TAX REFERENDUM GETS ENOUGH SIGNATURES
Kennebec Journal - A group seeking to repeal a new law that makes major changes to the state tax code has enough signatures to put a question on the June ballot, Secretary of State Matt Dunlap ruled.
Still Fed Up With Taxes turned in 56,107 valid signatures -- 1,020 more than needed to call for a people's veto vote. . . The question on the June 8 ballot will read: "Do you want to reject the new law that lowers Maine's income tax and replaces that revenue by making changes to the sales tax?". . .
The law, which was touted as the most significant change to the state tax code in 40 years, reduces the income tax from 8.5 to 6.5 percent for income below $250,000 and to 6.85 percent for income over $250,000.
To pay for the reduction, the new law increases the meals and lodging tax from 7 to 8.5 percent and applies the state's 5 percent sales tax to dozens of additional items such as car repairs, movie tickets and dry cleaning. . .
Maine Revenue Services estimates that 87 percent of all Maine taxpayers will see their overall tax burden go down, even when the additional sales tax is added in.
Opponents . . . say it's important to have a thorough public debate over what's in the law. In particular, he says the tourism industry and car repair shops will be hurt by the changes to the tax structure.. . .
Trahan and other Republicans got a boost from the Maine Green Independent Party, which also helped collect the signatures necessary to call for a people's veto.
Still Fed Up With Taxes turned in 56,107 valid signatures -- 1,020 more than needed to call for a people's veto vote. . . The question on the June 8 ballot will read: "Do you want to reject the new law that lowers Maine's income tax and replaces that revenue by making changes to the sales tax?". . .
The law, which was touted as the most significant change to the state tax code in 40 years, reduces the income tax from 8.5 to 6.5 percent for income below $250,000 and to 6.85 percent for income over $250,000.
To pay for the reduction, the new law increases the meals and lodging tax from 7 to 8.5 percent and applies the state's 5 percent sales tax to dozens of additional items such as car repairs, movie tickets and dry cleaning. . .
Maine Revenue Services estimates that 87 percent of all Maine taxpayers will see their overall tax burden go down, even when the additional sales tax is added in.
Opponents . . . say it's important to have a thorough public debate over what's in the law. In particular, he says the tourism industry and car repair shops will be hurt by the changes to the tax structure.. . .
Trahan and other Republicans got a boost from the Maine Green Independent Party, which also helped collect the signatures necessary to call for a people's veto.
posted by TPR | 8:37 PM
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