STATEMENT FROM SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER ON LEPAGE’S CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

LePage’s plan not sustainable path for growth or prosperity; Dems plan based on middle-class economics

AUGUSTA – Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland released the following statement in response to Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal for a Constitutional amendment to eliminate the income tax.

Sen. Justin Alfond of Portland

“When you unpack Gov. LePage’s budget and now his proposed amendment, it becomes clear that his priorities are based on failed trickle-down economics: Help the rich get richer, shift as much of the tax burden onto property taxes and dry up future spending on investments. This is not a sustainable path for growth or prosperity.”

Earlier this month, Democrats released a counterproposal to Gov. LePage’s plan: the Better Deal for Maine–a plan that is fully paid for and prioritizes tax cuts for the middle-income earners, lowers property taxes for all Maine homeowners, and invests in our schools, workers and communities.

Sen. Alfond added, “We agree with Gov. LePage’s premise that our tax code is holding our state back, but we have a better plan. Our Better Deal for Maine believes in middle-class economics: Cut taxes for working and middle-income Mainers, invest in our infrastructure so that our businesses prosper and keep our communities strong by supporting great public schools, public safety and health. This is how our economy will be competitive.”

According to a new analysis from the national non-partisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and the Maine Center on Economic Policy, the Better Deal for Maine plan would cut taxes, on average, for the bottom 95 percent of Maine taxpayers. It would provide a larger tax break than the Governor’s plan, on average, for the bottom 80 percent of Maine taxpayers.

Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond and Speaker of the House Mark Eves will be holding the first town hall meeting on the Better Deal for Maine plan tomorrow, April 22,  in Bangor, from 6-7:30 p.m.at the Hammond Street Congregational Church (28 High Street). They will be joined by members of the local-area legislative delegation, including State Senators Geoff Gratwick and Jim Dill as well as State Representatives Adam Goode, Victoria Kornfield, Aaron Frey, John Schneck and Arthur “Archie” Verow.

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