This is a response to the Sun Journal editorial June 25 and several previous editorials concerning the tax reform legislation.
It is common sense to conclude that real reform which downsizes and controls the cost of government in Maine will not occur until politicians are forced to control spending. Passage of a budget cap referendum, such as TABOR II (to be voted on in November), seems the one option available to citizens to effectively limit the tax burden.
As a long time federal employee, I learned quickly that politicians and governments traditionally accrue much of their power and influence through legislation to collect and spend tax money. Success among managers is too often measured by the number of programs, the size of budget and other resources that one controls. It is not surprising, then, to see politicians, civil servants and even volunteers on committees and boards at all levels of government in Maine resist true reforms in the size and cost of government.
I hope most Mainers will view LD 1495 as a ruse to avoid spending caps. When voting on the previous TABOR referendum, citizens gave the benefit of the doubt to legislators claiming that LD 1 would produce tax reductions. It generally did not.
This time, voters should not expect LD 1495 to limit the overall tax burden now, or in the future. Although it lowers the income tax rate, equivalent taxes are to be collected from other sources.
Once fooled, shame on you; twice fooled, shame on me.
Peter Cipolloso, Oxford