MaineBiz: LePage vetoes three bills, including tax credit for loggers

Posted: January 06, 2012 | Energy, Utilities and Technology, Senator Bartlett, Senator Gerzofsky, Senator Jackson

Read more at MaineBiz.

Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed three Democratic-sponsored bills passed by the Legislature last year, including one that would have created a tax credit for logging companies that hire Maine workers.

LePage yesterday vetoed:

  • LD 338, sponsored by Sen. Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, which sought to create an income tax credit for logging companies that hire Maine residents;
  • LD 1264, an energy-efficiency bill sponsored by Sen. Phil Bartlett, D-Gorham, that would have allowed Efficiency Maine to establish rules without oversight;
  • LD 205, a bill that exempted nonprofit performing arts organizations from sales taxes, sponsored by Sen. Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick.

Jackson has submitted other legislation to stem a problem he sees of contractors hiring lower-cost Canadian loggers without first attempting to find Maine workers for the job, a violation of state and federal labor laws. Last year, LePage vetoed his bill that would have prevented the Maine Department of Conservation from hiring foreign loggers to work on state-owned land, a move former Gov. John Baldacci also vetoed.

The Senate can override LePage’s vetoes with a two-thirds majority vote. It’s expected to take them into consideration next week.