AUGUSTA (AP) – The Maine Democratic chairman has yanked from the party’s Web site a cartoon ad that poked fun at the state Senate’s top Republican and chided his voting record.

Chairman Pat Colwell said he removed the ad out of respect for Democratic Senate President Beth Edmonds, who sent a letter earlier this week asking it be pulled. Edmonds, of Freeport, said the ad was not helpful at a time the two parties are trying to work together to solve difficult state problems.

The animated ad depicted a likeness of Senate Minority Leader Paul Davis of Sangerville repeatedly saying “No” to Democratic-backed proposals.

The ad, showing Davis on a rocking horse and in a cabin plastered with “No” signs, was similar to JibJab Media Inc.’s popular Web pre-election video last summer that parodied politicians and presidential candidates. The Maine Democrats’ “Just Say No” cartoon, which was less than three minutes in length, went online last week.

Colwell said the ad itself became more of a focus than the reason he used it, which was to contrast Davis’ voting record with Democratic positions on health care, bond issues and other issues. Davis said he’s pleased Colwell pulled the ad, calling it “trash” and “ridiculous.”

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Committees agree to permit bull semen exemption for dairy farmers

AUGUSTA (AP) – Two legislative committees have agreed that a product used by almost all of Maine’s dairy farmers, bull semen, should be exempt from Maine’s sales tax. Farmers saw the tax as an added burden for their financially delicate operations.

A major supplier of the product that has been paying the tax for Maine farmers planned to stop doing so last month.

Farmers, who said they couldn’t simply pass the tax on to consumers because the government regulates milk prices, said state law already clearly exempts products used in agricultural production, such as seed, feed, hormones, fertilizer, pesticides and litter.

Dairy farmers wanted livestock semen added to the list, and the Agriculture and Appropriations committees agreed to their request.

However, other farm-related products that have been exempt for all consumers would instead be subject to Maine’s 5 percent sales tax for non-farmers. They include fertilizer, pesticides, weed killers and insecticides.

The changes would be included in the state budget, which is subject to full legislative approval.