LePage vetoes Jackson ‘Hire American/Hire Maine’ bill

AUGUSTA—On Monday, Gov. LePage vetoed “Hire Maine” legislation from Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash, to establish a “Hire American” tax credit for businesses in the logging industry to prioritize the hiring of Maine residents for Maine jobs.

“Too many workers in the Maine woods are losing out on work to Canadian labor, which is cheaper due to the exchange rate and subsidized health care system. It’s not fair and it’s holding back Maine’s rural economy,” said Sen. Jackson. “We talk a lot about supporting Maine workers and residents, who pay taxes in this state and spend their hard-earned wages in our local economy. This bill was an opportunity to not just talk but act.”

LD 1744, “An Act To Create the Hire American Tax Credit for Businesses That Hire Residents of the United States” received overwhelming support in both the Senate and House of Representatives earlier this month. The vote was 24-9 to enact the legislation in the Senate and 96-49 in the House.

The bill is an extension of Sen. Jackson’s efforts last year on behalf of loggers, truckers and others in the forest product industry who face unfair international competition in the Maine woods. Maine loggers and truckers struggle to compete with Canadian labor that is much cheaper due to the currency exchange rate and the national health care system.

“I came to Augusta to fight for working Mainers and their families in rural Maines and I certainly am not going to stop now,” said Sen. Jackson. “I understand the governor has concerns but this is a good piece of legislation that will incentivize Maine companies to do right by Maine workers. We already passed this bill in the Legislature once, and I am confident my colleagues will join me in overturning the governor’s veto next week.”

Many of these large land-owning companies already receive a tax break from the state government. Sen. Jackson believes that if they receive a tax break, these companies ought to hire from the taxpayers who ultimately subsidize these breaks. His hope is that a tax credit will reward companies for doing right by Maine people.

LD 1744 will now return to the Legislature for additional votes on whether or not to overturn the governor’s veto. The Legislature is scheduled to return to consider veto overrides and take up outstanding legislative business Monday, July 9.

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