In this past legislative session, there was only one bill to provide property tax relief to Maine homeowners, and it came from the House Democrats. Unfortunately, every Republican except one voted to kill it. The Republicans also submitted no tax-reform legislation of their own.

When we talk about who has led and who has not led on tax reform, we should keep these important facts in mind.

Things could be very different for Maine people had the tax relief bill passed. Seniors would be receiving a $10,000 property tax exemption this year and a $15,000 exemption next year. The rest of us would be getting a $7,000 exemption this year and a $10,000 exemption next year. Schools would have an extra $25 million to alleviate the local tax burden this year. (That is on top of the extra $15 million the Legislature passed in the supplemental budget, without support from Republicans.)

Many newspapers across the state, including every daily paper, endorsed the tax-relief plan. It was just what all of our constituents were asking for – real relief on their property taxes.

No side has all the solutions, but for the side that offered no plan to criticize the side that did for not coming up with a solution – well, that just makes no sense.

Rep. John Patrick, Rumford