spending to continue at existing levels with an increase for inflation every year. The SAME programs that are in effect now will still be in effect tomorrow. What this does is limit additional spending above and beyond current levels. So if you spend elsewhere, yes you will have to find a way to fund that particular spend, whether it be budgetary cuts elsewhere, or a vote to approve additional spending. Where is the conflict here?
A lot of the terms used by people who claim the "country is being taken away" are easy to decode, even if they aren't all that clear to some of the very people who are claiming such freight.
They are destabilized by both the election of a Democratic President and a black President, two pillars collapsed right upon them.
Get this Beck lovers, as you run to your root cellars for fear that the sky is falling, consider this:
The members of Congress and President of the United States won a majority of votes. This business of "taking back America" is merely panic because you LOST.
Wingnuts, you don't have a right to control the government. The fact is that many Americans were fearful of Bush and what he did over eight years. Now, it's your turn to be on the outs. The fact is that I and many agree with Democratic initiatives, just as you claw at your hair over them.
Two words for you wingnuts: GROW UP
Wow, so well said and so off topic.
"Reasoning with a liberal is like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end. " Pirate
Once again we have proof that Republicans don't understand economics, can't count, and can't tell the truth. From Bruce Bartlett - a Reagan Treasury official and supply sider who remains conservative :
"According to the Congressional Budget Office's January 2009 estimate for fiscal year 2009, outlays were projected to be $3,543 billion and revenues were projected to be $2,357 billion, leaving a deficit of $1,186 billion. Keep in mind that these estimates were made before Obama took office, based on existing law and the Bush budget, and did not take into account any actions that Obama might implement. ...
Now let's fast forward to the end of fiscal year 2009, which ended on September 30. According to CBO, it ended with spending at $3,515 billion and revenues of $2,106 billion for a deficit of $1,409 billion.
To recap, the deficit came in $223 billion higher than projected, but spending was $28 billion and revenues were $251 billion less than expected. Thus we can conclude that more than 100 percent of the increase in the deficit since January is accounted for by lower revenues. Not one penny is due to higher spending."
That proves that the Republican myth - cutting federal taxes increases Federal Revenues - is false and that Federal spending is not out-of-control.
They are wrong on TABOR; they are wrong on the excise tax, they are on tax reform.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
Stop the madness. So goes Maine, so goes the nation.
Vote for Tabor#2
Programs have already been drasticly cut - close to a billion dollars at the state level. TABOR will make those cuts permanent.
TABOR in Colorado avoided drastic harm because increases in population because of a one-of-a-kind migration out of California hid the fact that the use of CPI to inflate spending has no relationship to government spending and will strangle state and local governments. Is Maine's population increasing rapidedly. Is Maine's economy growing by double digits each year.
TABOR did seriously harm education in Colorado. In a state with a highly educated workforce, one of the best indicators of education performance, (because educated people moved out of California because of Prop 13), education results are worse than Maine's with a not well educated workforce. Because of this Colorado voted to suspend TABOR.
TABOR II is unneeded because spending is not out of control. Since TABOR I failed, state spending has been consistent with TABOR I's requirements.
If Questions 2 and 4 are passed together, about 2000 jobs in Maine will be lost ($88,000,000) unless governments send their budgets to a popular vote allowing an increase in property taxes. What do you think are the chances of that and what do you think it will cost.
TABOR bad idea in 2004 and 2006 worse idea in 2009.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
Dear Rex and Dr. Dosh:
Typical ignorant comments which are filled unsubstantiated accusations.
Must have learned all that stuff from our fine government schools.
And so we hear from the Chicken Little crowd. "The sky is falling and only big gov can save us". These are the same type who got stuck in the 9th ward during Katrina and wailed for help after being told days before to evacuate. And the fact that they still blame the federal government and Bush on what was purely the fault of the idiot duo of Nagin and Blanco, shows their dependent, entitlement mentality. Tabor is horrifying to them because it will make them responsible and they will no longer be able to point a finger of blame at the State. They would rather go into monstrous debt at the hands of politicians whose sole goal is reelection and the retaining of power than to have any say over their own and their states destiny. Give the power back to the people.
"Reasoning with a liberal is like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end. " Pirate
People spoke last November,and your side got its ass kicked.
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