SENATE FAILS TO OVERRIDE LEPAGE VETO OF BILL TO HELP MAINE WORKERS

Measure sought to incentivized hiring Maine workers over Canadian workers

AUGUSTA—In a nearly a party-line vote of 20-15, Republican lawmakers in the Maine Senate voted in support of the Governor’s veto of a measure that would have incentivized wood harvesters to hire U.S. workers.
“The Governor’s veto is hypocritical,” said Assistant Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash, the sponsor of the bill. “He talks about being a job creator but instead he is siding with businesses that take jobs away from Mainers.”

LD 734, “An Act Relating to the Sales Tax Exemption on Depreciable Equipment Used in Commercial Wood Harvesting,” would narrow the exemption to when the harvesting is performed by residents of the United States or by business entities with headquarters in the United States.
“My job here in the Legislature is to get Mainers working again and the idea of this bill is to stop using taxpayer dollars to displace Maine workers with Canadian workers,” said Senator Jackson.  “This bill helps Mainers get jobs that they want, jobs that exist, and jobs they could have.”

To override a veto, two-thirds of the Senate, or 24 Senators, must vote to do so. This measure will face no further action this legislative session.

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