MAINE LOGGERS DENIED TAX BREAK

AUGUSTA—In a straight party-line vote of 14 –20, Senate Republicans upheld the Governor’s veto of a measure that would have provided a tax break on fuel for Maine loggers. LD 338, An Act To Provide an Income Tax Credit for Persons Engaged in Commercial Forestry, was sponsored by Senator Troy Jackson of Allagash and received bipartisan support last session.

“Every bit of help to Maine loggers makes a difference,” said Sen. Jackson. “Time and again the Governor has ignored the pleas from Maine loggers. This bill would have been one small step toward getting more Mainers working back in the woods.”

The bill would have provided a tax credit equal to the tax paid during the taxable year on fuel used by the employer for commercial forestry up to a maximum credit of $1,000.